Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19
  1. #1

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    > Conan comes to mind first. Sure, we think of him as a great warrior and
    > all, but he was also a thief, in fact, he was considered by many to be
    > the "Prince of Thieves" wasn't it? I've not read all of the Conan
    > books, but maybe our more informed lurkers can expand on that issue.

    Indeed. The opening lines to the film 'Conan the Destroyer' (they
    keep showing the sequel on TV, but the original?.... not a sausage.
    Go figure) are:

    [Conan] "I think we made the merchant angry."
    [Companion whose name I forget] "We didn't steal everything he had.."
    [Conan] "We didn't have time....."


    > Ahh, see here, you've fallen foul to one of the classic blunders.
    > The first is "never get involved in a land war in Asia." The second
    > is, "never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line." But
    > only slightly less well known is this "all thieves must be small
    > nimble skulkers like Bilbo Baggins."
    And, of course, "never play cards with a man named after a city".

    John.
    "Once I was a lamb, playing in a green field. Then
    the wolves came. Now I am an eagle and I fly in a
    different universe."
    "And now you kill the lambs," whispered Dardalion.
    "No, priest. No one pays for lambs."
    - David Gemmel, Waylander

  2. #2
    Wrb41977
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    Here's a PC race I thought up for Birthright. Tell me what you think:

    Minotaurs: STR: 12/18 DEX: 3/16 CON: 12/18 INT: 3/14 WIS: 3/16 CHR: 3/13

    Minotaur: +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma

    Minotaurs: Fighter: 12 Ranger: 6 Priest:10 Mage: 8 Thief: 5

    Minotaurs may be multi-classed Fighter/Priests, Fighter/Mages, Priest/Mages or
    Ranger/Thiefs

    Minotaurs have the following bonuses/penalties to thieving abilities: PP:
    - -10%, OL: -5%, F/RT: -5%, MS: -5%, HS: -10%, DN: +5%, CW: +5%, RL: -15%

    Minotaurs are a violent race of humanoids, who tend to live solitary lives.
    They are most prevalent in the province of Chur in the Blood Skull Barony,
    where they are guards for the wizard Darkon. Most minotaurs are the results of
    various curses, which have left them in their warped forms. However, around
    the year 1450 HC, an unknown mage, having been helped by a particularly
    unusual minotaur, created a mate for him. Since that time, minotaurs have been
    breeding true. Even now, some of their descendents rebel against their evil
    nature to assist others.
    Minotaurs stand between 7 and 8 feet tall, and weigh around 250 pounds. They
    have heads of bulls and hoofed feet, on human torsos. Their skin can be red,
    white, or black. Their hair ranges from dull red to black, and is sometimes
    mottled. Minotaurs are very broadly built and have great upper body strength.
    Minotaurs' thick hides give them a natural AC of 7. They may attack by
    charging, inflicting 6d4 points of damage. They also have 60 foot infravision.
    They are easily enraged by anyone calling them a "cow", as that is the
    greatest insult one can put upon them. They are immune to maze spells, have a
    +3 to morale, +2 to surprise, and a 50% chance to track opponents by smell.

  3. #3
    Bret W. Davenport
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    Let me preface this by saying I have always loved the minotaur. Ever since the good old Caves of
    Chaos and the first Minotaur I ever met, they were about my favorite Monster =)

    Now, as far as Birthright goes and PC Minotaurs goes, the whole idea of them being a PC race just
    gives me the shivers. The whole idea is just abhorrent to me. But that's me =)

    If it balances out well and works in your campaign, I say enjoy. Of course, I can't imagine Humans,
    Elves, Halflings, or Dwarves (etc.) having anything to do with them. They'd be considered some sort
    of creature of the Awnsheghlien and likely hunted down and destroyed without further adieu.

    My two GBs,
    Bret


    Wrb41977 wrote:

    > Here's a PC race I thought up for Birthright. Tell me what you think:
    >
    > Minotaurs: STR: 12/18 DEX: 3/16 CON: 12/18 INT: 3/14 WIS: 3/16 CHR: 3/13
    >
    > Minotaur: +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma
    >
    > Minotaurs: Fighter: 12 Ranger: 6 Priest:10 Mage: 8 Thief: 5
    >
    > Minotaurs may be multi-classed Fighter/Priests, Fighter/Mages, Priest/Mages or
    > Ranger/Thiefs
    >
    > Minotaurs have the following bonuses/penalties to thieving abilities: PP:
    > -10%, OL: -5%, F/RT: -5%, MS: -5%, HS: -10%, DN: +5%, CW: +5%, RL: -15%
    >
    > Minotaurs are a violent race of humanoids, who tend to live solitary lives.
    > They are most prevalent in the province of Chur in the Blood Skull Barony,
    > where they are guards for the wizard Darkon. Most minotaurs are the results of
    > various curses, which have left them in their warped forms. However, around
    > the year 1450 HC, an unknown mage, having been helped by a particularly
    > unusual minotaur, created a mate for him. Since that time, minotaurs have been
    > breeding true. Even now, some of their descendents rebel against their evil
    > nature to assist others.
    > Minotaurs stand between 7 and 8 feet tall, and weigh around 250 pounds. They
    > have heads of bulls and hoofed feet, on human torsos. Their skin can be red,
    > white, or black. Their hair ranges from dull red to black, and is sometimes
    > mottled. Minotaurs are very broadly built and have great upper body strength.
    > Minotaurs' thick hides give them a natural AC of 7. They may attack by
    > charging, inflicting 6d4 points of damage. They also have 60 foot infravision.
    > They are easily enraged by anyone calling them a "cow", as that is the
    > greatest insult one can put upon them. They are immune to maze spells, have a
    > +3 to morale, +2 to surprise, and a 50% chance to track opponents by smell.
    > ************************************************** *************************
    > >

  4. #4
    John Ewan
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    At 20:24 3/24/98 EST, you wrote:
    >Here's a PC race I thought up for Birthright. Tell me what you think:
    >
    >Minotaurs: STR: 12/18 DEX: 3/16 CON: 12/18 INT: 3/14 WIS: 3/16 CHR: 3/13

    Minotaurs as a race worked fine in DL, but I don't like the idea of them as
    a race in BR. The best thing about BR is that it took a monster type from
    the AD&D book and gave it fresh life as an Awnsheghlein. There is *a*
    Minotaur, it is a singular and tragic figure. That is much better for the
    game than a race of them.

    In BR there are several races with interesting takes on them. The elves,
    halflings, orogs and goblins are much more impressive in BR than elsewhere.
    It is a darker story they tell, and the races reflect that with more power
    and a more serious mein. I think the goblins here are not pushovers; the
    entire setting allows low level people and creatures to have more of an
    effect on the world than in other campaign settings.
    John Ewan, Sysop | Look for me online at MPG-Net
    Multi-Player Games Network | as Gimli jwe@mpgn.com
    http://www.mpgn.com |

  5. #5
    Sythryc
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    no way, as a pc race that cam be priest/mages, the half-elves were forbidden
    this due to realm spell overload, not balanced. ok otherwise, it is also hard
    for me to image them being thieves, brigands (fighters) yes but thieves no
    (too big to hide in shadows, too hulking to pick pocket, and why pick a lock
    when they could brute force it open, did i say too cloven hoofed to moves
    silently?) classes i would allow would be fighter, fighter/priest, priest,
    and mage.

  6. #6
    lialos@crosslink.ne
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    Sythryc wrote:
    >
    > no way, as a pc race that cam be priest/mages, the half-elves were forbidden
    > this due to realm spell overload, not balanced. ok otherwise, it is also hard
    > for me to image them being thieves, brigands (fighters) yes but thieves no
    > (too big to hide in shadows, too hulking to pick pocket, and why pick a lock
    > when they could brute force it open, did i say too cloven hoofed to moves
    > silently?) classes i would allow would be fighter, fighter/priest, priest,
    > and mage.


    Ahh, see here, you've fallen foul to one of the classic blunders. The
    first is "never get involved in a land war in Asia." The second is,
    "never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line." But only
    slightly less well known is this "all thieves must be small nimble
    skulkers like Bilbo Baggins."

    Particularly in the Birthright world where, except for the Brecht
    Guilders, we must think of our thieves as Guilders as well. There is no
    reason why EVERY thief must excel in hiding in shadows, or back
    stabbing, or climbing walls. What's to keep me from cramming my
    discretionary points into reading languages instead?

    In any event, I will point out two of the classic figures from Fantasy
    Literature, both of whom were fairly large, and both of whom were[are?]
    at least partially thieves.

    Conan comes to mind first. Sure, we think of him as a great warrior and
    all, but he was also a thief, in fact, he was considered by many to be
    the "Prince of Thieves" wasn't it? I've not read all of the Conan
    books, but maybe our more informed lurkers can expand on that issue.

    The second is Fafhrd. He who was[is?] the companion of the Grey
    Mouser. Sure, the mouser too, but he is small and sly. Fafhrd however
    is a huge hulking Nordic type thief. Not at all what we would expect to
    be creeping through attics and such, but a thief nevertheless.

    So, without further ado, let me just make my final observation, which is
    that I think a Minotaur Fighter/Mage would RULE. I fell in love with
    the idea the first time I saw the minotaur casting a spell in the pages
    of the Humanoid Handbook.

    Ok, enough from me, go ahead and bash me now.

    Tripp

  7. #7
    veryfastperson@juno.com
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    i just have one comment.... i don't ever remember hearing about BLOODED
    minotaurs. did i miss something, somewhere? with no blooded minotaurs, i
    we don't need to worry about them castin realm magic :)
    but other than that, i agree with everything else

    On Wed, 25 Mar 1998 09:53:16 EST Sythryc writes:
    >no way, as a pc race that cam be priest/mages, the half-elves were
    >forbidden
    >this due to realm spell overload, not balanced. ok otherwise, it is
    >also hard
    >for me to image them being thieves, brigands (fighters) yes but
    >thieves no
    >(too big to hide in shadows, too hulking to pick pocket, and why pick
    >a lock
    >when they could brute force it open, did i say too cloven hoofed to
    >moves
    >silently?) classes i would allow would be fighter, fighter/priest,
    >priest,
    >and mage.
    >************************************************* **************************
    >To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@mpgn.com with the
    >line
    >'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
    >

    __________________________________________________ ___________________
    You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
    Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
    Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

  8. #8
    LordSchmit
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    >i just have one comment.... i don't ever remember hearing about BLOODED
    >minotaurs. did i miss something, somewhere? with no blooded minotaurs, i
    >we don't need to worry about them castin realm magic :)
    >but other than that, i agree with everything else

    Since there weren't any minotaurs at Deismaar, they wouldn't be blooded
    (except a rare few through bloodtheft).
    Any minotaurs on Cerillia would be creations of Malvaar the Minotaur, and thus
    would be serving him. And everyone would equate a minotaur PC with the
    awnsheglien and attack him on sight. Minotaur PCs would be a fairly bad idea
    in a world like Aebrynis.

  9. #9
    Wrb41977
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    In a message dated 98-03-25 17:22:59 EST, you write:

    >

    Except for the fact that it does state in the Rjurik Highlands Expansion, that
    the wizard Darkon, of the Blood Skull Barony, has minotaur guards. That one
    line is what I based the idea upon, not on Malvaar, who probably would get so
    enraged at one point that he would tear any woman (or man) apart before they
    could bear his children.

  10. #10
    LordSchmit
    Guest

    Minotaurs as PC`s

    >thus
    > would be serving him. >>
    >
    >Except for the fact that it does state in the Rjurik Highlands Expansion,
    that
    >the wizard Darkon, of the Blood Skull Barony, has minotaur guards. That one
    >line is what I based the idea upon, not on Malvaar, who probably would get so
    >enraged at one point that he would tear any woman (or man) apart before they
    >could bear his children.

    I don't have the Rjurik supplement (yet), but my point remains, in that all
    existing minotaurs are servants of some greater power, and not a free race of
    beings like the humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, goblins, etc. So, a
    minotaur PC would be an _incredibly_ rare thing, and not likely to last long,
    beacuase as I said, the majority of people will identify it as an awnshegh and
    seek it's death.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Minotaurs
    By Wrb41977 in forum MPGN Mailinglist archive 1996-1999
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-16-1998, 07:27 PM
  2. Minotaurs in the Birthright wor
    By frederic lavallee in forum MPGN Mailinglist archive 1996-1999
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-03-1997, 07:38 PM
  3. Minotaurs in the Birthright world
    By Waise Azimi in forum MPGN Mailinglist archive 1996-1999
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-31-1997, 12:18 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
BIRTHRIGHT, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, the BIRTHRIGHT logo, and the D&D logo are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used by permission. ©2002-2010 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.