Core Races | Other Races

Ratfolk Source Inner Sea Races pg. 247, Advanced Race Guide pg. 150, Bestiary 3 pg. 231 Monster Entry Link Ratfolk are small, rodentlike humanoids; originally native to subterranean areas in dry deserts and plains, they are now more often found in nomadic trading caravans. Much like the pack rats they resemble, ratfolk are tinkerers and hoarders by nature, and as a whole are masters of commerce, especially when it comes to acquiring and repairing mechanical or magical devices. Though some are shrewd merchants who carefully navigate the shifting alliances of black markets and bazaars, many ratfolk love their stockpiles of interesting items far more than money, and would rather trade for more such prizes to add to their hoards over mere coins. It's common to see a successful crew of ratfolk traders rolling out of town with an even larger bundle than they entered with, the whole mess piled precariously high on a cart drawn by giant rats. Physical Description: Typical ratfolk are average 4 feet tall and weigh 80 pounds. They often wear robes to stay cool in the desert or conceal their forms in cities, as they know other humanoids find their rodent features distasteful. Ratfolk have a strong attraction to shiny jewelry, especially copper, bronze, and gold, and many decorate their ears and tails with small rings made of such metals. They are known to train giant rats (dire rats with the giant creature simple template), which they often use as pack animals and mounts. Society: Ratfolk are extremely communal, and live in large warrens with plenty of hidden crannies in which to stash their hoards or flee in times of danger, gravitating toward subterranean tunnels or tightly packed tenements in city slums. They feel an intense bond with their large families and kin networks, as well as with ordinary rodents of all sorts, living in chaotic harmony and fighting fiercely to defend each other when threatened. They are quick to use their stockpiles of gear in combat, but prefer to work out differences and settle disputes with mutually beneficial trades. When a specific ratfolk warren grows overcrowded and the surrounding environment won't support a larger community, young ratfolk instinctively seek out new places in which to dwell. If a large enough group of ratfolk immigrants all settle down in a new, fertile area, they may create a new warren, often with strong political ties to their original homeland. Otherwise, individual ratfolk are inclined to simply leave home and take up residence elsewhere, or wander on caravan trips that last most of the year, reducing the pressure of overcrowding at home. Relations: Ratfolk tend to get along quite well with humans, and often develop ratfolk societies dwelling in the sewers, alleys, and shadows of human cities. Ratfolk find dwarves too hidebound and territorial, and often mistake even mild criticisms from dwarves as personal attacks. Ratfolk have no particular feelings about gnomes and halflings, although in areas where those races and ratfolk must compete for resources, clan warfare can become dogma for generations. Ratfolk enjoy the company of elves and half-elves, often seeing them as the calmest and most sane of the civilized humanoid races. Ratfolk are particularly fond of elven music and art, and many ratfolk warrens are decorated with elven art pieces acquired through generations of friendly trade. Alignment and Religion: Ratfolk individuals are driven by a desire to acquire interesting items and a compulsion to tinker with complex objects. The strong ties of ratfolk communities give them an appreciation for the benefits of an orderly society, even if they are willing to bend those rules when excited about accomplishing their individual goals. Adventurers: Ratfolk are often driven by a desire to seek out new opportunities for trade, both for themselves and for their warrens. Ratfolk adventurers may seek potential markets for their clan's goods, keep an eye out for sources of new commodities, or just wander about in hopes of unearthing enough treasure to fund less dangerous business ventures. Ratfolk battles are often decided by cunning traps, ambushes, or sabotage of enemy positions, and accordingly young ratfolk heroes often take up classes such as alchemist, gunslinger, and rogue. Male Names: Agiz, Brihz, Djir, Ninnec, Rerdahl, Rikkan, Skivven, Tamoq. Female Names: Bessel, Fhar, Jix, Kitch, Kubi, Nehm, Rissi, Thikka. Ratfolk Racial Traits +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Strength: Ratfolk are agile and clever, yet physically weak. Ratfolk: Ratfolk are humanoids with the ratfolk subtype. Small: Ratfolk are Small and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty on combat maneuver checks and to their Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks. Slow Speed: Ratfolk have a base speed of 20 feet. Darkvision: Ratfolk can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Rodent Empathy: Ratfolk gain a +4 racial bonus on Handle Animal checks made to influence rodents. Swarming: Ratfolk are used to living and fighting communally, and are adept at swarming foes for their own gain and their foes’ detriment. Up to two ratfolk can share the same square at the same time. If two ratfolk in the same square attack the same foe, they are considered to be flanking that foe as if they were in two opposite squares. Tinker: Ratfolk gain a +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy), Perception, and Use Magic Device checks. Languages: Ratfolk begin play speaking Common. Ratfolk with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Aklo, Draconic, Dwarven, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc, and Undercommon. Ratfolk Alternate Racial Traits Replaces Darkvision, Slow Speed Surface Sprinter Source Monster Codex pg. 176 Some ratfolk spend as much time as they can aboveground and become very fast runners. This comes at the cost of their night vision, which becomes less acute after years of sunlight. These ratfolk gain low-light vision and have a base speed of 30 feet. This racial trait replaces darkvision and slow speed. Replaces Rodent Empathy Cleanliness Source Monster Codex pg. 176 Ratfolk strive to keep themselves and each other immaculately clean, to make it difficult for disease to spread. A ratfolk with this racial trait gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against disease, and whenever she exceeds the save DC to recover from a disease effect by 5 or more, she is treated as though she had succeeded at two consecutive saving throws. This racial trait replaces rodent empathy. Unnatural Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 151 Some ratfolk unnerve normal animals, and train to defend themselves against the inevitable attacks from such creatures. These ratfolk take a –4 penalty on all Charisma-based skill checks to affect creatures of the animal type, and receive a +2 dodge bonus to AC against animals. An animal’s starting attitude toward ratfolk is one step worse than normal. This racial trait replaces rodent empathy. Replaces Swarming Cheek Pouches Source Monster Codex pg. 176 Some ratfolk have developed stretchy cheek pouches that they can use to hold and carry small loads up to 1 cubic foot in volume and 10 pounds in weight, such as light weapons, potions, scrolls, and similar objects. Such a ratfolk can transfer a held object to his cheek pouches or extract an object from his cheek pouches as a swift action. As a move action that provokes an attack of opportunity, the ratfolk can instead massage all of the items held in the cheek pouches onto the ground in the square it occupies. As long as the ratfolk has at least one object in its cheek pouches, its speech is difficult to understand, and it has a 20% spell failure chance when casting spells with verbal components. This racial trait replaces swarming. Cornered Fury Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 150 Ratfolk can fight viciously when cut off from friends and allies. Whenever a ratfolk with this racial trait is reduced to half or fewer of his hit points, and has no conscious ally within 30 feet, he gains a +2 racial bonus on melee attack rolls and to Armor Class. This racial trait replaces swarming. Replaces Tinker Lab Rat Source Monster Codex pg. 176 For every ingenious ratfolk inventor, there is another who must inevitably test the invention. Those who survive enough experiments sometimes develop strange metabolic quirks that grant them heightened resilience and, on occasion, fortunate side effects when consuming alchemical or magical draughts. As a result, they gain a +1 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, alchemical weapons, and harmful effects from drinking potions or elixirs. In addition, once per day such a ratfolk can either increase the caster level of a potion he consumes by 1 or double the duration of an alchemical remedy he consumes or applies to himself (to a maximum of 4 hours). This racial trait replaces tinker. Market Dweller Source Inner Sea Races pg. 216 Some ratfolk, especially those of Deepmarket, are practiced at taking advantage of foes. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Bluff, Sense Motive, and Sleight of Hand checks. This racial trait replaces tinker. Scent Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 150 Some ratfolk have much more strongly developed senses of smell, instead of keen eyes and ears. These ratfolk have the scent ability, but take a –2 penalty on all Perception checks based primarily on sight or hearing. This racial trait replaces tinker. Skulk Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 150 Some ratfolk can blend easily into their environments, and move with surprising grace. Ratfolk gain a +2 racial bonus on Stealth checks, and take only a –5 penalty on Stealth checks made to hide from creatures they have distracted with a Bluff check (rather than the normal –10 penalty). This racial trait replaces tinker. Ratfolk Favored Class Options Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, Ratfolk have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored class. The following options are available to all Ratfolk who have the listed favored class. Alchemist (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): The alchemist gains +1/6 of a new discovery. Arcanist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/3 to the number of times per day the arcanist can use the consume magic items exploit. Barbarian (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): When raging, add +1/4 to the barbarian’s swarming trait’s flanking bonus on attack rolls. Bard (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Increase the bonus provided by the bard’s inspire competence performance by 1/6, and add 1/6 to the number of allies the bard can affect with his inspire greatness performance. Druid (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1 bonus on wild empathy checks made to influence animals and magical beasts that live underground. Fighter (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 to the fighter’s CMD when resisting a bull rush or grapple attempt. Gunslinger (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1/2 bonus on initiative checks when the gunslinger has at least 1 grit point. Hunter (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1 skill rank to the hunter’s badger, dire rat, or riding rat (Pathfinder RPG Monster Codex 177) animal companion. Inquisitor (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/2 to Sense Motive checks and Knowledge (dungeoneering) checks to identify creatures. Investigator (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1 to the bonus provided to a single skill (maximum +2) by inspiration. This skill must be one to which the investigator can already apply inspiration. The investigator can select a different skill at each level. Mesmerist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Gain a +1 bonus on concentration checks to maintain the mesmerist’s hypnotic stare. Monk (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 feet to the speed the monk can move while making a Stealth check without taking a penalty. This has no effect unless the monk has selected this reward five times (or another increment of five). This does not allow the monk to use Stealth while running or charging. Occultist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Gain 1/6 of a new focus power. Psychic (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Gain 1/6 of a new phrenic amplification. Ranger (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 to an animal companion’s CMD when adjacent to the ranger. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains this bonus. Rogue (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1/2 bonus on Escape Artist checks. Shifter (Wilderness Origins pg. 8): Add a +1 bonus on wild empathy checks to influence animals and magical beasts that live underground. Spiritualist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/2 hit point and 1/2 skill point to the spiritualist’s phantom. Summoner (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1 bonus on saving throws against poison made by the summoner’s eidolon. Swashbuckler (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/4 to the AC bonus provided by cover or improved cover. Witch (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +5 feet to the range of one hex with a range other than "touch."

Ratfolk

Source Inner Sea Races pg. 247, Advanced Race Guide pg. 150, Bestiary 3 pg. 231
Monster Entry Link
Ratfolk are small, rodentlike humanoids; originally native to subterranean areas in dry deserts and plains, they are now more often found in nomadic trading caravans. Much like the pack rats they resemble, ratfolk are tinkerers and hoarders by nature, and as a whole are masters of commerce, especially when it comes to acquiring and repairing mechanical or magical devices. Though some are shrewd merchants who carefully navigate the shifting alliances of black markets and bazaars, many ratfolk love their stockpiles of interesting items far more than money, and would rather trade for more such prizes to add to their hoards over mere coins. It's common to see a successful crew of ratfolk traders rolling out of town with an even larger bundle than they entered with, the whole mess piled precariously high on a cart drawn by giant rats.

Physical Description: Typical ratfolk are average 4 feet tall and weigh 80 pounds. They often wear robes to stay cool in the desert or conceal their forms in cities, as they know other humanoids find their rodent features distasteful. Ratfolk have a strong attraction to shiny jewelry, especially copper, bronze, and gold, and many decorate their ears and tails with small rings made of such metals. They are known to train giant rats (dire rats with the giant creature simple template), which they often use as pack animals and mounts.

Society: Ratfolk are extremely communal, and live in large warrens with plenty of hidden crannies in which to stash their hoards or flee in times of danger, gravitating toward subterranean tunnels or tightly packed tenements in city slums. They feel an intense bond with their large families and kin networks, as well as with ordinary rodents of all sorts, living in chaotic harmony and fighting fiercely to defend each other when threatened. They are quick to use their stockpiles of gear in combat, but prefer to work out differences and settle disputes with mutually beneficial trades.

When a specific ratfolk warren grows overcrowded and the surrounding environment won't support a larger community, young ratfolk instinctively seek out new places in which to dwell. If a large enough group of ratfolk immigrants all settle down in a new, fertile area, they may create a new warren, often with strong political ties to their original homeland. Otherwise, individual ratfolk are inclined to simply leave home and take up residence elsewhere, or wander on caravan trips that last most of the year, reducing the pressure of overcrowding at home.

Relations: Ratfolk tend to get along quite well with humans, and often develop ratfolk societies dwelling in the sewers, alleys, and shadows of human cities. Ratfolk find dwarves too hidebound and territorial, and often mistake even mild criticisms from dwarves as personal attacks. Ratfolk have no particular feelings about gnomes and halflings, although in areas where those races and ratfolk must compete for resources, clan warfare can become dogma for generations. Ratfolk enjoy the company of elves and half-elves, often seeing them as the calmest and most sane of the civilized humanoid races. Ratfolk are particularly fond of elven music and art, and many ratfolk warrens are decorated with elven art pieces acquired through generations of friendly trade.

Alignment and Religion: Ratfolk individuals are driven by a desire to acquire interesting items and a compulsion to tinker with complex objects. The strong ties of ratfolk communities give them an appreciation for the benefits of an orderly society, even if they are willing to bend those rules when excited about accomplishing their individual goals.

Adventurers: Ratfolk are often driven by a desire to seek out new opportunities for trade, both for themselves and for their warrens. Ratfolk adventurers may seek potential markets for their clan's goods, keep an eye out for sources of new commodities, or just wander about in hopes of unearthing enough treasure to fund less dangerous business ventures. Ratfolk battles are often decided by cunning traps, ambushes, or sabotage of enemy positions, and accordingly young ratfolk heroes often take up classes such as alchemist, gunslinger, and rogue.

Male Names: Agiz, Brihz, Djir, Ninnec, Rerdahl, Rikkan, Skivven, Tamoq.

Female Names: Bessel, Fhar, Jix, Kitch, Kubi, Nehm, Rissi, Thikka.

Ratfolk Racial Traits

+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Strength: Ratfolk are agile and clever, yet physically weak.
Ratfolk: Ratfolk are humanoids with the ratfolk subtype.
Small: Ratfolk are Small and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty on combat maneuver checks and to their Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
Slow Speed: Ratfolk have a base speed of 20 feet.
Darkvision: Ratfolk can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
Rodent Empathy: Ratfolk gain a +4 racial bonus on Handle Animal checks made to influence rodents.
Swarming: Ratfolk are used to living and fighting communally, and are adept at swarming foes for their own gain and their foes’ detriment. Up to two ratfolk can share the same square at the same time. If two ratfolk in the same square attack the same foe, they are considered to be flanking that foe as if they were in two opposite squares.
Tinker: Ratfolk gain a +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy), Perception, and Use Magic Device checks.
Languages: Ratfolk begin play speaking Common. Ratfolk with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Aklo, Draconic, Dwarven, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc, and Undercommon.

Ratfolk Alternate Racial Traits

Replaces Darkvision, Slow Speed

Surface Sprinter
Source Monster Codex pg. 176
Some ratfolk spend as much time as they can aboveground and become very fast runners. This comes at the cost of their night vision, which becomes less acute after years of sunlight. These ratfolk gain low-light vision and have a base speed of 30 feet. This racial trait replaces darkvision and slow speed.

Replaces Rodent Empathy

Cleanliness
Source Monster Codex pg. 176
Ratfolk strive to keep themselves and each other immaculately clean, to make it difficult for disease to spread. A ratfolk with this racial trait gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against disease, and whenever she exceeds the save DC to recover from a disease effect by 5 or more, she is treated as though she had succeeded at two consecutive saving throws. This racial trait replaces rodent empathy.

Unnatural
Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 151
Some ratfolk unnerve normal animals, and train to defend themselves against the inevitable attacks from such creatures. These ratfolk take a –4 penalty on all Charisma-based skill checks to affect creatures of the animal type, and receive a +2 dodge bonus to AC against animals. An animal’s starting attitude toward ratfolk is one step worse than normal. This racial trait replaces rodent empathy.

Replaces Swarming

Cheek Pouches
Source Monster Codex pg. 176
Some ratfolk have developed stretchy cheek pouches that they can use to hold and carry small loads up to 1 cubic foot in volume and 10 pounds in weight, such as light weapons, potions, scrolls, and similar objects. Such a ratfolk can transfer a held object to his cheek pouches or extract an object from his cheek pouches as a swift action. As a move action that provokes an attack of opportunity, the ratfolk can instead massage all of the items held in the cheek pouches onto the ground in the square it occupies. As long as the ratfolk has at least one object in its cheek pouches, its speech is difficult to understand, and it has a 20% spell failure chance when casting spells with verbal components. This racial trait replaces swarming.

Cornered Fury
Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 150
Ratfolk can fight viciously when cut off from friends and allies. Whenever a ratfolk with this racial trait is reduced to half or fewer of his hit points, and has no conscious ally within 30 feet, he gains a +2 racial bonus on melee attack rolls and to Armor Class. This racial trait replaces swarming.

Replaces Tinker

Lab Rat
Source Monster Codex pg. 176
For every ingenious ratfolk inventor, there is another who must inevitably test the invention. Those who survive enough experiments sometimes develop strange metabolic quirks that grant them heightened resilience and, on occasion, fortunate side effects when consuming alchemical or magical draughts. As a result, they gain a +1 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, alchemical weapons, and harmful effects from drinking potions or elixirs. In addition, once per day such a ratfolk can either increase the caster level of a potion he consumes by 1 or double the duration of an alchemical remedy he consumes or applies to himself (to a maximum of 4 hours). This racial trait replaces tinker.

Market Dweller
Source Inner Sea Races pg. 216
Some ratfolk, especially those of Deepmarket, are practiced at taking advantage of foes. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Bluff, Sense Motive, and Sleight of Hand checks. This racial trait replaces tinker.

Scent
Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 150
Some ratfolk have much more strongly developed senses of smell, instead of keen eyes and ears. These ratfolk have the scent ability, but take a –2 penalty on all Perception checks based primarily on sight or hearing. This racial trait replaces tinker.

Skulk
Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 150
Some ratfolk can blend easily into their environments, and move with surprising grace. Ratfolk gain a +2 racial bonus on Stealth checks, and take only a –5 penalty on Stealth checks made to hide from creatures they have distracted with a Bluff check (rather than the normal –10 penalty). This racial trait replaces tinker.

Ratfolk Favored Class Options

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, Ratfolk have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored class.

The following options are available to all Ratfolk who have the listed favored class.

Alchemist (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): The alchemist gains +1/6 of a new discovery.
Arcanist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/3 to the number of times per day the arcanist can use the consume magic items exploit.
Barbarian (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): When raging, add +1/4 to the barbarian’s swarming trait’s flanking bonus on attack rolls.
Bard (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Increase the bonus provided by the bard’s inspire competence performance by 1/6, and add 1/6 to the number of allies the bard can affect with his inspire greatness performance.
Druid (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1 bonus on wild empathy checks made to influence animals and magical beasts that live underground.
Fighter (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 to the fighter’s CMD when resisting a bull rush or grapple attempt.
Gunslinger (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1/2 bonus on initiative checks when the gunslinger has at least 1 grit point.
Hunter (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1 skill rank to the hunter’s badger, dire rat, or riding rat (Pathfinder RPG Monster Codex 177) animal companion.
Inquisitor (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/2 to Sense Motive checks and Knowledge (dungeoneering) checks to identify creatures.
Investigator (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1 to the bonus provided to a single skill (maximum +2) by inspiration. This skill must be one to which the investigator can already apply inspiration. The investigator can select a different skill at each level.
Mesmerist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Gain a +1 bonus on concentration checks to maintain the mesmerist’s hypnotic stare.
Monk (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 feet to the speed the monk can move while making a Stealth check without taking a penalty. This has no effect unless the monk has selected this reward five times (or another increment of five). This does not allow the monk to use Stealth while running or charging.
Occultist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Gain 1/6 of a new focus power.
Psychic (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Gain 1/6 of a new phrenic amplification.
Ranger (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 to an animal companion’s CMD when adjacent to the ranger. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains this bonus.
Rogue (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1/2 bonus on Escape Artist checks.
Shifter (Wilderness Origins pg. 8): Add a +1 bonus on wild empathy checks to influence animals and magical beasts that live underground.
Spiritualist (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/2 hit point and 1/2 skill point to the spiritualist’s phantom.
Summoner (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add a +1 bonus on saving throws against poison made by the summoner’s eidolon.
Swashbuckler (Blood of the Beast pg. 20): Add 1/4 to the AC bonus provided by cover or improved cover.
Witch (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +5 feet to the range of one hex with a range other than "touch."

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