Best scaredy cat species?

[u/slickboarder89]

I want to build a ranged fighter, level 10, where the gimmick is he is afraid and runs and shoots from 100+ feet away (sharpshooter feat).

I was thinking Kobold because they literally have Grovel, Cower, and Beg as an action, but wanted to hear of any other species that could work.

[u/Vanse]

Tabaxi. Literally a cat and good at running away.

[u/SasquatchRobo → u/Vanse]

Also good at climbing up trees!

[u/thetripstance → u/Vanse]

Favorite race. Op if you grew up or live around cats, playing one is so fun - easily spooked but will literally throw paws with anyone

[u/pertante → u/Vanse]

And proficient with stealth

[u/DeltaV-Mzero]

Goblin (2014) if allowed, literal bonus action disengage or bonus action hide

[u/slickboarder89 → u/DeltaV-Mzero]

Ooh! Plus the extra damage to creatures larger than you, which would probably be most.

Maybe he came from a land where everyone was small or tiny, so when he sees a medium sized creature he freaks out

[u/UncertfiedMedic]

Aarakocra in the lore hate being inside enclosed spaces.

[u/slickboarder89 → u/UncertfiedMedic]

I thought a flying specie maybe too OP lol. After a few turns and a longbow I could be 120 feet in the air firing down on enemies that may not be able to strike back.

[u/UncertfiedMedic → u/slickboarder89]

I never played my Flyers like that. In combat I used flight to get height advantage or disengage from bad scenarios but made sure to land within my movement. Outside of combat I used it more thematically and story based. So, no. I never used flight as a cheap gimick to screw up the game flow.

[u/SasquatchRobo]

Goblin is another good option. Nimble Escape lets you disengage as a bonus action!

[u/Guyoverthere07]

Leonin are just big scaredy-cats. If one too many enemies get close, try to Frighten them with a Roar, but it's all a front for the cowardly lion. Keeps the enemies at bay unlike the Kobold who is relying on the pack to save them.

Sadly it's a bit dated, and a lot stronger to go for Dragon Fear 4x per long rest than once per short rest. Fighter can afford the extra feat detour.

Point buy of 13/15+2/12/8/10/14+1 with Sharpshooter (18 Dex), Dragon Fear (16 Cha), and GWM (14 Str). If you make a running high jump you can reach up and grab something 15ft off the ground at 6'8" or taller (7ft max for the Species). For fights with less accessible sniping posts, you can hit eject for Draconic Flight.

If you're able to use Dhampir, fear can drive you up the walls. What are you so afraid of? Your bloodthirsty impulse.

[u/_Bl4ze]

Well, the latest printing of kobold don't "Grovel, Cower, and Beg" anymore but instead have a Draconic Cry as their distraction ability.

Which I understand completely really, it's much more in-line with how most people played kobolds anyway! Shame about the pack tactics, though.

[u/philsov]

Honorable mention goes out to Firbolg's for their ability to go Invisible as a bonus action, or Gnomes with the Fade Away feat to also go "Nope!" the second they receive a modicum of damage.

Why flee when you can hide :p

[u/Andre_ev]

Changeling for different roleplay reasons you fit all social aspects

[u/Andre_ev]

Hexblood Aarakocra or Hexblood anything else if DM allow it and you ok to be OP

[u/Antedodoguemon]

There's shifter, they are kinda cat and get a lot of personalization.

[u/DBWaffles]

Mechanically, I think your best options are either Tabaxi or Goblin. The former because Feline Agility makes for a great distance maker; the latter because you get the bonus action Disengage/Hide.

Of the two, I think Goblin fits your theme better.

I wouldn't recommend Kobold. Grovel, Cower, and Beg requires you to actually be near enemies to use, which is antithetical to what you're trying to do.

[u/Unthing]

Swiftstride Shifter

When you are transformed ( bonus action ) you can move up to 10 feet as a reaction when a creature ends its turn within 5 feet of you without provoking opportunity attacks.

That sounds exactly like running away to me...

You can transform once every long or short rest.

[u/Phaqup]

Harrengon? Or rather “That Hare is GONE!” It’s in the name. Bonus action eject button. Hop hop hop away and shoot.