Anthro Setting - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Anthro Setting

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
MechaPilot
Feb 11, 2010 15:15:48 D&D has long toyed with the concept of animal and anthro characters. I recall one AD&D book that I used to own (It had a blue cover but I don't recall the name) mentioning the idea in several paragraphs, even siting literary works like Watership Down as inspiration. In later versions, there were many monstrous anthros that eventually had racial stats added to them to make them playable. 4e itself even partially has this now, in the form of bugbears and gnolls.

I, for one, would like to see the next original D&D setting populated by anthropomorphic animal races. Or, barring that, a book of anthro races statted for use in place of the usual 4e races.
#2
aradraugfea
Feb 11, 2010 15:31:21
D&D has long toyed with the concept of animal and anthro characters. I recall one AD&D book that I used to own (It had a blue cover but I don't recall the name) mentioning the idea in several paragraphs, even siting literary works like Watership Down as inspiration. In later versions, there were many monstrous anthros that eventually had racial stats added to them to make them playable. 4e itself even partially has this now, in the form of bugbears and gnolls.

I, for one, would like to see the next original D&D setting populated by anthropomorphic animal races. Or, barring that, a book of anthro races statted for use in place of the usual 4e races.

I find that Anthro stuff tends to be a rather niche market. Fine for when you're just churning out suppliments like previous editions tended to do, but I think they try to go for a more 'general appeal' with their campaign settings.

So an Anthro setting might be unlikely. Though more 'beast races' might not be entirely unreasonable, since DnD already has plenty of them, they're just set up as monsters, not PCs.
#3
MechaPilot
Feb 11, 2010 15:59:53 While I also think an Anthro setting is a bit unlikely, I'd still be delighted to see one. As an alternative though, I would definitely purchase a book of anthro races that I could use in place of the existing races (ie, enough anthro races to cover the same favored classes as the existing races) or that could be used alongside some or all of the existing races.
#4
Hippolyte
Feb 11, 2010 16:46:55 WOTC could publish some Winning Races: Shifter articles to add more content for the Furries. It would be easy to make a dozen Furry half-races like has been done for elves, dwarves and eladrin.
#5
Marandahir
Feb 11, 2010 20:32:00 Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend.
#6
MechaPilot
Feb 11, 2010 21:29:37
Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend.

Definitely. I'm currently homebrewing my anthro races. Some of them lend themselves easily to a simply refluffed PHB race. Dwarves as bears, elves or eladrin as felines, etc. Dragonborn is even fine the way it is. I'm just attempting to rework some of them a bit so they have racial powers befitting their animal nature. Like a jump movement racial power for the rabbits. I also have to work out scents as part of the perception skill.
#7
the_fan
Feb 12, 2010 7:52:57
Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend.

*snicker*

Did you do that on purpose?
#8
lizardmage
Feb 12, 2010 8:37:13
While the possibility for WotC might be slim, I really am suprised that a third party publisher hasn't produced a book on the subject yet. Several companies were very quick to put out books detailing the "missing" classes/races/monsters at the time.

#9
Marandahir
Feb 12, 2010 10:43:59
Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend.

*snicker*

Did you do that on purpose?

Of course I did… ;)
#10
MechaPilot
Feb 12, 2010 15:17:06

While the possibility for WotC might be slim, I really am suprised that a third party publisher hasn't produced a book on the subject yet. Several companies were very quick to put out books detailing the "missing" classes/races/monsters at the time.

I haven't yet seen one for 4e.

I did find an RPG that was set in an entirely anthro world (Ironclaw in the name of the rpg), but it's system is very far from what D&D uses. It might be good for some basic inspiration, but it doesn't help with much else for anthro 4e.
#11
ian.thomson
Feb 12, 2010 19:43:07 Weren't they planning on including talking animals at one point to cash in on Narnia?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MechaPilot Feb 11, 2010 15:15:48	D&D has long toyed with the concept of animal and anthro characters. I recall one AD&D book that I used to own (It had a blue cover but I don't recall the name) mentioning the idea in several paragraphs, even siting literary works like Watership Down as inspiration. In later versions, there were many monstrous anthros that eventually had racial stats added to them to make them playable. 4e itself even partially has this now, in the form of bugbears and gnolls. I, for one, would like to see the next original D&D setting populated by anthropomorphic animal races. Or, barring that, a book of anthro races statted for use in place of the usual 4e races.
#2 aradraugfea Feb 11, 2010 15:31:21	D&D has long toyed with the concept of animal and anthro characters. I recall one AD&D book that I used to own (It had a blue cover but I don't recall the name) mentioning the idea in several paragraphs, even siting literary works like Watership Down as inspiration. In later versions, there were many monstrous anthros that eventually had racial stats added to them to make them playable. 4e itself even partially has this now, in the form of bugbears and gnolls. I, for one, would like to see the next original D&D setting populated by anthropomorphic animal races. Or, barring that, a book of anthro races statted for use in place of the usual 4e races. I find that Anthro stuff tends to be a rather niche market. Fine for when you're just churning out suppliments like previous editions tended to do, but I think they try to go for a more 'general appeal' with their campaign settings. So an Anthro setting might be unlikely. Though more 'beast races' might not be entirely unreasonable, since DnD already has plenty of them, they're just set up as monsters, not PCs.
#3 MechaPilot Feb 11, 2010 15:59:53	While I also think an Anthro setting is a bit unlikely, I'd still be delighted to see one. As an alternative though, I would definitely purchase a book of anthro races that I could use in place of the existing races (ie, enough anthro races to cover the same favored classes as the existing races) or that could be used alongside some or all of the existing races.
#4 Hippolyte Feb 11, 2010 16:46:55	WOTC could publish some Winning Races: Shifter articles to add more content for the Furries. It would be easy to make a dozen Furry half-races like has been done for elves, dwarves and eladrin.
#5 Marandahir Feb 11, 2010 20:32:00	Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend.
#6 MechaPilot Feb 11, 2010 21:29:37	Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend. Definitely. I'm currently homebrewing my anthro races. Some of them lend themselves easily to a simply refluffed PHB race. Dwarves as bears, elves or eladrin as felines, etc. Dragonborn is even fine the way it is. I'm just attempting to rework some of them a bit so they have racial powers befitting their animal nature. Like a jump movement racial power for the rabbits. I also have to work out scents as part of the perception skill.
#7 the_fan Feb 12, 2010 7:52:57	Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend. snicker Did you do that on purpose?
#8 lizardmage Feb 12, 2010 8:37:13	While the possibility for WotC might be slim, I really am suprised that a third party publisher hasn't produced a book on the subject yet. Several companies were very quick to put out books detailing the "missing" classes/races/monsters at the time.
#9 Marandahir Feb 12, 2010 10:43:59	Or you could refluff. Fluff is your friend. snicker Did you do that on purpose? Of course I did… ;)
#10 MechaPilot Feb 12, 2010 15:17:06	While the possibility for WotC might be slim, I really am suprised that a third party publisher hasn't produced a book on the subject yet. Several companies were very quick to put out books detailing the "missing" classes/races/monsters at the time. I haven't yet seen one for 4e. I did find an RPG that was set in an entirely anthro world (Ironclaw in the name of the rpg), but it's system is very far from what D&D uses. It might be good for some basic inspiration, but it doesn't help with much else for anthro 4e.
#11 ian.thomson Feb 12, 2010 19:43:07	Weren't they planning on including talking animals at one point to cash in on Narnia?