D&D 5E (2014) Need ideas for a Troll race for PC's

[CM]

Here's my take on weaker troll regeneration for a PC:

• Trolls gain a number of extra racial hit dice equal to their proficiency bonus (d10s).
• When injured, a troll can roll one or more of their racial hit dice and add their Constitution bonus once for each hit die rolled. They do not immediately heal any damage, but instead gain regeneration equal to their proficiency bonus until they have regenerated at least as many hit points as the roll total indicated. Trolls regain the use of this ability after completing a short rest.
• Troll racial hit dice can also be spent during a short rest the same as normal hit dice, but class hit dice cannot be spent on troll regeneration.
• If you take any acid or fire damage, you cannot use troll regeneration until after the end of your next turn; if you are already regenerating, you regain no hit points from it on your next turn, but it still counts against the duration.

Example #1: Joe the troll is level 6 and has a 14 Con, a +3 proficiency bonus and 3 troll racial hit dice. He gets hurt pretty badly in combat, and elects to spend two of his three racial hit dice to regenerate. He rolls 2d10+4 and gets a 16 (slightly above average). He has regeneration 3 for the next 6 rounds (total regeneration of 18 HP).

Example #2: Later on, Joe has received a short rest and regains the use of troll regeneration. He is injured in a fall and spends his final troll racial hit die to regenerate. He rolls 1d10+2 and this time only gets a 3 (minimum). He regenerates 3 points next round (only) and then the regeneration ends.

 

[RealAlHazred]

Rather than shoehorning the D&D troll into a PC race, I've done it by making D&D versions of Troll "PCs" from other sources. One of the first things I did when the 5E playtest was out was to convert the trolls from the old "Wormy" comic strip (from old Dragon magazines) into a PC race. The writeup I had was very old; I've updated and posted it to my gaming blog here: http://madgamingmadness.blogspot.com/2015/05/dungeons-dragons-5e-race-troll-wormy.html

 

[Zaran]

Sometimes I think simple is best. Why not just give them 1/hp per round regeneration with a vulnerability to fire and acid? In a world where Trolls are everywhere, there will be weapons to fight them everywhere as well.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Where is anyone getting that trolls are vulnerable to fire and acid? They weren't vulnerable in 3.5 or earlier. They aren't vulnerable in 5E. Was it a 4E thing?

 

[DEFCON 1]

It was never really vulnerability they had... it was that trolls would regenerate unless they were attacked by fire or acid. The fire or acid was the only way to kill trolls-- the final hit that dropped them to zero had to fire/acid or else the troll would regenerate.

 

[RealAlHazred]

Here I prefer the 5E version: the fire or acid attack turns off the troll's regeneration for 1 round, and the troll only dies if it has 0 hit points at the start of its turn and doesn't regenerate. Simple way to do it.

 

[Jester David]

I'd have the trolls regenerate hit points during a short rest. Or the ability to trigger regeneration that recharges after a rest.

Based on the existing races, it's permissible to have a 2nd level spell that recharges on a short or long rest. So that's our ballpark. Using a 2nd level spell slot cure wounds offers 2d8+3 healing. That's an average of 12 points.
So 1 hit point a round for a minute would be balanced. Or maybe 1+ proficiency when activated and another 1 every round.
Then have taking fire or acid damage end it early for troll flavour. Which shouldn't happen that often.

 

[GameOgre]

Just wanted to say Thanks guys! Wrote this post and then got slammed at work so have not been able to get back here till now.

I will reread these posts and sift through the great ideas and update the thread with my Trolls Race in a day or so.

I really like the ideas that kept it simple. Thanks again Everyone!

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Based on the existing races, it's permissible to have a 2nd level spell that recharges on a short or long rest. So that's our ballpark. Using a 2nd level spell slot cure wounds offers 2d8+3 healing. That's an average of 12 points.

What if it they regenerated one point as long as they took any damage during the previous round? And acid or fire prevents the regeneration from happening. That solves the issue with needing to activate the regeneration, which might otherwise seem weird.

 

[Jester David]

What if it they regenerated one point as long as they took any damage during the previous round? And acid or fire prevents the regeneration from happening. That solves the issue with needing to activate the regeneration, which might otherwise seem weird.

Yeah, it could be a reaction to taking damage.