Non-Animal Anthropomorphics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism

Believe it or not, there was a time when the term “anthropomorphic” did not refer solely to furries. It did (and still does) mean anything non-human to which human characteristics are applied.

I was browsing threads in the General RPG forum over the weekend, and commented at least once on how it seems the vast majority of monsters in D&D throughout the years have been humanoid animals, half-animals, animal hybrids, or mixed up creatures with animal parts – I’d wager something like half of all D&D creatures that ever have been, are at least 10% animal.

In fact, I was just today looking at a thread where a guy wanted an island full of anthropomorphic animals, and another guy responded that anthropomorphic plants might be more interesting. That made me think!

What other anthropomorphic non-animals are out there? We have living constructs, genasi, even treants and galeb duhr when you think about it, and quite a few others I’m sure.

What else could there be? What could we create?

Interesting...

For "plantamorphs", we've also got the volodni from Unapprochable East.

"Mineralmorphs" also include maugs and nimblewrights.

Here are a few other things to mix with humanoids to possibly get interesting results:

• Oil
• Tar
• Moonlight
• Salt
• Scree/gravel/pebbles

sure - there are all sorts of ideas. i'd like to see more Humanoid/Monstrous Humanoids for one thing - you may say, "aw, not more humanoids", but these are more than just humanoids right?

i'd like to have more plant-based races for one, but more like "plant-touched humans" rather than humanoid-shaped plants.

could even have an "anthro-ooze" or something - a humanoid that can become malleable and blobby?

identifying what there already is will help us not overlap ideas.

Aspect of BOZ said:

but more like "plant-touched humans"

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That screams 'fey' to me.

Regards
Mortis

Aspect of BOZ said:

sure - there are all sorts of ideas. i'd like to see more Humanoid/Monstrous Humanoids for one thing - you may say, "aw, not more humanoids", but these are more than just humanoids right?

Click to expand...

I'll still say that, but I'm willing to play along.

You'll notice that all the example I gave don't have the humanoid or monstrous humanoid types.

Mortis said:

That screams 'fey' to me.

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no, that would be fey-touched.

i'm thinking more like humanoids that have plant characteristics, such as bark-like skin, photosynthesis, etc. they'd be of the animal kingdom, but with traits unique to plants.

Shade said:

Tar

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Tar-Babies!

Anyone remember the Terry Pratchetts Water Troll?

and there was a thread in Houserules once that had stats for Redwood, Pine, Cactus and Coconut 'Treants'

Plus, this month's Dragon may have stats for the cactacae from Perdido Street Station.

I think there actually are a decent number of intelligent/humanoid vegetables (and possibly minerals) out there. In the MM3 theres the "Woodling" template which turns a creature into a plant. IIRC that book also contained the "wood woad", sort of a humanoid tree that carries a club.

Now that I think about that, it's kind of wierd. Personally if I were made of wood I don't think I'd want a wooden club. It strikes me as being the equivalent of a human wielding a side of beef.

awayfarer said:

Now that I think about that, it's kind of wierd. Personally if I were made of wood I don't think I'd want a wooden club. It strikes me as being the equivalent of a human wielding a side of beef.

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Along those same lines, I always find it funny that creatures of cold environs wield icy burst weapons and utilize polar rays, etc. Wouldn't they have a better shot at ruling their territories with a flaming weapon and fireballs?