Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[demiurge1138]

Let's give them a +2 to saves vs. poison. Even numbered miscellaneous bonuses seem to be more popular.

Also: the opposum currently is stated to be a Medium animal, although its AC includes the correct bonus for being Tiny.

Do we want to make them familiar options? If so, might I suggest a bonus to Bluff as their associated skill? Although that would be a bit weird, since they use Disguise to appear dead. Was there a debate over the appropriate skill?

 

[Cleon]

Let's give them a +2 to saves vs. poison. Even numbered miscellaneous bonuses seem to be more popular.

+2 is fine by me.

Also: the opposum currently is stated to be a Medium animal, although its AC includes the correct bonus for being Tiny.

Yes, they are Tiny.

Do we want to make them familiar options? If so, might I suggest a bonus to Bluff as their associated skill? Although that would be a bit weird, since they use Disguise to appear dead. Was there a debate over the appropriate skill?

Don't much like a Bluff bonus. Climb seems a more appropriate associated skill, but I don't really care for that either.

How about letting them share the bonus on poison saves?

 

[Shade]

How about letting them share the bonus on poison saves?

We could do that, but I was thinking it would be more fun to share a lesser version of feign death. That way, master and familiar can both go "belly up" when danger rears its ugly head.

 

[Cleon]

We could do that, but I was thinking it would be more fun to share a lesser version of feign death. That way, master and familiar can both go "belly up" when danger rears its ugly head.

So a bonus to Bluff and Disguise checks when pretending to be dead?

I'd worry that might not see much use in game, the master is more likely to benefit from a poison save bonus.

 

[Shade]

So a bonus to Bluff and Disguise checks when pretending to be dead?

I'd worry that might not see much use in game, the master is more likely to benefit from a poison save bonus.

True. I was trying to come up with something different from other familiars, but I suppose poison bonus will work.

 

[freyar]

Does every choice need to be optimal? Well, the poison bonus is ok, but feign death would have been fun.

 

[Cleon]

True. I was trying to come up with something different from other familiars, but I suppose poison bonus will work.

Well we could go for a skill bonus, maybe Climb or Survival, but I like poison save a bit more.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Anyone know the length and weight ranges of opossums?

 

[freyar]

They seem to range from the size of a mouse to a cat. Since we made them tiny, how about up to 1 ft and 10 lb? That's not a big cat, but it is probably about right.

Didn't we decide to make the poison bonus to masters +2?

 

[Shade]

We did decide upon +2. I'll update it.

I found the following here:

An adult opossum is 2 to 3 feet long and weighs between 4 and 12 pounds.