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RPGs with Animal PCs - with no thumbs
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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There was a previous RPG geeklist on "Furry" games. I found myself in the minority in wanting to separate out those games with Genre "Animal" from those games with Genre "Animal (Anthropomorphic)". And that's okay - I'm used to being in the minority. But it's important to me because I tend to love games where the former is true, but am not thrilled with the more anthropomorphic games.
(Don't get me wrong: Usagi Yojimbo and Uncle Scrooge are my two favorite comics of all time. But for some reason, in gaming I prefer the Watership Down model.)
So, I wish to present a list of games that are just the former: where the player characters are animals, not humans in animal form.
Specifically, in these games:
* the player characters are animals that do not have thumbs;
* the player characters are animals that do not use tools or weapons;
* the player characters are animals that do not play musical instruments;
* the player characters are animals that do not drive vehicles or ride other animals;
* the player characters are animals that do not wear clothing.
There are some minor exceptions: in Bunnies & Burrows, for example, the PCs have woven grass bags. And, in fact, in the original B&B game, the first one ever run back in the mid-1970s, the characters found themselves in a human science lab and mutated to where they *could* use tools, weapons, etc. But that wasn't the original concept of the game.
So, if you know of any others, please add them! But please, no anthropomorphic games. Thanks!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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The original, and still one of the most fun to play. In fact, it was one of the first ten RPGs ever published. Obviously modeled on Watership Down, the authors expanded rabbits' abilities beyond that book. Still worth playing today.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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The remake of the previous. I wrote this one because I never understood what a "level" meant in the original rules. (I didn't understand "classes" either, until I wrote Sherpa. I still don't understand levels.)
When this was published, Dennis Sustare was kind enough to telephone me and tell me he loved how I captured the feel he wanted in the genre. Thanks, Dennis!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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A very fine product I have yet to play, but am eager to try. I've written a "semi-review", so called because I haven't yet played it.
The game actually includes the option of playing a gnome, which I suspect (though don't know for sure) was added simply because the author met resistance in his gaming group about having to play an animal. At least, I've met that resistance ...
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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I played this one at GenCon the year it came out, and bought a copy. I've run it for my nieces and sister-in-law, who had a good time. The system isn't one of my favorites, but it's not bad, really - I like it better than d20, for example.
I like the cat magic system, and their nine lives.
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5.
RPG Item: Cat
[Average Rating:6.72 Overall Rank:2399]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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I don't own this one, so can't comment on it. I'm definitely interested in this and the next and will probably break down and buy them at some point. I do love cats.
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6.
RPG Item: Cat RPG
[Average Rating:4.00 Unranked]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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See note in previous item.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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Another one I've written a "semi-review" for and am ready and eager to play. This one is slightly different in that the animal bodies are inhabited by a magical spirit of superior intelligence, but it still counts in my mind because the animal bodies aren't modified at all.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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Prairie Dogs as Native American tribes - shamans, braves, etc.! This is by the same author as Tales from The Wood, above, but I haven't yet gotten around to reading it beyond the introduction. Probably because that d20 mechanic puts me off ...
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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I haven't read this one yet, so no idea what it's like. There are a few supplements, though, so it may be worth looking into.
Long ago, in the early days of the web, there was a free squirrel RPG someone had posted. I can't find even a hint of it now, and I don't think it was this one. Anyone know what I mean? I'd love to track it down.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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I've played this adventure - it's great! The player characters are animals owned by a fantasy ranger who's in trouble and needs rescuing. All characters included.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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Another one I wrote. A weird science adventure - anything else I say will only give it away ...
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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Okay, I'm not sure this one belongs here - no one's entered the item for it yet! Anyone have Knights of the Dinner Table #150 and can enter this item?
The reason I believe it's an Animal (as opposed to Animal: Anthropomorphic) game is that Jolly Blackburn once played in one of my B&B games, so knows the genre.
Edit: Okay, thanks to Alan who submitted the item! It does indeed belong on this list.
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John Wilson
United Kingdom
Unspecified
Unspecified
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Issue 4 of Worlds of Cthulhu contained a modification of the main rules to allow you to play cats. The article was called "Cathulhu".
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Bryce Nakagawa
United States
California
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^_^
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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This one's only in German at this point, but the publishers are talking about an English translation. Intelligent rats - sounds a bit like Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, one of my favorite books!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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A web-published homemade setting for The Shadow of Yesterday (Revised Edition), obviously with rabbits.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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This is how to play familiars in a d20 game setting. This can be either as a party completely composed of familiars, or as a single familiar in a party of humanoids, if the GM is willing. Over 60 species are covered, but it assumes you know the d20 system (3.5 compatible).
[Edit: removed my pejorative comments about the d20 system - my apologies for posting them here in the first place.]
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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A game to allow children to play dragons and go stomping through the countryside causing all the mayhem their little hearts desire. Until they meet a hero, that is ...
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19.
RPG Item: eco
[Average Rating:5.00 Unranked]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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Ah, I'm very happy to have found this one! It reminds me of the excellent young adult novel, Moon-Dark from Patricia Wrightson.
The PCs are animals who are Aware of the ecological crisis caused by humans and want to do something about it. The game details five distinct types of animal philosophical outlooks, ranging from apologists for humanity to those who want to wipe out humanity for the good of the planet, and some not in that spectrum at all.
The game includes a decent skill and talent list and details 15 different species to play (both domesticated and wild), with meta-rules for creating others, and nine NPC species.
There's a large section detailing a "sample" city and its environs, with lots of plot hooks provided.
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Wulf Corbett
Scotland
Shotts
Lanarkshire
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Roleplay your favourite dinosaur.
Limitations: No thumbs, no purple
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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I keep finding them! This one has claims to allow players to play very different scale animals - such as an elephant and an ant! - by using scale multipliers for combat. Uses a d20, but is not in the "d20 System".
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22.
RPG Item: Hoard
[Average Rating:0.00 Unranked]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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Yet another dragon game! This one is free on the internet, and looks quite interesting. Definitely no thumbs.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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Based on the Neil Gaiman book and BBC television series. In addition to the various human types, it's possible to play a sentient cat, dog, or rat in this game.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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You can play a raccoon, an opossum, a skunk or a rabbit. And you get to save the world!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
New Hampshire
It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
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You can play any type of "awakened" monkey or ape in this d20 Modern (or Pulp setting) supplement. All right, technically these have thumbs. I'm counting it, though!
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It is true, of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it. --P.G. Wodehouse
