Bestiary Suggestions

[moustre]

Bestiary Suggestions

Good morning, Aefenglom, and happy Wednesday!

One of the things on our to-do list for general game upkeep right now is making some tweaks to the Bestiary. No major overhauls are planned, but there are some things we feel we can loosen up on - for example, we will be allowing Merrow to have legs during the full moons, as long as they are not submerged in water, and we will start allowing scorpion, tick and harvestman etc. Arachne.

We want to make these tweaks before applications open, and so we thought we'd ask for some player suggestions! Has anything made it difficult to play your character? Is there something you just think would be cool? We want to hear it!

We will not be responding to every comment on this post (though we will read and consider all of them!) and we will likely not be implementing every single suggestion. We are also not planning to add new Monster types to the Bestiary before applications open, these will just be alterations to the existing entries to make things more fun or easier to play. However, we will take suggestions for new Monster types you wish to see in the future!

After the updates are live, while we will not be doing Monster type changes, if you wish for your character's form to change completely (ie. from a spider Arachne to a scorpion Arachne), you will be allowed to transition them to this new form. Any new additions to your character's Monster type (ie. Merrow legs during the full moons) can be added at your leisure.

Comments

SUGGESTIONS FOR BESTIARY CHANGES

[moustre]

Minor changes or additions to existing Monster types you'd like to see!

[mensrea]

Would it be possible for EVERY Monster type (except Chimeras, I guess, sorry dudes) to turn into their respective animal/creature? For example... A cat Turnskin could turn into a cat, a hawk Harpy could turn into a hawk, etc.

These might have already been given the go-ahead on the FAQ, but I don't see them in the bestiary section so I figured I'd ask!

[whomthebelltolls]

I think this would affect Chimeras specifically (though it may to a lesser extent effect other Monster types), but given the answer that two Monsters of different types breeding produce a Chimera to begin with, I think it would be very neat to allow some (maybe only as secondary/tertiary traits with reduced or even eliminated efficacy) light Monster hybridization options.

Or, failing that, even allowing some of the better-known magical creatures from Geargadas to be used as Chimera (or other Monster) traits. A Turnskin petalwolf, or at least one that can borrow some traits from them. There's a lot of cool creatures native to this world that you could really flex your creativity with that aren't "extant" on earth, but... this is a magical world full of magical things. I think there's a great potential to allow creatures from the setting to work their way into the Monsters, and it could really add some unique, personalized flavor.

ETA: I forgot putting Centaurs/perissodactyls into the faun category. At least horses, if not pachyderms. I don't really know if Centaurs really need their entire whole own category.

[long_live_the_queen]

I'm not sure which category this would fall under, but maybe certain Chimera types becoming their own distinct Monster types (or sub-species) instead of just looking like one? Less so the grab bag parts Chimeras, but say one with traits that line up with an extant mythological creature like a kirin, griffin, or nue.

[eluci]

Related to whomthebelltolls' suggestion above, but might including creatures native to the individual characters' worlds be possible, provided there's a decent amount of information about them?

[faithlikeaseed]

I 'unno if this goes here or down below on "new Monster types," but I remember an early response on the FAQ that suggested non-dragon, non-humanoid mythological monsters (unicorn, phoenix, kitsune) could become a sort of "evolution" option for existing Monster breeds. E.g. over time a Harpy could become a Phoenix, or a Turnskin a Kitsune. I'd honestly love to see that explored versus the addition of a bunch of new Monster types matching these creatures!

[faithlikeaseed]

Additionally, I'd like to see a little more guidance on how much trait-mixing is allowable for non-Chimera Monster breeds! E.g., can a Faun primarily based on a red deer have muntjac fangs, or an elk Faun have a spotted coat pattern like a sika or fallow deer? I presume for Monster breeds that incorporate multiple very different genera (Turnskins, Fauns, Fae) you definitely can't cross over and have e.g. canine and feline traits in the same Turnskin, but knowing if you could have the body type of one cat but the coat pattern of another would be great. And, can you have non-natural coloration that DOESN'T align with the character's natural color scheme? (E.g. Juza is a giant grape bear but could he have been a giant orange bear instead, even though his hair is purple.)

Or, heck, knowing how specific you've gotta be in designating your species! Like Papyrus isn't really any really specific kind of extant wolf, he's just a fluffy red wolfish thing. (Which is a vibe I really like, since it embraces a kind of movie-monster aesthetic.)

[itsjiaheng]

re: more types of arachne:
- folding some other creepy-crawlies in under the heading that aren't strictly arachnids? or at the very least i'd be campaigning here for centipede and millipede getting an honourable mention lol

[finesseblade]

🥺 I would love for Turnskins to have the option to fully shift into their given animal on the full moons, as opposed to just the bipedal/human-sized forms they currently get (in the same way that dragons currently have the option to shift fully into the form of a dragon of any size, just... for mammalian carnivores). A Pomeranian Turnskin would be able to shift into a Pomeranian-sized Pomeranian with four-legged physiology, et cetera. Maybe tie it into how in tune they are with their Monster form, or whether they've gone through their full cycle of changes and completely transformed?

[cyclopticsadist]

Not a change to the monster type exactly, but Merrow being confined to water during the full moons is pretty limiting to the players. On the other hand full moons not affecting merrow like that would be pretty out of place given how the magics in the setting work.

So what about some kind of limited canal system? That could help players get their fishies from point A to point B if they want to engage with something happening in the city on the full moons. Not sure how exactly this would happen in setting, since it's a big change to the city infrastructure, but it's an idea I've had in the back of my head for a while.

[stopfen]

I can't think of a way to get around this.

But one of the things I told Owlie when I was looking up fae lore for change inspiration was that 'the mods have given me too much power' cause some lore is a lot and would overpowered to use.

Other than mods approving all lore-based stuff case by case but that's too much effort and would be limiting to players, just figured I should mention it.

[beguiledcard]

Admittedly, my focus is more on things that would give us stuff to maybe look forward to in the future. Stuff that would happen maybe six-months-to-a-year from the time they turned? Since it feels a little like you run out of stuff to get excited over with the changes because they happen and then... that's it, it's done, they're now fully Monster.

Nothing super big, but minor stuff I would like to see included/elaborated on in the section for Vampires:

Healing; in a lot of works of fiction, vampires generally have amplified healing. I did see that healing faster is established, but I think it would be neat if something involving this became a thing that developed/increased over time. For instance, maybe bad injuries healing overnight or with the consumption of blood already, but maintaining healthy Bonds and being around for a while makes it so it gradually speeds up a little more.

Alternately (and no worries if this wouldn't work with the mechanics of the game), what if it is a reward for proper Bonds? But, basically: maintaining a healthy Bond = healing faster from drinking that Bond's blood, in particular.

Senses; I assume that blood is something that they can smell super easily, given the nature of their everything. But following more works of fiction, enhanced hearing, above-average sight, and just an overall heightened sense of smell are things that have been used. I think this becoming another thing that develops more and more over time would be nice.

Sunlight Woes; I am all for permanent damage happening, but I have another suggestion for a thing that could develop down the road. What if any permanent damage that happens (e.g. area that turned to ash) could become cool-looking scars after enough time/long enough with a healthy Bond? Maybe scars that resemble what happens from electrocution, given the skin is having to essentially "piece" itself back together.

Apologies if I missed something already mentioned on the FAQ! I did try to Ctrl+f for things before sending this (which, of course, isn't always reliable and requires the right word searching). Thanks for all your hard work, mods!

[starswink]

Would it be alright to get rid of arm fur as a mandatory faun trait? I don't really understand this addition since traditional artwork of fauns and satyrs don't have furry arms at all, so I think it'd make more sense as an optional trait.

FUTURE MONSTER TYPES

[moustre]

New Monster types you'd like to see in the future!

[freeing]

Demon with subclass for incubus/succubus because i know what i'm about.
Genie
Angelic inspired.

[usurpers]

phoenix
kitsune
slime................... pls
wendigo/zombie/undead type things that aren’t vampires
alicorns—?!

[coherer]

- a whole amphibian branch!!
- ghost/spirit ones (i.e. banshee, kobold)
- ghouls/ZOMBIES
- wooorms???

[digiorno]

i'd really love an Intangible Monster, like a ghost. playing with intangibility/occasional intangibility/possession is really neat

Re: FUTURE MONSTER TYPES

[fabrications]

- Centaurs (maybe with peganasus or unicorn customization)
- Homunculi/Automata/Living dolls and other artificial lifeforms
- Ghosts (possibly taking the vengeful angle for behavioral changes?)
- More insect monsters? I can't think of anything besides Mothman tho

[whomthebelltolls]

- Something either mostly or completely inorganic, like a golem or something else made of living stone or metal. The opposite of all the androids turning into fleshy creatures! You could even leave some organic parts like, say, there's still a living heart in the center of the Golem from their time as a living person, and that's what their inherent weakness is. Also leads into potentially cool wicker beasts and stuff if they're made out of like stone and mud and dead wood and bones. No, I am not too in love with Drustvar, shush.
- 2nding everyone who said something about an 'undead' type that isn't a vampire. Lich, wight, ghost, something like that.
- Dryads! Or something else that's basically like a moving plant, for a non-animal/critter type of Monster. I know it'd be kind of hard to balance their abilities with what fauns can do anyway, but I think it might be possible. Especially if their powers slanted more toward, say, their ability to gather light, or something. (Venusaur used Solar Beam)

[faithlikeaseed]

- Ratkin!! Or another catch-all for rodents.
- Something something marsupials -- though possibly bringing them in as a Weird Turnskin Option?
- Kappa! Or maybe Mokele! For a non-dragon legged reptile option that maybe could include dinosaurs if y'all are feeling ~spicy~.
- Probably has too much Fae overlap given most Hymenoptera are winged but an insectile Monster with themes around hive loyalty/group telepathy? (You could call 'em Myrmidons. 8V) As another potential place to stick non-arachnid arthropods.

[fiddlestick]

This might be too complicated to pull off, but one thing I think might be cool is the option of expanding the side effects for witches who specialize in certain magics to start developing certain monster traits that are related to that. Think of it as like a cost to tapping too deep into that magic well.

Examples are like...a witch who gets REALLY into fire magic over time starts picking up traits of a fire elemental, or a necromancer who does too much of it becomes undead themselves.

I don't know I'm just spitballing idea to give witches a potential avenue to play with as well.

Re: FUTURE MONSTER TYPES

[cyclopticsadist]

A couple of people have suggested centaurs or unicorns, how about Kelpies? They could have an optional full moon centaur form or something along those lines?

Also, Selkies! Seal/sea lion/walrus/maybe even whales? I those fall kind of under turnskin right now? Selkies have their own particular lore and limitations though so I think having an alternate category with different mechanics regarding shapeshifting might be neat. Also pinnipeds are adorable.

ETA: I've been informed that selkies are kosher for merrow so nevermind.

[stopfen]

I'm sorry for any duplicate mentions. Also some of these no-names cause I'm just thinking up monsters.

+Inorganic monster - a monster made up of metal, clay, or any kind of material with magic veins/wires.
+Plant monsters - give me that monster that just naps in the sun all day and gives off pollen. With vines.
+Non-dragon lizards - like crocodile people or monsters based on land lizards. Or non-winged dinos.
+Ice based monster - Something that that has ice arms they can reshape at will, need claws? Make ice claws. Need a sword? Make an arm sword.
+Some RE or Bloodborne monstrosity or just undead variation - I am easily amused by undead creatures casually ripping off their arms to yeet them at people. Or maybe a mismatched undead thing made with multiple creatures' body parts.
+Demons/gremlins and imps - Ah yes, these assholes
+Hooved creatures like horses
+Non-lagomorph rodents like mice and rats
+More bug things like millipedes that don't have wings
+Slimesss - Though I can see that going horribly wrong and cursed.

-Shadow monster - I think there'd be too much overlap with shades and Cywd infected creatures for them. Maybe with the clause that NPCs think they're infected? Or they could be creatures that were pretty heavily infected but healed? Maybe minor immunity idk?

And mentioned above but some monster types having ''advanced'' forms for if in-game long enough.
Like the whole nekomata myth where a cat that lives long enough to gain a second tail or fox becoming a kitsune.

[itsjiaheng]

sliding in here because folks keep mentioning other, non-vampire undead
and i know what i'm about
and i would LOVE to see this

i would love to see liches needing a phylactery
and ghosts/shades and how that would work (ectoplasm????)
and wights or ghouls or zombies or wendigos

HERE FOR ALL OF THIS
which in turn makes me wonder what sort of changes to the culture over time might develop if there were more undead critters running around which are developments/discussions i would love to see
so like so much even above and beyond the actual monster types

- also 2nding the suggestion for angelic/demonic types? maybe a "celestial" overhead with angelic/demonic 'sub-species' so they can be a new category but not two entirely different types of monsters?
- as a suggestion for non-dragon reptiles i would like to put for imugi as a concept. in korean lore they're basically what a dragon is before being blessed with heavenly power (and therefore ascending to dragonhood)
- also wyverns ??? could also totally be reptile based but only have four limbs and aren't as rare as dragons

[guesser]

just a note that wyverns are already part of the dragon option, only needing to have arm-wings rather than a separate set— eren is one!