Footsoldier races in module series/homebrews

[Mighty Halfling]

I've been through two campaign worlds recently -- Scarred Lands and Freeport. Oddly enough, the primary footsoldier villains in each are yuan-ti/serpentfolk reptile types. While I'm now having a growing hatred for anything with scales, I can't help but wonder, three things:

1) What are the primary footsoldiers in your campaign homebrewed or otherwise?
2) What race is used as the footsoldiers in other published campaigns?
3)What creatures would you like to see featured as footsoldiers in future published module series?

 

[Tonguez]

1) What are the primary footsoldiers in your campaign homebrewed or otherwise?

My campaign is set in mythic Polynesia and Sahuagin have become the main antagonistic race.
Land based 'footsoldiers' include Ogres, Lizardfolk and Goblins (who are also ubiquitous imc (and a PC race) but more an anoyance than a real threat). One of my BBEGs was a paraelemental (magam) Ogre with a horde of goblin worshippers. I'm starting to use a lot of insectoid goblins too (insectoid template)

2) What race is used as the footsoldiers in other published campaigns?

Well it used to be Orcs were ubiquitous followed by their goblinoid kin. I think people must of got bored with the big dumb brutes and decided to go for cold and sinister (ie Yuant-Ti) instead. Plus Yuan-Ti invoke the serpent folk of REHoward (Conana, Kull) which has to be kewl

3)What creatures would you like to see featured as footsoldiers in future published module series?

Sahuagin, Gnolls and Insectoid goblins

 

[Man-thing]

Let's see...

In my co-DM's game it looks like the Therigs from Octavariate Games Creature Weekly will be the footsoldiers of choice.

In my current Blackmoor campaign it falls to the Beastmen to hold that niche.

In previous Lankhmar campaign I inappropriately used quite a few Grungs, Skulks and Scarve (homebrew)

In Mystara it is Gnolls if set in Karameikos, and Kobolds (old school; thief class and afraid of magic)

Each new place we exploit we try to vary our footsoldiers

 

[pogre]

hobgoblins - boring I know, but I love how the lawful alignment let's me build huge armies.

 

[Galethorn]

Humans. No, not just any humans, but humans in the armies of an evil southron overlord/emporer. To tell the truth, the most exotic thing the PCs have come across so far award would have to go to either....a wight or a willowisp.

The only non-human races they've come across so far are party members (an elf, a dwarf, a giant, and a gnome).

That said, there are orcs, goblins, and trolls in the mountains, but they aren't really part of the campaign. As well, there are as of yet two types of creatures that are still in store; sand drakes (big, dumb, flightless dragons that live in the desert, which are used for hauling big loads) and Unglai (indian-elephant-sized creatures that are sort of like a cross between a boar and a horse with a hide like a rhino; they're used as war-mounts by the southrons).

 

[Nightfall]

Mighty,

Lizard guys are not foot soldiers. They are more the "grunts" since they don't have a lot of the magical oohmph that Assaatthi have. (Plus the fact Ratmen are smart, they hunt in packs. They might be footsoldierish, but they are damn good at swarming!)

 

[VirgilCaine]

I don't really have any "footsoldier" races.
The common races (IMC: PHB, minus Elves and Half-Elves, plus Ogres) will have some thugs available for hire by...
...Evil clerics. Always a standby.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Ratmen (Brown Gorgers or Diseased)
goblins - led by blues

Were the most common footsoliders
in my last campaign, but alot of the game was fighting kaorti - which make really bad footsoilders, but good BBEGs.
I am playing at the moment, CoSQ - and its prolly Drow.

 

[Mighty Halfling]

Ahh, Evilhalfling, at last we meet on the same thread. You besmirch the halfling name with your foul ways! Prepare to die! (... rolls initiative ...) Mighty Halfling gets a 15.

 

[reanjr]

I've been through two campaign worlds recently -- Scarred Lands and Freeport. Oddly enough, the primary footsoldier villains in each are yuan-ti/serpentfolk reptile types. While I'm now having a growing hatred for anything with scales, I can't help but wonder, three things:

1) What are the primary footsoldiers in your campaign homebrewed or otherwise?
2) What race is used as the footsoldiers in other published campaigns?
3)What creatures would you like to see featured as footsoldiers in future published module series?

I use hobgoblin. In the past I've used orcs, humans, and probably many other things I just can't think of right now.