Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 14 Sep 2009 to 15 Sep 2009 (#2009-45) From: MYSTARA-L automatic digest system Date: 16/09/2009, 17:00 To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 5 messages totalling 306 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed (4) 2. R: [MYSTARA] Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:48:59 -0700 From: Joaquin Menchaca Subject: Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed I wanted to take a look at what was "canon" material for werewolves with PC4 Night Howlers by Ann Dupuis, and so far I just peeked at the beginning, and I am finding myself critical. It details that lycanthropy was spread by Follows of Air (wolf, tiger) and Followers of Fire (boar, bear), and was later augmented through experimentation, granting further abilities and weaknesses, and also being affected by one of Mystara's moon. I wanted for my campaign to go toward some more dark ages gothic lycanthrope style, with ad-mixture for White Wolf ideas (e.g. mother earth or natural world fighting Sphere of Entropy forces), and I find their write up limited, as it ties lycanthropy to particular groups, at least historically, and others become random events. IMHO this sort of waters down or cheeses the mystery and horror of werewolves to something comical, e.g an episode of Wizards Gone Wild. Reading further, I was horrified about the write up about Zirchev. Karameikos, based in part of Central East Europe RW cultures including Moldavia, Transylvania, where we get a lot of lore about evil creatures, including Werewolves and Vampires. These creatures have plagued Traladarans, and even though Zirchev has affinity toward nature, I would imagine his interest to use his powers to protect Traladarans, and fight the growth of monstrous creatures, including undead, warlocks, cultists, vampires, and werewolves. PC4 presents Zirchev as friends to misfits and nature, and given werewolves fit in misfits category, and obviously nature, given the animal form, Zirchev is friends of were creatures. I am like NOT. There are many modules, where were wolves are a problem, and the villains, and to have Zirchev befriend these creatures at the expense of Traladarans just doesn't seem right. Reading further, it says that were creatures can find employment in Black Eagle Barony, and that Karameikos has wereboars, wererats, werebears. Hmm, no werewolves for Karameikos campaign... I think there's such a missed opportunity. Werewolves could have had a major arc that goes into an epic struggle, and werewolves could have seperate societies, including clans that confer powers. Such as Northern Reaches could have more beserker like blood thirsty clan of powerful werewolves, but instead in PC4 we get wereseals. Other clans, like in Glantri could have more feeble werewolves, but have magical affinity, while werewolf clans in Red Steel could be more attuned toward nature, given the druids there in that one Celtic-like kingdom. Also, lastly, taking all lycanthrope explanations and limiting it to the case of wizards gone wild (Alphatia, Glantri), saps the at the heart of tons of lore and mystery. IMC, I hope to add this mystery and elements of gothic horror, and thus will be more dismissive regarding this material. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:25:25 -0500 From: George Hrabovsky Subject: Re: Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed In my game, I have adopted the view that Lycanthropes were originally intended by a group of immortals as warrior guardians against the forces of ancient evil called the Outer Beings. Over time some of these lycanthropes became corrupted and lycanthropy is now seen by many, if not most, as being a curse. I view the materials in Night Howlers as legends and superstition. George ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joaquin Menchaca" To: Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:48 AM Subject: [MYSTARA] Started to read PC4 Night Howlers, Not Impressed > I wanted to take a look at what was "canon" material for werewolves with PC4 Night Howlers by Ann Dupuis, and so far I just peeked at the beginning, and I am finding myself critical. It details that lycanthropy was spread by Follows of Air (wolf, tiger) and Followers of Fire (boar, bear), and was later augmented through experimentation, granting further abilities and weaknesses, and also being affected by one of Mystara's moon. > > I wanted for my campaign to go toward some more dark ages gothic lycanthrope style, with ad-mixture for White Wolf ideas (e.g. mother earth or natural world fighting Sphere of Entropy forces), and I find their write up limited, as it ties lycanthropy to particular groups, at least historically, and others become random events. IMHO this sort of waters down or cheeses the mystery and horror of werewolves to something comical, e.g an episode of Wizards Gone Wild. > > Reading further, I was horrified about the write up about Zirchev. Karameikos, based in part of Central East Europe RW cultures including Moldavia, Transylvania, where we get a lot of lore about evil creatures, including Werewolves and Vampires. These creatures have plagued Traladarans, and even though Zirchev has affinity toward nature, I would imagine his interest to use his powers to protect Traladarans, and fight the growth of monstrous creatures, including undead, warlocks, cultists, vampires, and werewolves. PC4 presents Zirchev as friends to misfits and nature, and given werewolves fit in misfits category, and obviously nature, given the animal form, Zirchev is friends of were creatures. I am like NOT. There are many modules, where were wolves are a problem, and the villains, and to have Zirchev befriend these creatures at the expense of Traladarans just doesn't seem right. > > Reading further, it says that were creatures can find employment in Black Eagle Barony, and that Karameikos has wereboars, wererats, werebears.