Mimiga
Cold tea and cold rice are bearable,
but cold looks and cold words are not.
Hailing from the Feywild, the mimiga are a race who distinguish themselves from other humanoids with their animal-like ears and tails. The mimiga value tradition, nature, and magic - and yet have a knack for invention.
Children of Nature
Mimiga see nature as family and live alongside other animals and wildlife. They are taught at a young age to make careful use of resources nature provides to them. Even in the interests of development, the effects on nature are considered first. To pollute or desecrate nature is considered an act of grave offense.
Tradition and Technology
The mimiga of Illyria originate from the Hinomoto Union, a civilization that thrives on a harmonious relationship between innovation and development, as well as the preservation of the natural world. Buildings and other constructs are well integrated with the surrounding landscape, as if they were part of the environment since the beginning.
Several important innovations of the Union have greatly influenced life in the Feywild. They were the first to pioneer the papermaking process, and their discovery of gunpowder led to the creation of fireworks, a staple of festivals and celebration across the Feywild.
Mimiga Names
Mimiga names consist of a family name followed by a given name. Given names may have simple meanings behind them and are often two to three syllables long, while family names usually consist of four syllables.
Male Names: Akito, Arifu, Hasumito, Hayate, Hideo, Kusuma, Ryu, Satoshi, Sora, Teru, Touya, Tsukasa, Yoshiya, Yuta.
Female Names: Aika, Chihaya, Chieru, Dian, Eri, Gita, Kirana, Maki, Mujina, Rikako, Runa, Shizuka, Sumika, Umi, Yuni.
Family Names: Asumara, Kanzaki, Kobayakawa, Otonashi, Miyamoto, Mujiyono, Takahashi, Umakoshi, Watanabe.
Mimiga Traits
Your sylvan heritage manifests in a number of traits you share with all other mimiga.
Ability Score Increase: Your Charisma score increases by 2[1].
Age: Mimiga have a lifespan of about 300 years but reach maturity slightly earlier than humans, at around 15 years of age. They are considered senior by around 200 years of age.
Alignment: Mimiga are generally good, and believe in equal fairness towards all forms of life. Though they are generally lawful and value tradition as a society, mimiga are natural pranksters at heart. Even the most benevolent individual has the occasional tendency for harmless mischief.
Size: Mimiga have similar proportions to humans but are slightly shorter, usually standing between 5 to 6 feet tall and weighing around 110 pounds at maturity. Your size is Medium[2].
Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Animal Whisperer: You can communicate in a limited manner with mammalian beasts of Small and Tiny sizes. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you can only understand them by interpreting their gestures, body language, and movement.
Claws: You can use your claws to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier slashing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan[3].
Subraces: There exist four major mimiga subraces: kitsune, neko, tanuki, and usagi. Choose one of these subraces[4].
Kitsune
As a kitsune mimiga, you have a sharp mind and a mastery of at least the basics of magic. While revered for their profound knowledge, they are also known to be quite mischievous. Due to their magical prowess, kitsune mimiga often pursue a career in the study of arcana.
The kitsune mimiga mainly have pale to fair skin and a variety of hair colors, typically black, blond, brown, or silver - though 'exotic' colors including red, green, or blue are not unheard of. Their eye colors are equally as diverse, though usually brown or hazel.
Ability Score Increase: Your Intelligence score increases by 1[1].
Fox's Cunning: You have proficiency in Insight.
Crafty Magic: You know the dancing lights cantrip. You can also cast the disguise self spell with this trait. Once you cast the spell with this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast the spell using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells[5].
Neko
As a neko mimiga, you have a natural prowess in being nimble. Resembling felines, the neko mimiga are driven by a strong sense of curiosity and exploration.
The neko mimiga mostly have fair to tan skin and a variety of hair colors like that of felines. Their eye colors are most commonly brown, blue, or hazel.
Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity score increases by 1[1].
Cat’s Talent: You have proficiency in Acrobatics.
Nine Lives: You have the uncanny ability to survive deadly blows. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can roll 1d20. On a roll of 10 or higher, you drop to 1 hit point instead. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and when you expend one use of it, you can't do so again until the start of your next turn. You regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.
Half-blood Mimiga
Half-blood mimiga are those born to parents who consist of a mimiga and another humanoid race. Half-bloods may share the same traits as either one of their parents, and often retain the appearance of animal-like ears.
Tanuki
As a tanuki mimiga, you are hardy and resilient. Like the kitsune mimiga, the tanuki mimiga are harmless pranksters, but in contrast, the raccoon or dog-like tanuki mimiga are often seen as clumsy, lazy, and dimwitted.
The tanuki mimiga often have fair skin. Their hair colors are usually black, brown, or gray. Their eye colors are often black or dark brown.
Ability Score Increase: Your Constitution score increases by 1[1].
Raccoon’s Trickery: You have proficiency in Persuasion.
Witty Escape: You can use your friends as a distraction in an act of, not cowardice, but strategy. Once per turn, when you move out of a creature's reach, you do not provoke opportunity attacks from it if one of your allies is within 5 feet of it. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.
Usagi
As an usagi mimiga, you have quick wits and the instincts to avoid danger. Typically resembling rabbits and hares, but sometimes mice and other rodents, the usagi mimiga are often peaceful, and have the closest bond to nature out of all mimiga.
The usagi mimiga generally have fair to tan skin and a variety of hair colors, typically black, brown, or gray. Their eye colors are often blue or hazel.
Ability Score Increase: Your Wisdom score increases by 1[1].
Rabbit’s Instincts: You have proficiency in Perception.
Lucky Feet: You have strong feet which carry you quickly across the ground. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your walking speed, long jump distance, and high jump height until the end of the turn. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and when you expend one use of it, you can't do so again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns. You regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.
Height and Weight
You can choose to roll for your mimiga character's height and weight using the table below. The roll in the Height Modifier column adds a number (in inches) to the character's base height. To get weight, multiply the number you rolled for height by the roll in the Weight Modifier column and add the result (in pounds) to the base weight.
Random Height and Weight
| Subrace | Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitsune | 4'6" | + 2d10 | 90 | x 1d4 |
| Neko | 4'5" | + 2d10 | 90 | x 1d4 |
| Tanuki | 4'5" | + 2d10 | 90 | x 1d6 |
| Usagi | 4'5" | + 2d8 | 80 | x 1d4 |
Footnotes
At your DM's discretion, you may choose from alternative character options:
- [1] You may assign ability score increases tailored to your character: Increase one ability score by 2 and a different one by 1; or increase three different scores by 1.
- [2] Choose between Small or Medium as your creature size.
- [3] In place of Sylvan, choose one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for your character.
- [4] In addition to the subraces presented in this document, you may also choose from Additional Mimiga Subraces.
- [5] Choose between Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma as your spellcasting ability for this trait.
Credits and Attribution
- Taiwu and Castle: New Year's Decor art from Dragalia Lost.
- Yuisis (Summer) Base Art, Kou Base Art, Societte (Wind) 2nd Art, and Anthuria (Summer) 2nd Art from Granblue Fantasy.
- Car Shadow PNG 1 and Car Shadow PNG 2 from PNG Image.
- Stain artwork by Jared Ondricek (aka flamableconcrete).
- Animal Whisperer inspired by Firbolgs's Speech of Beast and Leaf from VGM.
- Nine Lives inspired by Half-Orc's Relentless Endurance PHB.
- Witty Escape inspired by Goblin's Nimble Escape Volo's.
- Lucky Feet inspired by Tabaxi's Feline Agility Volo's.
- Named after the Mimiga race from Cave Story.
- "Cold tea and cold rice..." quote is based on an actual Japanese proverb.
Created by dmblc using GM Binder.
Special thanks to Luminagi and LeGeneralhugs.
Detect Balance Scores (Outdated)
| Feature | Score (Decimal Score) |
|---|---|
| ASI + 3 | 12 (3.00) |
| Darkvision 60 ft | 3 (0.75) |
| Speak w/ small beasts | 2 (0.50) |
| 1d4 unarmed strike | 1 (0.25) |
| Skill proficiency | 2 (0.50) |
| (Kitsune) Cantrip | 2 (0.50) |
| (Kitsune) L1 spell 1/day | 3 (0.75) |
| (Neko) Nine Lives | 4 (1.00) |
| (Tanuki) Witty Escape | 6 (1.25) |
| (Usagi) Lucky Feet | 4 (1.00) |
| Kitsune | Neko | Tanuki | Usagi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 25 (5.25) | 24 (5.00) | 26 (5.25) | 24 (5.00) |
Changelog
[2022-Oct-17] - Version 7d
- Added note on how Ability Scores and Size can be customised, to align with design changes in official rulebooks
- Crafty Magic, Nine Lives, Witty Escape, and Lucky Feet have all been reworked.
- Claws now deals 1d6 damage instead of 1d4
- Updated lore on how Mimiga age
- Other minor document fixes
[2021-Dec-17] - Version 6f
- Readded and reworked the Claws trait
- Changed subrace names to be more consistent
- Nerfed Tanuki's Witty Escape trait
- Reworked Usagi's Lucky Feet trait
- Changed lore to be based on the Illyria campaign setting
- Updated wording and descriptions
- Added lore regarding Half-blood Mimiga
- Added additional lore regarding age
- Changed lore regarding names and updated examples
- Added link to Additional Mimiga Subraces in notes
- Added Detect Balance scores in notes
- Changed fonts to be more readable and ~fancy~
- Changed paper size from Letter to A4
- Updated credits and artworks
- Other minor document fixes
[2020-Feb-17] - Version 5b
- Removed Fey Ancestry trait
- Buffed Kitsune's Crafty Magic trait
- Changed background artwork
- Changed watercolour stain artwork and reduced file size
- Changed the version numbering scheme
- Changed some credits
[2019-May-30] - Version 4b
- Removed the Claws trait
- Updated artwork on second page
- Changed formatting
[2019-Apr-29] - Version 3b
- Added Claws as a base racial trait
- Changed descriptions for Kitsune and Usagi
- Changed Tanuki's Stubborn Resilience to Witty Escape
- Changed Neko's Sharp Claws to Nine Lives
- Changed formatting in the Credits and Changelog sections
[2019-Apr-16] - Version 2
- Changed Tanuki's Magic Resistance to Stubborn Resilience.
- Changed Raccoon’s Trickery's skill proficiency from Deception to Persuasion
- Changed the introductory quote
- Changed wording and formatting
- Added Changelog section
[2019-Apr-07] - Version 1
- Initial GM Binder release
Notes
- When using the Print/Generate PDF feature on GM Binder, make sure that the Paper size is set to A4.
- Print-friendly and setting agnostic version available here.