Variant Traits for Humans in 18th Century D&D

Roles are a new feature designed to replace the standard Human and Variant Human options when creating a human character. Built for historical (18th century) campaigns, these Roles include new traits and character choices that add variety to human-only parties. The examples are historical heroes from the American Revolution that show how roles can apply to different adventurers!

Importantly, Roles are meant to define a human character’s education, skillset, and military training—they do not signify game statistics of real-world ethnic groups. Players choose a Heritage in addition to their Role, which represents their cultural upbringing and their first language but has no mechanical benefits. Some Roles have suggested Heritages from the history of Colonial America, but players should feel free to use a different Heritage or create their own.

When you create your character, think about how you can complement your party’s strengths or shore up its weaknesses. Your Role represents your training, history, and abilities, shaping the type of comrade-in-arms your character will become. Are you a battle-hardened warrior? An opportunistic intelligencer? An idealist, fighting for liberty and equality? Or something else entirely?

The example characters are all playable pre-gens for Revolutionary adventures! You can download their character sheets from the Nations & Cannons website.

GMBinder Link: Officer

GMBinder Link: Renegade

GMBinder Link: Scout