A Song Of Ice And Fire's Dire Wolves template

On 28 Feb 2006 11:58:22 -0800, "Mark Sebree" <sebree RemoveThis @infionline.net>
wrote:

[...]
>
>Increase Basic Move,

Mov. 9 is included in the Standard Wolf... Should it be more?

> as well as Running Skill (Specialization :
>Endurance?)

Ok!

>Add Increased Ground Movement

They run THAT fast? ?___?

>Add knowledge of Dire Wolf language (Native) and Common (fluent)

You're right.

>Add Bite Attack and Claw Attack (These are descriptive and assume that
>bite and claws are effective weapons)

Cutting Damage seems fit to me. High ST does the rest.

>Perhaps you can add Growl as some type of intimidation attack or
>factor. Does no damage, but causes fear on a failed Will roll.

I think, since it's no supernatural effect, it should be a normal
Intimidation Skill.

>Enhanced sense of smell, with tracking.

Included in standard Wolf.

>Disads such as No Hands, reputation (Fierce beast), reduced eyesight
>Etc.

Why Reduced Eyesight?

>Include point breakdown, sub-totals, and total.

I'll do when I come to a final decision.

In that series, they seem to develop with time some kind of Mindlink
or Precognition, very limited in power and effects, but even at long
range... But it's definitely NOT racial... Or does anyone know better?

>Remember, these are things common to virtually all members of the
>species.

Of course! ^______^

Korin Duval

--

"Truth requires a great amount of courage;
Fiction requires a great amount of maturity."
 >> Stay informed about: A Song Of Ice And Fire's Dire Wolves template 

Korin Duval wrote:
> On 28 Feb 2006 11:58:22 -0800, "Mark Sebree" <sebree.TakeThisOut@infionline.net>
> wrote:
>
> [...]
> >
> >Increase Basic Move,
>
> Mov. 9 is included in the Standard Wolf... Should it be more?

This is the first that I have seen that they have a Move of 9.
However, since they are basically an upgraded wolf, a bit more speed is
not out of line. They are supposed to be better in almost every
aspect, aren't they? That includes faster, even if it is only by .5 or
..75 of their move. Increases in the stats could easily be enough to
cover this.

>
> > as well as Running Skill (Specialization :
> >Endurance?)
>
> Ok!
>
> >Add Increased Ground Movement
>
> They run THAT fast? ?___?

I had no idea what their basic move was. You did not post it, and you
did not give a specific reference.

>
> >Add knowledge of Dire Wolf language (Native) and Common (fluent)
>
> You're right.
>
> >Add Bite Attack and Claw Attack (These are descriptive and assume that
> >bite and claws are effective weapons)
>
> Cutting Damage seems fit to me. High ST does the rest.

Which would be the claw attack. That is why I said that they were
descriptive rather than what the abilities are described as in the
rules.

>
> >Perhaps you can add Growl as some type of intimidation attack or
> >factor. Does no damage, but causes fear on a failed Will roll.
>
> I think, since it's no supernatural effect, it should be a normal
> Intimidation Skill.
>

Just an idea. I agree with the intimidation, however, since that also
covers having the D. Wolf in your face, teeth bared, and growling very
low and angrily.

> >Enhanced sense of smell, with tracking.
>
> Included in standard Wolf.

Which I have not seen.

>
> >Disads such as No Hands, reputation (Fierce beast), reduced eyesight
> >Etc.
>
> Why Reduced Eyesight?
>

I have done some extra research since I wrote that, and found out that
I was wrong for that about wolves. Wolves seem to have excellent
eyesight, but are also colorblind.

> >Include point breakdown, sub-totals, and total.
>
> I'll do when I come to a final decision.
>
> In that series, they seem to develop with time some kind of Mindlink
> or Precognition, very limited in power and effects, but even at long
> range... But it's definitely NOT racial... Or does anyone know better?
>
> >Remember, these are things common to virtually all members of the
> >species.
>
> Of course! ^______^
>
> Korin Duval
>
> --
>
> "Truth requires a great amount of courage;
> Fiction requires a great amount of maturity."


I think that the problem comes in because I do not think that there is
a wolf described in the Basic Set of 4e, or at least not in the
Character's Book. I have not gotten to the Campaigns book yet. I had
no idea what you were working from. I have not seen "the standard
wolf". Perhaps if you had posted what went into the wolf, and then
what your changes were, your post would have made more sense. All I
had to work from is basically standard human.

Mark Sebree
 >> Stay informed about: A Song Of Ice And Fire's Dire Wolves template 

On 2 Mar 2006 08:57:29 -0800, "Mark Sebree" <sebree.RemoveThis@infionline.net>
wrote:

[...]
>> >Increase Basic Move,
>>
>> Mov. 9 is included in the Standard Wolf... Should it be more?
>
>This is the first that I have seen that they have a Move of 9.

Maybe I'm wrong, and I'll go and check on GURPS 4th Basic Set, but I
recall wolves having Mov.9... Not "basic move", of course, just
running speed.

Generic, Ice Age Dire Wolves from GURPS Bestiary 2nd Ed. have mov.7,
while ordinary, generic wolves from the same book have 9.

ASOIAF's Dire Wolves seems to be at least as fast as ordinary wolves,
maybe more.

[...]
>> >Add Increased Ground Movement
>>
>> They run THAT fast? ?___?
>
>I had no idea what their basic move was. You did not post it, and you
>did not give a specific reference.

Increased Ground Movement gives a multiplier to basic ground speed,
IIRC, which may be too much... I'll ask to someone who has read the
books, which are the basic reference for that (future) campaign.


[...]
>> Cutting Damage seems fit to me. High ST does the rest.
>
>Which would be the claw attack. That is why I said that they were
>descriptive rather than what the abilities are described as in the
>rules.

^___^

>> >Perhaps you can add Growl as some type of intimidation attack or
>> >factor. Does no damage, but causes fear on a failed Will roll.
>>
>> I think, since it's no supernatural effect, it should be a normal
>> Intimidation Skill.
>
>Just an idea. I agree with the intimidation, however, since that also
>covers having the D. Wolf in your face, teeth bared, and growling very
>low and angrily.

Quite an impressive sight. ^______^

[...]
>> Why Reduced Eyesight?
>
>I have done some extra research since I wrote that, and found out that
>I was wrong for that about wolves. Wolves seem to have excellent
>eyesight, but are also colorblind.

I'll aks my GMs if this is relevant, game-wise. One of them has an
excellent knowledge of animals... And I definitely not!

[...]
>
>I think that the problem comes in because I do not think that there is
>a wolf described in the Basic Set of 4e, or at least not in the
>Character's Book. I have not gotten to the Campaigns book yet. I had
>no idea what you were working from.

It's in the campaign book. ^___^

Too bad they give only game stats in reduced form, but if you check
the (quite raw) stats, adv., and disadv. list and cross-reference it
with the "animal" and "quadruped" template (also in Campaign book),
and with the costs of single components... Well, I'll post a complete
version when I'll come to a final decision!

> I have not seen "the standard
>wolf". Perhaps if you had posted what went into the wolf, and then
>what your changes were, your post would have made more sense. All I
>had to work from is basically standard human.

That's A LOT more work... So, thank you very much for your time! ^___^

Korin Duval

--

"Truth requires a great amount of courage;
Fiction requires a great amount of maturity."
 >> Stay informed about: A Song Of Ice And Fire's Dire Wolves template