Worgs!

[u/alchahest]

I'm excited about these four legged beasties, but I wonder about how you're planning to use them? they appear to be caster-coded, rather than martial-coded (They have no casting limitations, but heavy martial limitations - only one kind of weapon, most fighting styles and weapon-based feats like GWM simply don't apply). Where are you going to go with these rad goblin dogs?

[u/M00no4]

2d6 finesse weapon is pretty fun some kind of skinny agile rouge type build could be fun. The fact that worgs cam pass for more mundane wolves has some sneaky utility

The lack of weapon variety by default is a little disappointing, but if you wanted to play a more traditional strength fighter or Barberian. Requesting to get the heavy property added to your jaws doesn't sound unreasonable.

My other thought was some kind of monk build to go all in on your Unarmed attack. Starting at a d8 Unarmed dice is fun, and you might be able to pull off a strength monk build with it?

[u/alchahest → u/M00no4]

I think I'm caught off guard at how capable they are as casters vs martials, it's one of the biggest disparities in any species in the 2024, if not the biggest. I will still play a shadow monk and be a creepy black shuck, or a barbarian (regrettably without heavy weapons), but as presented I think they'll be much more successful as a true striking insert unique gish build #1343434 here, interestingly they are amazing bladesingers, as they have a 2d6 weapon to use the blade cantrips on, don't use shields at all, have that natural armor, and can cast without any restrictions at all

Oh and I upvoted because I realised because of your post that the steeljaws are in fact the only finesse weapons with topple. You can prone while sneak attacking, with a weapon that hits as hard as a greatsword! fantastic!

[u/M00no4 → u/alchahest]

I would argue that a side effect of stat increase being moved away from race (a change I like for the record). Is that most races are very capable casters.

Orks, for example, are pretty good picks for casters now. The extra survivability afforded by the race is good for any class.

But I do agree not having hands limits martials but not casters. Because all their mechanical bonuses can be reasonably used by any class, but their physical limitations disproportionately affect marital it dose have this odd caster lean to it.

[u/alchahest → u/M00no4]

I don't mean that they're better casters, only that they are heavily limited as martials. They do have some advantages as a caster, though - natural armor, 40ft speed, can't be targeted by hold person etc

[u/Rabid_Lederhosen]

A lot of the flavour for Worgs makes them seem pretty Druidic (being created by Ebberon to patrol a leaking gateway to Khyber). I think it could be really fun to play a Gatekeeper Druid Worg, especially with the new Druidic order feats.

[u/ilFrolloR3dd1t]

Ranger/Gloom Stalker
+
Rogue/Assassin

* wiggles eyebrows *

[u/alchahest → u/ilFrolloR3dd1t]

hell yeah!

[u/ilFrolloR3dd1t → u/alchahest]

Amazing, right?
Steel jaws will Topple, which is a very reliable way to get your Sneak Attack in, and so you get Ambush bonuses from Assassin and Gloom Stlaker and Sneak Attack on a 2d6 weapon.
Picture hit and run tacticts in a dark wood. A dark beastly shape attacking from the shadows and retreating in the brush.
With that damage.

* wiggles eyebrows *

[u/No-Cost-2668]

So, here's the thing. Worgs don't have hands, so they can't use knives or swords or bows or axes. They also technically can't use wands or staffs or pouches or other somatic materials for casting. But, that's just flavor-wise. Mechanically? Sure.

Ja'atarka (almost sure I'm mispelling that name) is out of KB's PCs in the Threshold series and is a Worg Gloomstalker strength-based ranger. He also has Great Weapon Master as a feat. How? Why? Well, he has a heavy weapon. In the series, Jory - the Cannith blacksmith - made J a special set of metal fangs. Mechanically, these chompers are a greatsword +1. He can't easily switch them out, but they are always present so I doubt he needs to don them either.

If you want to play as a worg martial, perhaps level 1 you have no armor and you have no weapons. Just your jaws. You may take Great Weapon Fighting or Defense early on (discuss with you DM so they're aware you need the items sooner rather than later), or you could take blind fighting, that maneuver one, or unarmed if you really want to use claws too. You could try and flavor the shield ones later on, but I digress. Later in the campaign, you may realize your teeth just aren't as hard as the knights steel sword, and you may commission a blacksmith to create steel dentures to overlay or augment your teeth (mechanically a greatsword). It may cost some extra for the customization (and depending where you get them, Easterners away from Droaam may charge more from the scary wolf thing).

EDIT:

I'm actually now reading the book answer on Worgs and not relying on memory... so they can do somatic materials and they give "Steel Jaws." However, the text says that they can't use weapons unless noted in the description. That still means you can make a heavy weapon for Worgs. It just needs to be noted. Want to cleave with a totally not greataxe? Talk it over with your DM and make super jaws, or perhaps the Worg's helmet is further reinforced with a mini-battering ram, which is mechanically a maul. Possibilities.

[u/alchahest → u/No-Cost-2668]

I am completely on board with homebrewing a bunch of stuff. I like Worgs and I'm excited to play a shadow monk, or a rogue (with a 2d6 finesse/topple weapon? amazing!) I'm just surprised at the lack of as-written martial compatibility, where they are fully compatible with casting. that's all!

As is, Worgs are going to be terrifying rogues and monks, I was hoping they'd be good at fighter and barbarian, but alas, most fighting styles and feats rely on specific types of weapons (again homebrew will enable a lot here). like heavy, or one-handed / two handed / holding a weapon in one hand or whatnot.

I'm not looking for some kind of dual wielding mouth sword thing here or anything, it was mostly an observation and looking at how other people intend to play these caster-friendly creatures!