| From: | Nightfox <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Return of the Panther, with extras (longish) |
| Date: | Tue, 12 Oct 1993 21:43:56 -0700 |
I will do advantages/Disadvantages sepearatly, at the end of the document.
>From: IN%"JHURLEY1%SITVXC.bitnet@*****.nic.SURFnet.nl" "Undocumented
Feature" 11-OCT-1993 20:30:56.93
>Excellent. There really isn't a combat oriented shaman anywhere I have
>looked.
thank you
>From: IN%"TYGER@****.WINONA.MSUS.EDU" "Hobbes Patrol
Headquarters" 11-OCT-1993 20:46:24.05
>
>(Someone did their homework...)
Yep.
>It's actually regional to an extent. Cougars are spotted in the rockies,
>Panthers in the everglades, Mountain Lions in northerner states,
Panther - used in East. Cougar - used in east Mountian Lion - Used in east.
now all the East needs is some of the fraggin cats !!!!
>and Pumas are on a lot of football fields (HUMOR!).
Hey Don't forget the Nittany Lions (WE ARE!!, PENN STATE!!!)
Yes folks thats another name for Panther.
[>As to Indian myth, which most of the totems are taken from, Panther is feared
[>and respected. Some believed that the panther would leave uneaten prey behind
[>for them to scavenge. The Apaches associated the Panthers with death. Some
[>Indians used dried Panther paws to drive away sickness and evil spirits. The
[>Incan's also used the panther to punish criminals.
>When you say 'Indian', do you refer to the Central American Indian or the
>Northern American Indian? The Myans had a GOOD REASON to fear the Panther,
>it could be that they live a stones throw away from the jungle. There are
>several paintings of the Priests wearing Leopard Skins as ceremonial garb,
>so the 'magic' content of the animal is high.
Ok. Well I have even more to add to this part so hold on.
Indians = over all.
"the puma is prominent in American Indian mythology, with its cunning, agility,
and strength respected and admired by many tribes. The animal figures in the
magic and shamanism of nearly all ancients as their progenitor, protector, or as
a source of power to ward of disease or to excel as a hunter. Others are awed
by the animal and consider it an omen of disaster."
The PUMA, legendary lion of the americas - Jim Bob Tinsley
Another book has this to say about the panther
Most indians regarded him as the Protector of the cosmos
Zuni - The ancient ones wanted the world to be guarded by those keen of sight +
scent, The puma (the greatest of them) was the sentinel of the north (the most
important position)
Miwoks - ideal hunter
Apaches + Hualapais - wailing is the omen of death
Navajo - a hero was wounded by witch objects shot into his body. Puma extracts
them and save his life.
- also - believed Puma benifited them by leaving the better part of the
portion of its kill for the people to eat.
Papago - Not nice - Flesh eating beast
Inca's - as I mentioned before would go hunt many animals including the panther.
Hunt the Hunter - they found it much easier to get bear and deer
indian societies - Totem + source of power for hunting (esp) and warfare
Hopi + Zuni - took carved mountian lions when hunting deer in hopes that
they would be as good at it as the mountain lion
The puma was often deified for its ability to hunt.
>Mechanically speaking, could this be a disadvantage? Something along the
>lines of 'will take on improbable odds'?
No not really - the success rate for hunting Elk is around 82%. The percentage
of time they die trying is even less.
>Ok, from what I've heard the 'scream' of a Panther (Cougar, whatever) is
>somewhat like a woman screaming in terror. I wouldn't know, I havn't heard
>it. But I've heard it's enough to keep you awake at night...
No really sure on this one - there are Reports by people, but they never seem
to SEE the cat, they just HEAR it - it may be an owl or Coyote. In capitivity
this cry is heard - but not enough info from the wild is known.
I will look more tomorrow - possibly
[>Cougar is very patient and quite, he will wait for the right moment to strike.
>Usually from a 'pounce', an ambush if you will.
Actually Pouncing is a missconception, Panthers hardly ever jump from trees to
land on prey - there is too much chance of mishap. They will normal hit the
ground then strike - of course there isn't much time between these acts :)
[>Puma mostly solitary but will sometimes have close companions who she will
[>defend to the death.
>Usually her cubs. (But can't "Cubs" be rather enigmatic?)
Yes - but there are legends of Panthers protecting people who have helped them.
In one a Panther was having trouble giving birth. A woman, was out roaming for
food without permission helped her. She was later thrown out of her village for
leaving (they head disliked her, and didn't trust her) and then tied to a tree
away form the walls to be fed to the predators. A few days later she was found
Being protected by the panther from other beasts, many who were lying around the
still tied female.
[>Cougar kills quickly and will use the most efficient means to do so.
>The faster the fight is over, the better off you are. Then again, ever
>tried taking down a buffalo with only your teeth? =)
Panthers are very good at sensing with there teeth. They will sense which
direction to shift (while biting down) and strike in between vertebrae
can you say 'quick' and WOW!! (they do this in a full speed bite)
[>He also tries to leave little evidence of his acts.
>How do you figure? Again, are you using the "Central American" mythos?
No - Panthers normally try to cover prey or make it inaccessable. If they have
multiple kills they will try to cover as many as they can
I might remove this from the shaman
[>barking makes him nervous. Panther also tends to exhibit some of the
[>characteristics of cat.
>As in the 'toying with prey' bit? Or as in how?
Panthers are playful at times and are curious too. But they NEVER play with
LIVE prey - they may re-enact the death of something - but they never fool
around. Cats fool around because their prey is MUCH smaller then them and they
also get fed by their owners - Panthers don't have this convience.
would you play with an Elk?
>From: IN%"enthar@*****.ACNS.NWU.EDU" 12-OCT-1993 10:48:07.04
[> Indians used dried Panther paws to drive away sickness and evil spirits. The
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> I noticed this statement. Wouldnt it make sense to give a minor bonus
>to health spells as result?
No not really - Panther isn't so much a healing totem as he is combat.
More like the idea - Panther chases (combat) the spirit away
rather than heals through magic. Most of the healing from panthers is
based off of their strength and such. Remember Bears + wolfs don't have as
great a range as panthers once did.
[> Quirks: - Cougar may feel uncomfortable around Wolf and Dog sometimes, and
[> barking makes him nervous. Panther also tends to exhibit some of the
> Really? I would think he could eat a dog or wolf :)
Yes - A panther can take on 3-4 dogs or 2-3 wolves with little problem.
But panthers find it much easier to flee then fight them. Panthers can climb
trees dogs can't :) After a few millinium though fleeing from Barking has
become instictive - Probably fleeing Dire Wolves and packs of grey wolves.
Some times a poodle or such will tree a panther.
The thing is - Panthers don't sit up in the tree shivering in fear. They climb
the tree and wait the dogs out. In fact, they might even go to sleep !!!
>From: IN%"CARTER@***.EDU" "Jason Carter, Nightstalker"
12-OCT-1993 19:22:34.62
>Nice work, Daniel! You must have spent hours, maybe days researching this.
Yep
[>>Advantages: - +2 dice for combat and illusion. +2 dice for summoning Either
[>>forest Or mountain spirits.
>Good. Ignore all the request to add additional totem bonuses. These cover the
>aspects you put into your Totem Descritpion.
Well they do need to be answered.
So here they are.
Hurley:
>I have a few suggestions, however. One, I don't see the limitations as
>described as being limiting enough. All the published totems (except
>Coyote, of course), either have a -1 die to a speciific class of spell, or
>various heavy roleplaying disadvantages (beserk, loyal, flashy, etc....)
>I suggest either a -1 to summoning spirits of Man, and/or some kind of
>roleplaying disadvantage, such as +1 target modifier to social skills.
>This represents Panther's loner disposition.
>
>In my game, I will apply both, but YMMV.
>
>Also, as an option, allow the shaman to have +1 dice to combat, detection,
>and illusion spells. I see detection being an almost equal part of the
>Panther's tools, and as such, it should be encouraged. To balance this
>out, apply only a +1 to spirit summoning.
Enthar:
> Most other North American Totems have penelties to the certain spells,
>rather than requirements. (Most of th Druid totems have the requirements).
> Im not saying this is neccesarily bad, but perhaps a -1 or -2 dice to
>manipulation would help to balance the totem some.
Tyger:
>Hmm, so, going full out, how 'bout a "Shaman Adept" that has mostly skills
>(Stealth, UAC, a sword skill of some kind, and, natch, a survival skill?)
Jason:
>Some sort of limitation requiring the Panther Shaman to be patient or stealthy
>would be nice, but this is otherwise good.
ok this is the other big part.
Spells:
Manipulation - no change I think - there are damaging manipulations and other
things that Panther would find useful
Detection - Panthers are know for their senses. But in most myths this doesn't
make much impact. they are more know for their stealth and killing
health spells - yes the panther is sometimes used to help healing. but this is
more out of respect for his killing potential. Healing he can do - but why I
really don't see the reason for bonuses in it.
Detection + Healing are possibilities but so many other totems have
them I figured it would be cliche.
Illusion and combat suit it more in that it is hardly ever seen or heard
from. It is one of the most elusive animals in the wild.
Disadvantages and things
Panther requires a lot out of the shaman panther would like them to be able to
survive since Panther is the ultimate survivalist. He also likes his shamans
fit.
ideas
1. MIN's str 3, bod 3, qck 4, int 4, will 4. ALso needs to take stealth
and armed/unarmed combat. plus a survival skill (wilderness or social)
- like I said - rely on physical not magical
2. Blood lust and not giving up (will tn# 4). If in a fight the shaman must
succeed in a will power test to break it off.
- Panthers will sometimes act sheep-pens, the number of moving prey
close by interacts with their instincts - they just keep on killing because
thats what they are ment to do.
Remember - of all predators cats are the most specialized - their whole makeup
is based towards efficiency and lethalness of the kill.
Note - Panthers do not sit and wait for prey - they keep on moving most of the
time. They don't run like a wolf, rather they zig-zag across their teritory
continously. Also Panthers tend to have one of the largest territories of any
land preditor. In florida the ave. terr. is 5x that of a bear.
panthers
Hiss, growl, spit, whistle (yep), catarwhal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Waisley + SCA - March of Ered Sul - Flagstaff AZ
DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU + Nau fencing club.
"Nightfox" + Brotherhood of the Cryptic Demesne - Fencing house
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" A lack of knowledge is a dangerous thing. I am the most dangerous man in the
universe." - Daniel Waisley "Nightfox"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
