D&D - Why you should play a Bugbear in Dungeons & Dragons - Dnd Character art Rookzer0

[@edwardgiurgiu6812]

I'm currently playing a Monk/Warlock Bugbear. His whole thing is that he once saw an adventurer backstab his comrades. He was a loner, but ever since then he's been trying to make friends with others, just so he can kill them as he enjoys the face of betrayal someones makes. Basically he's chaotic evil, but the way I make him work in a party is that he tries to make friends with his group, but they don't know he's only doing it to gain their trust and one day try to kill them. But until then he'll save them from whatever danger, afterall, the only one who gets to kill them is him. Of course the way this is set up, is so that I will never get to a point where he'll kill any PC, even if we reach lv 20. If he were ever to fullfill that plan it'll be a time after the campaign. So that's one way to make a chaotic evil character work in a group. By playing the long game.

[@Rookzer0]

Ive had a secret neceomancer do something similar. Its all about the timing to releaze the trap. Oh no he fell in combat let.. me.. just.... RAISE THE DEAD! Mu hahahahaha let me know what happens. I love a good long game. Nicely done.

[@vladykashane]

My shadar-kai is almost the same way in the campaign I am in now. I'm a trickster rogue/ death cleric. God is obviously raven queen. The party I'm in the whole purpose of me joining was for them to help me get back home to the shadow fell which I am secretly brining them as souls and memory trinckets for the raven queen. As she likes to collect those things. But the catch is there is another shadar-kai running around that is trying to warn my party. I convinved them that he is the bad one. 🤷. My character will probably eventually die. Especially because he is against resurrection and one of my friends pc died because I didnt help resurrect him. But I have his ashes in an urn on my ccharacter. Lol

[@ovbrook3057]

I wouldn't say it's the only way. A character can be chaotic evil without going that far; just like every Lawful Good isn't a paladin smiting demons, not every chaotic evil is so chaotic and evil that they leave only murder in their wake. If you want an example of a chaotic evil that is still capable of functioning, and friendship, and cooperation, Bender from Futurama is a pretty good example. Or a particularly grumpy housecat

[@Chess289]

The way I play my chaotic evil warlock is his hobby is to perform. And so any heinous act he commits is to perform for his audience. In this case the audience is the party, and without them no one can react. So the party stays safe for his ego.

[@blkgardner]

I am currently playing a cleric Bugbear: my take is more of a chaotic-neutral lazy approach. If left to her own devices, she would basically be a forest dwelling ambush predator, having little ambition besides the next hunt. She is pushed to join the party by Hruggek, the bugbear god, to aid the party, and she has enough sense to put forth minimal effort when necessary. She operates on the principle that going with the flow is the last of least work, and vengeance is too much like work. She'd suggest a mass slaughter in the bullywog nursery pools, but is also fine with leaving them alone because that's less work.

[@Nyrufa]

Honestly, Bugbear would probably be more appropriate for a Sabtertooth inspired character, rather than Wolverine.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

Nyrufa definitely. Wolverine is a troll encounter. Definitely.

[@brendanmcnally3510]

I'm just starting to get into d@d and I'm planning as playing a bug bear

[@beastwarsFTW]

Wolverine is more of a dwarf, there durable and can gain a feet to use hit dice in battle. Also Wolverine is shorter then average.

[@WhiteIkiryo-yt2it]

Funnily enough, that is exactly what I am doing with a campaign where he is going to be a mercenary but also a savage murderer, just like Sabertooth.

[@jorndallermeaddrinker6968]

​@@twilightgardenspresentatio6384 nah Deadpool and wolverine would be like revenants

[@Dinosaurianationazation]

Monsters of the Multiverse just realized an Official Bugbear race, along with Goblin and Hobgoblin Races.

[@Rookzer0]

Nice

[@GildedTongues]

Actually found your stuff through google images, funnily enough. Really great work here, can't wait to see more.

[@Rookzer0]

Very cool! Thanks for checking out the videos, i have a lot of stuff up on the art station if you are looking for character art. I might set up am archive for people to use.

[@isebasforeberath4271]

I found it the same way lol.

[@saftoguy2133]

Found it the same way also, was looking for a cool new race to play as and I saw a bugbear thinking, "This seems interesting." And found this in images

[@Gavinwad]

Samesies!

[@erkman4900]

yaa just found this thru google image search for "d&d bugbear"

[@حَسن-م3ه9ظ]

The word "bugbear" might have originated as a mocking term to discribe a generic scary monster from folklore or campfire story, "bugge" is an old term for a goblin or scary creature, while "bear" is the kind of creature these monsters are discribed as resembling

[@afrosamurai3847]

Seeing your awesome art inspired me to make a fun and surprisingly effective totem barbarian/assassin rogue mix. Sneaking up on people to evicerate with my patented cleaver only to rage up when the silence is broken by their death throes and their allies turn to face the hulking killer.

[@Rookzer0]

Awesome! I'm glad you liked the video, and I hope your barbarian some some sweet stealthy RAGE maneuvers!. :Silently Rages in the shadows:

[@mchills514]

Holy crap! Firstly, I absolutely adore your art style! Secondly, thanks for giving some insight into bugbears! They're great RP opportunities for sure!

[@Rookzer0]

I'm glad you enjoy it!

[@calebrenegar1992]

Ursoglins. Bugbear is our slave name

[@Randomdudefromtheinternet]

Guys, just imagine a pike wall manned by Bugbear mercenaries, can you just imagine how OP that is?

[@Rookzer0]

Sounds like a good deterrent

[@tigrewulph]

Beer hat healing dispenser. Nice!

[@Rookzer0]

Drink a potion as a bonus/free action: hands not required.

[@blablablaksheep7210]

I love the commentary with the great drawing in the video!

[@Rookzer0]

Thanks

[@thecraver2697]

I don't usually watch your videos but here and there will watch one and every time i do I enjoy it. you keep the pace up while not going to fast. your art inspires me as well as I over the past few months have started learning. You really have the potential to get big cause the quality is there. I plan on sending a few videos to some friends.

[@Rookzer0]

Thank you! I dont know what else to say, you've made my day :)

[@tomm.catt.9911]

I have a character named Arlo that's a bugbear. He's a refugee cleric/druid. It's really fun to play a giant beastly looking dude that's got a heart of gold. He has a tendency to be forgetful and LOVES his pet unnamed bird species (looks like cross between a macaw and a hummingbird) named Daffodil. He's still a pretty new character, so I don't have a lot of interesting stories. He's so cool, I love him to pieces.

[@vernonhampton5863]

Almost forgot, I really like your art. Looks great, keep up the good work.

[@Rookzer0]

:D thank you!

[@logando3305]

Currently playing a bugbear rogue arcane trickster/soon to go into bard. He basically was outcasted from the village he came from (in this world bugbears are a mutated form of goblins) and is trying to do good to make up for it, though it’s more often than not he’s committing a crime while doing so (chaotic good lol). He’s a blast to play, pretends to be dumb so people look over him but a lot smarter than you’d think

[@Rookzer0]

Crafty bugbears are the best. Smart and sneeky.

[@logando3305]

@@Rookzer0 More often than not he’s somehow the moral center for the party too lol.

[@DaveTpletsch]

Don't mind me, just re watching these and commenting for the algorithm.

[@Rookzer0]

Let it begin!!!!

[@robgraham5320]

I've done Bugbears as classic 'Bugbears' ie, scary goblins/boogie men/things that go 'Thump' in the night. Kind of like a fantasy version of a very primitive 'Predator'. These are the things that parents warn their children about not going too far into the woods near dark, and the tavern keeper warns their patrons about. These are hunters in the woods and the PC's are their prey.

[@Rookzer0]

I dig the idea. Do you have them running around as a few hunters or is it a whole community of them?

[@robgraham5320]

@@Rookzer0 The classic game description means they typically organize into small bands, so maybe around two dozen 'adult' members. My interest in early human origins (late stone age) from my university days helps build a coherent presentation of 'hunter' behavior. Bugbears will hunt anything (humanoid or other prey), and any non-nursing female is likely to participate as well (because survival is an all hands participation exercise). More often being found keeping watch over the den and the young. But even that gives them ample opportunity to stalk and bring down any convenient game, that comes near enough. Also any seasonal roots/berries/nuts will be foraged to supplement the group's diet. Though carnivore heavy l like to make them bear-like omnivores. Humans/demi-humans make relatively easy prey, and bring readily adaptable tools and 'hides' (clothing/bedding/tent-cloth). So BB's have consequently developed a very 'opportunistic' predatory culture when it comes to hunting other humanoids. Some exceptional groups might even be capable of establishing a beneficial relationship with a village, trading heavy game/rare materials (of an animal nature: wyvern hides, wooly-rhino horn, mammoth ivory, exotic etc) in exchange for a stable supply of (livestock based) food and metal tools. But at times that would be hard for some, as ... well it's kind of odd to talk to one's food before you kill it ... right?

[@alexrobinet7576]

4.0 bugbear rogue is terrifying.

[@wrestlerfan1943]

My bugbear was like King Kong, Barbarian uses a Greataxe and luckily learned to speak Ape and Yeti and my party loved him. Koda was his name and fighting was his game and eating lots of fish and bananas

[@Rookzer0]

Sounds awesome. Yeti I wouldn't have guessed.

[@BlackWingedSeraphX]

I have a Half-Nymph, Half-Bugbear DnD OC. She looks like a very beautiful, pink-furred, tailless, Super Saiyan 4 xD

[@Rookzer0]

that is a combination I haven't thought of yet... well done.

[@BlackWingedSeraphX]

@@Rookzer0 Thanks lol. The idea came when we were reading old Templates in 3.5. One was called Half-Nymph and we wondered if we could apply it to a not so beautiful creature. We wondered the result and what I described is what we came up with. ^^ I wish I could draw haha

[@ellea5670]

Really cool! Someone has actually started recommending you guys in the D&D Amino 😊

[@mikedowns1842]

Came here gathering ideas to RP a bugbear in a 2nd Edition Temple of Elemental Evil campaign. The campaign is technically full (8 players) but "Grubba" is an NPC in the party who was captured while he was in service to the not-so-prestigious Earth Temple. One of the more enterprising players has conned "Grubba" into joining the party, by convincing him they are actually recruits to the *Greater Temple,* gifting Grubba a black tabard, and promising him greater prestige and ease as the GT's latest recruit. So assuming Grubba as a PC, becomes my way into the otherwise full game... Obviously there will be his dramatic rage when he re-encounters his actual tribe or otherwise finally learns he's been cruelly tricked and betrayed by the so-called 'good guys.' Meanwhile he will do a lot of awkward to uncomfortable things in attempts to impress his new comrades (see below for challenge)... I envision Bugbear society as a furry bunch of giant, muscled, lazy Gangstas: bedecked not just with stolen armor but also garish gold bling that sets off against their black fur really well. In my mind they are instinctually polyamorous, with a pecking order based on tribal 'dungeon cred.' This is ritualized by the common harem of tribal wives, who pick which males get mating rights with whom, based on in-the-moment reputation hierarchy both real and performative: Spontaneous rap competitions by the males to impress the females are common, spurring the women to do rythmic meat-cleaver dances while shaking their booties to the beat, and so demonstrating their own prowess in both cutting and rutting. So it will only be polite behaviour for Grubba when in the presence of other bugbears to arrange a performance and invite his party-members to both rap and share in the feast of willing bugbear wives, if they can... But on the more tender side, I envision Grubba as a dedicated 'family-gob,' in love with both the heart and powerful thighs of with his preferred mate 'Boonthag' and their misbehaving eldest son 'Squatch' that he can never bring himself to reprimand (Grubba knows it's his kid because Squatch looks and acts just like him). Give me your best bugbear 'colorful dialogue' to pepper into play, where a deep dungeon bugger befriends civilized surface elves and humans, and seeks to impress them!

[@j_v_k_]

this was a great intro to bugbears!! thank you. i think i'll be playing a bugbear in a one shot and this was perfect

[@OlieB]

Crazy how I stumbled across this, I must of used that art for a "bugbear headhunter" boss in a crypt with some goblin minions... Atleast a year ago

[@Rookzer0]

Ha ha well I'm glad it got used for a game. I hope it was well recived

[@RebaDerps]

Also, I ended up making a Bugbear PC. I learned that it’s a playable race in 5e via Volo. Turns out that PC bugbears trade out “Brute” for “Reach” and can make melee attacks up to 10ft. I made mine a monk so that with reach, I can attack and skirt away without using a ki point to avoid most AOO. :)

[@Rookzer0]

Super good combo! I think the reach makes them really versitle. I wish they were large creatures but the reach helps

[@RebaDerps]

Rookzer0 They may not be large creatures, but in DND they do have a racial ability called “powerful build” which means they count as one size larger when determining carrying capacity and things they can push/drag/lift.

[@Ragnarok6664]

Digging bugbears & hobgoblins 👌🏻

[@lordmars2387]

I played one from out of volo's guide beastmaster ranger. I tried to do the 10ft pole mimic check but with my sword and extra reach. Tapping it was not good enough. I wish I got to play him more but the group dissolved.

[@Rookzer0]

The reach is definitly a nice addition. Theres a lot going on for bugbears i really hope to see more in the future

[@draco4092]

I have an idea for my own Bugbear named Rin. Warning: it is quite long and I can't type proper sentences so enjoy the story! :) Back Story: Rin was part of a pack of other bugbears and his pack loved to raid towns and small villages. Stealing their food, weapons, and other items that they liked. Rin was much higher than the average bugbears (he was 9.0 feet tall the other bugbears were 7.0 - 8.0 feet tall) but really no different from the other bugbears, he would do the same thing his pack would do. Until one day he and his pack went out and raid a strange town that had nobody in. He and his pack destroyed every house wall and only found dead bodies, then Rin and his pack saw one person out in the middle of the streets a man wearing a white hoodie and carrying what looked like a stick. Rin and his pack laughed at what they were seeing, and one of the bugbears said "Look at this puny little human all alone in an empty village, I will take care of him!" the bugbear tried to smash the white hooded man, but his arm was cut off by another person with a giant sword that fell from the rooftop. Rin and his pack realized it was an ambush and hundreds of humans appeared from the rooftops carrying bows and other weapons. Rin and six other bugbears managed to escape the attack but ten other bugbears died from the ambush. But Rin was slower than his pack and the white hooded man, now riding a horse chased up to Rin and was casting a spell. Before the hooded man can cast his spell Rin picked up a big rock and threw the rock at the horse The rock killed the horse and the white hooded man now on the ground with two broken legs. Rin takes this chance to kill the hoodie man, in a panic, the hooded man placed a spell called Awaken on Rin. Rin kind of spaced out but still killed the hooded man with his ax as it still drops down and chopped the hooded man in half. Rin then realized what he did and ran away from the big group of troops chasing him and his pack. Once he got back to his pack they all celebrated for surviving the ambush and had a feast, Rin then saw as four bugbears carried out a hand full of pigs, sheep, and cows and the pack devoured all of the animals that came out. Rin was disgusted by what he saw and tried to be more proper of what he ate and, as he saw his pack raiding a town he was horrified of what his pack did and stopped raiding other villages. 2 months passed by and the pack noticed Rin's strange behavior, so the leader of the pack decided to banish Rin from the pack, but before Rin was about to be banished Rin challenged the leader in a one on one duel, the leader accepted his challenge and in the end Rin was defeated and humiliated by everyone in the pack. Rin was all alone but he had the skills to survive in the wild and wishes for a day when he returns to his pack and beats the leader who humiliated him. End of back story! Personally: He is the quiet type but will only say a few words but most of the time he will make a grunting noise as an ok.

[@Rookzer0]

Is your main goal of the awaken spell to give gim and int boost or the charm effect. I would totally let you just roll stats and rock it as most bugbears should be smart enough to know common and the alike. But i like the idea of a charmed bugbear trying to be proper and dignifyed.

[@Rookzer0]

Great Backstory btw Let me know how the character progresses

[@darrinstanfill6846]

Dude I read that shit without question. Great origin story for a bugbear. Particularly as a character to play rather than an enemy monster in the story(for obvious reasons) just sayin ya put it together well. The circumstances n all. I dig it. (I realize this is an old post)

[@Lowehart]

Bugbears make amazing rogues because of their Sneaky trait. They can legitimately surprise attack, as a 6 foot tall beast, covered in fur, from coming out of a 2 foot cubed crate. They're somehow very light on their feet.

[@Laurender]

Currently planning an Acolyte Bugbear Echo Knight Fighter to use in a Wildemount campaign. A missionary for Luxon, taught to fight by his gladiator brother to hopefully not die while away from the beacons. Also maybe a spy looking to get back one of the stolen beacons, or find a new one.

[@Rookzer0]

I need to get a game together to try out the echo knight it sounds really fun. Bugbear might be a good base for it! nice one.

[@DreamingFool9189]

Awhile ago I thought of a concept of a bugbear barbarian that uses a Pike, so with the pikes extra five feet on top of the bug bear's long limb feature that is 15 feet of stabbing.

[@Rookzer0]

Yeah this isn't a bad idea, I've seen it a few times. the way we balance it out for the game is bascially focusing on having to switch weapons as a bonus action. The Pike having disadvantage when enemies are in adjacent squares can get really dicey, but if you're a clever bugbear its really strong!

[@DreamingFool9189]

@@Rookzer0 Actually if I remember correctly it is oddly enough only the lance that suffers from disadvantage from nearby enemies.

[@beauberry6179]

I like your style and lately, I've been getting into Bugbears. They're awesome.

[@Rookzer0]

Great to hear! Let me know if you come up with any great character ideas or have any questions!

[@beauberry6179]

@@Rookzer0 Well, I'm currently working on making an Arcana Cleric Bugbear who was a lookout for his clan. He found a magical item that housed a forgotten god of magic. Instead of smiting him, the god tasked the Bugbear to be his Cleric, spread his religion so he can gain power, and collect magical artifacts. I'm stump on how to properly RP as this Bugbear. Great art, btw.

[@ericgieskieng4262]

My Bugbear assassin is so lethal.

[@Rookzer0]

i don't doubt it

[@Spookhunter7]

For a long time I mistaken "Bugbears" as "Umber hulks" cause when I hear Bugbear, Im thinking of a Big Bearbug monstrosity.

[@Rookzer0]

You know what, I have had that confusion as well.

[@gem8695]

I played a Bugbear Druid, circle of the spores, and I loved him... he was a gentle giant type who had a soft spot for ‘vermin’ such as rats, pigeons, raccoons etc, because he admired their will to survive

[@Rookzer0]

That's a good one, did you build out any physical properties for him being a circle of the spores? Mushrooms or lichen growing on him?

[@gem8695]

Rookzer0 yes! Not on him physically but he had a striped woollen scarf with moss growing out of it

[@michaelangelo171]

Bugbear monk, way of the shadow

[@Rookzer0]

Good call

[@christosgiannopoulos828]

*Pillar Men theme starts playing

[@beastwarsFTW]

I made a bugbear battlemaster with tavern brawler, it's terrifying to see an arm stretch 10ft and pull a guy toward them.

[@Rookzer0]

Thats pretty awesome, "Get over here!!!"

[@WizO774]

Bugbears in the older versions of D&D had scent. That’s where the bear comes in. Just an FYI. Great art

[@SwedishSalmonbox]

I have this character idea (first part stolen from tumblr) of a Elven couple adopting children kind of as a hobby comparably to dogs (not the greatest of parents, no, ). They wanted "a challenge" so they sent out word that they were intrested in paying for a bugbear baby. Growing up this adopted bugbear had alot of anger issues and was insisted to practice a lot of meditation and similarly. Dressed in elven clothes (though not exactly high quality) and not allowed to carry weapons, she still had to defend herself against strangers that bet among friends that they could take her down. Wise enough, though, to know it would not be great to attack them recklessly with the risk of hurting them to badly, as that would presumably put a price on her head. So she became a selfthought monk, never the first to strike. So though she lothes most humanoids she could presumably come to a liking of a party that respects her.

[@Rookzer0]

Cool idea. I think you could play with the hatred of humanoids and focus it more into a distant for selfish people or bad parents. Mighy mesh better with the party. Keep up the good work.

[@SwedishSalmonbox]

@@Rookzer0 I mean yes, agreed, I think that could be a learning thing during the games as well - Realising that there are a lot of good people in the world too!

[@gelatinouscube2342]

I Love my Hexblade Bugbear Khuvath so much, I played him in two seperate campaigns.

[@Rookzer0]

that's awesome I love being able to bring characters across campaigns.

[@joeno8212]

my first character after a long break from 5e is a bugbear! His name is baro, a former gladiator turned Paladin of Pelor (which has left quite a few pcs and npcs confused once he revelaed he serves a more human related god). He later multiclassed in to barbarian, went on to meet the ghost of his warchief dad, and is currently an ancients paladin 5/ancestral guardian barbarian 3. he also somehow became the group dad along with the main meat shield

[@Rookzer0]

Very cool, I like the visuals of a flaming paladin of palor but lifting the helm visor is a furry faced bugbear. Awesome.

[@streetstroller]

How...does a civilized character multi-class into a barbarian? Man modern D&D is retarded.

[@CuriousCritter17]

I have a player using a multi class Bugbear Rogue Assassin fighter which is crazy Op with second wind and sneak attack combined with the Assassins critical hits and the Bugbears stealth and sneaky attribute.

[@Rookzer0]

That sounds pretty crazy, How are you dealing with it? Has it affected your fight make up?

[@askwobbly3644]

I am currently playing a bugbear beast master ranger and I absolutely love him

[@kaelhound]

Got to play a Bugbear in a 5e one-shot. Each player was a devotee/cult leader of one deity or another (usually evil), trying to convert the town we were in/destroy it/both, but since we were all individuals we were kind of forced to work together in the short term so we didn't get flattened by the town guard. Whenever we did something which pleased our respective deities we would get a magic power/magic item as a reward. My Bugbear was named Hahd, a devotee of Rovagug. He was a Brute Fighter who dual-wielded greataxes, but had disadvantage on attacks with them both (because it's a one-shot, why not :P ). It was a fun little game. Ended up desecrating a graveyard, killing/scaring off a group of town guards, and storming a church of Pelor with a trio of destitute beggars who we may or may not have given magical cocaine to. Because sometimes it's fun to sit back, relax, and smash a priest's head into his altar so hard that both of them split open.

[@Rookzer0]

That sounds like a lot of fun, was that a home brewed campaign or did you base it off of an existing campaign? I really like that the goal was a little more "political" than just dungeon diving. That's a really cool concept!

[@kaelhound]

@@Rookzer0 It was just a single session game, 5e system, kind of generic fantasy-land setting because it was pretty well just a sandbox for letting loose and causing mayhem. It was a fun time though, and did help inspire a campaign that I've been cooking up in the back of my mind.

[@InterNutter]

I played a Bugbear HARD against type. Cleric of Lathander and trying so very hard to be a sweet boi instead of being a monster. Also had a nervous grin that showed off all his sharp, sharp teeth. Living embodiment of sunshine and fluff. It was hilarious to my DM.

[@Rookzer0]

I hope he did a lot of 👍 with a nervious grin

[@InterNutter]

@@Rookzer0 Actually a bit more cringing. Which was the funny part.

[@maclucgaming7229]

I want to play a Bugbear rogue.

[@Nyrufa]

Had an idea for a Fire Genasi, who's mortal parent was a Bugbear. Their elemental heritage manifests in the form of replacing all their fur with flames. So, basically, it's a Bugbear who's constantly on fire!

[@Rookzer0]

Ha ha flamebear!

[@Nyrufa]

@@Rookzer0 And what goblinoid doesn't enjoy copious amounts of fire!?

[@audioonslaught4167]

Just subscribed I am making a Bugbear build first time and your video was really informative id love for you to do more the visuals are amaxing keep it up but yoh gave ne just such a better idea of what I'm about to play

[@Rookzer0]

Yeah, thanks gor the support. Feel free to use the bugbear images from the livestreams for your character sheet

[@RebaDerps]

Found your channel a few days ago and shared via twitter. Your art is fantastic!

[@Rookzer0]

Thank you

[@rothern3761]

I'm in a 3.5 game where I recently decided to play a bugbear Named Burr. He's a Barbarian clad in armor(3.5 allows you to rage in heavy armor) who all about having fun. His idea of having fun being slashing off limbs, impaling foes on his spear and racking up "points" by killing strong opponents. Hes not actually evil however, or at the least, I don't play him evil. More of a true neutral with some psychotic tendencies. He's the kind of guy that will fight to bitter end if he's on your side but he'll be laughing like a loon trying to gut you if you're in his way. Been with his current party for a while, a mostly good party who have been trying to protect a growing community from raiders, undead and other gobliniod conquerors(The setting had goblins be a major force moving in and sending people fleeing for the hills, which we were protecting), and while all they want to do is help these people grow(and get rich with it but whats wrong from profiting along with helping?), hes more interested in the idea that the bigger this growing town gets, the bigger target it becomes, which means more fights, more fun opponents, and more money to make him a better killer, while still helping the people he's wracked up quite a few life-debts with.

[@Rookzer0]

Thats a pretty good use of a bugbear. Did he wear armor that covered him or did people react to him being a bugbear?

[@rothern3761]

@@Rookzer0 Full body Armor and a while hiding his race wasn't the reason he wore it, it was often decided by the group it would be best if he didn't take it off since he would send the wrong message, being a bugbear covered in blood with a psychotic grin on his face, he might send the refugees into a panic. I in character have joked about everyone being racist several times for this. It didn't help that a few years ago he was probably on the side of the ravaging hordes, at least until he decided that this superior wasn't the right choice in leader, having murdered his father and shamed his clan to gain higher standing. Bloodthirsty and mercenary he may be, Burr would kill a traitor for no charge.

[@Rookzer0]

For me The fun would have been dealing with people seeing a bugbear walking around. I hope your party had to come up with fun ideas to keep you from freaking everyone out.

[@jeremysmith9291]

Looks like really good vessel for a living weapon that can possess its wielder.

[@Rookzer0]

That would be a terrifying combo

[@FennecTECH]

I have a bugbear who is a **HUGE** werewolf He is a gentle giant. He is very niaeve but has an aptitude for picking up things

[@brianwillison4476]

You need more subs. Seriously you are wonderful!

[@Rookzer0]

:) Thank you, I'll definitly keep at it.

[@tiredjediknight3110]

Got my first game in years tomorrow can't wait to test out my bugbear trickery cleric

[@Rookzer0]

Nice choice! Let me know how it goes!

[@gg-er1vv]

sick drawing man

[@Rookzer0]

Thank you!

[@AngriestPeanut]

Fuck man, you deserve waaaaay more subscribers your commentary and art work is amazing

[@Rookzer0]

Thank you! Im still figuring out how to get my videos out there. Its a work in progress so thank you for your support!

[@vernonhampton5863]

I play a high level hunter/assasin bugbear. Essentially, with the sneak attack/assassinate/hunter's mark/colossus slayer combination, I can open a match melting the first target. My character is functionally The Predator. I dig it, I dig it a lot.

[@Rookzer0]

That's a hell of a visual. Do you have a sweet metal mask to go with it? as a DM I would feel obligated to give you a shoulder mounted cross bow.

[@vernonhampton5863]

@@Rookzer0 ... no, he didn't give me the gear you mentioned. But! I will homebrew a bio mask as soon as I get off work. I did give my bugbear dreadlocks and a Caribbean accent. Also, when activating Hunter's Mark I make the snarling sound. No one's picked up on it yet 😤

[@Rookzer0]

@@vernonhampton5863 Nice!

[@vernonhampton5863]

@@Rookzer0 keep up the good work.

[@coditrense6859]

I play a druid bugbear in my campaign, he's the only healer in our group. He's also a toddler with a criminal background; his parents were highway robbers in a forest until they died about a year before the campaign start. He likes to eat people, and will generally eat whoever the party kills, much to the chagrin of our vegetarian monk elf XD I play him as a sneaky healer/sneak attack character, less jumping headlong into fights.

[@Rookzer0]

Back line healassasin, I dig it. Watch the caloric count of those dwarves. :)

[@Yabuturtle]

I always wondered why they were called bugbears. It made me think of a bug that was the size of a bear or a bear with bug-like body parts. Which is actually pretty terrifying. xD

[@Rookzer0]

I hope yhr video brought some enlightenment for you

[@NovaGuardian985]

I’m about to start my very first D&D campaign and have chosen a Bugbear. I’m planning on doing some Barbarian/Rogue multiclass that uses guerrilla style fighting.

[@Rookzer0]

Sounds like you should have a pretty good time.

[@ChaoticSalad]

Playing as a barbarian bugbear, which sounds standard, but I only use improvised weapons. First encounter my boy surprised a mugger in a alleyway, raged and did his racial sneak attack by smashing a barrel on the fool's head. Needless to say, he's a Streets of Rage character; quite literally.

[@Rookzer0]

That is perfect. Well done. Bonus points for streets of rage.

[@arubuspyramidgod4125]

So I was running Lost Mines of Phandelver to introduce my sisters into D&D but also my Dad was playing who already had done the adventure path so I decided to shift certain things, make them funnier or more interesting, to really hook them in and surprise my dad. One of the things I did was add character to a random enemy. They did the intro, went into the cave, got flooded twice and I ran this part pretty on book until they came to Klarg the bugbear. Since they were level one, new to the game and only had three party members I made an unorthodox decision. The fight followed the book, they got surprised and Klarg did a bunch of damage but they pulled through and Klarg ran like a bitch. The followed him out of the cave where he was whimpering and cleaning his wounds. I allowed the to befriend Klarg, and he joined the party. I had fixed the number problem and kept my father on his toes. Klarg isn't the brightest or the most sane but, thanks to my sister (paladin) and her incessant conversion, Klarg repented for his ways as soon as they made it to phadalin.

[@Rookzer0]

HA ha are you playing Klarg or is someone else going to join the campagin?

[@arubuspyramidgod4125]

@@Rookzer0 He's an NPC would is sorta a foil for them to shine in Role-play

[@futurecaredesign]

Bugbear Race (MMotM) Halberd reflavored as a giant ass morningstar. 5 levels of Ancestral Barbarian 5 levels of Hunter Ranger 2 levels of Fighter (if you value nova damage more than utility and defense) or Ranger 7 for Multiattack Defense. 2 levels of whatever you didn't pick before Ranger gives us Expertise in Athletics, Defensive Fighting Style, Longstrider, Goodberry and Pass without Trace. PWT doesn't interfere with raging because it is used outside of combat and it will help us secure a surprise round, possibly giving us two rounds of attacks with +2d6 on each attack that lands. The other two spells don't require concentration or casting spells. Heck you could even rage=feed a goodberry to a party member that went down. Hunter Ranger with Giant Killer consistently weaponizes our Reaction because as an Ancestral Barb, the enemy will REALLY want to attack us. And then we get to attack in return. Round after round after round. That is now 4 consistent attacks per round. All with Advantage and at level 8. Multiattack Defense pairs perfectly with the tactic we have going on of pulling aggro. Fighter gives us action surge and a fighting style (Great Weapon Fighter). If you used all your attacks and Action Surge, you could potentially shove an enemy 25 ft backwards and off a cliff. Expertise in Athletics combined with Advantage on Athletics checks is insane. Polearm Master Great Weapon Master Bak the Gladatorial fighter. An ex-slave that fights against slavery. Athletics (Exp) Intimidate Acrobatics (background) Performance (background) Stealth (Bugbear)

[@witec83]

I'm currently playing a bugbear barbarian who uses a glaive, sentinel, and pole arm master. He generally stands next to the squishies and tells anyone trying to get in melee range "No".

[@Yontanian]

I'm building a lvl 10 bugbear Paladin Bard based around Winne the Pooh for a short 3 parter. Only this one is a really traumatizing, dark background about demons possessing him and the Druid Christopher Robin, murdering all the creatures of 100 Acre Woods for their souls. he's called Dubulat, and is out for vengence against all demon-kind. He's an old bugbear now, and with his exposure to so much demon-vanquishing with other Good adventurers is of a neutral alignment...offering out twisted encouragement to his party members, akin to the words of wisdom CR and Piglet would share.

[@Rookzer0]

That sounds terrifying, let me know how it goes!

[@Yontanian]

@@Rookzer0 Not knowing what the campaign setting or goal was before I started rolling the character, we ended up in the underdark fighting demons and vampires. So far its gone rather well both for backstory and class traits. We were allowed to equip our characters with 3 magical items. I chose an alchemy jug for daily access to honey, mithral plate armour and a sunblade. The DM then upgraded my sunblade to dawnbringer and gave it a Piglet personality. I've called it Porcha for flavour, it squeals when it scores a hit. During short rests DubulaT Pooh tells twisted but amusing stories of his youth. This is his bardic "song of rest".

[@giraffedragon6110]

The way how I made mine was I went WildSoul Barbarian where it’s described that your emotions are always at the forefront and are passionate. His fur is matted yellow with a straw like consistency, his eyes are big round brown essentially ox-like. He’d look almost approachable if it wasn’t for his nasty full grin smile and almost boar like face. With point buy I made his negatives WISDOM and CHARISMA. But his intelligence was above average. He’s very simple minded but he’s not stupid, thanks to his time spent in the Feywild he’s become a bit more of a prankster and knows Sylvan as a result. He’s got the brains to come up with a prank but lacks the wisdom to know to NOT go through with it. Armed with a maul that I’ve flavor texted as a copper looking fuck-off tree branch made from a metallic tree he found while there.

[@Rookzer0]

I like the idea of a fey touched or fey minded bugbear. Great work!

[@giraffedragon6110]

Rookzer0 I think I wanted to add somewhere that his eyebrows of all things was well groomed. And being the big shit he is he’d probably act like inouske from demon slayer (he’s the one win a boar mask)

[@Sunbowl]

This has aged well!

[@freman007]

I'm thinking about building a Bugbear Rogue for a campaign. His backstory is being a general bodyguard and enforcer for a local thieves guild that civilized him, somewhat. He usually has a bit of money in hand, and wears clothes of reasonable quality. He can't really be called a good guy, but he probably won't stab you in the back as long as he's fed... probably. His alignment is Chaotic Neutral. Somewhere along the way a female Cloud Giantess took a liking to him, and no little part of his adventuring is driven by him trying to escape her affections for a while. He likes her well enough, but when a giantess is smothering you, she's really smothering you. However, in deference to her, he has adopted Diancastra as his own deity. He's not smart, but he is possessed of a certain cunning, and being stealthy and strong has benefits when it comes to krumping heads.

[@Rookzer0]

I dig it! Have you thoughy about hia combat style? Will he focus on dagger or unarmed combat, I like the retired bruser as an archetype, a few good scars on his chin.

[@freman007]

@@Rookzer0 probably daggers. Retired bruiser sounds good for him. He's certainly not going to be a sage. :-)

[@freman007]

​@@Rookzer0 this kind of describes the relationship between him and his giantess. It's not quite that bad, since he's an 8 foot Bugbear and she's a 20 foot giantess, but it's not always comfortable. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIHHeZSEp5WCd7s

[@woutvanostaden1299]

@@freman007 reading through the story when you started talking about the giantess, I thought you were gonna go rune knight for sure.

[@johnrobia5460]

I've created a bugbear NPC he is a mid-level boss in an undead dungeon. Use name is Gore Undead Warlock and Denison of Mykur. He wields the longsword of Myrkur, a versatile Greatsword that houses the spirit of Myrkur, and challenges the mind of the wielder to constant wisdom saves to resist having their mind taken over by him. Gore willingly gave his body to myrkur for the promise of strength and Supremacy. With the power of enhanced darkvision and the aid of boots of spider climb he lurks on the temple ceiling within a sphere of magical Darkness waiting for his latest victim to offer themselves up to the chopping block for with every head he takes in his master's name the stronger he becomes and the closer myrkur comes to resurrecting in his true form.

[@Rookzer0]

Nice, cool miniboss. I could see that being a scarry encounter. Will you tease his existence or just spring him on the party

[@johnrobia5460]

Hes going to be sitting in a throne on the ceiling shrouded in magical darkness(that he can see through). He's going to use illusion magic to make it seem as though the Deep precipice directly below him he's an Unbroken intact floor. At the bottom of that precipice are many Undead. As well as the tomb of an ancient Dwarven King.

[@johnrobia5460]

They are going to enter the room and a illusionary small child is going to be standing in the middle of the area where the precipice is 2 lower than toward the pit. A lot of the party have good wisdom stats so they'll likely see through the precipice but not the location of Gore. If they notice the precipice I'm going to have his eyes and smile glint from out of the darkness before he Misty steps directly in behind the party grabbing the cleric by the throat and hurling her down the precipice. She will plummet all the way to the bottom and her spine will shatter on the Dwarven Kings sarcophagus. Her deity well then offer her the opportunity to resurrect in tandem with the will of the Dwarven King to clear the rest of the dungeon.

[@johnrobia5460]

The Greatsword that Gore Wields will be very attractive to the parties Barbarian who is the only one with a low wisdom stat. And The Barbarians player is very into the idea of having his character possessed by a malevolent Force so he can play his character a little bit smarter

[@Caseybroocks]

Garagax ( or Gary ) is my bugbear fighter and with a glaive has a 15 foot reach and with polearm master and sentinel if the party can find a choke point they put Gary out front and just start lobbing spells and arrows at anything in front of him

[@Rookzer0]

Its a good strat! Keep those door blocked. Do you have standstill or sentinel

[@Coksi]

You: bugbear barbarian Me, an inellectual: bugbear bard

[@Rookzer0]

I'm a big fan of the Hyper intelligent bugbear rogue.

[@Coksi]

@@Rookzer0 ooh that's a good one too!

[@Giles29]

I had someone play a bugbear in my campaign. He became a valued member of the party. He didn't play it as terribly uncultured though. The Mighty Thakk. He started out wanting to be the chief of his tribe but lost a fight to the existing chief and was in prison and waiting to be executed when the party broke him out and gave him a chance to get revenge on the chief. Unfortunately, this meant the bugbears no longer claimed him, so he stuck with the ones who let him out.

[@Rookzer0]

Nicely done all around

[@MarceldelLago2K]

I play a bugbear barbarian with a circus performer background playing as Path of the Strongman

[@Rookzer0]

Awesome

[@nolanhenry5282]

The size of them makes me think more Sabretooth

[@Rookzer0]

You could build that out it would probbably be easyer to build a sabertooth monk and just get natural weapon attacks. Good call

[@marcusblacknell-andrews1783]

For a heroic Bugbear, I’ll build one with Werebear lycanthropy. The idea is that he was given this gift in exchange for becoming a champion of the wilderness!

[@d.schaffer7366]

Awesome video, do one on Ghouls! In my games they are a Playable Race seen some interesting builds so far.

[@Rookzer0]

That's not a bad idea, I will add it to the list.

[@kristheheretic5103]

Currently playing a bugbear cleric looking for her missing grandson. so far she managed to adopt four angsty teens(the party) along the way

[@callmeb.o.b.824]

A monster type I really like and find a lot of utility with are Golems. Feel like there's one for almost anything you need.

[@Rookzer0]

Yeah for the most part since they are constucts you can customize the crap out of them. Lots of fun opportunities there

[@joannkozol631]

Playing a bug bear barbarian is like saying basically I want all of the movement speed of a mount

[@Rookzer0]

"I want to be able to smack people from across the room, but you know, sneaky like"

[@viorp5267]

Bugbears are cool because a bugbear Kensei-monk with a polearm can have 20ft reach with a melee weapon

[@edmoody2920]

First icewinddal game I played. I was a bugbear fighter who was shipwrecke and found a group of people who didn't try to kill me on sight (the other players) we quickly became friends as they found me at a fire cooking and they were starving. So we ate togather and I joined them. A few sessions later our DM added some Homebrew, we all said it was OK.t Well the ranger and me went off scouting I had medium armor except , we ended up finding some demon and killed all his guards who were disguised as local miners. We saved the town and freed the people however the demon came and was trying to kill use. This is when Four Rounds in a row the thing crit on me. As a dying request I wanted to die protecting the ranger, we were close friends and bonded over nature. So I ripped off my armor and ran with her taking all the demons blast atks saving the ranger and letting them flee to safty. She barley got away even with my help. So after a week the party avenged me and had a copper statue of me made in the town we saved. Oh the ranger had my cook book snd used it to feed the party till the end game. I left the game after dying. My schedule didn't let me play on that day. But the dm kept me updated and I had good memories of that game.

[@Chess289]

I have an idea for a bugbear druid who ran from slavery in a rage. She slew a druid of Eldath, and was punished with pure silence. After the punishment wore off this bugbear decided to follow the druidic way to achieve that sort of calming silence again. Meanwhile she starts helping others as well. But it's forceful, and she'll enter into any party without considering the party's feelings unless told. So she is still a bugbear with a temper, and is territorial over those she thinks needs help. (As if they are the children she lost.) But is trying very hard to be good.

[@Rookzer0]

Cool character backstory. Keep up the good work. I might steal the silence/druid combo

[@Chess289]

@@Rookzer0 Feel free to! Being pure silent is an interesting take, and may work as well! I want my bugbear to speak though. Whenever she does however, it sounds like a threat so she prefers to remain quiet. (Her desire is to achieve that complete silence again.) Keep making videos, man! They're really good!

[@grendel8342]

i plan on playing these things in the next campaign i join, though i plan on redesigning them myself because i dislike the general look of them (mostly the face and head). I enjoy the concept of lord of the goblin horde and the concept of pillaging barbarian mammal beast.

[@Rookzer0]

Like rubbery goblin from the hobbit movie?

[@grendel8342]

@@Rookzer0 my redesigns fall more heavily on actual myth and influences from biology rather than genericly copying Tolkien. Goblinoids at least how I see it stand out more when you get inventive with them using things like primate, rodent, or other small mammal anatomy while blending it with classic myth. But that's just me, people can do what ever it's fantasy after all and ultimately doesn't exist.

[@bigbadseed7665]

One of my players once played a female bugbear barbarian (bugbearian?) and basically made her an anime "gal." Seven feet tall, thicc as hell, with "bronze" fur on her body and a "golden" mane on her head. She was also equal parts bully and slut. Her solution to every problem was to seduce, intimidate, challenge the biggest guy to a duel, or fight her way out if all else failed, in that order. Also, her name was Ponk, and her catchphrase was "Get Ponk'd!" At first she was kind of a joke character, but so many of her crazy ideas ended up working that she became the de facto party leader.

[@Rookzer0]

always good to have a catch phrase for your character :D

[@Dwoods451]

Barbarian Rogue bugbear=OP

[@thunderbeargaming4453]

So my first DND campaign was a one shot, me vs my DM's special dragon stat block. At level 20. I ended up killing this dragon by first weakening it with some attacks, until it flew up with me on its back, holding on for dear life. I ripped off its scales and shoved my ax into its neck, and into one of its eyes. I ended up tricking it into falling for some fake gold I had laying around and shoving a spear into it's brain with 3 nat 20's on javelin tosses, and losing my arm. I also shoved the bloody stump of an arm I had left after it ate it and blinded it's other eye Fun first campaigns!

[@masonshriver9600]

Bug bear seems great not what I thought he would be and now am slightly regretting playing a werebear even though they aren’t similar

[@Rookzer0]

Ha ha why not bother. A wearbear bugbear could be a lot of fun. Or would it be a bugbear wearbear....

[@Bigsonnyblue134]

Hermit bugbear that hates society = the grinch

[@logancole5101]

Wanna play Wolverine? Bugbear infused with troll blood.

[@meirzamsky]

made a bugbear character recently, hes a barbarian but i wanted him to not be too cliché so i wrote his background lore to be that he was adopted by humans as a baby and he is educated and well mannered, specifically his adoptive mother was a retired maid so he has more of a high class mannorism

[@Rookzer0]

I dig it. Did you use the variant human stats? Or go with tashas?

[@meirzamsky]

@@Rookzer0 not sure, im a beginner and our DM uses a highly home-brewed system specifically for beginners

[@whatnottoknow2950]

This makes me want to make a bugbear bard or druid. He'd be really sensitive and soft.

[@Rookzer0]

A dancing Hugbear?

[@corvus_king3282]

Oh Gawd

[@jeannesmith9014]

I got the dungeons and dragons player handbook core rule book 1 and monster manual core rule book 3 v.3.5

[@Rookzer0]

Awesome, Best of luck on your adventure and combat. The monster manuals are always may favorite.

[@saiyanape6015]

Bugbear Drunken Monk ,,, grow up in temple , good cook, brewer and Brawler ... hit and retreat ,,,, high wisdom ,speak in metaphors

[@Rookzer0]

Pandabugbear? I'd allow it.

[@doobiesmoke15]

In the palladium rpg instead of large bear-like goblins, bugbears are small goblin like bears

[@Rookzer0]

That's awesome I will have to look that up. its basically just an angry koala?

[@doobiesmoke15]

@@Rookzer0 They looked like Winnie the Goon from the Darkwing Duck episode "Days of Blunder" Basically a cute upright walking bear ,dressed like a barbarian, sometimes they were illustrated with psychotic grins on their faces . They had various magical powers one of which was turning into full sized grizzly bears. They were playful but their games were all sadistic (towards other creatures)

[@bobbyfartz5591]

I’m playing a dnd game with a bugbear as my race. He’s a Paladin

[@borimorwathal9963]

I’ll just sit over here with my weak Arcane Trickster Bugbear. I have to say that bugbear rogues teaming up with any kind of frontline halfling is really fun/wonky.

[@Rookzer0]

I likr the idea of the bugbear hiding behind the halfling because of reach.... thats pretty funny.

[@mycobit3580]

Just finished a game my bard some how got shipped with a bugbear rolled that 17 for my charm person ability all bets we're off my party was loosing it in laughter so I had to play along

[@Rookzer0]

and so it goes

[@nolanhenry5282]

Trying to write a character for one now. Trying to find a class that’s best for both natural strengths

[@Rookzer0]

Depending on how you want to do it a monk with range is pretty great. But you could also focus on a barvarian for those crazy reckless swings

[@vernonhampton5863]

Minataur, man. Talk to your GM about getting the heavy build, for that strength bonus. I mean, come on, they are talking siege weapons.