Ok, so the universal RPG system I've been working on pretty much solo, in fits and starts, over the past four years is 95% done. Or at least, the core rulebook is
( Read more... )
It must be exhausting doing background research on All the Monsters tho
Oh yes. Luckily I find the subject fascinating, and I have some good references lined up.
I understand now what you meant by your vampire question. It reminds me of the old-school dungeon crawl adventures where you had a red dragon in a 10x10 room and next door a cave full of juicy orcs. Here's an excerpt of one of the critters I have so far (and probably my favorite, because part of me is still 12 years old):
"Bonnacon are proof that Mother Nature has a nasty sense of humor. These beasts look like some odd cross between an aurochs and a draft horse, having a huge, thick-skinned bovine body, horselike head and hooves, and wide horns. In fact, bonnacon may even be mistaken for some kind of wild cattle until an attacker gets behind them...
In combat, bonnacon defend themselves by either goring opponents in front of them for 2d10+1 damage or kicking opponents behind them for 3d10+1 damage. As fearsome as these attacks are, the bonnacon is really known for a much more disturbing method of defense: its feces is explosive, and bonnacon are not shy about defecating on attackers! This attack mimics the Elemental Blast (fire) power, except that if a target fails to defend, he is set aflame and suffers 1d10 damage per round thereafter until someone puts him out.
Bonnacon are not especially aggressive, preferring to run away from serious threats (using their explosive, fiery feces to cover their retreat). However, like most bovines bonnacon males are quite aggressive in mating season and females will defend their young to the death."
This is one of the monsters mentioned by Pliny the Elder in Naturalis Historia. My question to you is: how should I edit these entries to efficiently add that context and depth?
Oh yes. Luckily I find the subject fascinating, and I have some good references lined up.
I understand now what you meant by your vampire question. It reminds me of the old-school dungeon crawl adventures where you had a red dragon in a 10x10 room and next door a cave full of juicy orcs. Here's an excerpt of one of the critters I have so far (and probably my favorite, because part of me is still 12 years old):
"Bonnacon are proof that Mother Nature has a nasty sense of humor. These beasts look like some odd cross between an aurochs and a draft horse, having a huge, thick-skinned bovine body, horselike head and hooves, and wide horns. In fact, bonnacon may even be mistaken for some kind of wild cattle until an attacker gets behind them...
In combat, bonnacon defend themselves by either goring opponents in front of them for 2d10+1 damage or kicking opponents behind them for 3d10+1 damage. As fearsome as these attacks are, the bonnacon is really known for a much more disturbing method of defense: its feces is explosive, and bonnacon are not shy about defecating on attackers! This attack mimics the Elemental Blast (fire) power, except that if a target fails to defend, he is set aflame and suffers 1d10 damage per round thereafter until someone puts him out.
Bonnacon are not especially aggressive, preferring to run away from serious threats (using their explosive, fiery feces to cover their retreat). However, like most bovines bonnacon males are quite aggressive in mating season and females will defend their young to the death."
This is one of the monsters mentioned by Pliny the Elder in Naturalis Historia. My question to you is: how should I edit these entries to efficiently add that context and depth?
Reply
Leave a comment