What are the prefered lab animals for fantasy?

DMH · Oct 12, 2007

With all the spell creation and new alchemical formulas being developed all the time, there has to be some animal testing. What critters would make the best specimens?

WayneLigon · Oct 12, 2007

I don't think for the most part they'd bother with animal testing. There are always more peasents.

There's a great anecdote in The Lies of Locke Lamora, where Locke has to get a fresh corpse for one of the Black Alchemists to experiment with (these are the alchemists that are unlicensed and beyond the law).

Reynard · Oct 12, 2007

Trolls. They regernate.

They are also good for fast food joints.

demiurge1138 · Oct 12, 2007

Mice and rats are still a popular choice. Where do you think all those dire rats that get stuck in NPC's basements come from? Not to mention the wererats, ash rats, moonrats, alchemice, ROUSes...

And judging by the evidence, owls were at one time in vogue. It is my hypothesis that Thesselar invented the owlbear after running out of things to do with his poor lab-owls.

Trolls and other regenerating beasties are perfect for anatomical studies - but they only teach about their own anatomy, obviously.

Demiurge out.

Grymar · Oct 12, 2007

PCs, in my campaign.

tensen · Oct 12, 2007

DMH said:
With all the spell creation and new alchemical formulas being developed all the time, there has to be some animal testing. What critters would make the best specimens?

Kobolds and Goblins.
You see the whole problem with normal animal testing is that the animals can't tell you what all is happening.

Felnar · Oct 12, 2007

wizards used to do their testing on owls and bears

Slife · Oct 12, 2007

duckrabbits are a monster from an older edition which were typically the first monster created by evil wizards, since screwing up wouldn't cause too many problems. It was in one of the Monster Manuals, I think.