Holocron

Taung

Medium species · Coruscant, Mandalore (adopted)
sourceECsizeMedium
Tweaked from 5eYou already know this as 5e Half-Orc — Like the half-orc, the Taung are a strong, unusually tough warrior people built around STR/CON and shrugging off punishment, so play them as your half-orc with a Mandalorian paint job. ✨
Taung
✨
+1 max HP every level, once-per-rest drop-to-1 save, weapon proficiency picks, and natural claws — a force-insensitive attrition fighter.
Ancient forebears of the Mandalorians, the Taung are nomadic warrior-worshippers for whom war itself is divine rite, prizing unarmed honor above armored glory.
melee-bruisertank
●●●weight · Force-Insensitive, Second Heart, toughness
Ability focusConstitution-first with a Strength bump — a durable frontline body.
Standout traits
  • Toughness — gain +1 max HP at every level
  • Relentless Endurance — once per long rest, drop to 1 HP instead of 0
  • Taung Weapon Training — proficiency in one vibroweapon and one blaster of your choice
!Force Insensitive — you cannot use force powers or take forcecasting levels.
toughintimidatingnatural-weaponssurvival
Pairs witha Constitution-heavy melee class · the Berserker archetype · the Durable feat

Biology and Appearance

Taung are a humanoid species of tall and strong sentient simians. Physically, the taung are extremely resilient and are able to endure hardships many other species are unable to, which benefits their warlike nature as well as their tendencies to conquer planets.

Society and Culture

Taung society is one steeped in war, and the taung are warriors above all else. Nomadic and clan-based, the taung greatly value strength and honor, with pragmatism and ruthlessness being common traits amongst them. Originally waging war as a means of ritual worship to their god Kad Ha'rangir, the taung eventually became the Mandalorians, and - under the leadership of Mandalore the Indomitable - the act of war itself became the center of Mandalorian worship, and to wage war is to be divine.

Despite their volatile nature, the taung are far from primitive, and maintain a high priority in procuring the latest technological advancements whenever possible.

The Mandalorian armor that has become iconic throughout the galaxy originally began with the culture's taung founders, with their unique helmets and war masks being forged in the image of the taung's face, including slanted outer angles and a pointed chin. However, the armor is quite sparse among the taung as they believe that unarmed combat brings the highest honor.

Names

Taung names reflect their practical nature, typically choosing names that correspond to traits they deem desirable. Their names are rarely gender specific and can apply to either male or female. Their surnames reflect that of the clan they hail from.

First Names. Adenn (merciless), Atin (stubborn), Kot (strength), Kotep (brave), Tor (justice), Verd (soldier)

Surnames. Cadera, Fett, Keldau, Lok, Ordo, Vizla

Distinctions. Bony and ridged skulls, tendrils and fin-like protrusions on the back of their heads

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.

Age. Taung reach adulthood at 13 and live to around 85, though they rarely live even half the length as they naturally can due to their deadly lifestyles as Mandalorians.

Alignment. The taung live by the traditions and honor-bound code of the Mandalorians, making them tend towards a lawful alignment, typically balanced or dark, though there are exceptions.

Size. Taung typically stand between 6 and 7 feet tall and weigh around 210 lbs. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Claws. Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. Additionally, your unarmed strikes deal 1d4 kinetic damage.

Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Taung Weapon Training. You gain proficiency in one vibroweapon and one blaster of your choice.

Menacing. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Force Insensitive. While taung can be manipulated by the force, they cannot sense the Force. You can not use force powers or take levels in forcecasting classes.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Galactic Basic and Mando'a. Mando'a is primarily a spoken language and is very expressive with simple grammar.