Intelligent Animals as Character Classes (Part II)

This post is a continuation from yesterday's post regarding my thoughts for intelligent animals as character classes (specifically for BX/LL editions).

I'm thinking that as many different animals need to be covered off in as little space as possible (given the sheer variety and species of animals available). That being said, I'm thinking that some kind of chart is called for... specifically something in the order of the one pictured below.



In the chart, the XP Chart Indications of A, B, and C are to coordinate with specially-designed XP charts, but I'm assuming most classes will fall into one of about a half-dozen charts. Please note that the chart shown below is a working concept only, and the numbers/notations are by no means meant to be final.

General thoughts?

Intelligent Animals as Character Classes

To this day, I truthfully believe, that if C.S. Lewis had been a bigger influence on D&D than Tolkien, my best friend from childhood would have had a much greater interest in playing the game. (Be advised, I'm not here to argue whether one influence is better than the other, and there is no doubt in my mind that D&D found its long-term/wide-audience appeal, specifically for the Tolkien influences.) Let me put that into some context...

So many folks out there in the blogosphere spend time deconstructing and expounding upon the 1e DMG's Appendix N, but we don't give the same weight to the the "Inspirational Source Material" found on page B62 of the 1981 Basic Rules. It is broken out into five sections: 1) "Fiction: Young Adult Fantasy," which includes Lloyd Alexander, L. Frank Baum, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and C.S. Lewis, 2) "Non-Fiction Young Adult," 3) "Fiction: Adult Fantasy," which includes most of the material from "Appendix N," including de Camp, Dunsany, Lovecraft, Tolkien, and Vance, 4) "Short Story Collections" and "Non-Fiction." Even through the likes of Baum and Lewis have been noted, their influence is all-but-absent from the game we know (even the classic D&D version of it). So here's where I'm going with this...

Because I've been in such a "character class" mode lately, I was giving some though to intelligent creatures as player characters. Ultimately, the goal here is a systematic approach that lets GMs "version out" intelligent animals based on their campaign. Also, given the BX version of the "Appendix N" noted above (and the lack of similar references from the 1e DMG), I'm going to keep these within the BX/LL concept of race-as-class.

Almost any type of normal animal should be available as a PC class. The types of animals available to any given campaign should, however, be limited by the campaign (obviously). There's no reason that mice, or birds, or leopards, or even crocodiles shouldn't be available as PCs.

Classed intelligent animals will come in two basic forms: Option A) a standard version of an animal (i.e., no physical differences between it and its standard counterpart), but with the ability of human speech, and Option B) a slightly anthropomorphized version of the animal, also with the ability of human speech. The important word in that second option is "slightly." Anything more, and dogs might as well be gnolls, and lizards might as well be lizard men. Think puss-in-boots, or Reepicheep from Prince Caspian. The first type will not be capable of wielding any sort of weapon or shield, but armor options should be based on the type of animal (e.g., there is no reason a horse shouldn't be able to wear plate armor, if someone is there to put it on for him, of course). The second type will generally be capable of using weapons, shields, and other objects/tools (within reason), with armor type being limited by the size/strength of the creature (e.g., a mouse might be too encumbered by any type of armor, while a possum might still be capable of fighting in partial plate).

XP advancement for intelligent animals will be limited to a certain level. I'm seeing "Option A" types as having a much lower level limit than the "Option B" types. Maybe somewhere from 7th to 9th level vs. somewhere from 10th to 12th level, respectively.

"Option A" Special Abilities. I see them having the ability to speak with common species of their type (e.g., brown bears may speak with grizzlies, black bears, etc., while most great cats may converse with one another). They may not, however, speak any other languages other than their animal language and common (though I'm considered re-examining this). At a certain level (maybe as early as 3rd), some animal types may attempt to engage an assistant (most likely human) as a paid hireling/henchmen (I don't know about you guys, but sometimes I wonder who the master is... me or my dogs). These types of intelligent animals will also have the ability to summon like types from the area to assist them; this will be an increasing percentage chance of response with an increasing range per level (think Thieves' Abilities here). Some animal types will also have a special magic-like ability with an increasing chance of success per level (again, a la Thieves' Abilities) or as a magic-like ability that improves (range/duration) with each level (e.g., a leopard might have a paralyzing gaze attack vs. an individual, a black panther may have the ability to hide in shadows, a bear might have a fear attack, etc.). At high levels (for their type, anyway), they may establish a "kingdom"; this is really nothing more than an area of land over which the animal rules, but he or she will attract "subjects" who are loyal enough to fight for them should the need arise.

"Option B" Special Abilities. Unlike their "Option A" counterparts, I see "Option B" intelligent animals having to learn their species' language, just like learning any other language. Also unlike their counterparts, I see the "Option B" animals being able to learn other languages (humanoid, demi-human, or even monster languages). They will not have the summoning ability of their "Option A" counterparts, nor will they have the same magic-lie abilities. However, I do see certain types of animals being able to learn certain class abilities (e.g., maybe at a certain level, some have access to charm spells, or some may have Thieves' abilities which increase with each level). At high levels, they will be able to establish a traditional stronghold and attract followers of their same "class" (e.g., an "Option B" mouse will attract low level types of the same mouse class).

Click here for the followup post to this one.

Getting all "game theory" on your asses...

DOCUMENT LINK [PDF]
MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research
Authored by Robin Hunicke, Marc LeBlanc, Robert Zubek

I downloaded this doc (above) a while back, "re-discovered" it floating around my desktop this morning, and thought I'd share it with all of you. I think I may have originally found it on the internet while googling my name in relation to game design, as you'll notice one of the authors is a "Marc LeBlanc" (no relation to yours truly).

Here's the paper's abstract:

In this paper we present the MDA framework (standing for Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics), developed and taught as part of the Game Design and Turning Worshop at the Game Developers Conference, San Jose 2001-2004.

MDA is a formal approach to understanding games – one which attempts to bridget the gap between game design and development, game criticism, and technical game research. We believe this methodology will clarify and strengthen the iterative processes of developers, scholars and researchers alike, making it easier for all parties to decompose, study and design a broad class of game designs and game artifacts.

"MDA" (Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics) is a game design framework used a tool in game analyzation. It breaks a game into three components (mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics... duh), and provides "precise definitions" for each, as a way of understanding how they relate to one another, as well as how they relate to the player experience. From wikipedia:

Mechanics are the base components of the game -
its rules, every basic action the player can take in the game,
the algorithms and data structures in the game engine etc.

Dynamics are the run-time behavior of the mechanics
acting on player input and "cooperating" with other mechanics.

Aesthetics are the emotional responses evoked in the player -
joy, frustration, fantasy, fellowship.

I could go on here and list a bunch of other stuff from Marc's website (including his classification of "eight kinds of 'fun'"), but I'll just send you his to web page instead. Dig through the stuff there, and feel free to comment below on what strikes your interest and feels particularly relevant to you and why. (I, myself, am overwhelmed with client work right now, so I have not had too much of a chance to dig, and will likely have little chance to respond right away, but don't let that stop you.)

Working on making my BX/LL Character Record Sheets as complete as possible...

As part of the included items and stretch goals for the BX DM Screen I'm developing, I'm versioning my BX/LL character record sheet to each specific class, and including all the relevant information for each class on the actual record sheet. This is something that a lot of other editions have, but I don't know that I've ever seen for BX/LL. It includes checkboxes for +5%/+10% in the XP area (as well as a space to record hp needed to reach next level), notes on special abilities (e.g., infravision and distances, bonuses to check traps/doors, spaces to put target rolls for Cleric's turning, etc.), the type of HD to be used under the hit point box, notations on prime requisites and experience point bonuses, and other goodies throughout. There's a generic version of course (already available at the link at the beginning of this paragraph). Originally, I was going to leave space for spells; instead, I'm working on separate spell sheets for clerics and MUs/Elves that give space to list each spell's range, duration, area of effect, etc., in addition to provided the spells by level information for those classes.

The idea is that, between these character record sheets and the DM screen itself, you will rarely (if ever) have to reference the rule books during the game (assuming the monster stats have been provided ahead of time, which I try to do in EVERY adventure I write and produce for publication).

Pictured below: top-left) group shot (), top-right) CU of Thief character record sheet showing Thieves' abilities spaces, bottom-left) CU of Thief character record sheet showing "to hit" boxes w/ backstab note & hit point box with indication of die-type, bottom-right) CU of Halfling character record sheet showing item use restrictions.

An Historical Dig into the Planes of Existence Pt. II

Today's post is a continuation of my work into developing a planar model as an extension of the mystic class/psionics system I'm working on for BX/LL.

As an extension of yesterday's post digging into the history of planar concepts (as an extension of the mystic class/psionics system I'm working on for BX/LL), today's chart is from the 1925 book A Treatise on Cosmic Fire by Alice A. Bailey. Like Mr. Leadbeater, Ms. Bailey was a theosophist/esoteric philosopher. Also like Mr. Leadbeater, Ms. Bailey suggests the lowest three planes are physical: 1) solids, 2) liquids, 3) gases; and that the next four planes are etheric. From there, Ms. Bailey's planes seem to coincide with Mr. Leadbeater's, with some Western additions to the Eastern naming...

Level	Leadbeater	Bailey
7	Mahaparanirvanic	Divine/ Adi
6	Paranirvanic	Monadic/ Anupadaka
5	Nirvanic	Spiritual/ Atmic
4	Buddhic	Intuitional/ Buddhic
3	Mental	Mental/ Manasic
2	Astral	Emotional/ Astral
1	Physical	Physical

More importantly, I like how this diagram (of the "Kosmic Physical" planes) from Ms. Bailey suggests that gates/portals connect some of these planes directly.

So, at this point, I'm still thinking that...

1) Access to other physical planes from the prime material plane (that is, to the positive material, negative material, elemental planes, etc.) will be through the ethereal plane.

2) Access to the astral plane will be through the ethereal plane. (See this post at Delta's D&D Hotspot, and the comment thread, for discussion of early editions, and whether the astral plane was accessed through the ethereal plane, or accessed directly, from the prime material plane.)

3) Access to the higher planes will be "up" through the "upper" ethereal plane to the "upper" astral plane.

4) Access to the lower planes will be "down" through the "lower" ethereal plane to the "lower" astral plane.

5) Moving to the outer edges of the physical plane accesses the "dreamlands"; moving "up" from the dreamlands access deep dreams, and moving "down" from the dreamlands accesses nightmares. (This is a concept I'm adapting from Steve Marsh's current model of the planes... but that's a whole 'nother post.)

An Historical Dig into the Planes of Existence

For some additional context on today's post, see this post (and its comment thread) at Delta's D&D Hotspot regarding the spell Contact Other Plane.

I was doing some digging around to older resources on concepts of the planes of existence (as an extension of the mystic class/psionics system I'm working on for BX/LL) and came across a couple of things. First, the writings of the Theosopher Charles W. Leadbeater who really launched the whole theosophy/metaphysics field around 1900. He (along with Annie Besant) is credited with systemizing the planes in his writings. Most of what has come afterward (entire 20th century and beyond) seems to be based (at least in part) on his writings. While his concepts are based on some older Hermetic thoughts (older Egyptian and Greek philosophies), he's the one who (at least in a modern context) suggests concepts like astral travel. This page (at left) from his 1903 book "Man Visible and Invisible" seems to lay out the concept that the astral plane is accessed by means of etheric double.

The Kybalion (by "The Three Initiates," 1912) seems to be the other "go to" theosophic book on the planes. The second chapter, ("The Principle of Correspondence") embodies the idea that there is always a correspondence between the laws of phenomena of the various "planes" of being and life (p.28). This text lists the "Plane of Ethereal Substance" as the 4th sub-plane of the 7 minor physical planes (essentially the same place that Leadbeater puts it). But the Kybalion's ethereal plane itself consists of 7 sub-planes... "This Ethereal Substance forms a connecting link between Matter (so-called) and Energy, and partakes of the nature of each. The Hermetic Teachings, however, instruct that this plane has seven sub-divisions (as have all of the Minor Planes), and that in fact there are seven ethers, instead of but one."

So where am I going with this?

Well, as I stated at the beginning of this post, I'm trying to lay out some ground rules (but, honestly, little more than that, for the sake of fearing being too restrictive and cumbersome) for a "planar travel" appendix to the mystic class/psionics ruleset I'm developing for BX/LL (which is coming along swimmingly, BTW, thanks to some great insight I graciously received from Steve Marsh... the nearly-uncredited genius behind a lot of the planar concepts of D&D¹). I've been trying to decide what rules are "givens," and which things are better left to DMs to develop themselves. Based on the above, I think I'm going to stick with the basic concept that one must access the ethereal plane before accessing the astral, even though both the 1e PHB version of the diagram of the planes (and it's predecessor from Dragon Magazine #8, pictured below) suggest that the Astral plane (area 9, in light blue) can be accessed directly from the Prime Material plane (area 1, in purple). This physical-to-ethereal-to-astral model seems to support the "higher consciousness" aspect of the mystic class I'm developing. The ethereal plane will still access all the other material planes (e.g., the elemental planes, and things like the positive and negative material planes, should I keep those "as is"). It's the astral plane and beyond that I'm still contemplating.

But, then again, I might decide to abandon this structure altogether.

There are some other ideas I'm toying with, so I'm sure there will be more posts to come.



¹ "When ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS was still in its earliest conceptual stage, Steve Marsh and I exchanged considerable correspondence pertaining to the planes." Gary Gygax, "The Sorcerer's Scroll," Dragon Magazine 38 (Vol. IV, No. 6), December 1979.

Today's new monster comes to us from the Celts by way of The Voyage of Máel Dúin.

Revolving Beast

DESCRIPTION The revolving beast is a doppleganger-like creature able to morph itself into many different creatures by adapting its loose skin, skeletal bones, and muscles into different shapes. Each transformation takes 1d4 rounds, with the beast revolving in place, accompanied by a massive clattering noise (as its bones crack and snap into place). Any creature standing within a 5' radius of revolving beast during this transformation is subject to 1d4 points of damage, if the revolving beast makes a successful “to hit” roll against that creature. The sound of the transformation is so loud and frightening, that any creature of animal intelligence must make a successful morale check or be frightened enough to run away at full speed. The shape that may be taken on by a revolving beast is limited only by the revolving beast’s knowledge of existing creatures and its imagination, but the size taken on must remain in line with number of HD of the revolving beast as outlined below: 4HD approximately dwarf-sized 5HD approximately human-sized 6HD approximately ogre-sized The revolving beast will gain the ability of altered forms of movement based on an assumed shape (e.g., flying, swimming, burrowing, or leaping), but does not gain additional abilities (e.g., water-breathing), and moves at its normal rate. The number of attacks that a revolving beast may make during a single round (while in an assumed shape) is limited only its number of appendages (in that form), with each attack doing 1d4 points of damage (on a successful “to hit” roll). A revolving beast may not make any attacks during a transformation round, except as outlined above.

Oe/1E STATS FREQUENCY: Very rare NO. APPEARING: 1-6 ARMOR CLASS: 7 MOVE: 12" HIT DICE: 4-6 % IN LAIR: 75% TREASURE C NO. OF ATTACKS: See below DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4 pts. SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard INTELLIGENCE: Low ALIGNMENT: Chaotic neutral SIZE: M-L PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil Attack/Defense Modes: Nil BX STATS ARARMOR CLASS: 7 HIT DICE: 4-6 MOVE: 120' ATTACKS: See below DAMAGE: 1-4 pts./attack NO. APPEARING: 1-6 SAVE AS: Fighter:4-6 MORALE: 8 TREASURE TYPE: C ALIGNMENT: Chaotic