Play an animal as a PC? I am a huge fan of talking animals in movies, books and on TV. I kind of always wanted to play an animal as a pc, but the group I play with is sort of anti-that idea as a whole. So maybe I could, any stories or ideas?
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I played in a rather chaotic game 1989-90(?), with far too many players (ie dozens), in a free-for-all gang-war style, where the DM brought back any dead 1st-level PCs (and there were a lot of dead 1st-level PCs...) as rats.
If your rat managed to infect someone with its bite, you had earned enough 'rat-XP' to be karmically, and spontaneously, reincarnated as a new normal PC, and dive back into the mayhem in the blood-soaked streets.
If you died as a rat, you got a second chance as a bacteria, floating round the town, oscillating your flagella, trying to get up someone's nose, at which point, you earned enough 'bacteria-XP' to reincarnate as a rat...
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Do you use the Noble Wild rules or something else?
I just purchased Noble Wild and I really like the Greater Familiar class. I thought it would be fun to have a major NPC or a reincarnated PC return as a squirrel or something.
Here's a link to a game for all you Watership Down/Duncton Tales/Redwall(?) fans out there...
Not played it myself, so don't know how well it works, but I bookmarked it out of curiosity.
It could make a good introductory game for younger players, to join in with parents.
Do you know of any free ones that out-line animals using the D20 System?
Do you use the Noble Wild rules or something else?
I just purchased Noble Wild and I really like the Greater Familiar class. I thought it would be fun to have a major NPC or a reincarnated PC return as a squirrel or something.
I don't really want to be a familiar, do you have to be or is it just one way to go with the idea?
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There was a D&D novel or series that had a dude that was reincarnated as a badger in it but I can't remember the name of it.
I gamed with a dude that was obsessed with trying to play as a dog wizard but just couldn't get the DM to go for it.
I personally don't like the idea because it really strains my ability to become immersed in the story, but that's just me.
There was a D&D novel or series that had a dude that was reincarnated as a badger in it but I can't remember the name of it.
I gamed with a dude that was obsessed with trying to play as a dog wizard but just couldn't get the DM to go for it.
I personally don't like the idea because it really strains my ability to become immersed in the story, but that's just me.
I can see that it may be hard, but isn't Narnia filled with talking animals.
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I can see that it may be hard, but isn't Narnia filled with talking animals.There was a D&D novel or series that had a dude that was reincarnated as a badger in it but I can't remember the name of it.
I gamed with a dude that was obsessed with trying to play as a dog wizard but just couldn't get the DM to go for it.
I personally don't like the idea because it really strains my ability to become immersed in the story, but that's just me.
Probably why I'm not a big Narnia fan.....
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We had a character as a Cat Sorcerer, she had to have the feat, Still Spell, but otherwise played as normal.....she kept wanting to have a human familiar.
The game I play in had a dragon disguised as an Owl with a human thrall. We thought the human was the BBEG and were surprised when the shapeshifted dragon popped into form to take vengeance on it's dead 'master'. Pretty cool twist.
I once played in a group in which one of the characters was reincarnated (and played) as an eagle. My character communicated with it (with speak with animals).
I also DM-ed a villain once, who was a talking badger rogue. I called him King Badger and he was a crimelord who used animals to spy in the city. He intrigued the PCs to no end, especially when he began to infiltrate the group via familiars, animal friends and pets.
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I don't really want to be a familiar, do you have to be or is it just one way to go with the idea?Do you use the Noble Wild rules or something else?
I just purchased Noble Wild and I really like the Greater Familiar class. I thought it would be fun to have a major NPC or a reincarnated PC return as a squirrel or something.
Sorry, no the rules cover all the core classes. Greater Familiar is an additional 20 level class which is better for an NPC. There are several prestige classes, too.
The only tricky aspect to this supplement are all the mechanics to mimic things we all take for granted, like treasure! These include deeds, boons, fetishes, gifts, and spellthralls (which are kind of funny/cool really).
Hengeyokai from Oriental Adventures are pretty useful for the talking animal role.
I also DM-ed a villain once, who was a talking badger rogue. I called him King Badger and he was a crimelord who used animals to spy in the city. He intrigued the PCs to no end, especially when he began to infiltrate the group via familiars, animal friends and pets.
That is frippin Brilliant, And I love Badgers!!
Thank you! I am flattered!
Funny...when I was preparing for my nevvies' Thanksgiving game, I looked over at the pile of celestial badgers and thought, Why isn't one of them a party member?
If you like Animorphic games you could try this: Kevin & Kell Role Playing Game
I don't like Anthropomorphic as much as I like Talking animals. I would have no problem with being a Badger in a party of elves, Gnomes and dwarves. It would be the constant teasing by my gaming group that would thwart my grandious animal dreams.
Not to mention I commute 3-4 hrs a day so i do a lot of Listening to books in the car, and always fantasy so. My Whims may change, next month i may be campaigning hard for my group to allow PCS who are the children of greek gods, ad goto a camp called camp HAlf Blood...I am really looking for the Talking animal stuff though for a game i am running in January for M.S.(4th-8th)kids. SO keepit coming if you have ideas or product suggestions.
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Hi, I'm Lee Garvin, the author of the aforementioned Noble Wild...
I love this book!
I appreciate that it has a d20 Modern conversion as well...
I will have lots of fun implementing this book into my current d20 Modern Dark*Matter campaign...
I have visions of genetically engineered psychic animals running amok in Paris, London, or some other major city…
Keeping it Wild,
-That One Digitalelf Fellow-
We had a character as a Cat Sorcerer, she had to have the feat, Still Spell, but otherwise played as normal.....she kept wanting to have a human familiar.
I had a character exactly like this once. Had a neat little backstory whipped out, some magical items (Collar of Protection...) and came in at about 10th level ready to take on the world...
Of course our group had a little initiation test where any new characer was required to draw from a 'deck of many things' we had aqcuired some time ago. One 'Void' later = useless, soulless cat no one cares about.
I was not happy :(
Hi, I'm Lee Garvin, the author of the aforementioned Noble Wild. I'm really glad that someone was asking about this subject, because it's the whole reason I wrote the book.
Talking animals have been a part of fantasy fiction since there's been fantasy fiction. So I figured there ought to be a way to represent it in games. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, and I hope other folks will find new and fun ways to spice up their campaigns with it.
Just as an example, in one of my playtest campaigns, we had an owl wizard with an elf familiar, a rhino cleric, a tiger paladin, and a rabbit bard. And no, these are NOT anthropomorphics, but real, honest-to-goodness animals.
If anyone has any questions - please, post them, either here, or on Skirmisher Publishing's forum http://skirmisher.com/forum/index.php?board=28.0
Keep it Wild,
Lee
What an honor to have you post. I have been a fan of talking animals in fantasy for a long time. In fact I am school teacher, and a Camp dir. In my non-fantasy life and I tell stories to my Campers about a talking named George and his Friend a tiny tree frog name Elmo. Along with other stories about all different animal types from puppets to evil Half robot teddy bears. I appreciate you creating this resource for the rest of us animal fans out there.