Jaguar-Men?
- Thread starter bradius
- Start date
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
What page has the reference?
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
Drat. You said it three times. Now I must answer your question.
Honestly, I don't know. A jaguar is an American cat, not an African one - and putting one in the Black Kingdoms just seems wrong to me. I would substitute a Leopard Man (see Robert E. Howard's short story, Black Talons for an example of the Leopard Man Cult) or a were-leopard.
I wrote up a cult on the Leopard Men for S&P. I don't think it was ever published, though.
Anyway, I am not sure what the author intended there. I think using a jaguar creates the wrong atmosphere, though, as it calls to mind (well, to my mind) Central American cultures, not African. Maybe the author just liked the idea of a tiger-sized leopard in the Black Kingdoms, and instead of just describing it that way, used the word jaguar (which is basically an American tiger-sized leopard). Maybe the author just wanted it to be a mystery. I suspect the author just meant the word to refect a generic large jungle cat (in which case he should have used the word 'panther' since 'jaguar' is a very specific American cat).
If you do run it with actual jaguar men, be aware that jaguars have a rather unique method of killing their prey - they ram their long canine teeth through the skull and into the brain. I believe they are the only panther cats to do this. I could see 'jaguar men' doing this... it's a pretty cool image anyway. It's something a leopard-man wouldn't do.
Honestly, I don't know. A jaguar is an American cat, not an African one - and putting one in the Black Kingdoms just seems wrong to me. I would substitute a Leopard Man (see Robert E. Howard's short story, Black Talons for an example of the Leopard Man Cult) or a were-leopard.
I wrote up a cult on the Leopard Men for S&P. I don't think it was ever published, though.
Anyway, I am not sure what the author intended there. I think using a jaguar creates the wrong atmosphere, though, as it calls to mind (well, to my mind) Central American cultures, not African. Maybe the author just liked the idea of a tiger-sized leopard in the Black Kingdoms, and instead of just describing it that way, used the word jaguar (which is basically an American tiger-sized leopard). Maybe the author just wanted it to be a mystery. I suspect the author just meant the word to refect a generic large jungle cat (in which case he should have used the word 'panther' since 'jaguar' is a very specific American cat).
If you do run it with actual jaguar men, be aware that jaguars have a rather unique method of killing their prey - they ram their long canine teeth through the skull and into the brain. I believe they are the only panther cats to do this. I could see 'jaguar men' doing this... it's a pretty cool image anyway. It's something a leopard-man wouldn't do.
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
I went ahead and answered anyway.
Although jaguars are interesting panthers, be careful you don't jolt your players out of the atmosphere of the game. Finding tigers, cougars and jaguars in African-type settings would immediately make me think the GM didn't know a thing about cats.
When trying to create atmosphere for the game, word choice is so important. So if you mean 'jaguar' then go for it. But if you mean 'generic large predatory cat,' then use the word 'panther' or go ahead and use an African cat, like a leopard, cheetah, caracal, or lion, if you are trying to create an African atmosphere. It's like calling a shotgun a 'rifle.' At least one of your players is going to know the word is specific to a certain type and completely incorrect.
Although jaguars are interesting panthers, be careful you don't jolt your players out of the atmosphere of the game. Finding tigers, cougars and jaguars in African-type settings would immediately make me think the GM didn't know a thing about cats.
When trying to create atmosphere for the game, word choice is so important. So if you mean 'jaguar' then go for it. But if you mean 'generic large predatory cat,' then use the word 'panther' or go ahead and use an African cat, like a leopard, cheetah, caracal, or lion, if you are trying to create an African atmosphere. It's like calling a shotgun a 'rifle.' At least one of your players is going to know the word is specific to a certain type and completely incorrect.
Supplement Four
Mongoose
bradius said:
What page, again?
I agree with Vincent about Jaguar-men being out of place in the Black Kingdoms. Leopard men (or Leopard cults) would be perfect.
I think there was a Savage Sword of Conan story about Leopard men in Kush or similar and obviously Black Talons too. Another source of inspiration might be the Tarzan and the Leopard Men novel.
The idea of PCs having to rescue someone from sacrifice by a Leopard cult and then a deadly chase thro the jungle would be cool in an adventure I think.
I think there was a Savage Sword of Conan story about Leopard men in Kush or similar and obviously Black Talons too. Another source of inspiration might be the Tarzan and the Leopard Men novel.
The idea of PCs having to rescue someone from sacrifice by a Leopard cult and then a deadly chase thro the jungle would be cool in an adventure I think.
Scorpion13
Mongoose
Supplement Four said:
64
B_Steele
Mongoose
They are Jaguar-Men because Arensnuphis is a god from the Apedemak Pantheon (Kush), and is their patron God and creator.
Much like there are no real carnivorous (scavenger, yes, but not carnivorous) scarabs in real life, Conan's world can have some animal breeds and such in places that are realistic, but not necessarily real-world equivalent.
Remember folks, just like we have found dinosaurs of the same species all over the world separated by entire oceans...we can have Hyborian Age jaguars in an African-centric locale. It is not that far of a stretch, really.
-Bry
Much like there are no real carnivorous (scavenger, yes, but not carnivorous) scarabs in real life, Conan's world can have some animal breeds and such in places that are realistic, but not necessarily real-world equivalent.
Remember folks, just like we have found dinosaurs of the same species all over the world separated by entire oceans...we can have Hyborian Age jaguars in an African-centric locale. It is not that far of a stretch, really.
-Bry
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
There you go, then. Pg. 64. Noticed it didn't really include the neatest attack of the jaguar - and I still think it should meso-American, not African.
Arensnuphis is a lion-headed god, of course, so perhaps the jaguar-men should be lion-men.
Arensnuphis is a lion-headed god, of course, so perhaps the jaguar-men should be lion-men.
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
Demetrio said:
How is a panther out of place? A panther can refer to all kinds of cats, as it is a generic word for large carnivorous cat. A panther can be a mountain lion, a cougar, a leopard, a jaguar...
