In my games people left well alone; they're good cos they can use Fu powers and start with good Chi, and lots of choice for skills. But they're extremely restrictive in the attributes they get, and some types are just...well no one would play a Spider. Better to trade those five Tranimal schticks for Fu schticks one player told me. Course then that would be treading on the Old Master's turf. And that old Reversion chesnut.

And why is the Tiger so weak? It's one of the most powerful creatures in Chinese mythology (probably second to the Dragon), surely they deserve better treatment. Snake, Monkey and Fox are cool though. Dragon is if you learn lots of cheap Fu.

Are the new ones from Golden Comeback any better? What about Seal of the Wheel?

Can anyone offer some inspiration for Tranimals, or will they remain GMCs only?

Rebuttals or alternative views welcome.

Kiero

We don't use/ care for Transformed PCs. Not that the idea isn't cool, cuz it sorta' is, but it's the damn reversion effect. It's almost worse than mutation checks for arcanotech.

I mean, with two junctures AND the Netherworld piling on reversion points, what T-animal is gonna go anywhere?! Even if it's only one day spent wandering the Inner Kingdom, and only one reversion point, all it takes is a -single- bad reversion check roll to basically destroy your character instantly. (Unless the GM actually allows you to keep playing an elephant PC...)

I have uses for them as GMCs, but for the most part, in my campaign the Ascended animals really are the shadowy, unseen, rarely encountered figures lurking way the hell far away from magic-spewing PCs and Netherworld portals.

Having said that, I'd get a bizarre kick out of playing a cranky transformed armadillo...

So maybe another one for the GM only basket, along with the Arcanowave stuff. Besides I think most people find it rather difficult to grasp being an animal, yet a human. Easier for them to get Supernatural Creatures (which after all better model hengyokai, which seem to be the influence for the Ascended).

It even suggests that lycanthropes (close cousins to hegyokai, surely?) are better played as Supernaturals, since Tranimals cannot shift between their forms. Anyone tried this? In the one campaign I got to be a player the Supernatural Creature's "subtle" (ie alternate non-demonic) form was a tiger. Thrugg the Destroyer of Worlds we miss you...

Kiero

I don't actually mind playing Arcano or Tranimals with reversion problems. Flaws are fun.

True, they do not get to choose their characteristic, but you can get the characteristics you want by choosing your animal type. On the other hand, they have good chi and skills.

As for reversion, it is purely a GM call. If you play mostly in a single juncture, it is not a problem. Otherwise, a 69AD tranimal is pretty much immune to reversion. Besides, since they were not born to the ascended, they have a good reason to be ascended. Golden comeback also has a schtick simulating the resistance to reversion of 69AD tranimals.

As for the tiger, they are indeed remarkably unexciting for such a powerful creature. However, by staying on the defensive and using their "mark prey" schtick a few times first, they can get to the point where they can easily trash their opponent. Still, this is not an exciting combat method. The starting dragon is very peculiar (fantastic characteristics and skills but no schticks), but really cool and with great long term potential.

Finally, roleplaying tranimals who are not part of the ascended in the modern juncture makes for interesting interaction: distrust from other dragons, recruiting or hunting from the Ascended, leave interesting plot threads.

In conclusion, tranimals do tend to be popular choices in my campaign.

I'd still be tempted to tweak the Tiger in my own games to put it behind the Dragon. +2Bod and +2 Perception wouldn't break the game too much.

Like the sound of the generic ones from Golden Comeback, something for those animals with uninspiring starting choices.

Kiero

A tiger attacking an ennemy faction cell will find a mook, mark him, and intimidate him or take him out non-lethally. Then when the mook recovers he can track him to his "lair" where he can sneak in, take out the sentiunels by ambush, then pounce into the fray. This is a very efficient tactic and perfectly consistent with a hunter.

Social skills and the predator schtick (from Golden C.) will round up the character for non-combat situations. He will of course be the leader of any group he participates in.

All that makes the Tiger a good NPC but not a good dragon faction character choice. That is the way it is set up...

Anyway, the VERY FIRST ADVENTURE involved a critical shift which dramatically raised the magic level of the modern world.

Stupid frickin' GM.... ;)

Brian