Bestiary

L

l8knight

Mongoose
One of the things I've always wished for to add to my Traveller library is a Bestiary book like D&D's Monster Manuals. I know we have Animal Encounters but in reality I could get about as much joy out of a spreadsheet.

I know worlds are to be unique and wildlife can't be blanketed across the universe but it doesn't stop me from wanting the imagery... maybe just sector "monsters".

I've heard rumors, or perhaps its just wishful thinking, that Eric Funk was working on something from all of his contributions to JTAS.

So Mongoose, if you want a core book idea...Consider Bestiary! You could break the book down by the Animal Encounter tables (Hunters, Grazers, etc), cool artwork, stats, behaviors, etc.

Would be pretty cool!
 
Yeah I know what you mean I love those D&D monster manuals. A book along those lines with famous creatures from different worlds each including rumours and plot hooks would be good.

It seems to me that Mongoose either put too much detail in and only cover a few very specific items of interest (eg Spinward Marches, where I would have liked far more planets per subsector detailed up rather than just going to town on two) or they just put far too little detail in and keep everything far too generic (eg 1001 Characters and Animal Encounters, where I would have loved to read more detail in each item and have them fleshed out a lot more for use as adventure seeds with a picture per character/animal).

Books of simple lists worked 'quite' well in the original CT because they were cheap and you could afford to buy them on the chance that you would use them sometime as a way of reducing workload. But Mongoose books are expensive and large - they need more to make them worthwhile, I don't want just generic lists and I don't want loads of very specific background information - I expect a bit of variety, a lot of imagination, great illustrations (the more the better but at the very least one every couple of pages), expansions of existing rules without replaced the ones already published, and a load of great plot hooks.
 
Books of simple lists worked 'quite' well in the original CT because they were cheap and you could afford to buy them on the chance that you would use them sometime as a way of reducing workload. But Mongoose books are expensive and large - they need more to make them worthwhile, I don't want just generic lists and I don't want loads of very specific background information - I expect a bit of variety, a lot of imagination, great illustrations (the more the better but at the very least one every couple of pages), expansions of existing rules without replaced the ones already published, and a load of great plot hooks.
Click to expand...

Exactly! I have only the bare essential books necessary for me to do what is needed for exactly that reason. Animal Encounters could be an Excel Spreadsheet for the amount of content present.

I'm not trying to bash Mongoose at all, I hope that isn't how it comes across. I just feel there is so much great potential for more like a colorful, illustrated creature catalog that I would happily shell out money for. The same could be done for ships, worlds, npc classes, etc.

Oh well, I can always dream :)
 
l8knight said:
I'm not trying to bash Mongoose at all, I hope that isn't how it comes across. I just feel there is so much great potential for more like a colorful, illustrated creature catalog that I would happily shell out money for. The same could be done for ships, worlds, npc classes, etc.

Oh well, I can always dream :)
Click to expand...

Check out Jon Brazer Enterprises:

taster:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=2542&products_id=61408&filters=0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=2542

product:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=64711&filters=0_0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=2542
 
E.D.Quibell said:
l8knight said:
I'm not trying to bash Mongoose at all, I hope that isn't how it comes across. I just feel there is so much great potential for more like a colorful, illustrated creature catalog that I would happily shell out money for. The same could be done for ships, worlds, npc classes, etc.

Oh well, I can always dream :)
Click to expand...

Check out Jon Brazer Enterprises:

taster:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=2542&products_id=61408&filters=0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=2542

product:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=64711&filters=0_0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=2542
Click to expand...

Dont like PDFs :roll:
 
It does occur to me that we have some 20+ regulars here, a forum (with a very friendly moderator, LBH, who I'm sure would sticky and clean a thread or two for us to work in, if we asked nicely*) that we could use to make our own here... I can't see Mongoose being upset enough to deny us permission, provided it was our own work... and if they do, later, decide to produce such a book, they'd have a ready supply of weird and wonderful creatures to put in it, assuming we agreed...


* Yes, that was my attempt to butter up LBH to agree to keep an eye on it... :)
 
Actually, there is a very good IN GAME reason for needing something like this.

WHen humans (or other aliens) spread out from their home world, they are going to take some of the animals with them. Imagine the 3rd Imperium; there are likely Terran, Vilani and Sylean creatures all mixed together on most worlds.

All of the Darrian worlds probably have Darrian life on them mixed in with whatever local life exists.

Same for the Zhos, or the Vargr or any other race. There are going to be creatures that are "common" throughout a species' settled area.

I doubt there are any creatures common throughout Charted Space, but each major Empire will have a whole host of creatures.

I see these creatures falling into 3 general categories:

1. Domesticated Animals and Pets - They could be feral on some worlds, like the Dingos of Australia. The Beaker would fall into this category.

2. Vermin - Cockroaches are going to follow humans into space, guaranteed. How they evolve and adapt to other worlds is anyone's guess.

3. Ecological - These are the animals brought in to balance out an ecosystem on a world that doesn't have one (or a primitive one). You will want to introduce a variety of herbivores, carnivores and omnivores to build up your food chain for "wild animals". All of these creatures don't have to come from the same planet.

There are probably a hundred variations of the Cow out there in the 3rd Imperium (and the Solomani Confederation). Some would be obviously Cows, but others might not be.
 
Rikki: Exactly...

One classic example from literature - Harry Harrison's Porcuswine - a large pig that has porcupine-like quills genetically added to it to deter predators after normal livestock were killed by native predators on the settled planets...

Another possible would be the cats - it's traditional to have ships cats on board a ship (so I'd presume on board a starship) to catch stowaway rodents - but they also breed like mad and if rats managed to get loose on a planet with edible plants or if there was a native species that was edible and defenseless (eg the Kiwi, the Dodo (although in the latter case it was more the sailors who ate them)), the cats would flourish on that planet too. Snakes would be another possible, as would spiders and scorpions (both managed to get to Liverpool's docks, so why not into space too).
 
BFalcon, why don't you post a bestiary thread, and I'll put a few things up :D
Like a ships cat... one used by the Marines...
 
E.D.Quibell said:
Check out Jon Brazer Enterprises:

taster:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=2542&products_id=61408&filters=0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=2542

product:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=64711&filters=0_0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=2542

...

http://jonbrazer.com/print-online-retailers/

Check out them in print then. And get a free pdf thrown in.

Best regards,
Click to expand...

Much Thanks E.D. I was about to post a shameless plug when you beat me to it. Much appreciated.
 
barnest2 said:
BFalcon, why don't you post a bestiary thread, and I'll put a few things up :D
Like a ships cat... one used by the Marines...
Click to expand...

I'd not want one in our game - with so many Vargr around, it'd fast become more a "team game objective" than anything else...

Maybe someone ought to come up with a Super Nerf ball thrower...

Enemy Vargr Commander: "Right - we're going to advance on the enemy base and then... BALL!!!"
 
BFalcon said:
It does occur to me that we have some 20+ regulars here, a forum (with a very friendly moderator, LBH, who I'm sure would sticky and clean a thread or two for us to work in, if we asked nicely*) that we could use to make our own here... I can't see Mongoose being upset enough to deny us permission, provided it was our own work... and if they do, later, decide to produce such a book, they'd have a ready supply of weird and wonderful creatures to put in it, assuming we agreed...


* Yes, that was my attempt to butter up LBH to agree to keep an eye on it... :)
Click to expand...
Additionally, if people who post animals here will also send copies (with real names for credit) to Freelance Traveller, I can accumulate them and put them out as a Freelance Traveller Special Supplement (as well as leaving them posted in Less Dangerous Game on the FT website) when it reaches some currently-undefined number of pages (and what that number of pages should be can be discussed; I'm open to suggestions). Pictures along side articles are good (but not mandatory), and can be anything from 'field notebook sketches' to 'studies' to 'photographs'.

Scott and Sarah Diamond seem to do nicely-thought-out critters.
 
I love this community! :) Its awesome to see this kind of feedback and just the idea that as a community we could put something like this out is inspiring! Now I just have to start feeding my imagination and get some stuff ready to post :lol:
 
Aurilian Reptorox
Drifting+Forest+Grazer+final+lowres.jpg


A reptilian beast, the size of a large dog, with covered in thin scales, this creature looks dangerous, but is a herbivorous grazing animal, much like a terran cow. It lays eggs in herd grazing areas, staying with them until they hatch, before raising them as a herd rather than individually. Poachers are often chased off by bulls (male Reptorox's) charging, horns lowered.

STR: 7
DEX: 14
END: 6
INT: 1
INS: 10
PAK: 10

Quirk: Lays eggs, screeches for aid from pack
Terrain: Plain or prairie.
Movement: Walker
Type: Herbivore, Grazer
Size: 6 (50kg)
Weapons: Horns (1d6)
Armour: 1
Number encountered: 3d6 (avr: 10)
 
Aurilian Reption
wrightalien.jpg


The natural predator of the Reptorox, the Reption is a large thick skinned hunting creature, about the size of a large Terran Lion. They hunt in packs, and have been known to kill entire herds of Reptorox's just to sate their hunger. It's hide has been known to shrug off glancing hits from small arms, and it's teeth and claws are viciously sharp, as well as it's teeth secreting a virulent poison. The Reption will always get an individual creature it has wounded, ensured that its poison will finish the kill if it cannot manage it with teeth and claws.

STR: 11
DEX: 14
END: 13
INT: 1
INS: 10
PAK: 8

Quirk: Poison fangs
Terrain: Plain or prairie.
Movement: walker
Type: Carnivore, chaser
Size: 8 (200kg)
Weapons: Claws and teeth (2d6)
Armour: 5
Number encountered: 2d6 (avr: 7)
 
Skryer (Sea Scorpion)

Skryer.png


Skryer are arthropods, with 12 moveable segments from head to tail and 6, 3-jointed walking legs allow for movement on land while the last pair commonly transform into swimming legs when in water. The Skryer can range from .5 meter to as large as 2 meters in size. They are egg laying and gendermorphic, producing 12-15 eggs which they bury in shallow waters and protect until hatching. Upon hatching the adult Skryer dies allowing its young to feed on its corpse, the hatchlings growing quickly to full size within only a few days. Adult Skryers feed on smaller creatures, often sneaking up on unsuspecting pray, grabbing them quickly before striking with their tail which injects a venom causing paralysis. Skryers typically do not attack larger creatures unless they feel threatened or their territory is violated.

STR: 7
DEX: 9
END: 6
INT: 6
INS: 10
PAK: 1

Quirk: Armoured shell, Six limbs and Poison (tail)
Terrain: Oceans, large lakes although not common, rarely found on beaches.
Movement: A
Type: Carnivore/Hunter
Size: 5 (25kg)
Weapons: Arms (1d6), Tail(1d6); Venom (Paralysis)
Armour: 3
Number encountered: 1
 
Superb animals and pics - now this is what the Animal Encounters supplement should have been like! I would have spent good money for that.
 
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