Amazons
| Frequency | Rare |
| No Appearing | 20-120 |
| AC | By Armour |
| Move | 12" |
| Hit Dice | 4-7hp |
| % in Lair | 80% |
| TT | Individuals K; I, Y |
| No of Attacks | 1, 2, or 4 |
| Damage/Attack | by Weapon |
| Special Attacks | Leaders |
| Special Defenses | Leaders |
| MR | Standard |
| Intelligence | Low to Exceptional |
| Alignment | Chaotic (N or G) |
| Size | S to M |
| Psionic Ability | See Below |
| Attack/defense modes | See Below |
Amazons are found in remote areas away from any male-dominated cultures: forest, jungle, and mountains are most likely, with other terrains only if very isolated indeed, for example on an island or aboard a ship.
Encounters in other terrains being with raiding parties of 10 to 60% of the lair number (so roll 2d6x10 for the lair, which is somewhere in the general region, if possible, and another 1d6 for the size of the encountered party).
Amazons are highly adept with missile weapons and a group will be armed as follows (in addition to a dagger):
| d10 | Weapons |
|---|---|
| 1-6 | Short comp. bow + spear |
| 7-8 | Spear + large shield |
| 9 | Javelin + large shield |
| 10 | Long comp. bow + javelin |
All amazons are proficient with all these weapons; these are simply what a group will be armed with during a random encounter.
Due to their constant practise the amazons will attack at +2 to-hit with whichever missile weapon they possess (spears used as melee weapons receive no bonus). If fighting a group which is led by or mostly made up of human males, the amazons will attack with a berserk fury and receive double the normal number of attacks with the weapon (including bows).
They will never check morale against such a group, although leaders may call for a tactical withdrawal and if that is not possible, they will fight to the last man on the opposing side, or the last woman on their own.
Stats
If needed, an amazon’s individual stats are rolled as per DMG pp 11
and 100, “mercenaries”, thus strength runs from 7 to 16 and
constitution from 9 to 18, with a minimum 4hp; other scores run from 6
to 15 and base hp is 1d3. Leader types should be rolled with 4d6 (discard lowest) in order with low scores being boosted to class minimums.
The bonus to missile fire is in addition to any dexterity bonuses and, like them, is reliant on having no encumbering weight or armour, so normal amazons dress simply in practical clothing for the terrain they are found in, although if arrayed for war 20% will wear leather armour if they have nothing better (i.e., magical armour). Shields are worn on the back while combat is at range, negating the penalty for the bulk of the large shields they prefer, and adding 1 to AC from the rear only.
All amazons, including leaders carry main weapons designed for their specific strength and these will be at half range and do only d4 damage if used by anyone of lesser strength.
The bonus to missile fire is in addition to any dexterity bonuses and, like them, is reliant on having no encumbering weight or armour, so normal amazons dress simply in practical clothing for the terrain they are found in, although if arrayed for war 20% will wear leather armour if they have nothing better (i.e., magical armour). Shields are worn on the back while combat is at range, negating the penalty for the bulk of the large shields they prefer, and adding 1 to AC from the rear only.
All amazons, including leaders carry main weapons designed for their specific strength and these will be at half range and do only d4 damage if used by anyone of lesser strength.
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| 8th level (superhero) amazon leader |
Leaders
Amazon leaders are fighters if warriors (d6: 1-4), and clerical (5-6) of various female deities otherwise. Clerical amazons are proficient with and able to use the same weapons as above.
For every 10 amazons encountered, one will be a 1st level leader, for every 20 a 2nd level leader, for every 30 a 3rd level leader, and for every 40 a 4th level leader.
Each lair will include a warrior (tribal) queen of 5th (if less than 70 amazons encountered), 6th (if up to 90), 7th (if up to 110), or 8th (if 120 amazons are rolled).
A lair will sometimes (5%) include a magic user of 6-11th level who does not normally venture forth with the normal patrols or raiding parties.
Leaders of the 4th level upwards will have 1-3 assistants of 1-3 levels lower and of the same class (so a 4th level cleric amazon who has one assistant will have a single 3rd level cleric assistant; if she has 3 assistant they will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level). These assistants frequently carry their mistresses’ extra gear such as spare arrows and spears.
All leader types have normal chances for psionic abilities and disciplines. Leader types do not receive followers apart from the other amazons.
For every 10 amazons encountered, one will be a 1st level leader, for every 20 a 2nd level leader, for every 30 a 3rd level leader, and for every 40 a 4th level leader.
Each lair will include a warrior (tribal) queen of 5th (if less than 70 amazons encountered), 6th (if up to 90), 7th (if up to 110), or 8th (if 120 amazons are rolled).
A lair will sometimes (5%) include a magic user of 6-11th level who does not normally venture forth with the normal patrols or raiding parties.
Leaders of the 4th level upwards will have 1-3 assistants of 1-3 levels lower and of the same class (so a 4th level cleric amazon who has one assistant will have a single 3rd level cleric assistant; if she has 3 assistant they will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level). These assistants frequently carry their mistresses’ extra gear such as spare arrows and spears.
All leader types have normal chances for psionic abilities and disciplines. Leader types do not receive followers apart from the other amazons.
Companion Animals
Amazon lairs will contain 1HD of companion animal per 5 Amazons
(including leaders).
Each band of amazons will have a single type of animal as rolled below:
These animals will be trained to a high degree and even the snakes (a
holy animal for these tribes) will be able to respond to being called
by name and the queen of a specific tribe will be able to speak to
animals of that type, even if they are not from the lair.
In the case of giant animals, the lair or its surrounding area will contain large numbers of the natural animal too.
If the terrain of their lair makes it reasonable, amazons will also use normal horses for mounts.
Each band of amazons will have a single type of animal as rolled below:
| d100 | Animal |
|---|---|
| 1-50 | War dog |
| 51-70 | Owl, giant |
| 71-80 | Wolf |
| 81-85 | Eagle, giant |
| 86-90 | Hippogriff |
| 91-97 | Gryphon |
| 98-99 | Pegasus |
| 00 | Snake, giant poisonous |
In the case of giant animals, the lair or its surrounding area will contain large numbers of the natural animal too.
If the terrain of their lair makes it reasonable, amazons will also use normal horses for mounts.
The Amazon Queen
Treasure
Leaders will have the normal chance of having magical items as given
under “Men” in the Monster Manual but each leader has an additional 5%
chance per level of having a set of bracers of defense (1-5) or of
archery (6). These will be enchanted and sized for the exclusive use
of females (not necessarily humans). All bow-using amazons will have
at least normal non-magical bracers.
As amazons eschew the sword, they will not have any and instead will be armed with a high-quality but brittle non-magical obsidian blade with acts as a +1 dagger but will lose this bonus on any natural '1' on the attack roll.
Finally, any roll for miscellaneous weapons will be a weapon matching their main weapon (short-bow, spear, javelin, or long bow as rolled above):
“Roll normally” - Roll as per DMG/UA and any rolled miscellaneous
weapon which is of the correct type is retained; anything else
indicates no magical weapon.
Magical shields will be of any size but each amazon will carry a large shield for use in the phalanx.
Girdle of the Queen G.P sale value: 5,000 Xp value: 400
Great Bow of the Queen G.P sale value: 7500 xp value: 600
The bow carries a curse for any man who owns it (it need not be carried). He will fail any saving throw against a female opponent and his female opponents will always succeed in theirs against him. This can be removed by a remove curse acting against a 50% magic resistance or by becoming a woman.
Unless the curse is lifted, amazon clerics will feel a desire to single the man out in any combat and will always give a hostile reaction.
As amazons eschew the sword, they will not have any and instead will be armed with a high-quality but brittle non-magical obsidian blade with acts as a +1 dagger but will lose this bonus on any natural '1' on the attack roll.
Finally, any roll for miscellaneous weapons will be a weapon matching their main weapon (short-bow, spear, javelin, or long bow as rolled above):
| d2d6 | Bonus |
|---|---|
| 2-7 | +1 |
| 8-10 | +2 |
| 11 | Roll normally |
| 12 | +3 |
Magical shields will be of any size but each amazon will carry a large shield for use in the phalanx.
Girdle of the Queen G.P sale value: 5,000 Xp value: 400
Great Bow of the Queen G.P sale value: 7500 xp value: 600
The bow carries a curse for any man who owns it (it need not be carried). He will fail any saving throw against a female opponent and his female opponents will always succeed in theirs against him. This can be removed by a remove curse acting against a 50% magic resistance or by becoming a woman.
Unless the curse is lifted, amazon clerics will feel a desire to single the man out in any combat and will always give a hostile reaction.
The Phalanx
Three or more amazons can link their large shields and form a fighting
phalanx. The right-hand amazon (from their point of view) gains no
advantage, but the others gain the benefit of 50% cover (i.e., +4 to
AC). The phalanx can advance at a maximum rate of 9" (or the slowest
member), however it can charge.
A dozen or more amazons can form a circle, eliminating the single “weak point” at the right-hand end. However, movement rate for the circle is but 1". Note that the circle can face outwards or inwards.
Typically, amazons will try to have multiple rows in the phalanx so that opponents can be attacked by massed spears and an amazon lair will normally have enough long spears/pikes to enable the entire band to attack in at least two ranks and up to 5, depending on the number of amazons. The spears carried by raiding parties are not long enough to allow more than three rows to engage and the pikes stored in lairs will not be used for individual or melee combat.
All spears not in the front two rows are classed as pikes for the purposes of weapon speed.
A dozen or more amazons can form a circle, eliminating the single “weak point” at the right-hand end. However, movement rate for the circle is but 1". Note that the circle can face outwards or inwards.
Typically, amazons will try to have multiple rows in the phalanx so that opponents can be attacked by massed spears and an amazon lair will normally have enough long spears/pikes to enable the entire band to attack in at least two ranks and up to 5, depending on the number of amazons. The spears carried by raiding parties are not long enough to allow more than three rows to engage and the pikes stored in lairs will not be used for individual or melee combat.
All spears not in the front two rows are classed as pikes for the purposes of weapon speed.
Culture
Non-hostile men will be tolerated for a time and may be used for
breeding purposes, however male children will disposed of before adulthood. Good
leaders will arrange adoption, neutrals will probably sell the
children to those who need or want them.
Leadership roles are by merit based on a vote. Warrior roles, however, may be decided instead by combat if the loser of a vote believes that she is the superior leader. Nevertheless, it is possible to find normal 0-level amazons in important positions within a particular group.
Amazons are defined at least partly by what they oppose - the rule of men - and as such they are not necessarily united by anything else. This can make their societies fractious, rather like Brexit voters who can only agree about one thing and don't actually get on very well outside of that.
Amazons in Greek and Roman art are almost never shown with one breast; probably they would have used a simple leather archery guard over their chests, similar in principle to the wrist bracers.
Lairs are usually abandoned settlements in the wilderness somewhere, with native architecture of any sort mixed with more classical-styled buildings that the women may have constructed mixed in.
Leadership roles are by merit based on a vote. Warrior roles, however, may be decided instead by combat if the loser of a vote believes that she is the superior leader. Nevertheless, it is possible to find normal 0-level amazons in important positions within a particular group.
Amazons are defined at least partly by what they oppose - the rule of men - and as such they are not necessarily united by anything else. This can make their societies fractious, rather like Brexit voters who can only agree about one thing and don't actually get on very well outside of that.
Amazons in Greek and Roman art are almost never shown with one breast; probably they would have used a simple leather archery guard over their chests, similar in principle to the wrist bracers.
Lairs are usually abandoned settlements in the wilderness somewhere, with native architecture of any sort mixed with more classical-styled buildings that the women may have constructed mixed in.
Dwarves
Optionally, 1% of individual amazons may be female dwarves (possibly
with beards).
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