A web enhancement for d12 Monthly, Issue 21 (Hills & Mountains). Sometimes articles get cut from the final issue for a number of reasons, so I have decided to include them as bonus web content. Enjoy!
Ogres have been mistaken for giants for a millennia or more. Just because they are giant in size, does not make them giants in nature.
Bred for the First Great Wars, ogres have been a scourge of civilised races ever since. Bred from human and orc stock by The Crazed Mage at the height of the wars, they filled their role during the wars well.
After the wars were over, the ogres were scattered to the four winds, left to their own devices. Over the centuries, they have mutated further into various breeds.
Ogre Variants
Over the generations, a few new varieties have started being reported.
Battle Ogre
These are the standard ogres (if that term can be used) that most unfortunate people encounter. They were built for battle and continue their reign of terror on the unsuspecting.
See Monster Mash article in Issue 10 of d12 Monthly for a list of alternate traits for Ogres.
Skin Ogre
Skin Ogres were part of the early experiments created for the First Great Wars. These beasts were driven insane by the process and were quickly abandoned as they were too crazy to control.
Unfortunately, they have bred and live on (although much rarer than the standard type of ogre).
They have a habit of pulling their skin back and securing it with pins and nails to make themselves look even more fierce and crazed to enemies.
They also have a habit of flaying the skin of dead opponents and patching it onto themselves. With so many victim’s skin patches covering them, some skin ogres end up looking like undead to the untrained.
Traits
Skin Ogres are the same as regular ogres with the following additions:
Fear Aura: Their horrid appearance makes even the strong of heart think twice. Anyone who comes within 30-ft of a Skin Ogre must make a moderate WIS save (or save vs. Fear) or be shaken (-2 to all attacks and damage). If they fail the save by 5 or more, they flee for 2D4 rounds.
Frenzy: Due to their psychological instability, Skin Ogres can enter into a frenzied state after being wounded for the first time (take any amount of damage from an attack). While in a frenzy, Skin Ogres gain an additional attack each round, and gain a +2 dodge bonus to their AC as they convulse and jerk around. This lasts for D4 rounds and after this, the Skin Ogre is fatigued.
Ogre-Mage
These intelligent ogres are as skilled with magic as more civilised races are. They pull magical studies from hags, witches, and regular mages, combining them into an inconsistent magical mess.
It works however, and these devious spellcasters often lead lesser ogres and other vicious humanoids. They lust after magical knowledge and treasures, and often send their underlings to go in search of them.
Ogre Mage Spell List
These spells are taken from the OSE Advanced Player’s Tome. Feel free to add to these from other sources.
Choose 6 spells from below, which the Ogre Mage can use 1/day. You can also select them randomly, rolling a D6 for spell level and then the appropriate die type to determine the spell.
Level 1
Charm Person
Protection from Good
Read Languages
Sleep
Level 2
Detect Good
ESP
Locate Object
Mirror Image
Level 3
Clairvoyance
Dispel Magic
Haste
Infravision
Protection from Good, 10-ft Radius
Protection from Normal Missiles
Water Breathing
Level 4
Charm Monster
Confusion
Dimension Door
Growth of Plants
Polymorph Other
Polymorph Self
Curse
Wizard Eye
Level 5
Animate Dead
Conjure Elemental
Feeblemind
Hold Monster
Magic Jar
Teleport
Level 6
Anti-Magic Shell
Control Weather
Death Spell
Geas
Example Ogre-Mage
Karast Bonebreaker is an Ogre-Mage who lives on the northern edge of Bloodwood. He has a number of minions including battle ogres, orcs, and a handful of goblins. He has also used his charm monster ability to have some unique local guards.
He lives in a half-flooded cave network, which houses himself, his minions, and his growing wealth; which he sends out his mixed band to rob and pillage from surrounding settlements and passing merchant caravans.
Armour Class: 14 (Natural armour + DEX)
Hit Dice (HP): 6 (34)
Move: 30-ft (12”)
Abilities: S 18 C 14 D 10 I 15 W 11 Ch 12
Attacks: 1 x Weapon (Two-handed Sword)
Damage: D10+4
Morale: High
Special Abilities:
Can cast the following spells once per day: Charm Monster, Feeblemind, Locate Object, Polymorph Other, Water Breathing, and Wizard Eye.
Issue 21 is out now! Download today.
While You’re Here…
Since 2021 I have been publishing d12 Monthly, a monthly zine, which has a ton of articles for any edition of Dungeons and Dragons.
Printed copies are available in my store. The PDF is available on DriveThruRPG and you can get both, plus support my work, via my Patreon.
I will also be releasing some more products in the near future.
Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter or my contact page any time.
Very well done, I like the spell list for the Ogre Mage. They are already so formidable and tweaking their spells is very underhanded.
Thanks, James. I appreciate it. As for being underhanded: that’s the GMs job isn’t it? 🙂
Love the variation, keeps the players on their toes when they think it is just going to be the same old…Great stuff.
Thanks, Tim! I always try and keep the players on their toes.
These are great! I especially like the ogre-mage. I now want to make an ogre-mage NPC who has survived since the Great War and just wants to be left alone. Depending on how the party approaches he could be a knowledgeable ally or a savage foe. This post really got my creative juices flowing.
Awesome stuff! Love hearing this. And your idea about the ogre-mage is a great one. Might steal it. 🙂
Ogre variants are a great idea. Makes the game a little more exciting when then players are like what!!!!
Totally. I love mixing up monsters and giving them some unique abilities. Thanks for the comment.