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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mythusmage" data-source="post: 2714279" data-attributes="member: 571">On Handling MonstersA good guide to use is real world animal behavior. Animals vary in how they handle threats and stress. For instance, there is not one case where a snow leopard so much as defended itself when confronted by a human. For safety's sake naturalists will sedate a specimen before moving it, but locals have moved snow leopards out of harm's way without tranquilizing them. On the other hand cape buffalo are well known as aggressive animals. And regardless of species adolescent male cattle will 'gang up' to check out anything new, strange, and possibly dangerous.Gorgons, for example, may act the same way. The party runs across a gorgon herd the adolescent males line up shoulder to shoulder to present a solid multi-ton wall of muscle with petrifying halitosis. They're not necessarily hostile, but they are curious and wary. If the party does nothing overtly hostile the young gorgons will probably not even breathe their special breath, and simply satisfy themselves with getting a good sniff of the adventurers, and then watch calmly as the group passes on.How an animal handles an encounter depends on what the humans do. You present no obvious threat, the animal will pretty much ignore you. But what constitutes an obvious threat depends on the animal.To a lion who knows nothing of humans you present no threat. To an elephant you are a deadly threat. That's the thing about elephants, though male bush elephants can get as large as 8 tons or more, they still have the mentality of a small prey animal. To elephants small dogs present a mortal threat.How an animal handles a threat also varies from species to species. Leopards run away if they can, or bluff if they can't. A snow leopard conversely will yield when threatened. Basically giving up and depending on your mercy. Then you have wolverines, possibly the biggest fakes in the animal kingdom. We have recently learned that when a wolverine growls and charges, he's doing it more in the hope you'll back down then out of any desire to actually hurt you. Now, a wolverine will battle viciously if pressed hard enough, but that's not his aim. You back down that's the end of the matter for him.Then you have special circumstances. Mothers with young for example. Never get between a mother brown bear and her cubs. Nor do you want to confront a buck (juvenile) or stag (adult) in full display. Any animal in full testosterone intoxication (and this includes adolescent humans) is capable of hurting you very badly. Even killing you without a thought. When dealing with a bull elephant in musht, or even a billy goat during mating season, it's a good idea to have a reliable place of refuge nearby.Another special circumstance enters the picture when not only is the animal used to people, but actually thinks of humans as part of his group. Meerkats and Ghanian Jumping Rats will bond with any human they run across. Rhinos and owls are known to bond with their handlers. You camp in one area for any length of time that pack of dire wolves may decide to check you out, and should you prove friendly draft you as baby sitters for their cubs. Those white dragons may come to you for protection from frost giants.There are many different ways to handle monsters in your game. Ways that can confuse and frustrate your players. And aint that what it's all about? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Seriously, look into all the different ways animals interact with us in the real world and try applying them in your game. Should make (game) life more interesting.PDF: Elements of Magic: Mythic Earth</blockquote>

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