Troll Lord Games

But that's also why we have character concepts. My buffed out ranger guerrilla commando wouldn't know the difference between a doe's troll fear or vamp fear (even at level 20). He just knows its scared, and badly. If he was curious, he'd ask that Dr. Doolittle tree hugging ranger guy that the rest of his squad makes carry their equipment.

Levels don't matter if the character aint been played to that strength. I wont let a PC bust out specialized knowledge to that degree just because of their level, they have to have shown through extended play that they would have that strength.

DangerDwarf wrote:
But that's also why we have character concepts. My buffed out ranger guerrilla commando wouldn't know the difference between a doe's troll fear or vamp fear (even at level 20). He just knows its scared, and badly. If he was curious, he'd ask that Dr. Doolittle tree hugging ranger guy that the rest of his squad makes carry their equipment.

Levels don't matter if the character aint been played to that strength. I wont let a PC bust out specialized knowledge to that degree just because of their level, they have to have shown through extended play that they would have that strength.

*chuckles* Well, just to clarify, rangers in my game are a militant arm of the druid orders, and thoroughly trained by em.

As an aside, Bards are the scholastic side, and not nearly as wimpy as the C&C version.
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

I like that division of orders take. Sounds pretty sweet.

"He can track a falcon on a cloudy day. He can track YOU!"

And what's wimpy about C&C, Gurney Halleck inspired, bards

paladin2019 wrote:
"He can track a falcon on a cloudy day. He can track YOU!"

And what's wimpy about C&C, Gurney Halleck inspired, bards

They don't have druidic shape change and weather control powers.
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

Just to add fuel to the fire... I think animals and even some vegetation could have discernible reactions to things like gaseous form vamps or non-manifested spectres. Cows could sweat profusely, cats could hiss at blank walls, wolves put their bellies down and howl in a strange pitch. Flowers might close, grass might shrivel, dew could freeze to leaves. Some of these examples might be obvious to the entire party but the ranger might be able to see the path created by the creature just by looking for ways that the environment has been screwed with by the passage of the unholy thing. Just my two cents. I could go either way on this topic. hehe

cinderblock wrote:
Just to add fuel to the fire... I think animals and even some vegetation could have discernible reactions to things like gaseous form vamps or non-manifested spectres. Cows could sweat profusely, cats could hiss at blank walls, wolves put their bellies down and howl in a strange pitch. Flowers might close, grass might shrivel, dew could freeze to leaves. Some of these examples might be obvious to the entire party but the ranger might be able to see the path created by the creature just by looking for ways that the environment has been screwed with by the passage of the unholy thing. Just my two cents. I could go either way on this topic. hehe

Now, that's some fuel for the fire!

This reminds me of when I was a youngster... I remember reading about an evil dragon named Shen that flew over a forest in a story. The author described the reaction of small animals and plant life in similar terms. Many small animals died from just the dragon flying over the area.

I think stuff like this can add a lot of flavor to the game if described. And, I'm subscribing to the school that rangers could track such creatures when others could not, especially if they've role-played well along those lines.
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Hrothgar Rannlfr
Prisoner of the Horned Helm

Hrothgar Rannulfr wrote:
Now, that's some fuel for the fire!

This reminds me of when I was a youngster... I remember reading about an evil dragon named Shen that flew over a forest in a story. The author described the reaction of small animals and plant life in similar terms. Many small animals died from just the dragon flying over the area.

I think stuff like this can add a lot of flavor to the game if described. And, I'm subscribing to the school that rangers could track such creatures when others could not, especially if they've role-played well along those lines.

Nice posts, and this lays out the case for allowing it quite eloquently. Outdoors, naturally - the CK would have to be astute enough to enforce that.

It begs the question, of course - would a vampire *not* in gaseous form have the same effect on vegetation and wildlife? If not, would a human who had consumed a gaseous form potion or received a spell have the same effect? Just more food for thought.
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Sir Fiffergrund, Lord Marshal of the Castle and Crusade Society.

He Who Hides Behind The Elephant's Back

Fiffergrund wrote:
If not, would a human who had consumed a gaseous form potion or received a spell have the same effect? Just more food for thought.

Ah, but was it a potion of gaseous form, or was it Glomach the Dwarf's special holy 'water' that causes another form of gas?
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

I'd figure that animals who can sense earthquakes before they strike, would certainly sense a powerful undead creature passing through their forest, or meadow or what have you and run in fear or otherwise react oddly. Assuming a Ranger was close enough behind to see the animals reacting, I would let the ranger be able to track the vampire, gaseous form or not.

But after the vampire gaseously passed, and the animals return to their normal behavior, well i don't think a ranger using his normal tracking ability could follow the vampire. Unless some sort of magic was used.
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Sir Dachda McKinty,

Margrave and Knight of Portlandia
Castles & Crusades Society

dachda wrote:
But after the vampire gaseously passed,

This thread is turning into one long fart joke.
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley