Morrowind, the landmark Xbox roleplaying game from Bethesda Softworks, offers ten different races and dozens of classes to choose from when creating your character. As if this didn't offer enough choices, the game designers have also given players the opportunity to create a character class from scratch by choosing major and minor skills, favorite abilities, and a focus on magic, combat, or stealth. Using this character creation method, you can build a class that specifically uses all of that character's racial skill bonuses and other benefits to full effect.
We'll be looking at three homegrown classes for the feline Khajiit, the reptilian Argonians, and the wild orcs —three races collectively known as the "Beast Peoples."—. Each new class makes effective use of that race's skill bonuses and focuses on combat, stealth, or magic. For variety, we've thrown in a few skills uncharacteristic to the species. After all, not everyone inMorrowind is stereotypical. Use these homegrown classes as they are, or as a starting point. As with everything else inMorrowind, your choices are almost without limit.
Argonian Speaker-Who-Wanders The Speaker-Who-Wanders is a traveling mystic that roams the land helping the downtrodden, teaching others, and continually learning new insights from his adventures. He survives by trading in herbs, potions, and magical healing services. He protects himself and the innocent with a spear, his own agility, and the blessings of his birthsign. He prefers to travel without armor. The Speaker-Who-Wanders lives to gain knowledge of the natural and supernatural world. His love for all things living also makes him a natural, if unlikely-looking, foe of the undead. An Argonian Speaker-Who-Wanders is often the first to enter a vampire-infested ruin and clear out the nest—which also allows him ample time to study the ruins and the history of the area.
To create a Speaker-Who-Wanders, select an Argonian character and follow these steps:
Specialization: Magic
Favorite Attributes: Endurance and Personality
Major Skills: Spear, Unarmored, Alchemy, Mysticism, Speechcraft
Minor Skills: Acrobatics, Block, Illusion, Mercantile, Restoration
Birthsign: The Ritual
Khajiit Mageclaw
Light-footed Khajiit who follow the path of the Mageclaw study the arts of stealth, illusion, and deadly magic. Many become assassins by trade, often working for the Mage's Guild or with the stealthy killers of the Morag Tong. A Mageclaw considers the use of weapons beyond her own gifts to be utterly dishonorable, and kills with magic or her own retractable talons. She practices illusion and security skills to allow her to strike without warning and disappear without a trace. The Mageclaw does not think of herself as evil or good; but most do relish their work.
To create a Mageclaw, select a Khajiit character and follow these steps:
Specialization: Stealth
Favorite Attributes: Speed and Willpower
Major Skills: Acrobatics, Destruction, Hand to Hand, Security, Sneak
Minor Skills: Alteration, Athletics, Conjuration, Illusion, Light Armor
Birthsign: The Shadow
Orcish Merchant Smith
Many a Morrowind Orc has chosen to go into business as a Merchant Smith—a roving arms dealer well-trained in the
creation and use of heavy weapons and armor. Though they often walk the land laden with hundreds of pounds of stock, Merchant Smiths rarely turn to mounts, silt striders, or the Mage's Guilds for transportation. After all, a sale can be made anywhere, even on the road. They're not the best traders in Tamriel, but a Merchant Smith who can't charm a potential buyer can usually intimidate one into making a purchase.
Though they specialize in trade, Merchant Smiths are also fierce fighters that can make excellent use of their own wares when they wish. Only a foolish Merchant Smith fights unless he is attacked, since anyone with a weapon is a potential customer. Many join the Fighter's Guild or the Imperial Legion just to work out their Orcish aggressions on those who deserve it.
To create an Orcish Merchant Smith, select an Orc character and follow these steps:
Specialization: Combat
Favorite Attributes: Strength and Endurance
Major Skills: Armorer, Block, Medium Armor, Mercantile, Speechcraft
Minor Skills: Axe, Blunt Weapon, Spear, Heavy Armor, Athletics
