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Message no. 1
From: Walter Stim <wstim%avma27@*************.ARMY.MIL>
Subject: Were-creatures
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 1995 10:14:08 CDT
I a question concerning Were-creatures.

1. If a were-creature bits someone do they become a were?

A. Yes
B. No

2. Can the victim (bitee) be cured before possible becoming a were?

A. Yes
B. No

3. What would the tests/target numbers for curing/cleansing?


Any answers would be most helpful. Thank you in advance.

Michael Stim
Message no. 2
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 1995 14:19:16 -0400
On Wed, 5 Apr 1995, Walter Stim wrote:

> I a question concerning Were-creatures.

Read the novels _Striper Assassin_ and _Who Hunts the Hunter_,
both by Nyx Smith (the latter book just came out) -- both focus heavily
on a were-tiger. Very interesting character.

> 1. If a were-creature bits someone do they become a were?

I'd tend to doubt it, though all the people that Striper bit
became dead. From what I've been able to pick up, though, were-creatures
are awakened or "paranormal" animals at heart, and are not humans under
some magic spell or some such.

-------------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@****.com> =========-------------
| "Without News I am nothing..." |
| -Mark Holmes, Newsadmin, Capital Area INTERNET Service |
--------========== http://www.cais.com/jdfalk/home.html ==========--------
Message no. 3
From: NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 1995 17:10:15 -0700
>I a question concerning Were-creatures.

Which came from too much **&* playing.

The best answer to your question would be to read pg 230 in SRII black book.
Under the heading of Shapeshifters.

It explains that - Shapeshifters are born in animal form to another
shapeshifter - some of the litter may be normal.

It also says that it is a common misconception that shapeshifters are humans
which that change into animals. They begin as animals, and remain animals that
can change into humans.


Nightfox
Message no. 4
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 10:03:22 +0200
> 1. If a were-creature bits someone do they become a were?
> B. No

Shapeshifters don't "bite" people as werewolves etc. do in the movies --
instead they simply have their young in the normal way, with the young being
born in animal form.

> 2. Can the victim (bitee) be cured before possible becoming a were?

Kinda irrelevant if you can't get "infected."


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
...the insects are huge and the poison's all been used...
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B? e+ u+@ h! f--(?) !r(--)(*) n---->!n y? Unofficial Shadowrun Guru :)
Message no. 5
From: Jan-bart van Beek <flake@***.NL>
Subject: Were-creatures
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 12:56:58 +0200
I never really liked the entire critter section, but nevermind.
There is a short mentioning about lycantrophy in the NA guide to the
Awakened (If you don't know what it is read the FAQ)
It is strange that FASA seems to have left this dark area virtually
untouched, the shapeshifters that are mentioned are not at all like the
the true lycantrophs. They are not nearly as dangerous.

If you want some well-written information on them, read the "Van
Richten's Guide to Werebeasts".
I already can hear the 'AAARGH's that's a AD&D product'
Wrong, it's a Ravenloft Product. Ravenloft and Planescape are about the
only two product-lines of TSR that actually are worth the money.
For more info on the beasts, check out Chill and Gurps' 'Lycantrophy, the
Apocalypse'

By the way, another misconception about lycantrophs that FASA has published.
Remember the Loup-garou from PNA europe. You know what the Loup-Garou
realy was ? It almost literally means Werewolf, loup coming from Lupus,
the latin word for wolf.
Strange thing is, it doesn't resemble the werewolf one little bit.

--------------------------------------------------------------
| Beware of what you ask for you may recieve it |
--------------------------------------------------------------

**** The Cornflake Killer Strikes again ****
Message no. 6
From: Eve Forward <lutra@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 05:24:06 -0700
There's a lot of shapeshifter-like legends that don't always fit into
the standard werewolf-style rules of lycanthropy; selkies (seal shape-
shifters in Scottish and Irish legend, for example) don't have an
infectious bite, for example.
I've long thought about doing some research and compiling a
list of various different shapeshifters, based on actual legends, with
references as to sources and what they supposable can and can't do.
Would anyone else be interested in this?

-E
Message no. 7
From: Jani Fikouras <feanor@**********.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 14:58:17 +0200
> I a question concerning Were-creatures.
>
> 1. If a were-creature bits someone do they become a were?
> B. No
> 2. Can the victim (bitee) be cured before possible becoming a were?
Irreleveant.
> 3. What would the tests/target numbers for curing/cleansing?
Irrelevant.

You should however try to not confuse were creatueres (a different species)
with Loup-Garous (sic?).

--
"Believe in Angels." -- The Crow

GCS d H s+: !g p1 !au a- w+ v-(?) C++++ UA++S++L+>++++ L+>+++ E--- N++ W(+)(---)
M-- !V(--) -po+(---) Y+ t++ 5++ R+++ tv b++ e+ u++(-) h*(+) f+ r- n!(-) y?
Message no. 8
From: Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 03:01:52 GMT
In message <01HOZJX8E19U005ELV@******.UCC.NAU.EDU> SHADOWRN@*****.nic.surfnet.nl
writes:
> The best answer to your question would be to read pg 230 in SRII black book.
> Under the heading of Shapeshifters.
>
> It explains that - Shapeshifters are born in animal form to another
> shapeshifter - some of the litter may be normal.
>
> It also says that it is a common misconception that shapeshifters are humans
> which that change into animals. They begin as animals, and remain animals
> that can change into humans.

Always assuming that the book tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, of course :-) But then some of my group's PCs have their own
secrets to keep...

--
When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better or
for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him.

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk
Message no. 9
From: Kay and Pete Hanson <kidkaos@******.NET>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 07:01:55 -0500
>There's a lot of shapeshifter-like legends that don't always fit into
>the standard werewolf-style rules of lycanthropy; selkies (seal shape-
>shifters in Scottish and Irish legend, for example) don't have an
>infectious bite, for example.
> I've long thought about doing some research and compiling a
>list of various different shapeshifters, based on actual legends, with
>references as to sources and what they supposable can and can't do.
>Would anyone else be interested in this?
>
>-E
>
>
Count me in Eve, in the campaigns we've run, you have always had to explain
how you got to be a shifter or lycanthro' (privately to the g.m.) this gave
us a Chinese Tiger-shifters, a horse-changer who clamed descendence from the
Lady Epona, a rogue Scot who was a were-wolf and had clan problems, and an
otter-shaman, who was really a confused aelkie. Also in legends, the
greastest bards could assume several shapes, part of their'initiation.
I think using mythology to help out in define a character's background is
a powerful game tool. This always adds flavor to characters, especially a
magical
one. It helps me also as a g.m. come up with magical journeys and trials.
Kay
Message no. 10
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 21:17:32 +1000
Eve Forward writes:

> I've long thought about doing some research and compiling a
> list of various different shapeshifters, based on actual legends, with
> references as to sources and what they supposable can and can't do.
> Would anyone else be interested in this?
>
>...
>
> From what I've seen, the Critters section might want a bit of "pumping".
> Having been on the wrong end of, or seen people who have been on the
> wrong end of, some of those real animals, I think a few of those
> damage codes are a bit low.
>
> Anyone interested in various animal stuff, pertaining to
> Shadowrun or whatever, can mail me.

I think this is the kind of thing which would go down nicely in the current
NERPS project. Why don't you check it out?

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

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E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 11
From: Eve Forward <lutra@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Were-creatures
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 05:17:47 -0700
Kay's method of having the player do the reseach and come up with an
explanation for the were-ness of the character is really the best way.
Creative role-players can really come up with some interesting stuff.
Having a basic kinda "spotter's guide to lycanthropes" would just give
some places to start looking.
'Course, then you have the munchkin types who only want whatever
has the most plusses. :)


-E "I wanna be a were-Bat-Eared-Fox!"

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Were-creatures, you may also be interested in:

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