Owlbear: Opinions wanted

[Verrain]

I thought I would throw this guy up here for peer review since I don't have a FTF BW group at the moment.

To get myself familiar with the MB I figured I'd try to make some D&D staples and see how they came out. I started simple. Ler me know what you think.

Owlbear

A magical crossbreed, the eight foot tall Owlbear is essentially a giant owl's head on a bear's body. The creature is covered with patchwork collection of fur and feathers and often seems as confused between its avian and ursine instincts as evidenced by them building large nests inside caves. These creatures are highly prized by wizards and others as guardians or watchdogs and it has been said that owlbear in the area is a wizard's keep out sign.

Instincts: Rise in aggression when challenged, Stay close to the cave nest in day, Hunt at night

Beliefs: Fish and honey are very tasty, Men taste even better, Master must be obeyed

Traits: Cave Dweller, Nest Builder, Voracious Appetite, Coat of Fur/Feathers, Semi-biped, Beaked, Rending claws, Massive Stature, Efficient Climber, Sight of the Owl, Nocturnal

Stats: Wi Pe Ag Sp Po Fo
B3 B6 B4 B5 B7 B7

Paces per volley: Walk 1, jog 3, sprint 5

Attributes: Hea Ref MW Ste
B5 B5 B13 B6

Hesitation: 7 actions

Skills: Brawling B6, Intimidation B6, Hunting B4, Climbing B4, Observation Training

IMS: Claws: B5/B9/B13 WS Fast Add 2 VA 1
Beak (Stabbing): B4/B8/B12 WS Fast Add 2 VA 2
Beak (Lock & Strike): B4/B7/B10 WS Fast Add 2 VA 1

[luke]

Hi Verrain,

Pretty good! I have some questions:

Why the exp 7 Pow/For? Can you justify his super-strength? I'm not saying he shouldn't have it, I just don't remember the ol'Owlbear being that strong/tough.

Also, the Perception of 6 seems REALLY high for a big, dumb slave monster. I know that's the Owliness, but perhaps it'd be better repped as a trait with conditions to its application? And he's got Obs training! yikes! With Sight of the Owl! double yikes!

Skills of B6 make him pretty darn formidable? Why not expert 5s? Why the super bad ass edge?

Lastly, can you burn up the Nest Builder trait for us? I know I'm a freak, but I want to hear your description for it and see the burn/price.

cool,
-L

[Verrain]

Hi Verrain,

Pretty good! I have some questions:

Why the exp 7 Pow/For? Can you justify his super-strength? I'm not saying he shouldn't have it, I just don't remember the ol'Owlbear being that strong/tough.

That is actually a downgrade. The stats for a regular bear on page 306 have a power of 8 and a Forte of 7.


Also, the Perception of 6 seems REALLY high for a big, dumb slave monster. I know that's the Owliness, but perhaps it'd be better repped as a trait with conditions to its application? And he's got Obs training! yikes! With Sight of the Owl! double yikes!

Approach him during the daylight and he's not so bad. :) Once again I based him on the given stats for a bear which is Per 5 so its only upped by one. Dumb he may be, but he was bred for the purpose of a guard and a night guard at that. Perhaps I could drop the Obs. Training. Its something a normal Owl would have but the conflicting instincts of owl and Bear could justify this guy losing it.


Skills of B6 make him pretty darn formidable? Why not expert 5s? Why the super bad ass edge?

I was thinking the same thing when I saw the normal bear with exponent 6 stats. My original draft did have 5's and 4's but if the crossbreed isn;t as good as the original then why not just get a bear?

I think the overall lesson here is that the regular bear is perhaps a little too badass and needs to be scaled down. *chuckle*


Lastly, can you burn up the Nest Builder trait for us? I know I'm a freak, but I want to hear your description for it and see the burn/price.

Well since you asked.

Nest Builder Character Trait 1pt

Following their owlish instincts, an Owlbear will gather large sticks, mud, and leaves. Taking them back to its cave, it will construct a sloppy, crudely stuck together nest shaped object. Still it is enough to keep the young owlbears from straying when they are born. As a result Owlbears are as likely to be found carrying home a beak full of leaves as a haunch of deer.

Now on further reflection, I would change the last instinct to Hunt and Seek out sticks at night. I would also add Foraging since it now is looking through plants and such for sticks.

Now here's a second potential trait for you:

Nest Defender: Owlbear's are very protective of their mates and their young. Attacking their home provokes a great fury and they will defend it to the death. While their nest is threatened, a Nest Defender gains +1D to Power and +1D to Steel.

Now to price it. Clearly it is bonus dice but I wasn't sure if it should be priced as two 4's for separate +1D traits or a 4 for a +1D and then 2 more for a second +1D. I went with the second interpretation for a base of 6. Rare condition, only when nest is threatened, brings it down to 5.

[Kaare Berg]

Hi Verrain,

I like the owlbear as presented and I really have no grudge with the power forte ay B7.

I stumbeled more on the low Will and no traits to counter the effect of minor wounds.

As it stands your owl-bear is a wuzz and a couple of archers takes it out in no time. It wouldn't be guarding my magical behind alone.
One light wound and one midi wound and it is nap time.

Wouldn't the Brute trait fit?

Both your traits look kosher.

May I suggest that instead of +1d power, you may say

Nest Defender: Owlbear's are very protective of their mates and their young. Attacking their home provokes a great fury and they will defend it to the death. While their nest is threatened, a Nest Defender ignores all superficial and light wound penalties and has a minus two obstacle to hesitation?

And in one fell stroke you invalidate my comments above and make it important to lure the owlbear out of its cave.

[Verrain]

Hi Verrain,

I like the owlbear as presented and I really have no grudge with the power forte ay B7.

I stumbeled more on the low Will and no traits to counter the effect of minor wounds.

As it stands your owl-bear is a wuzz and a couple of archers takes it out in no time. It wouldn't be guarding my magical behind alone.
One light wound and one midi wound and it is nap time.

Wouldn't the Brute trait fit?


I had considered such a thing but decided the Owlbear should have some weak point. Besides those archers have to either be able to see in the dark better than an owl or practically be inside the Owlbear's cave to shoot it.



Both your traits look kosher.

May I suggest that instead of +1d power, you may say

Nest Defender: Owlbear's are very protective of their mates and their young. Attacking their home provokes a great fury and they will defend it to the death. While their nest is threatened, a Nest Defender ignores all superficial and light wound penalties and has a minus two obstacle to hesitation?

And in one fell stroke you invalidate my comments above and make it important to lure the owlbear out of its cave.

Now that I like quite a bit. Fits perfectly the idea I was trying to convey. Consider it stolen. :)

[Kublai]

Why the exp 7 Pow/For? Can you justify his super-strength? I'm not saying he shouldn't have it, I just don't remember the ol'Owlbear being that strong/tough.

That is actually a downgrade. The stats for a regular bear on page 306 have a power of 8 and a Forte of 7. I think the overall lesson here is that the regular bear is perhaps a little too badass and needs to be scaled down. *chuckle*

:oops:

I figured the bear is stronger than the strongest man, on average. A very strong man might be 6 or 7. He would still be mincemeat against an attacking grizzly! I stand by my stats. ::rawr::

I would reduce his brawling to a B5 but increase his Hunting to B5. I'd also get rid of Observation Training, but maybe give him a bonus perception die for his Keen Vision.

Overall, I like your owlbear!

[Verrain]

Well here's the revised verison. I bumped his Will up one to make him a little less of a wuss and to match the Will of the average bear as given in the book. I added the Nest Defender and the Keen Vision trait and got rid of the Observation Training. I hated to do that one though. Every bird of prey type has it but I reasoned that it got lost somewhere in the owl and bear instincts mixing. I also added Forgaging. Thanks everyone for your feedback! Let me know if anyone uses this guy in a game.



Owlbear

A magical crossbreed, the eight foot tall Owlbear is essentially a giant owl's head on a bear's body. The creature is covered with patchwork collection of fur and feathers and often seems as confused between its avian and ursine instincts as evidenced by them building large nests inside caves. These creatures are highly prized by wizards and others as guardians or watchdogs and it has been said that owlbear in the area is a wizard's keep out sign.

Instincts: Rise in aggression when challenged, Stay close to the cave nest in day, Hunt at night

Beliefs: Fish and honey are very tasty, Men taste even better, Master must be obeyed

Traits: Cave Dweller, Nest Builder, Nest Defender, Voracious Appetite, Coat of Fur/Feathers, Semi-biped, Beaked, Rending claws, Massive Stature, Efficient Climber, Sight of the Owl, Nocturnal, Keen Vision (+1D Per)

Stats:
Wi Pe Ag Sp Po Fo
B4 B6 B4 B5 B7 B7

Paces per volley: Walk 1, jog 3, sprint 5

Attributes:
Hea Ref MW Ste
B5 B5 B13 B6

Hesitation: 6 actions

Skills: Brawling B5, Intimidation B5, Hunting B5, Climbing B4, Foraging B4

IMS: Claws: B5/B9/B13 WS Fast Add 2 VA 1
Beak (Stabbing): B4/B8/B12 WS Fast Add 2 VA 2
Beak (Lock & Strike): B4/B7/B10 WS Fast Add 2 VA 1

Nest Defender: Owlbear's are very protective of their mates and their young. Attacking their home provokes a great fury and they will defend it to the death. While their nest is threatened, a Nest Defender ignores all superficial and light wound penalties and has a minus two obstacle to hesitation.

[Yagathai]

We discussed Kublai's super-animals way back when. But personally, I agree with him. Bears should be strong, damn it.