Interesting PC races for a ancient greek/roman setting

[Gundark]

I've been looking at different settings and been thinking about trying to homebrew a setting that has a strong ancient greek/roman feel to it. What PC races do you think would fit this type of world?

So far I'm thinking humans (of course), satyrs, centaurs, and minotaurs.

What are your ideas?

 

[Crothian]

You could always make the different human civilizations be different races.

 

[smootrk]

A cyclops style brute race.

Some sort of siren or magical water fey.

A harpy sort of hag-like race might be cool.

If I think of more I will add them.

 

[smootrk]

Bloodlines could be used liberally in Greek/Roman mythos, especially given the deities' propensity for propagation, as well as all the satyr, centaur, nymph connotations. Sexual themes are rife in the mythos.

 

[TarionzCousin]

How about a race of these guys? They're Greek.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/abomination.htm#hecatoncheires

But seriously, what about the warriors grown from the dragon's teeth (?) in Jason and the Argonauts?

You could always make the different human civilizations be different races.

Athenians: Clerks and Diplomats
Spartans: Warriors
Corinthians: Merchants and Sailors
Thebans: Sacred Band PrC
Romans: Conquerors? Road-builders? Empire Bureaucrats?

 

[AFGNCAAP]

I second the Bloodline idea. Would be an interesting option for PCs.

The Spirit Folk races from Oriental Adventures could work for the various "nature spirits" out there. Races like Aasimar, Genasi, Feytouched, and Tieflings could be feasible as well (with their ancestry due to a past deity/mortal mingling instead of the D&D definition of their heritage).

Standard D&D races like elves, dwarves, and gnomes could originate from the outer reaches of the Empire, and be rare for PCs to encounter.

 

[Megatron]

Satyrs, Sirens, Giants, Nymphs, Dryads, Atlanteans, Demigods, Nereids, Oceanids, Naiads, Lampades, Oreads, Oneiroi, etc..

 

[Andor]

Harpies
Meaneds
Titans
Picts
Celts
Goths
Persians
Egyptians

Lotsa fun stuff to play with.

 

[Dykstrav]

My own homebrew is primarily Ancient World inspired, with a heavy mythic Greece flavor. Here are the races I generally make available:

Minotaurs: Minotaurs serve as the 'brute' race. I use the Savage Species material to let players make minotaur characters. Actually a debased form of human suffering from a curse.
Satyrs: Satyrs are organized into several tribes and often guard sacred or wild sites far from civilization. I made my own LA +0 version of satyrs to substitute for the Monster Manual version. Favored of the gods of wine and madness.
Centaurs: Centaurs are said to be descended from the droplets of the wind god's blood that fell to the earth during the battle with the titans. Sometimes known to tutor the children of worthy humans.

Dwarves: Dwarves rule the Isle of Myrekiros, where they work bronze and practice a mercantile culture loosely based on the Phonecians. They trace their lineage to the gods of fire and craft and their legends state that they have been charged with safeguarding the "forges of the earth" (read: volcanoes).
Nymphs: Not the Monster Manual nymphs, but I use the mechanics and game statistics for elves and call them 'nymphs' instead. It's really not too far a creative leap and I got tired of players asking to play elves... So there you go. These 'nymphs' frolic in meadows and play the lyre and wear togas but fit the arcer/musician archetype certain players clamor for. Said to be favored of the sun and wind gods.

I generally treat divine blood with the celestial bloodline rules from Unearthed Arcana or by allowing players to select the celestial/infernal templates. Not exactly a perfect fit, but it seems an apropos substitution until I decide to make a more specific template. Characters with a god as a parent I give divine rank 0 as described in Deities and Demigods.

I have the Trojan Wsr supplement from Green Ronin, which I'm itching to play with. It goes into greather depth about divine blood and even has some cool prestige classes like the runner.

 

[Ravilah]

If it's really going to have a Greek feel, there should be at least a minor focus on seamanship and sailing. The Odyssey aside, a lot of Greek myths include a sea journey. Unlike standard DnD, a class like the Dread Pirate, or a homebrewed sailor-base class would not be a waste of time.