(TFT) Re: TFT Digest V4 #243

[David Bofinger <bofinger.david@gmail.com>]

>> 1) Cold-bloodedness.
>> GM: "It's 0300 and you hear some noise in the brush. Oh, by the way,
>> it's cold and the lizard man cannot move or awaken."

In fact lizard men are descended from dinosaurs so they are quite
likely warm-blooded. But the idea has a couple of good features:

1. Lizard men are more powerful than starting humanoid characters so
they need a penalty. The one in TFT (slower experience, so you start
better and get caught up) kind of sucks so yours is an improvement.

2. Most races get bonuses in particular circumstances, leading to the
"humans are deaf, blind and clumsy" trope (Order of the Stick did this
once). It's good to have a race which makes humans look flexible.

Still, I'd go for sluggish and wimpy rather than asleep. You want the
player fretting and desperate, not shrugging and going off to play
with the cat.

>> 2) Reptilian defense mechanisms.
>> GM: "OK, you disengage from HTH ... leaving your tail."

*cute*

>> GM: "The lizard man, since the spinach is interfering with calcium
>> uptake in his intestine, has a splitting headache, heart
>> palpitations, and tremors; -6 adjDX. Oh, and the bandits are breaking
>> down the door."
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uromastyx (see "Nutrition")

This is more to do with being an obligate herbivore than a reptile.

It also only really makes sense if the lizard man hasn't had extensive
experience hanging out with humans before. And if it hasn't read the
Lonely Planet guidebook on human cuisine.

>> 1) Owner forgets to make proper provisions.
>> Wolf Owner: "We walk into the tavern..."
>> GM: "Everyone in the tavern yells, draws, and lunges toward your wolf."
>> WO: "Oh, he's not with us!"
>> GM: "You didn't prearrange that. The tavern patrons get initiative."

Same comment as above. If the character's been training the wolf for
months or years, why is this only now coming up?

>> 2) Vet bills.
>> GM: "Ok, this morning your wolf has very loose stools and vomiting.
>> He's also looking a little "peaked". What do you do?"

Do humans get sick as well? Or just wolves?

>> GM: "Farmer Dale's chicken coop was broken into last night. He wants
>> you to pay for the chickens your wolf ate."

I guess that's fair.

Maybe we should try to think of something positive as well.

--------
David
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