Do you think the true animal form of a pooka will influence him?
In my campaign, only 1 PC pooka ever existed: Everybody McAllan. He was a bipedal, uman sized rooster and he was a true singer, his favoured "weapon" was a guitar (he also striked a black dragon with the guitar using it as a blunt weapon.... the guitar breaked and the dragon suffered no HPs!). He was very attracted by females (race uninfluent), just like a real rooster is the king of all chickens of the farm!
Do you use some animal flavour in your pookas?
Do you think the true animal form of a pooka will influence him?
It's possible, but I would keep the animal influence from becoming more important than the main focus of the pooka (who seem to me to be somewhat surreal -- say like characters from Alice in Wonderland).
I agree with Agathokles that they could also be more Cheshire Cat (spl?) style. They are Fey after all.
We had a Pooka housecat in one campaign. I remember long arguments about whether the cat could do 1d3 in damage. And what then if the character had a str score of 18? A house cat that could kill a man with a stroke of its paw?
I think I prefer Pookas to be in the shape of the actual animal rather than a bipedal version, but I guess both could be interesting. Your Rooster character sounds like a fun NPC. Maybe i'll steal him for a light hearted game at some point. The Chronicles of Narnia also seems like a good source of inspiration for Pooka characters.
Havard
Do you think the true animal form of a pooka will influence him?
As has been said, I think it is a good idea, but keep it as an influence and not an over-riding impulse. I guess the word 'hint' would be a good way to describe the influence of the animal form; it would not dominate the pooka's behavior. I really like the idea though.
I used a dog-type pooka IMC once that appeared only to one PC and only when he was drinking. It was a lot of fun. I was planning on using the pooka as part of a future storyline but the PC (along with another PC and my DMPC) died in a battle against some 50 orcs in Vestland. Sorry for diverging but that battle is still remembered and considered a bit 'legendary' among our gaming group (and other friends since they've all heard about it ;) )
Havard
Speaking of which, how would one do Pooka PCs in 3E?
Havard
I'm not sure how I did it IMC; I may have cheated somewhat and not done it up completely. I'll have a look when I get home.
Speaking of which, how would one do Pooka PCs in 3E?
Havard
Patience, young padawan :D
Once upon a time . . . a miller died leaving the mill to his eldest son, his donkey to his second son and . . . a cat to his youngest son.
"Now that's some difference!" you might say; but there you are, that's how the miller was! The eldest son kept the mill, the second son took the donkey and set off in search of his fortune . . . while the third sat down on a stone and sighed, "A cat! What am I going to do with that?"
But the cat heard his words and said, "Don't worry, Master. What do you think? That I'm worth less than a half-ruined mill or a mangy donkey? Give me a cloak, a hat with a feather in it, a bag and a pair of boots, and you will see what I can do."
The young man, by no means surprised, for it was quite common for cats to talk in those days, gave the cat what he asked for, and as he strode away, confident and cheerful. the cat said. "Don't look so glum, Master. See you soon!"
Swift of foot as he was, the cat caught a fat wild rabbit, popped it into his bag, knocked at the castle gate, went before the King and, removing his hat, with a sweeping bow, he said: "Sire, the famous Marquis of Carabas sends you this fine plump rabbit as a gift."
"Oh," said the King, "thanks so much."
"Till tomorrow," replied the cat as he went out. And the next day, back he came with some partridges tucked away in his bag. "Another gift from the brave Marquis of Carabas," he announced.
The Queen remarked, "This Marquis of Carabas is indeed a very courteous gentleman."
In the days that followed, Puss in Boots regularly visited the castle, carrying rabbits, hares, partridges and skylarks, presenting them all to the King in the name of the Marquis of Carabas. Folk at the palace began to talk about this noble gentleman.
"He must be a great hunter," someone remarked.
"He must be very loyal to the King," said someone else.
And yet another, "But who is he? I've never heard of him."
At this someone who wanted to show people how much he knew, replied, "Oh, yes, I've heard his name before. In fact, I knew his father."
The Queen was very interested in this generous man who sent these gifts. "Is your master young and handsome?" she asked the cat.
"Oh yes. And very rich, too," answered Puss in Boots. "In fact, he would be very honoured if you and the King called to see him in his castle."
When the cat returned home and told his master that the King and Queen were going to visit him, he was horrified. "Whatever shall we do?" he cried. "As soon as they see me they will know how poor I am."
"Leave everything to me," replied Puss in Boots. "I have a plan."
For several days, the crafty cat kept on taking gifts to the King and Queen, and one day he discovered that they were taking the Princess on a carriage ride that very afternoon. The cat hurried home in great excitement.
"Master, come along," he cried. "It is time to carry out my plan. You must go for a swim in the river."
"But I can't swim," replied the young man.
"That's all right," replied Puss in Boots. "Just trust me."
So they went to the river and when the King's carriage appeared the cat pushed his master into the water.
"Help!" cried the cat. "The Marquis of Carabas is drowning."
The King heard his cries and sent his escorts to the rescue. They arrived just in time to save the poor man, who really was drowning. The King, the Queen and the Princess fussed around and ordered new clothes to be brought for the Marquis of Carabas.
"Wouldn't you like to marry such a handsome man?" the Queen asked her daughter.
"Oh, yes," replied the Princess.
However, the cat overheard one of the ministers remark that they must find out how rich he was.
"He is very rich indeed," said Puss in Boots. "He owns the castle and all this land. Come and see for yourself. I will meet you at the castle."
And with these words, the cat rushed off in the direction of the castle, shouting at the peasants working in the fields, "If anyone asks you who your master is, answer: the Marquis of Carabas. Otherwise you will all be sorry."
And so, when the King's carriage swept past, the peasants told the King that their master was the Marquis of Carabas. In the meantime, Puss in Boots had arrived at the castle, the home of a huge, cruel ogre.
Before knocking at the gate, the cat said to himself, "I must be very careful, or I'll never get out of here alive."
When the door opened, Puss in Boots removed his feather hat, exclaiming, "My Lord Ogre, my respects!"
"What do you want, cat?" asked the ogre rudely.
"Sire, I've heard you possess great powers. That, for instance, you can change into a lion or an elephant."
"That's perfectly true," said the ogre, "and so what?"
"Well," said the cat, "I was talking to certain friends of mine who said that you can't turn into a tiny little creature, like a mouse."
"Oh, so that's what they say, is it?" exclaimed the ogre.
The cat nodded, "Well, Sire, that's my opinion too, because folk that can do big things never can manage little ones."
"Oh, yes? Well, just watch this!" retorted the ogre, turning into a mouse.
In a flash, the cat leapt on the mouse and ate it whole. Then he dashed to the castle gate, just in time, for the King's carriage was drawing up.
With a bow, Puss in Boots said, "Sire, welcome to the castle of the Marquis of Carabas!"
The King and Queen, the Princess and the miller's son who, dressed in his princely clothes, really did look like a marquis, got out of the carriage and the King spoke: "My dear Marquis, you're a fine, handsome, young man, you have a great deal of land and a magnificent castle. Tell me, are you married?"
"No," the young man answered, "but I would like to find a wife."
He looked at the Princess as he spoke. She in turn smiled at him. To cut a long story short, the miller's son, now Marquis of Carabas, married the Princess and lived happily with her in the castle. And from time to time, the cat would wink and whisper, "You see, Master, I am worth a lot more than any mangy donkey or half-ruined mill, aren't I?"
So I need a PC in cat form, that likes to eat mouses, able hunter and very smart.
I have 3 possible PCs (I'm playing AD&D2ed, and I'm using Pooka as a PC new class for a new race, the Fey... just like we can have human clerics, human rangers and human fighters, we can have fey brownies, fey claurichans, fey sidhe and fey pookas!)
PC 1: pooka, with true cat shape it is easy for him to be a granary cat. Being a woodland creature I think he could be a fine hunter. If I put an "hint" of catness in the PC, he could also eat mouses (ok, eating raw mouses is definitely out of character for a pooka, I know, the prefer roostbeef and cherry).
PC 2: from dragon magazine #237 a true cat, thief. The rules for animal PC are interesting, but a true cat can't speek. And I think the player will not find it amousing after 2 or 3 games! (dragon 237 is a must know for Mystara fan: here there are Lupins and Lupins subraces!)
PC 3: a rakasta (alleyrakasta? domesticrakasta?). He is a cat, but not a true cat: nobody could think he is a normal animal. But he has a lot fo the cat personality.
I prefer PC 1, the pooka. He has also some power to let the "King" belive the miller's son is a marquis!
Being a French fairy tale, I think I have only 2 places in Mystara I could start in: Glantri or Renardy. Being dog biased (and then anti-cat) I think Renardie is out of possibility. So Glantri is a good starting point, with Averoigne, Malinbois, Touraine... but I thin I'll start in Les Hiboux, as it is nondescript.
Of course, with the miller's son it is easy: he is a human, could be a fighter - local hero, a bard - charlatan, a ranger - local hero, a mage - peasant wizard (or a specialist mage, that could be fun in Glantri). Lots of possibility for humans here!
I think I prefer Pookas to be in the shape of the actual animal rather than a bipedal version, but I guess both could be interesting. Your Rooster character sounds like a fun NPC. Maybe i'll steal him for a light hearted game at some point.
Havard
Everybody McAllan was indeed a fun PC. Inspired by the famous Robin Hood movie by Disney, I also found a picture of him:
I think he would be a nice NPC too, if you want to use him.
His name was taken from a famous Blues Brothers lyric (Everybody needs somebody). While McAllan was the name of a whisky trade mark.
Everybody McAllan was indeed a fun PC. Inspired by the famous Robin Hood movie by Disney, I also found a picture of him:
I think he would be a nice NPC too, if you want to use him.
His name was taken from a famous Blues Brothers lyric (Everybody needs somebody). While McAllan was the name of a whisky trade mark.
The pic doesnt work right now, but I know what you are talking about
Puss in Boots also makes for a nice Pooka as does say Donkey. How about Aslan though? or Mr Beaver (also from Narnia)?
Traianus: can't wait to see what you come up with Master ;)
Havard
I prefer PC 1, the pooka. He has also some power to let the "King" belive the miller's son is a marquis!
I agree, the other two options aren't nearly as fun or well fitting as this one -- the Rakasta could be played with a catlike character, but it doesn't fit as an "heirloom". The true cat, as you said, would not be so easy to play for a long time. The pooka is perfect -- he wouldn't eat raw mice normally, but could do so in a pinch.
Being a French fairy tale, I think I have only 2 places in Mystara I could start in: Glantri or Renardy. Being dog biased (and then anti-cat) I think Renardie is out of possibility. So Glantri is a good starting point, with Averoigne, Malinbois, Touraine... but I thin I'll start in Les Hiboux, as it is nondescript.
Though a cat might be even more likely to be overlooked as a heirloom in Renardie. There are few nobles in Renardie, though, so the other character could not be a Marquis.
Glantri fits better.
Of course, with the miller's son it is easy: he is a human, could be a fighter - local hero, a bard - charlatan, a ranger - local hero, a mage - peasant wizard (or a specialist mage, that could be fun in Glantri). Lots of possibility for humans here!
Eh, I'd link another Marquis de Carabas here -- the one from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, so I'd make him a bard (charlatan would be ok). A peasant wizard in Glantri doesn't strike me as very likely, though.
Puss in Boots also makes for a nice Pooka as does say Donkey. How about Aslan though? or Mr Beaver (also from Narnia)?
Havard
That is sooooo going to appear in my campaign:D
Eh, I'd link another Marquis de Carabas here -- the one from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, so I'd make him a bard (charlatan would be ok).
Who is him? I don't know about Neil Gaiman, I don't know about Neverwhere and I don't know about the "other" Marquis de Carabas
A peasant wizard in Glantri doesn't strike me as very likely, though.
You are right... it is extremely unlikely for a Glnatrian to be a peasant wizard... wizardry is nobility! ;)
You are right... it is extremely unlikely for a Glnatrian to be a peasant wizard... wizardry is nobility! ;)
Not exactly. Glantrian nobles are all wizards, but unlike Alphatia, the reverse isn't necessarily true.
Roger
Not exactly. Glantrian nobles are all wizards, but unlike Alphatia, the reverse isn't necessarily true.
Not necessarily nobles, true, but most likely middle class.
In Glantri, magic comes through study, and studying magic in Glantri is costly -- you might have a "poor student" type (which would be a form of urban wizard, though), but hardly a peasant wizard, since even apprenticeship with a wizard living outside town would be quite costly, and keep the student from being truly a peasant.
Not necessarily nobles, true, but most likely middle class.
In Glantri, magic comes through study, and studying magic in Glantri is costly -- you might have a "poor student" type (which would be a form of urban wizard, though), but hardly a peasant wizard, since even apprenticeship with a wizard living outside town would be quite costly, and keep the student from being truly a peasant.
But I guess no PC classes really are peasants are they? Even the Fighter would be in need of some soldier or mercenary training. The Cleric would definately require schooling. Thieves are a bit more dubious though.
I could see the magic user coming from a peasant background, if he has say a sponsor or even a wizard willing to take him on as an apprentice for free because of the student's brilliant intellect or of other more selfish reasons. Still, I'd say as you do, that from the moment he is taken on as an apprentice, he will be considered somewhat above the peasant and servant classes.
Havard
But I guess no PC classes really are peasants are they? Even the Fighter would be in need of some soldier or mercenary training. The Cleric would definately require schooling. Thieves are a bit more dubious though.
Not necessarily: in a prevalently rural setting such as Karameikos, peasant (or local hero) wizards could be common -- people trained by local hedge wizards, just like fighters/rangers could just be local woodsmen. Clerics are perhaps less likely -- but they could belong to charitable orders that are devoted to helping the common man.
Still, I'd say as you do, that from the moment he is taken on as an apprentice, he will be considered somewhat above the peasant and servant classes.
That's the point: while the Glantrian wizard could come from a peasant family, he himself would likely develop a different attitude, or simply be considered differently by the other peasants, so that justifying the Peasant or Local Hero character kits would be difficult.