An animal-based campaign?

[Anime Kidd]

In another one of my unless thinking sessions, I was thinking of a campaign where the PCs were actual animals fighting humans or something for some reason or another. I'd figure the PCs would advance by increasing their HD instead of having classes. But, would such a campaign be playable?

Edit: Spelling errors

 

[Mark]

Sounds like fun. Maybe these stories might give you some inspiration, if you hadn't already thought of them...

Animal Farm
Secret of Nimh
Bremen Town Musicians

 

[WayneLigon]

Why not classes? Reincarnated characters can have classes, so why not animals? Maybe they're reincarnated adventurers after a TPK. Maybe they are Awakened animals. With the feats in Masters of the Wild, you can even get spellcasters

How about a party of...

Cougar: Fighter
Wolf: Ranger
Owl: Wizard
Raccoon: Rogue
Dove: Cleric
Otter: Bard
Cat, Siamese: Monk

 

[Mark]

Cat, Siamese: Monk

I believe the preferred term is conjoined cat...

 

[Larry Fitz]

I had a friend who was always tinkering with the idea of a campaign where the characters were the famiilars and animal companions of adventurers. The action of the game would in reality be the subtext of the adventure, though the animal adventurers wouuld never quite see it that way. I think it probably works better as a a story idea than a game though, it would be difficult to pull off. However, a game of awakened or reincarnated animals could be very interesting. I doubt you could sustain interest in a long term campaign, but as a way to finish off othat one adventure that ended with a TPK, it could be very cool.

 

[Anime Kidd]

The idea popped in my head while watching Ice Age. I think it could work for a short adventure or short-lived campaign, but not any bigger.

It might also be a bit better if such a setting would be placed in a time with animals being on equal footing with humans, like the stone age humans, etc.

As for classes...I think that any calss besides a fighter, barbarian, or rogue, that any other class wouldn't 'fit' with such a concept, especially spellcasting classes.

 

[Aeolius]

I should have info up on the web within the week, regarding "Nature of the Beast"; a sylvan campaign where the PCs begin as small forest animals. Rules governing reincarnation and Awakening will be blended, as the game unfolds.

The campaign begins as the PCs discover their benefactor, the druidess Aerianna, slain with an ornate dagger in her back. As they explore the reaches of the Suss forest, attempting to unravel the mystery of her murder, the animal companions will learn a great deal about themselves.

I plan to run the campaign via IRC. I'll post more info, soon.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

Reminds me a bit of the Spellsinger series...

 

[Tonguez]

Every heard of Captain Beaky and his Band?

Heres a quote from the 'poem'

The bravest animals in the land are Captain Beaky and his band
That's Timid Toad, Reckless Rat, Artful Owl and Batty Bat
They march through the woodlands singing songs
That tell how they have righted wrongs

The stories a great and could be great fodder for a game...



PS Aeolius

I've been trying to sign up to your underwater BPAA game but the links at http://www.lobi.com/bpaa/ don't work...

 

[Silver Moon]

I had a friend who was always tinkering with the idea of a campaign where the characters were the famiilars and animal companions of adventurers.

I'm currently plotting a campaign along those lines, however I plan to blend it with Toon rules, and temporarily give the familiars and animal companions humanoid form. Should be interesting.