These gargoyles are different than the gargoyles that adventurers may encounter as monsters. Most monstrous gargoyles are a specialized sort of stone golem. These creatures were once stone but when they were brought to life that stone was transformed into flesh. Tough flesh - but flesh all the same.
Ability Score Modifiers: Str +1, Con +1
Ability Score Minimums: Str 12, Con 12
Ability Score Maximums: Str 22, Dex 18, Con 22, Cha 16
Hit Point Adjustment: +1/die
Move: 30ft, Limited Flight 20ft*
Native Language: Ulde
* the gargoyle must use thier action every turn to stay aloft
Playing a Gargoyle
It is the nobility of the gargoyles that defines them. The magic that breathed life into them instilled a powerful drive to oppose the forces of darkness. All gargoyles began with a good alignment (usually G/N). That may eventually change but seldom does.
Age
Gargoyles are ageless. They are effectively immortal.
Size and Shape
Gargoyles are man sized with rough features, small horns and large bat wings.
Gender and Reproduction
Gargoyles are genderless but are often given masculine names and because of this assume male personalities. They cannot reproduce. They are “ill equipped” for the task.
Names
Gargoyles are named by the cleric that brings them to life. They are typically given the sort of “simple, sturdy” names that a commoner would have such as Jacob, Simon or Thomas.
Gargoyle Traits
Rocky Flesh: Gargoyles have a natural armor class of 13 (which can be raised by Dex). This improves by 1 every 4th level (AC 14 at 5th level, 15 at 9th and so on). They cannot wear armor but can benefit from shields and magic items that improve armor class such as rings and cloaks of protection. The flesh of the gargoyle also grants resistance to non magical slashing weapons.
Death and Dying: When a gargoyle is reduced to 0 hit points their first death save is automatically successful. Reincarnation does not work on dead gargoyles. Any attempt to reincarnate them will destroy the body.
Claws: Gargoyles can use their claws as weapons and are proficient with them. They inflict d3 piercing damage. At 3rd level the damage is d4, at 6th lvl they are considered magic weapons and at 9th lvl the damage is d6. Claws are considered light weapons so can be used for off hand attacks.
Slow Healers: Gargoyles only recover half the usual hit points from using hit dice when they rest (so a gargoyle fighter with a 16 Con who uses one of thier d10 hit dice and rolls a 6 would normally get back 9 hit points but this is halved to 5).
Heavy Sleepers: Gargoyles fall asleep easily. They sleep very soundly and can be hard to wake up. They get disadvantage on any rolls required to do so.
Immutable Form: Gargoyles are immune to any spell or effect that would alter their form.
Already Stone: Gargoyles cannot be turned to stone are immune to the paralyzed and petrified conditions.
Fearsome: The fearsome appearance of gargoyles gives them advantage on intimidate tests.
Made Not Born: Gargoyles have no backgrounds.
Limited Aura: Gargoyles can only attune themselves to 1 magic item rather than the usual limit of 3.
Gargoyle Class Options
Open Classes: Fighter, Paladin, Wizard
Closed Classes: Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock
Gargoyle fighters and paladins may choose from the following fighting styles in addition to the usual options:
Claws: The damage caused by your claws is improved 1 “step” (d3 to d4, d4 to d6 and d6 to d8). You may also apply your strength modifier to damage when using claws as an off hand weapon.
Wings: You may use your wings as a shield, giving you a +2 AC. If you also already have a shield they provide +1 AC. You may also use a bonus action instead of your regular action in addition to your move action to fly.
Fighter
Gargoyle fighters Battle Masters can use the following maneuver in addition to the usual options:
Wing Buffet: When you aren’t flying you may expend a superiority die to attack with your wings (this doesn’t require an action or bonus action). The wings are considered bludgeoning weapons that are strength based, you have proficiency with them and they do d6 damage (plus your strength bonus). If you hit, you may add your superiority die to the damage.
Paladin
Gargoyle paladins may use smite with their claws.
They may not take the Oath of the Ancients.
They usually take the Oath of Devotion.
The flesh of gargoyle paladins who take the Oath of Vengeance turns black and their eyes glow red with the force of their righteous anger. This unsettles animals and low level NPCs. It may cause morale issues (the exact effects are left to the GM to adjudicate).
Wizard
Gargoyle wizards exist but are very rare. When a gargoyle becomes a wizard it’s wings drop off, its features are twisted, it loses 2 pts of Charisma and it becomes a grotesque.
A grotesque’s spells are etched into it’s flesh as runes. Because of this, they don’t need a spell book or an arcane focus. Their bodies are their focus.
Gargoyle wizards can’t have familiars.
They make concentration tests at advantage.
