The typical ghoul is assumed to have come from a Medium humanoid like a human, half-elf, dwarf, or elf. Yet some humanoids have remarkably different characteristics that make these ghouls more or less powerful.

Larger Ghouls: A giant that succumbs to ghoul fever retains its larger size, its higher natural armor bonus, and all of its racial Hit Dice, but is otherwise treated as a ghoul advanced to its new Hit Dice and size.

Smaller Ghouls: Small humanoids who become ghouls have 1 HD and all of the appropriate bonuses and penalties for dropping from Medium to Small size (–4 Str, +2 Dex, +1 size bonus on attack rolls and to AC, reduced natural attack damage, etc.). A Small ghoul is CR 1/2.

Unusual Ghouls: Some humanoids transformed into ghouls have unusual advantages.

• Boggard, Merfolk: These races always spawn into lacedons.
• Bugbear, Lizardfolk, Troglodyte: These races always spawn into ghasts.
• Ettin: An ettin ghoul has two bite attacks, in addition to being advanced to Large size and 10 HD.
• Fire Giant: A fire giant ghoul gains the fire subtype.
• Frost Giant: A frost giant ghoul gains the cold subtype.
• Lycanthrope: While a ghoul cannot become a lycanthrope, a living lycanthrope who succumbs to ghoul fever could rise as a ghoul. In most cases, this transformation removes the lycanthropic curse, resulting in a standard ghoul, but in rare events the resulting monster is a true ghoul lycanthrope. To create stats for such a creature, simply apply the lycanthrope template to a ghoul—this is an exception to the general rule that you can normally only add the lycanthrope template to a humanoid.

The following feats are intended to be used by ghouls (including ghasts and lacedons), but could make interesting options for many other types of undead as well.

Brain Eater: You gain some of the skills and knowledge of a consumed foe by eating its brain.

Civilized Ghoulishness: Although undead, you can easily pass as living.

Warren Digger: You can burrow through soil and dirt.