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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5824745" data-attributes="member: 27780">Dragon Magazine Issue 266: December 1999part 4/7PC Portraits gives us our third helping of hybrid creatures over the year. Popular buggers, aint they. Wolf, boar, bat, tiger and rat are all represented, obviously. But in addition, we have a druid, an imp and a mimic disguised as a door, which is a pretty unusual choice. And is that supposed to be a wereraven, or just a guy being attacked by a giant shadowy venus fly trap? And the final one is this weird optical illusion that could be a little cat sprawled on a mat, or a big horned demonface. Yeah, there's a few amusing bits here that are worthy of comment. I think I approve. Humanimals: Hengeyokai are a bit wussy when compared to Lycanthropes, but I guess that's the kind of sacrifice you make when you want to make them PC suitable, rather than monsters, but still thematically cool. Actually, we've barely seen them around in ages, since oriental stuff fell out of fashion. But it looks like we'll be revisiting several more cool ideas before the edition ends, and another dozen animal types getting PC friendly shapeshifter races is one of them. At this rate, we'll have more than enough new races to keep any holdouts busy for years. Badgers are exceedingly grumpy, and likely to take it out on everyone around them. They'll make fairly decent antagonists, but they're unlikely to be able to carry out a long-term scheme blowing up and ruining it. Guess that keeps them down in the thug leagues then. Dolphins have a bit of a crap hybrid form, but their swimming abilities are pretty impressive, and sonar opens up sensory options that'll give an imaginative DM plenty of room for cool descriptions. And having someone in the team capable of dealing with alternate terrains is particularly handy at lower levels. Falcons are loyal and honourable, but it's not easy to put one over on them, and they can be pretty vicious. Give them a cause to fight for, and you can bet they'll pursue it tenaciously. Perhaps an epic world-saving quest'll do the job. Frogs are one of the softest and least combat capable creatures out there. They don't taste good though, which might put some monsters off. Since they're good for nothing, they don't have any favored class or alignment. Which is freeing in it's own way, I suppose. Lizard hengeyokai have the slightly quirky benefit of being able to pass for both humans and lizard men depending on form, which may be useful in roleplaying terms. They can be surprisingly fast as well when properly warmed up. Don't be surprised if they manage to put some trick over you after all. Lynxes have ridiculous sideburns in human form. They're a selfish, antisocial lot, probably not suitable as PC's. I'm sure someone'll want to play the badass brooding loner though. And hey, sideburns. The orient doesn't have wolverines, so that's a decent substitute. Octopi have blue blood, even in human form, and act on the assumption that everyone is fully aware of their emotional state. This means they're probably one of the worst at concealing their nature. Still, I'm sure they can find people who'll accept them for their tentacles anyway. Just got to know where to look. Otters are a hyperactive and playful lot, skittering around in and out of water, but maintaining immaculate grooming nonetheless. They seem like becoming a swashbucking sort would be right up their alley. Through the moat, up the castle wall, seduce the princess, and then off we go again. Owls get a pretty substantial wisdom bonus, unsurprisingly, which means they're likely to take the cleric role. They can't fly in hybrid form, which means they won't be able to take full advantage of that trick. Oh well. It's still useful enough as it is. Pandas are homebodies, since their diet is pretty restricted. While not completely unsuited as adventurers, as they do have decent natural weapons, and climbing skills, they'd be going against type. Still, I suppose that's what being an adventurer is all about. The same applies to hobbits, after all. Turtles are exceedingly slow, and their AC isn't as high as you might think, so they don't even make that great a meat shield. They are decent swimmers though. They might become adventurers, but they'll still do things on their own schedule, which'll be fine for elves and treants, but may drive humans mad with impatience. Weasels are of course cunning and vicious, the ideal traits for scheming roguish sorts. They'll probably get a bit further than Badgers in their schemes, but still, you don't trust someone who subconsciously reminds you of a weasel. That's going to get in their way sooner or later. So a big chunk of these races aren't particularly great as PC's, but nearly all should make interesting characters. That's not bad going. This issue is being pretty good at providing new options they haven't done before.</blockquote>

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