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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Totem Question
Posted by: Chance359 Jan 21 2006, 06:44 PM
Anyone have a link to or possible stats for a Gorilla or Ape shaman?
Posted by: Catsnightmare Jan 22 2006, 02:18 AM
Pulled out of my ass on the fly for your persual.
Gorilla
Gorilla is a proud and powerful warrior, but gentle and stately, protective of his friends and savage against his enemies. He is mostly an easy going fellow who would prefer to bluff oppoenents into back down, but he is absolutely ferocious in defending his home and those under his protection when a threat does arise.
Gorilla shamens demand respect from those around them and are loyal and trusted friends. They show a strong intolerance for those they feel do not show respect and have a stong distrust of anyone who could be considered an enemy.
Environments: Forest/Jungle
Advantages +1 Die to Combat Spells, +1 Die Health Spells +2 Dice Forest Spirits
Disadvantages When in a confrontational situation a Gorilla shaman will always first try to Intimidate/threaten/bluff an opponent down, he must make a Willpower (6) test to resist doing so. Gorilla shamen also go berserk in combat the same as Bear shamen.
Posted by: Fix-it Jan 22 2006, 02:54 AM
man.. there's like no drawbacks to that totem. it's perfectly designed for shadowrunning as a combat mage.
Posted by: Aku Jan 22 2006, 03:10 AM
| QUOTE (Fix-it) |
| man.. there's like no drawbacks to that totem. it's perfectly designed for shadowrunning as a combat mage. |
yea... i agree, i'd get rid of one of the +1 bonuses, maybe making it a players choice at creation, and maybe making it a willpower test to back down from any threat, and not just make them try to intimidate them first.
Posted by: FrankTrollman Jan 22 2006, 03:24 AM
I can't tell if you guys are being serious or not. Cat just wrote up Bear (one of the standard and faintly underwhelming totems from the basic book), divided its bonus amongst two magic types and gave it an extra drawback. How is that anything other than modestly underpowered?
-Frank
Posted by: Catsnightmare Jan 22 2006, 03:37 AM
That's pretty much it, took Bear, paraphrased a few descriptive bits of Lion, with a little inspiration from Adversary and threw it out there for opinions.
If anyone want's to change it or use it go ahead, I'm just throwing out ideas.
Posted by: Aku Jan 22 2006, 02:10 PM
What is the "extra" drawback? The fact that he has to make in intimidation check? "Oh, hey, i gotta see if i scare these guys shitless before i whoop the shit outa them."
As you can tell i dont consider that much of a drawback, unless theres something to a failed intimidation check i'm not thinking of.
And also, i consider the split of the bonus dice into combat spells HUGE. It's one thing to get a bonus dice (or two) in either dealing damage, or healing damage. It's another thing, imo, to get a bonus die for both. I don't know where else that die could go, but'd i'd be better anywhere else than combat (or health), balance wise, imo.
Posted by: DeadNeon Jan 22 2006, 02:29 PM
| QUOTE (Catsnightmare) |
| Pulled out of my ass on the fly for your persual. Gorilla Gorilla is a proud and powerful warrior, but gentle and stately, protective of his friends and savage against his enemies. He is mostly an easy going fellow who would prefer to bluff oppoenents into back down, but he is absolutely ferocious in defending his home and those under his protection when a threat does arise. Gorilla shamens demand respect from those around them and are loyal and trusted friends. They show a strong intolerance for those they feel do not show respect and have a stong distrust of anyone who could be considered an enemy. Environments: Forest/Jungle Advantages +1 Die to Combat Spells, +1 Die Health Spells +2 Dice Forest Spirits Disadvantages When in a confrontational situation a Gorilla shaman will always first try to Intimidate/threaten/bluff an opponent down, he must make a Willpower (6) test to resist doing so. Gorilla shamen also go berserk in combat the same as Bear shamen. |
Not bad, but you might want to add something about a flaw where they don't instantly trust people outside of their little group. Theyre kind of cliqueish.
Posted by: mfb Jan 22 2006, 03:57 PM
| QUOTE (Aku) |
| It's one thing to get a bonus dice (or two) in either dealing damage, or healing damage. It's another thing, imo, to get a bonus die for both. |
so, uh, i guess you disallow the Bull totem in your game? and Leopard, and Sun, and Leviathan, and Wyrm, and Ghede?
Posted by: Aku Jan 22 2006, 04:27 PM
| QUOTE (mfb) | ||
so, uh, i guess you disallow the Bull totem in your game? and Leopard, and Sun, and Leviathan, and Wyrm, and Ghede? |
Fortunately, i dont think i've ever had anyone ask for them
Posted by: The Stainless Steel Rat Jan 22 2006, 04:32 PM
| QUOTE (Fix-it) |
| man.. there's like no drawbacks to that totem. it's perfectly designed for shadowrunning as a combat mage. |
What?!? He goes Berserk! See if you still think he doesn't have any drawbacks when you're his friend in combat, and happen to be his closest target.
Also, let's keep in mind that it seems Catsnightmare put some time into putting together something for someone else's campaign as a kindness to be used or changed as needed, and this is not your typical: "Hey Dumpshock, what do you think about my great idea for <insert non-canonical super archetype here>."
Posted by: Snow_Fox Jan 22 2006, 04:34 PM
gorilla as written above is good. I'd agree with not trusting easily.They are oging to be stand offish. Instead of bluff though I'd say the flaw is he cannot resist any challenge to a fight. This will mean a lacking in steath. Goirilla's when challenged in RL tend to attack. Sure, lower your eyes and they accept that as submission and are satisfied but your average street mean and or corp guard isn't going ot back down, meaning said gorilla is going to...go ape. (sorry guys.)
Posted by: Kanati Synge Jan 22 2006, 05:12 PM
Trust me, a berserk bear or (as in this case) gorilla shaman is not a pretty sight. One minute you and your omae are back to back taking down Aztechnology Jaguar Guards, the next you're face down in a pool of your own fluids... 
Posted by: Critias Jan 22 2006, 05:28 PM
| QUOTE (Aku) |
| What is the "extra" drawback? The fact that he has to make in intimidation check? "Oh, hey, i gotta see if i scare these guys shitless before i whoop the shit outa them." As you can tell i dont consider that much of a drawback, unless theres something to a failed intimidation check i'm not thinking of. |
Maybe there's the fact he's making an Intimidation check as his first (and likely only) action of the first (and likely only) round of combat, where his non-Shamanic comrades are counting on their mojo-slinger to pull their fat out of the proverbial fire.
Making a Will (6) test is all well and good for most Shamen, but you're gonna fail that mo'fo eventually. And then be standing there talking shit and smacking your chest, hollering about "WHO BE STEPPIN' UP NOW, BIATCH?!" while everyone else is goin' for guns.
Yeah. No, y'know, problem there.
Have you ever -- just curious, here -- have you ever even looked at the stats for most Totems? Seriously? Because calling this one "overpowered" only shows that you seem to really have no idea what you're talking about.
Posted by: Mr.Platinum Jan 22 2006, 05:43 PM
| QUOTE (Catsnightmare) |
| Pulled out of my ass on the fly for your persual. Gorilla Gorilla is a proud and powerful warrior, but gentle and stately, protective of his friends and savage against his enemies. He is mostly an easy going fellow who would prefer to bluff oppoenents into back down, but he is absolutely ferocious in defending his home and those under his protection when a threat does arise. Gorilla shamens demand respect from those around them and are loyal and trusted friends. They show a strong intolerance for those they feel do not show respect and have a stong distrust of anyone who could be considered an enemy. Environments: Forest/Jungle Advantages +1 Die to Combat Spells, +1 Die Health Spells +2 Dice Forest Spirits Disadvantages When in a confrontational situation a Gorilla shaman will always first try to Intimidate/threaten/bluff an opponent down, he must make a Willpower (6) test to resist doing so. Gorilla shamen also go berserk in combat the same as Bear shamen. |
I like it myself.
Posted by: FrankTrollman Jan 22 2006, 05:46 PM
Personally, I'd drop either the berserking or the chest beating. Either disadvantage is potentially life ending for you or a compatriot, having both is just too much.
-Frank
Posted by: Da9iel Jan 22 2006, 06:15 PM
Yeah, I don't think a gorilla's loyalty would allow it to berserk on friends when the enemies are gone. If the RP aspects of gorilla's loyalty and cliquishness are enforced, that and the chest beating would be more than enough.
Posted by: mfb Jan 22 2006, 07:05 PM
maybe you could do an either-or. if the shaman doesn't make an intimidation check as his first action, he has a chance to go berzerk.
Posted by: PBTHHHHT Jan 22 2006, 08:10 PM
Keep the chest beating. It's a nice flavour and makes the player use his first action by blustering about and trying to intimidate, and a detriment to that is for the other side to say screw the chest beating and go straight to the attack. 
And I agree with Frank, probably one or the other. Heck, leave as a choice for the players to take, or even more so, they can pick both if they want for flavour. Though mfb's suggestion sounds good too.
Posted by: Kanati Synge Jan 23 2006, 03:16 AM
| QUOTE (Catsnightmare) |
| Gorilla Gorilla is a proud and powerful warrior, but gentle and stately, protective of his friends and savage against his enemies. He is mostly an easy going fellow who would prefer to bluff oppoenents into back down, but he is absolutely ferocious in defending his home and those under his protection when a threat does arise. Gorilla shamens demand respect from those around them and are loyal and trusted friends. They show a strong intolerance for those they feel do not show respect and have a stong distrust of anyone who could be considered an enemy. Environments: Forest/Jungle Advantages +1 Die to Combat Spells, +1 Die Health Spells +2 Dice Forest Spirits Disadvantages When in a confrontational situation a Gorilla shaman will always first try to Intimidate/threaten/bluff an opponent down, he must make a Willpower (6) test to resist doing so. Gorilla shamen also go berserk in combat the same as Bear shamen. |
I think it is rather solid as written. As a matter-of-fact, I believe I will appropriate it for my own campaign. Thank you!
Posted by: Mortax Jan 30 2006, 02:48 AM
| QUOTE |
| Gorilla Gorilla is a proud and powerful warrior, but gentle and stately, protective of his friends and savage against his enemies. He is mostly an easy going fellow who would prefer to bluff oppoenents into back down, but he is absolutely ferocious in defending his home and those under his protection when a threat does arise. Gorilla shamens demand respect from those around them and are loyal and trusted friends. They show a strong intolerance for those they feel do not show respect and have a stong distrust of anyone who could be considered an enemy. Environments: Forest/Jungle Advantages +1 Die to Combat Spells, +1 Die Health Spells +2 Dice Forest Spirits Disadvantages When in a confrontational situation a Gorilla shaman will always first try to Intimidate/threaten/bluff an opponent down, he must make a Willpower (6) test to resist doing so. Gorilla shamen also go berserk in combat the same as Bear shamen. |
I like it.
Well written. I think I'll add it to my grimour.
Posted by: Edward Jan 31 2006, 03:53 AM
the penalty for failing an intimidation check is that you have confirmed you’re an enemy and waisted an action, giving the opponents more time to shoot you, considering how much of SR combat is shoot first and win that is a significant drawback, to the extent that I would not take the totem as a player. But then I don’t take totems with berserk ether, I don’t like risking my friends.
+1die to combat and health spells is not that huge. Remember there are totems with +3 to combat spells, and totems with +2 to 2 groups of spells, forest spirits are rarely significant.
Edward
Posted by: Kagetenshi Jan 31 2006, 06:41 AM
| QUOTE (Aku) |
| What is the "extra" drawback? The fact that he has to make in intimidation check? "Oh, hey, i gotta see if i scare these guys shitless before i whoop the shit outa them." |
Note that "confrontational situation" does not mean "fight". The extra drawback is "I can never defuse a situation or willingly allow it to be defused."
I'd go beyond "drawback" and call that crippling.
~J
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