 Piranha totem, bite bite chomp chomp |
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 Feb 1 2006, 04:42 AM
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#26
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Prime Runner  Group: Banned Posts: 3,732 Joined: 1-September 05 From: Prague, Czech Republic Member No.: 7,665  |
No problem. Candiru Followers of the Candiru Mentor like to nest in very private places, and are prickly with those around them. They are willing to follow another for a long time, but have no problems going through the private things of others. A follower of Candiru does things that others wold consider unfair, even disgusting, as a matter of course. Dealing with Candiru can be painful. Advantages: +2 to Intimidate, +2 for Spirits of Man Disadvantages: A character with the Candiru Mentor does not fight fair, even when it would be advantageous to do so. The character must pass a Willpower + Charisma (3) test in order to perform an "honorable" act. -Frank |
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Feb 1 2006, 04:55 AM
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#27
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,379 Joined: 16-April 02 From: the LI shadows Member No.: 2,607 |
I'm sorry, but every time someone mentions the Candiru, I keep getting that routine by The Monarch in The Venture Bros. cartoon.....
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Feb 1 2006, 05:19 AM
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#28
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Prime Runner Group: Banned Posts: 3,732 Joined: 1-September 05 From: Prague, Czech Republic Member No.: 7,665 |
I'm sorry that people talk about Candiru in your presence enough that you have something you "always do", "every time."
-Frank |
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Feb 1 2006, 05:55 AM
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#29
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 126 Joined: 26-January 06 Member No.: 8,193 |
The would-be Piranha shaman was, in fact, keeping an aquarium at the time of his creation. He had 2 or 3 piranha, plus some others, but eventually was left with just one. If you got up next to the aquarium and opened your mouth as it swam by, it thought you were trying to eat it, and in an attempt to escape would dash head-first into the glass. Thunk. It lasted quite a while, but eventually it too died. Probably from a concussion. |
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Feb 1 2006, 10:51 AM
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#30
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,066 Joined: 5-February 03 Member No.: 4,017 |
While on strange totems:
Humahumanukunukuapua Humahumanukunukuapua is a small topical fish. However that has little to do with the benefits or drawbacks of the totem. Advantages: +3 dice to all tests involving something that requires a word with more than 5 syllables. Such as any actions involving an antidisestablishmentarianist. Disadvantages: the player may be called upon at any time by the GM to properly pronounce the totem. If this fails, the character is devoid of magic for 24 game hours or until the next GM questioning whim. |
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Feb 1 2006, 05:47 PM
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#31
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 257 Joined: 25-May 05 Member No.: 7,414 |
Don't forget that they swim in and around water that is boiling due to lava flows... so maybe add:
Immunity: Steam/Scalding Water edit: Oh wait, you were just joking. *feels stupid now* |
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Feb 1 2006, 06:58 PM
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#32
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,073 Joined: 23-August 04 Member No.: 6,587 |
It is true that there are several spices of vegetarian fish closely related to piranha. They sell in Australia as silver dollars (although they reach the size of side plates). Although taxonomically they may be a type of piranha and the similarities are easy to observe they are now what is commonly thought of as piranha.
Most of the totems pull from social or mythical interpretations of the animal (bears don’t practice first aid) this is something that should be kept in mind. Edward |
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Feb 1 2006, 09:00 PM
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#33
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 176 Joined: 7-September 05 From: Austin, TX Member No.: 7,706 |
What about a kookaburra totem? try coming up with something for that...
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Feb 1 2006, 09:32 PM
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#34
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
bear don't practice first aid!!!!?!!?!?!!?!!!!!111eleven *crash* You hear that? That's the sound of my illusions shattering!!! lol, actually, you make a very good point. totems are a tad existential, in that they seem to derive meaning from how metahumanity historically relates to them... not from what we know empiracly about the species a totem represents. |
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Feb 1 2006, 09:49 PM
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#35
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Prime Runner Group: Banned Posts: 3,732 Joined: 1-September 05 From: Prague, Czech Republic Member No.: 7,665 |
... which is why Mantids eat their mates. It's a rare occurence in the wild, but it's so visually impressive when it happens that it becomes the archetype for what humans think of when they think of the mantis. -Frank |
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Feb 1 2006, 11:26 PM
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#36
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 586 Joined: 22-November 02 From: Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S.A. (or C.A.S.) Member No.: 3,630 |
Here's a thought, folks:
Does anyone think that a Mayfly totem is worth the effort? :P On second thought, probably not. After all, you couldn't do much with a Shaman who lived for a day.... Unless you were looking for the ultimate in "deniable/disposable assets", that is. The magical equivalent of a one-shot disposable rocket launcher, as it were. --Foreigner |
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Feb 1 2006, 11:32 PM
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#37
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 204 Joined: 27-October 05 From: Waterloo, ON Member No.: 7,900 |
Mayfly
Advantages: +1 on instant duration spells. Disadvantages: Double the usual "Subject is Awakened" penalty for medical care. It's against the totem's will that you live longer than natural. |
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Feb 2 2006, 12:36 AM
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#38
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 126 Joined: 26-January 06 Member No.: 8,193 |
I am disappointed by the dearth of Mentor Spirits that are suitable for Mages and Adepts. IMO Mage Mentor Spirits should reflect scientific or proto-scientific concepts and inventions, rather than animals (unless it's a lab rat or a fruit fly). While brainstorming I came up with this idea for a Scientology Mentor Spirit:
Egsusheyftef: Egsusheyftef is the ultimate computing machine, more fantastically capable and infinitely more elaborate than any ever constructed. It is perfect and absolutely incapable of error. It directs the shaman in the dynamic principle of existence: immortality or infinite survival. Advantages: +2 to Health spells. Disadvantages: -1 to Physical spells. Followers of this totem insist that at least 70% of all magic is psychosomatic. P.S. I also envision "Dissection Mages," the mad scientist equivalent of Toxic Shamans--"Dissected Frog," "Dissected Pig," etc.--conjuring up scarred and eviscerated undead spirits. |
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Feb 2 2006, 01:03 AM
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#39
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
Dissection mentors and infinite survival. That gives me an idea for a new mentor spirit to unleash upon your PCs.
The Eternal Friend Advantages: Followers of the Eternal Friend cannot die no matter how hard they or anyone else tries to kill them. They possess Imunity to Age, Immunity to Toxins and Pathogens, and Regeneration. Their regeneration cannot fail. Even when they throw themselves into volcanos and nuclear explosions out of dispair (and they certainly will) their bodies regenerate perfectly. Disadvantages: Followers of the Eternal Friend cannot have any contacts. If the character obtains a contact through roleplaying the GM will roll 1d6. If the roll is less than or equal to the contact's loyalty rating the contact is transformed into a beautiful sculpture of dissected flesh. The GM may repeat this roll and is encouraged to do so often. Friends and family not classified as contacts will instantly suffer this fate without a roll. |
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Feb 2 2006, 03:22 AM
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#40
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 126 Joined: 26-January 06 Member No.: 8,193 |
And that gave me an idea: Television Totems. E.g.
Friends: The Friends Mentor has an insipid sense of humor and tends to overact. Advantages: +2 dice to all social skills tests if the target is using English as a second language or has an IQ less than 100. Disadvantages: Automatic failure when casting any Entertainment spells. Walker: Texas Ranger: Walker is the god of cheese and B-movie acting, always looking for the right moment to drive a big truck or deliver a roundhouse kick. Advantages: +6 dice to all Roudhouse Kick tests. Disadvantages: Followers of this Spirit lack a sense of reality. -2 dice to resist all Illusion spells. |
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Feb 2 2006, 03:24 AM
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#41
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,073 Joined: 23-August 04 Member No.: 6,587 |
Kookaburra, no need. there defining trait is laughter, just copy one of the trickster totems and ignore the fact that the kookaburra’s laugh is actually an aggressive territorial call.
Edward |
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Feb 2 2006, 04:52 AM
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#42
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ghostrider Group: Retired Admins Posts: 4,196 Joined: 16-May 04 Member No.: 6,333 |
You know, the law that makes that the HI state fish is coming up for review fairly soon (or was it, fairly recently?). I saw it in the paper the other day. And it isn't that hard to say. :) |
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Feb 2 2006, 05:19 AM
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#43
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
I hear the whirring… ~C |
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Feb 2 2006, 06:22 AM
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#44
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,283 Joined: 17-May 05 Member No.: 7,398 |
Chantrel's Horror, isn't it? Also, I'll point out that that would result in all the other PCs getting autogibbed- and that isn't fun. |
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Feb 2 2006, 06:37 AM
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#45
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
Says who? ~J |
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Feb 2 2006, 07:10 AM
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#46
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 126 Joined: 26-January 06 Member No.: 8,193 |
Power Rangers: Power Rangers are heroic and naive, always eager to save the world and help little children join the local soccer team all in the same afternoon.
Advantages: Power Rangers are always getting new and improved weaponry. With every new encounter, character receives a cumulative +1 die for all Combat spells. Disadvantages: Unfortunately, the new and improved weaponry always functions exactly as before. With every new encounter, character receives a cumulative -1 die for all Combat spells. |
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Feb 2 2006, 08:14 AM
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#47
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,283 Joined: 17-May 05 Member No.: 7,398 |
What, are you saying that having your PC get blown to little bits by a Horror with no means to stop it is fun? |
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Feb 2 2006, 08:54 AM
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#48
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 934 Joined: 26-August 05 From: Earth - Europe - AGS - Norddeutscher Bund - Hannover Member No.: 7,624 |
Well, many Earthdawn groups think so... ;)
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Feb 2 2006, 10:16 AM
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#49
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Great, I'm a Dragon... Group: Retired Admins Posts: 6,699 Joined: 8-October 03 From: North Germany Member No.: 5,698 |
Give them the feeling that the death of their PCs maybe was avoidable if they fought better and the players feel much better ;)
And you can grin those "evil-gm-grin". :D |
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Feb 2 2006, 10:23 AM
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#50
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
As Oracle says, to argue that it isn't you first need to explain the existence of a good deal of Earthdawn, Call of Cthulhu, and Paranoia players. ~J |
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