Anicolarys
Archivist of Les Échos Sauvages
Hi everyone,
As a designer focused on 'Bio-Fantasy,' I’m always looking for ways to translate fascinating (and often ignored) biological facts into TTRPG mechanics.
Art and Lore by Anicolarys - Supporting Lycaon conservation through DFCB
For my latest project, Varkas, I’ve been researching the African Wild Dog (Lycaon). These animals have a unique 'Quorum Sensing' behavior: they actually vote by sneezing to decide when the pack should start the hunt.
I’ve translated this into a 5E creature where the 'Democracy of Breath' isn't just lore—it’s a combat mechanic. I’ve also introduced a 'Synaptic Overload' effect, which targets a player's social bonds and memories rather than just their HP.
I’d love to get some veteran feedback on two things:
Looking forward to discussing some weird biology and monster design with you!
As a designer focused on 'Bio-Fantasy,' I’m always looking for ways to translate fascinating (and often ignored) biological facts into TTRPG mechanics.
Art and Lore by Anicolarys - Supporting Lycaon conservation through DFCB
For my latest project, Varkas, I’ve been researching the African Wild Dog (Lycaon). These animals have a unique 'Quorum Sensing' behavior: they actually vote by sneezing to decide when the pack should start the hunt.
I’ve translated this into a 5E creature where the 'Democracy of Breath' isn't just lore—it’s a combat mechanic. I’ve also introduced a 'Synaptic Overload' effect, which targets a player's social bonds and memories rather than just their HP.
I’d love to get some veteran feedback on two things:
- Have you ever used 'memory loss' or 'identity scrambling' as a combat mechanic? How did your players react to it?
- How do you feel about monsters whose abilities are triggered by collective 'voting' mechanics during a round?
Looking forward to discussing some weird biology and monster design with you!
