| From: | "Leszek Karlik, aka Mike" <trrkt@*****.ONET.PL> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Shapeshifters part 1 (again...) |
| Date: | Fri, 26 Dec 1997 17:04:20 +0000 |
one replaces p. 230 of BBB, the second one will be the table with
changes statistics of various shapeshifters and the third part will
contain rules for creating shapeshifter characters. (Oh yeah, and the
4th part will containg copyright stuff. ;> )
Well, here goes the first part. I'm still fiddling with the stats,
seeking the ever-elusive Game Balance_.
PATTERSON'S GUIDE TO SHAPESHIFTERS
(>) Note to all folks out there - I have taken most of this info from
some public board, where it was posted for all to download. This text,
however, corrects some errors Patterson made, especially in the
section about shapeshifters' vulnerabilities and regeneration power.
(>) Deep Blue
SHAPESHIFTER
Bestiaforma mutabilis
Identification: The only sure way of identifying a shapeshifter is an
astral examination. In animal form, they look like very healthy and
rather large animals of their species, and in human form, they look
like normal humans, frequently very attractive, but with some hint of
a hidden bestiality - usually some of their features resemble their
equivalent features in animal form, e.g. shape of eyes, color of hair
etc. Also, their size in human form reflects their size in animal
form. Tiger shapeshifters in human form measure slightly over two
meters of height, and bear shapeshifters in human form are very wide,
massive and well-built, which may lead to confusing them with
anabolically-enhanced representatives of human species. An astral
examination of a shapeshifter will always reveal it's identity, as his
astral form is always an astrally active, idealized image of his
animal form
(>) Magically active, initiated shapeshifters are capable of masking
their aura, so now even astral examination is not a fool-proof method
of identifying a shapeshifter. However, if your new acquaintance is
constantly astrally active, he may be a shapeshifter.
(>) He-who-knows
(>) This bit about size is false. While most shapeshifters' human
form does indeed reflect their size in animal form, there ARE
exceptions.
(>) Tikki
Habitat: In animal form, the same as the animal's. In human form -
populated regions. Depending on it's current location, the
shapeshifter will spend most of the time in animal or human form.
Magic Capability: Innate, with many being magically active. All
active shapeshifters are followers of the shamanic tradition, and
they always follow the same totem animal as their animal form. All
shapeshifter physical adepts are shamanic.
(>) Patterson is clearly wrong here. True, ninety-five percent of all
magically active shapeshifters are shamans of their own totem, but
about four percent are shamans of other totems and one percent follows
hermetic tradition.
(>) He-who-knows
Also, shapeshifters are dual creatures, and it means that they still
retain their strength, quickness and stamina along with claws, fangs
and all the natural armament when they are astrally projecting. It
also means they are always astrally perceiving, though they can ignore
astral input.
(>) Ignoring astral input is the only way of surviving in a no-mana
zone. Sice shapeshifters are always astrally active, they are
vulnerable to fovaes, and after entering a such a zone, they can't
regenerate, can't shapeshift and feel such an intense pain that they
will probably loose consciousness because of it. Believe me, it's no
fun, and extended periods of mana-deprivation will drive the 'shifter
mad and then kill him.
(>) Feathered-Jaguar
(>) I think we can also safely assume they can't leave Gaiasphere.
So, Mars is out, Moon is out, Zurich-Orbital is out, even
London-Tokyo suborbital is out. Poor shifters. Can't you hear me
weep?
(>) Space Cadet
(>) Suborbitals can be used in an emergency, but I would advise
tranq-patching the transportee first (<DISPLAY_GRIN>), and after the
flight it will be weakened and pretty irritated.
(>) Claw
(>) The bit about projecting is true. I had a misfortune of being on
a receiving end of a projecting Bear shapeshifter. I almost bought it
there, but managed to get my elemental to cover me long enough to
break off... That was one nasty fragger... Astral armor, natural reach
and phenomenal strength to boot...
(>) Wagemage
(>) You have desecrated my lodge, polluted my forest and hunted my
friends. You can run, but you can't hide.
(>) Pooh
Habits: See SRII rulebook, page 230
Young: All shapeshifters are born in animal form. Though they are born
in numbers typical for the animal, not all young have to be
shapeshifters - some may be normal animals.
Range: Usually the same as the animal. Though the ability to assume
human form allows them to use modern transportation, not many
shapeshifters have the necessary amount of money to afford, say, a
transport from Asia to North America. Thus, the probability of
encountering a wolf shapeshifter in UCAS is much higher than the
probability of encountering a tiger shapeshifter.
(>) That is, still negligible. If you're lucky, you might see one
once in your lifetime, though you won't recognize him anyway.
(>) Statistician
(>) You could be surprised, Thomas.
(>) A friend
Commentary: All shapeshifters have a severe allergy to silver, and a
very strong fear of fire in the animal form.
(>) Not all shapeshifters are allergic to silver. In my travels in
Africa, I was once hired to kill a shapeshifter that attacked and
killed human hunters on safaris. Well, I've stocked up on silver ammo
and went hunting. Unfortunately, it turned out that silver did not
stop the jaguar shapeshifter, or Warek, as the natives called him. The
only thing that saved me was that I had a special gold bullet for
myself... When I hit him with one, he turned tail and ran... I never
came back.
(>) Great White Hunter
(>) And we're supposed to believe this drek? Man, I'm not that naive.
(>) Safari man
The popular tales of shapeshifters being humans that can change into
animals are plain and simple wrong. All shapeshifters being their
lives as animals, and are just that - animals that can change into
humans. They will never think like humans, because they were never
humans.
(>) Yeah, right.
(>) Barbie
Powers: Shapeshifting, Enhanced Attributes in animal form,
Regeneration
(>) The regeneration would a very useful ability for magically
active. Believe me, casting high-force spells hurts. I thought the
"fire in my veins" descriptions from cheap magethriller books were
just metaphores till I've found out the hard way. But regenerating
critters can heal themselves in a few minutes... In times like this,
I wish I were a vampire...
(>) Wizkid Bronco
(>) This "few minutes" is crap, kid. It takes longer than that, and
it's VERY painful. And be careful what you wish for, for it may come
true.
(>) Ann Shadow
(>) Who died and made you sysop? Why, you <0.16 Mp deleted by sysop>
(>) Wizkid Bronco
(>) Don't mess with Ann, boy. I know her, and, in addition to being a
Panther shaman, she's a 'shifter herself. Scared the drek out of me
when I first saw her do the trick, too... And one more note on
regenerating - it may all be fine and dandy, but a shapeshifter that
regenerates his wounds is later ravenously hungry. AND I MEAN IT. If
you bring him home, watch out for your fridge.
(>) Johnny One-Gun
(>) Hey, Johhny, I said I am sorry. I'll buy you a new fridge, OK?
(>) Ann Shadow
(>) While we're on the subject of regeneration - it may be wiz, but
it prevents shapeshifters from getting any cyberware, as they simply
regenerate under the surgeon's knife. It may be a nasty surprise for
the unaware surgeon. (It was for me)
(>) Doctor Jekyll
(>) I have thought a bit about this, and I think it would be possible
to implant a simple piece of cyberware in a regenerating critter, by
using silver or silver-coated surgeon's instruments.
(>) KAM
(>) What does she mean by "simple"?
(>) Curious
(>) Well, any cyberware that requires neural interaction (or, to be
precise, Direct Neural Interface) is right out. The nanobio used to
lay down the gold for nerve-cyber connections will not survive long
enough in shapeshifter's body, and the gold will be expelled.
(>) Smiling Bandit <I happen to like Time/Date stamps>
(>) Drek. How did he do this?
(>) Assistant sysop
(>) A note on cyberware: even if somebody does manage to implant a
piece of cyber in a 'shifter, it will be forcibly ejected the first
time the critter shifts form. This is EXTREMELY painful, and can
damage the shapeshifter's body.
(>) Xperimental
Weaknesses: Allergy (Silver, Severe), Fear of Fire (Mild to Severe,
depending on form and fire in question) and Vulnerability (Severe)
(>) If you want to hunt a 'shifter, bring your friendly Ares
Pyromaniac_ with you... I sure will.
(>) Wildfire
(>) On the other hand, do not make a mistake of thinking you're safe
only because you have a torch in your hands. Or a flamethrower, for
that matter. I am afraid our friend here, Wildfire, bought it
yesterday. Fear of fire does not prevent shapeshifters from using
sniper rifles with incendiary ammo. Can you say "Ouch"?
(>) Ann Shadow
Leszek Karlik, aka Mike - trrkt@*****.onet.pl; http://www.wlkp.top.pl/~bear/mike;
Star Wars fan and Amber junkie; FIAWOL; WTF TKD TOO;
FL/GN Leszek/Raptor II/ISD Vanguard, (SS) (PC) (ISM) {IWATS-IIC} JH(Sith)/House Scholae
Palatinae
Lumberjacks do it with their choppers.
