Races: Stoneborn armor and Human XP

Choose a race for the hero’s equipment and incoming damage, as well as its attribute roll. Stoneborn cannot wear body armor; Slugmen are immune to critical hits but take double Fire damage. Those restrictions affect the whole build.

Six race traits

Race	Trait and planning consequence
Human	+10% personal XP; predictable progression without equipment restrictions
Dwarf	+3 elemental resistance and Infravision; physical-role durability without the Stoneborn body-slot ban
Stoneborn	No body armor; racial Armor at levels 1, 5, 9 and 13
Raven	One stable and one unstable mutation; inspect both before accepting the hero
Elk	+1 Armor against Animals; applies to that enemy type, not all incoming damage
Slugman	Critical-hit immunity, doubled Fire damage; carry a response to Burn

Patch 1.0.5 raises the Stoneborn starting Strength modifier to +4 for Warriors and Paladins. Older +3 creation comparisons are outdated for those two classes.

Stoneborn still have equipment slots

The body-armor restriction does not remove helmets, gloves, boots or accessories. Compare the racial Armor with the actual chest piece another race could wear at the current Strength requirement. A hypothetical endgame armor value is not the same starting state as an unequipped early hero.

Critical immunity has a limit

Slugman prevents the extra critical multiplier, rather than avoiding the whole hit. Ordinary physical damage still needs Armor or Evasion, and enemy spells still require a different defense. Fire damage is the explicit tradeoff; Fire resistance and carried Frostvein Draft can help manage it, but immunity to crits does not remove Burn.

XP and mutation decisions

Human Fast Learner applies after party XP is split among living heroes. It does not give the other three party members an extra 10%. XP sharing explains the order.

A Raven’s two mutations can support different jobs or conflict with the intended role. Photosensitive Eyes is a direct ranged-accuracy penalty, while a caster can ignore that particular weapon-hit penalty when casting. Review the mutation guide before deciding whether the roll fits your party.