The Slayers Guide to Trolls

Trolls are a staple of fantasy adventures, often used when the player characters have advanced to the point where goblins, orcs, and even bugbears pose little threat to the adventurers. Trolls are poised right at the boundary between goblinoids and giants. While technically classified as giants, they are unquestionably the smallest of such creatures yet, standing some nine feet, tall they easily tower over even the greatest of bugbears. Furthermore, the troll's distinctive regenerative abilities make them memorable foes and a much greater challenge than a mere 9-foot goblin.

Trolls are often first encountered singly or in pairs, often as powerful, brutish strong-arms for a group of the lesser goblinoids. Games Masters often throw a troll into the mix to toughen up an encounter with a band of orcs or hobgoblins, with little thought as to the reasons for such a relationship between the species. However, as will become evident as we explore troll culture, such mixed-race encounters are not only plausible but also even quite commonplace.

The knowledge that follows has been compiled over the ages by those adventurers and scholars lucky enough to have encountered trolls and live to tell the tale. Games Masters will learn many behind-the-scenes details about troll culture enabling them to make memorable encounters with this race for their players, while the players themselves may learn a fact or two that could possibly save the lives of their characters.

Each Slayer's Guide features a single race, in this case the troll. You will find detailed information on trollish physiology, habitat, and society, giving you a fundamental level of understanding on how this race exists and interacts with the rest of the world. Players can learn the types of combat tactics trolls are likely to employ against their characters and Games Masters are given guidelines on how to introduce trolls into their existing campaigns, and will also benefit from material demonstrating how to portray these creatures to the players. A few troll subspecies can change the expectations of any encounter, as do the new trollish feats that alter the standard troll into something even more horrific. Finally, a complete troll lair is featured to be used as either an extended encounter, the basis for a complete set of scenarios, or even just as an example of how such troll lairs are generally laid out.

There are more to trolls than first meets the eye. After reading the Slayer's Guide to Trolls, you may never view these monsters in quite the same way again.

Inside You Will Find:

Troll Physiology:

Discover just how a troll regenerates and how this affects their very culture.

Subspecies:

There is more than one type of troll to be found in the world. Learn more about the Sand Troll, Giant Troll and many more.

Habitat:

The domain of trolls is a lethal place in which to spend any great length of time. Found out how to avoid the attentions of these murderous beasts.

Troll Society:

Far from being dumb animals, trolls have an evolved society within which each member must constantly fight for position and standing, lest they be rejected by their tribe.

Methods Of Warfare:

Find out just how trolls engage in battle and combine both raw strength and numbers to overcome almost any foe.

Role-Playing With Trolls:

Within this chapter, Games Masters can discover just how to portray trolls to their players in a way they will never forget.

Scenario Hooks And Ideas:

Introduce trolls into your campaign immediately through the use of some quick and easy jumping off points.

Trolls Characters:

No two trolls are the same, despite what fighters and barbarians in the wilds might claim. With this chapter you can create some truly memorable characters for your players, with unique feats and spells found only amongst trollkin.

Azkhak's Lair:

A complete lair is detailed, demonstrating just how trolls can work together as a group, as well as providing a complete mini-scenario to introduce them into your campaign.