need animal themed reward...

[unan oranis]

So my players defeated a series of mini-game/skill challenges where they lived out past lives as animals, but the reward was pretty lame.

They may now choose to appear as their "spirit animal", as an illusion.

I kind of think this is lame for a lot of reasons.

Anyone got a better idea for an animal themed reward... something magical and maybe permanent?

We're playing 4e but any kind of concept would help, I'm stuck.

 

[Mark]

Allow them to each speak to their type of animal with no need for a spell or magic item.

Or allow them to summon a single animal of the type they are assciated with to perform one non-combat task per day.

Or allow them to track the type of animal with which they are associated without error.

 

[CleverNickName]

The illusion idea is pretty cool. I like non-textbook rewards.

I can't really help you with 4E, but here are some ideas for 3.5E or Pathfinder that you might find useful. I don't know what level your characters are, so I picked up a range of them.

For low levels (1st - 3rd level):

- each character gains the Wild Empathy ability (as a druid), but only for animals of their "spirit" type. If the character is also a druid, this restriction does not apply.

- each character gains access to the Animal domain, but for their spirit animal only. The characters gain the granted power of that domain immediately (Knowledge [nautre] is a class skill; can cast speak with animals once per day, but only with creatures of their spirit animal type.) Spellcasters add the domain spells to their list of known spells.

- each character gains the Animal Companion ability of a druid of one-half their class level, but may only call animals of their spirit animal type. If the character is also a druid, these levels stack (but only for animal companions of her spirit animal type.)


For mid-level characters (6th - 12th level):

- each character may cast summon nature's ally III as a spell-like ability, a number of times per day equal to 3 + their Wisdom modifier...but may only summon animals of their "spirit" type. The effective caster level of this ability is equal to one-half their character level.

- each character gains the ability to Wild Shape into their spirit animal (only), as a druid of one-half their class level. If the character is also a druid, these levels stack but only when the druid is wild shaping into the form of her spirit animal.

If I think of any more later, I'll let you know.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Actually, I think the Illusion idea is kind of cool, and could be the seed for something kind of nifty.

For Heroic level, you could keep the spirit animal as an illusion or upgrade it to actual, as if the PC had the Druid power to change shape, but only into a normal looking/sized version of the animal in question (but with the PC's mental stats- Int, Wis, and Cha, of course). This should be an Daily power.

For Paragon level this improves to an Encounter power, and the creature is now unusual- Fey or Dire or some such.

For Epic level, the animal form should be At Will, and should be at least 2 sizes larger than normal. Perhaps the form has bonuses to its AC and such- truly the most formidable version of whatever type of creature they are linked to. They are an embodiment of the distilled essence of that kind of beast.

 

[fba827]

Use the figurines of wonderous power for inspiration to give each PC a special daily power to call a conjuration that can last for the encounter and can do something

Alternatively, pick a skill or two that you (DM) is strongly associated with the spirit animal... athletics, acrobatics, endurance, perception, nature, stealth are good choices off the top of my head (or initiative if you are out of viable skill variety for the animals chosen). and for each pc, they get a bonus to that skill depending on what their spirit animal was.

As above except instead of a flat bonus, give them a once per day +1d6 to that particular skill, similar to the way a shaman does it to represent speaking with the spirits.. but don't do this if you have a shaman in the party, it would steal his/her gimmick

look at low level rituals.. and reflavor them appropriately... so if one had a bird, maybe he gets animal messenger once per day without components. if one has a horse they can cast phantom steed (or whatever it's called) once per day for free for himself only, and so on.

look to the druid utility powers for inspiration. (but don't do this if you have a druid in the party). so one with a cat might get some variation on cheetah speed (an encounter power to gain a bonus to speed for a round or something like that) or someone with a boar might get that druid utility power that increases bull rush push or charge attack, and so on.

give them all the druid wildshape multiclass feat for free (regardless of 1 multiclass limit), but can only widshape into their animal type, but still of the appropriate size requirement. then if anyone wants to bolster that further they can invest the appropriate feats to powerswap in some druid wildshape enhancing powers. this is a little iffy since someone may feel their wildshape form is less desirable than anothers (i.e. "you mean i can be a badger while everyone else is a cat/dog/horse/etc ?")

but for the simplest and easiest, i'd probably go with the suggestion to figure an appropriate skill for each animal and give the corresponding PC a bonus to said skill.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In the alternative to shapechange powers, give them summoning powers, similar to the Invoker's ability to call on Angels, or the Warden's ability to call on spirits.

Heck, it could be exactly like a combo of those, with the PCs being able to call on the spirits of animals to which they have an affinity.

 

[TarionzCousin]

When I saw the title of this thread, this is what I thought of:

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

I kind of like the illusion thing. You could up the save DC if you're concerned about its utility against higher-level opponents.

Alternatively, let it grant minor bonuses to applicable skills (similar to familiars), as well as granting bonuses when interacting with animals of the same kind as the spirit animal. Or it might be able to manifest once per day (or week?) and aid the PC in some task, combat, etc.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Lycanthropy. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

 

[Nightson]

How about symbolic gifts. Fast animals might get a burst of speed power or static speed increase. Strong animals something involving damage. Hard to make suggestions without knowing what animals were involved.