Lizard Men (Dungeon Fantasy)

Lizard Men are a sapient species in Dungeon Fantasy / The DFRPG. They have long snouts and thick tails, possibly resembling dinosaurs with hands. "Lizard Men", as they're called, tend to live in hotter climes, thriving most in shimmering deserts and the swamplands of the Steamy South.
== Perception ==
While some malign lizard-men as "monstrous man-eaters", they are in fact insectivorous, living on fantastical swamp flies or desert beetles as a staple food.
=== Not A Dino ===
Lizard Men are likely sometimes confused with Dinomen, which is a grave insult to a lizard-man. Lizzes eat bugs, fish, reeds and such--dinomen eat people!This was altered in DFRPG, where both Lizzies and Dinomen are maneaters, but Lizzies are a lot more clever. Some Lizardy scholars might assume there's some common ancestor between the two, similar to the Wildman being a distant cousin to humans.
== Negotiation ==
Lizard-Men like practical things, like tools for day-to-day duties.Fanon Twine, string, ropes, whetstones, and simple but study lamps and lanterns are good for earning favor or buying passage. According to legend, gifts for Lizzfolk should be practical, as things that are luxurious or beautiful (such as scented candles, perfumes, rare pelts) are typically exchanges between colleagues, family members, or suitors.
== As Foes ==
Lizard-Men are tough, and those that take to banditry tend to be rather successful. Bardic tales near hearths and campfires are full of dashing rogues fighting dastardly lizard-men, usually winning by outsmarting them. Note that lizard-men always benefit from terrain adaptation, so they can be unexpectedly fast when traveling over sand or mud!
=== Standard Gear ===
Lizards tend to wear light leather armor (DR 1) to supplement their natural scales (DR 2). Successful bandits might wear impressively colorful snakeskin armor that gives a bonus to reactions. They're usually armed with polearms of all kinds--halberds in particular, but glaives, monk's spades, naginatas, etc. are also possible. A clever lizard-man warriors can parry strikes with their tail while defending with a polearm!
=== Mages ===
Spellcasting lizard-men aren't much different than spellcasters of other races, although they likely have a thematic lean towards swampy spells like Tangle Growth and warrior-buffing aid like Jump (allowing their allies to leap into the canopy). Acid spells might be appropriate, if leaning into an "acid swamp" concept. Mages might also be summoners, calling up the power of a mighty crocodile or magic-warped eel.
== Notes ==
== References ==
* Dungeon Fantasy 3: The Next Level, p.15