Giant Riding Lizard - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Giant Riding Lizard

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ultimate_cap
Jun 29, 2011 14:37:28
Pulled from page 12 of the AV, the Draft and Riding lizards fit Athas perfectly, but how would you re-flavor the swamp walk feature they have? What would you replace it with (earthwalk?). What about the climb? Would they retain the climb (there are still mountainous regions for them to deal with) or would you replace that as well.

Personally, I'd keep the climb, but I am curious to see what some of you would do (or have done) with swampwalk.
#2
Sysane
Jun 29, 2011 14:54:24 I'd replace it with Siltwalk and have the ability work exactly as it does in the swamp but only on silt.
#3
antioch
Jul 01, 2011 21:40:53 Given that swamp walk can be fairly situational enough in other worlds, I would just remove it entirely. If you really wanted to keep it around, I'd just let it ignore difficult terrain due to sand.
#4
ultimate_cap
Jul 02, 2011 0:58:06 Well, I think "something" is in order. I could just drop it, but that's no fun ;o)

I'm leaning towards "Sand Walk or Silt Walk". Just reflavoring it to ignore difficult terrain that comes from silt (can move over it, but cannot end it's turn on it or it sinks) or sand (can shift into both).

Obviously, if the silt is shallow enought, sinking into it is not a big deal.
#5
antioch
Jul 02, 2011 1:01:42 The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus.
#6
ultimate_cap
Jul 02, 2011 1:10:48
The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus.

Well, there are powers that allow that...but...we are talking a trait here. Still not sure it's unwarrented, your talking a short burst of movement from a creature that may have feet designed for the manuever. There are lizards now that can do that accross water (granted, they're not serveral hunderd pounds, heh, heh).

Maybe just ignore difficult terrain from sand or dunes is the better way.
#7
Sysane
Jul 02, 2011 12:47:51
The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus.

But you have no problem picturing a gigantic winged super-heated-sand-breathing lizard taking to the skies like a F-16?
#8
Duskweaver
Jul 02, 2011 13:29:02
The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus.

Just about every Athasian animal seems to have evolved some innate psionic ability. And walking on silt is something we know innate psionic abilities can let you do, because there's a wild talent that lets you do it. A big lizard that can run across silt makes at least as much sense 'in-universe' as (for example) a big lizard that can track people by the psychic 'scent' of their mind (i.e. the dragorran).
#9
antioch
Jul 02, 2011 14:19:57
The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus.

But you have no problem picturing a gigantic winged super-heated-sand-breathing lizard taking to the skies like a F-16?

No, because they aren't normal animals and have expansive wingspans. It is much easier to suspend my disbelief about those than a horse sized lizard essentially running on water without any explanation.
#10
antioch
Jul 02, 2011 14:21:59
The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus.

Just about every Athasian animal seems to have evolved some innate psionic ability. And walking on silt is something we know innate psionic abilities can let you do, because there's a wild talent that lets you do it. A big lizard that can run across silt makes at least as much sense 'in-universe' as (for example) a big lizard that can track people by the psychic 'scent' of their mind (i.e. the dragorran).

Given that it is a wild talent I wouldn't make it a universal trait for all giant lizards, though a character having a fluke mutant would be pretty cool. At least it provides some manner of explanation for how it does it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ultimate_cap Jun 29, 2011 14:37:28	Pulled from page 12 of the AV, the Draft and Riding lizards fit Athas perfectly, but how would you re-flavor the swamp walk feature they have? What would you replace it with (earthwalk?). What about the climb? Would they retain the climb (there are still mountainous regions for them to deal with) or would you replace that as well. Personally, I'd keep the climb, but I am curious to see what some of you would do (or have done) with swampwalk.
#2 Sysane Jun 29, 2011 14:54:24	I'd replace it with Siltwalk and have the ability work exactly as it does in the swamp but only on silt.
#3 antioch Jul 01, 2011 21:40:53	Given that swamp walk can be fairly situational enough in other worlds, I would just remove it entirely. If you really wanted to keep it around, I'd just let it ignore difficult terrain due to sand.
#4 ultimate_cap Jul 02, 2011 0:58:06	Well, I think "something" is in order. I could just drop it, but that's no fun ;o) I'm leaning towards "Sand Walk or Silt Walk". Just reflavoring it to ignore difficult terrain that comes from silt (can move over it, but cannot end it's turn on it or it sinks) or sand (can shift into both). Obviously, if the silt is shallow enought, sinking into it is not a big deal.
#5 antioch Jul 02, 2011 1:01:42	The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus.
#6 ultimate_cap Jul 02, 2011 1:10:48	The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus. Well, there are powers that allow that...but...we are talking a trait here. Still not sure it's unwarrented, your talking a short burst of movement from a creature that may have feet designed for the manuever. There are lizards now that can do that accross water (granted, they're not serveral hunderd pounds, heh, heh). Maybe just ignore difficult terrain from sand or dunes is the better way.
#7 Sysane Jul 02, 2011 12:47:51	The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus. But you have no problem picturing a gigantic winged super-heated-sand-breathing lizard taking to the skies like a F-16?
#8 Duskweaver Jul 02, 2011 13:29:02	The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus. Just about every Athasian animal seems to have evolved some innate psionic ability. And walking on silt is something we know innate psionic abilities can let you do, because there's a wild talent that lets you do it. A big lizard that can run across silt makes at least as much sense 'in-universe' as (for example) a big lizard that can track people by the psychic 'scent' of their mind (i.e. the dragorran).
#9 antioch Jul 02, 2011 14:19:57	The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus. But you have no problem picturing a gigantic winged super-heated-sand-breathing lizard taking to the skies like a F-16? No, because they aren't normal animals and have expansive wingspans. It is much easier to suspend my disbelief about those than a horse sized lizard essentially running on water without any explanation.
#10 antioch Jul 02, 2011 14:21:59	The problem with silt is that large creatures sink into it. I just cannot visualize a big lizard--especially mounted--walking over it like a raptor-Jesus. Just about every Athasian animal seems to have evolved some innate psionic ability. And walking on silt is something we know innate psionic abilities can let you do, because there's a wild talent that lets you do it. A big lizard that can run across silt makes at least as much sense 'in-universe' as (for example) a big lizard that can track people by the psychic 'scent' of their mind (i.e. the dragorran). Given that it is a wild talent I wouldn't make it a universal trait for all giant lizards, though a character having a fluke mutant would be pretty cool. At least it provides some manner of explanation for how it does it.