Fantasy Creatures
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Space Cadet
SOC-12
If you give a Traveller Dragon psionic powers, it would be almost the same as a D&D dragon.
Also what role would dragons have in the OTU?
Dragons typically are a long lived ancient race. If we go by the TV show, they are as old as the dinosaurs, so maybe in the OTU, they did originate from Earth about 65 million years ago. Dragons are at the top of the food chain, they are carnivores, they can breath fire and they are very territorial and solitary most of the time, but lets say, at some point in Earth's prehistory, the dragons became technological, and started building spaceships, and managed to get off of Earth prior to the asteroid impact that killed off the dinosaurs, for a time, they lived on Mars, but after they developed the jump drive they moved on to greener pastures on more habitable worlds. The dragon empire expanded to include a sizable chunk of the galaxy, but then the social cohesion which held the dragons together broke down and the dragons resumed their solitary habits, their technology was so advanced however that it didn't need a large scale civilization to maintain it. Many millions of years passed, and dragons evolved into many different species of varying colors and sizes, but they all kept the same form, 4 legs and 2 wings, the front legs also doubled as hands and dragons using their tails to balance themselves could at times walk on their hind legs and carry and manipulate tools with their forelimbs. Dragons mingled occasionally for mating purposes and to raise hatchning, but because they are top predators and carnivores, each demanded alot of territory and discourages neighbors sharing the food supply. At one point the dragons encountered the ancients, relations were not good. The ancients fought a war with the dragons and driven them out of this part of the galaxy. Later on when the ancients vanished, the dragons began expanding into the territory they once previously occupied, they did this slowly and cautiously out of fear of contacting the ancients, and with the patience that their multi-thousand year lifespans allowed, and then they encountered some smaller races including humans. Some of these humans were primitive and easily controlled. With the dragon's solitary nature and their reluctance to associate with other dragons more than necessary, they found in the humans and other spacefaring races, a source of power. The dragons cowed the primitive humans with their technology and their fearsome size, using their psionic capabilities alongside fear tactics, some dragons have taken over these human societies in effect becoming the government, and because dragons lived for so long, they provided a stable form of government for those humans they ruled. Some of the wiser dragons brought up these subject humans and other creatures technologically and founded their own star empires, conquering neigbors and making long range plans for the conquest of other territories, and then these draconic empires come face to face with the forces of the Third Imperium. The Dragons are at about the same stage of technological development as the third Imperium, perhaps a little more advanced in some things and less to in others. When they fought with the Ancients, the Ancients were not as godlike as they later came to be, and the dragons being the conservative creatures they are did not change much at all, they advanced themselves by controlling subject races that did their bidding and were easily intimidated. Technological innovation was not encouraged by these dragons, as they felt that this could threaten the dragons political power. Some dragons were over thrown, and some dragons even made it back to Earth, but their ship crashed, and they were left without their technology and had to rely solely on their breath weapons and their physical powers, but unfortunately for the dragons, that proved to be insufficient, and the primitive humans hunted them to extinction, until they were believed only to be figures of myth and fable.
Also what role would dragons have in the OTU?
Dragons typically are a long lived ancient race. If we go by the TV show, they are as old as the dinosaurs, so maybe in the OTU, they did originate from Earth about 65 million years ago. Dragons are at the top of the food chain, they are carnivores, they can breath fire and they are very territorial and solitary most of the time, but lets say, at some point in Earth's prehistory, the dragons became technological, and started building spaceships, and managed to get off of Earth prior to the asteroid impact that killed off the dinosaurs, for a time, they lived on Mars, but after they developed the jump drive they moved on to greener pastures on more habitable worlds. The dragon empire expanded to include a sizable chunk of the galaxy, but then the social cohesion which held the dragons together broke down and the dragons resumed their solitary habits, their technology was so advanced however that it didn't need a large scale civilization to maintain it. Many millions of years passed, and dragons evolved into many different species of varying colors and sizes, but they all kept the same form, 4 legs and 2 wings, the front legs also doubled as hands and dragons using their tails to balance themselves could at times walk on their hind legs and carry and manipulate tools with their forelimbs. Dragons mingled occasionally for mating purposes and to raise hatchning, but because they are top predators and carnivores, each demanded alot of territory and discourages neighbors sharing the food supply. At one point the dragons encountered the ancients, relations were not good. The ancients fought a war with the dragons and driven them out of this part of the galaxy. Later on when the ancients vanished, the dragons began expanding into the territory they once previously occupied, they did this slowly and cautiously out of fear of contacting the ancients, and with the patience that their multi-thousand year lifespans allowed, and then they encountered some smaller races including humans. Some of these humans were primitive and easily controlled. With the dragon's solitary nature and their reluctance to associate with other dragons more than necessary, they found in the humans and other spacefaring races, a source of power. The dragons cowed the primitive humans with their technology and their fearsome size, using their psionic capabilities alongside fear tactics, some dragons have taken over these human societies in effect becoming the government, and because dragons lived for so long, they provided a stable form of government for those humans they ruled. Some of the wiser dragons brought up these subject humans and other creatures technologically and founded their own star empires, conquering neigbors and making long range plans for the conquest of other territories, and then these draconic empires come face to face with the forces of the Third Imperium. The Dragons are at about the same stage of technological development as the third Imperium, perhaps a little more advanced in some things and less to in others. When they fought with the Ancients, the Ancients were not as godlike as they later came to be, and the dragons being the conservative creatures they are did not change much at all, they advanced themselves by controlling subject races that did their bidding and were easily intimidated. Technological innovation was not encouraged by these dragons, as they felt that this could threaten the dragons political power. Some dragons were over thrown, and some dragons even made it back to Earth, but their ship crashed, and they were left without their technology and had to rely solely on their breath weapons and their physical powers, but unfortunately for the dragons, that proved to be insufficient, and the primitive humans hunted them to extinction, until they were believed only to be figures of myth and fable.
Hmmm... You've got an interesting idea there, Space Cadet; I might borrow parts of it to create a "precursor" race (now extinct) older than the Ancients.
On a different note, does hydrogen gas seem like good way to explain the breath-weapon of a dragon, or would it combust too quickly? Otherwise I'll use hydrogen for bouyancy and an oily liquid (possibly crude petroleum which the Dragon would drink from natural tar-pits?) for the breath weapon. Or maybe methane would fit the bill?
On a different note, does hydrogen gas seem like good way to explain the breath-weapon of a dragon, or would it combust too quickly? Otherwise I'll use hydrogen for bouyancy and an oily liquid (possibly crude petroleum which the Dragon would drink from natural tar-pits?) for the breath weapon. Or maybe methane would fit the bill?
Flying Eye Flying Eater, 25kg*, hits 14/7**, Cloth, Teeth, As Laser Carbines, A1, F8, S1.
The Flying Eye looks like a large (2m diameter) warty sphere with one huge central eye and a big, toothy mouth. Around its head, the Fying Eye has 1d6 small (10cm diameter, 60cm long) "eyestalks".
Most of the Flying Eye's body consists of a huge hydrogen bladder; the gas is a by-product of the creature's digestive process. The hydrogen has two uses: first, it is used to allow the creature to float in the air, and second, the Flying Eye uses this gas as a fuel for a special organ which resembles a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell. The electricity generated by the creature serves as its energy source (in other words, the creature is "powered" by bio-electricity). In addition, the Flying Eye can "burn" greater than usual amounts of hydrogen to power up its "eyestalks" - though this procedure tends to eat up its hydrogen reservoire rather quickly.
The "eyestalks" are not eyes (only the central eye serves as a visual organ) - but rater natural laser weapons! The Flying Eye may "fire" any or all of its "eyestalks" in one turn, and may target one creature per "eye" (it has 1d6 "eyestalks"). The "eyestalks" use the range and armor DMs of the Laser Carbine and do 4D damage. However, the Flying Eye's body holds only enough hydrogen to power 2d6 shots in total. To fully "recharge", the Flying Eye must eat a good meal (say, one unfortunate adventurer) and digest it for 3d6 hours.
* Remember the while the Flying Eye is very large (2m diameter sphere), most of its volume consits of the hydrogen bladder. Furthermore, it lacks any bony structure save for its teeth.
** Every time a Flying Eye is hit, roll 8+ for its hydrogen bladder to rupture, killing the creature. However, if the attack was an explosive or incendiary one, and has ruptured the gas bladder, the hydrogen explodes, "attacking" everything within a 6m radious using the armor DMs or a 40mm RAM grenade, causing 8D damage on a successful hit.
The Flying Eye looks like a large (2m diameter) warty sphere with one huge central eye and a big, toothy mouth. Around its head, the Fying Eye has 1d6 small (10cm diameter, 60cm long) "eyestalks".
Most of the Flying Eye's body consists of a huge hydrogen bladder; the gas is a by-product of the creature's digestive process. The hydrogen has two uses: first, it is used to allow the creature to float in the air, and second, the Flying Eye uses this gas as a fuel for a special organ which resembles a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell. The electricity generated by the creature serves as its energy source (in other words, the creature is "powered" by bio-electricity). In addition, the Flying Eye can "burn" greater than usual amounts of hydrogen to power up its "eyestalks" - though this procedure tends to eat up its hydrogen reservoire rather quickly.
The "eyestalks" are not eyes (only the central eye serves as a visual organ) - but rater natural laser weapons! The Flying Eye may "fire" any or all of its "eyestalks" in one turn, and may target one creature per "eye" (it has 1d6 "eyestalks"). The "eyestalks" use the range and armor DMs of the Laser Carbine and do 4D damage. However, the Flying Eye's body holds only enough hydrogen to power 2d6 shots in total. To fully "recharge", the Flying Eye must eat a good meal (say, one unfortunate adventurer) and digest it for 3d6 hours.
* Remember the while the Flying Eye is very large (2m diameter sphere), most of its volume consits of the hydrogen bladder. Furthermore, it lacks any bony structure save for its teeth.
** Every time a Flying Eye is hit, roll 8+ for its hydrogen bladder to rupture, killing the creature. However, if the attack was an explosive or incendiary one, and has ruptured the gas bladder, the hydrogen explodes, "attacking" everything within a 6m radious using the armor DMs or a 40mm RAM grenade, causing 8D damage on a successful hit.
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A few natural and unnatural animals that will fit well in a fantasy-style adventure
Giant Rat Gatherer, 12kg, hits 7/7, No Armor, Teeth, A5, F6, S1.
Very Large Cockroach Gatherer, 6kg, hits 3/7, Cloth, Claws (actually mandibulae; damage 1D-1D), A8, F3, S1.
Truely Giant Cockroach Gatherer, 50kg, hits 15/9, Battledress, Claws+1 (actually mandibulae), A7, F5, S1.
Giant Lizard Killer, 50kg, hits 20/9, Mesh, Teeth, Claws, A1, F7, S1.
Wolf Chaser, 50kg, hits 14/7, No Armor, Teeth, A:If More, F4*, S3.
Warg Chaser, 100kg, hits 21/9, Teeth+2, A:If More, F10, S3.
Tiger Pouncer, 200kg, hits 20/10, No Armor, Teeth+1 (3D damage), Claws+1, A:If Surprising, F: If Surprised, S2.
Smilodon (Saber-Toothed Cat) Pouncer, 200kg, hits 23/10, No Armor, Teeth+3 (3D damage), Claws+1, A:If Surprising, F: If Surprised, S2.
Mammoth Intermittent, 6,000kg**, hits 36/21, Cloth, Trample***, As Pike, As Cudgel (its trunk), A7, F8, S1.
Elephant Intermittent, 6,000kg**, hits 32/18, Mesh, Trample***, As Spear, As Cudgel (its trunk), A7, F8, S1.
* Natural wolves would usualy run away from humans unless the wolves arevery hungry and/or rabid. However, wolves who are actual mongerls with dogs are far less fearful of humans; for them, use F9.
** Contrary to popular belief, real Mammothes weren't much larger than contemporary elephants.
*** How would you handle a Trample attack by a mammoth or elephant? This is their strongest attack and a good way of defending itself.
Giant Rat Gatherer, 12kg, hits 7/7, No Armor, Teeth, A5, F6, S1.
Very Large Cockroach Gatherer, 6kg, hits 3/7, Cloth, Claws (actually mandibulae; damage 1D-1D), A8, F3, S1.
Truely Giant Cockroach Gatherer, 50kg, hits 15/9, Battledress, Claws+1 (actually mandibulae), A7, F5, S1.
Giant Lizard Killer, 50kg, hits 20/9, Mesh, Teeth, Claws, A1, F7, S1.
Wolf Chaser, 50kg, hits 14/7, No Armor, Teeth, A:If More, F4*, S3.
Warg Chaser, 100kg, hits 21/9, Teeth+2, A:If More, F10, S3.
Tiger Pouncer, 200kg, hits 20/10, No Armor, Teeth+1 (3D damage), Claws+1, A:If Surprising, F: If Surprised, S2.
Smilodon (Saber-Toothed Cat) Pouncer, 200kg, hits 23/10, No Armor, Teeth+3 (3D damage), Claws+1, A:If Surprising, F: If Surprised, S2.
Mammoth Intermittent, 6,000kg**, hits 36/21, Cloth, Trample***, As Pike, As Cudgel (its trunk), A7, F8, S1.
Elephant Intermittent, 6,000kg**, hits 32/18, Mesh, Trample***, As Spear, As Cudgel (its trunk), A7, F8, S1.
* Natural wolves would usualy run away from humans unless the wolves arevery hungry and/or rabid. However, wolves who are actual mongerls with dogs are far less fearful of humans; for them, use F9.
** Contrary to popular belief, real Mammothes weren't much larger than contemporary elephants.
*** How would you handle a Trample attack by a mammoth or elephant? This is their strongest attack and a good way of defending itself.
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Space Cadet
SOC-12
Hydrogen burns quite well, its easy to ignite, and a hydrogen flame is colorless and nearly invisible, what gives it away is when other things burn within it. Basically what you would see is the dragon breath on somebody and the person would burst into highly visible flames, but you wouldn't see the flames leap out from the dragon's mouth to the person, oh just a little bit. Hydrogen flames appear slightly blueish. If you've ever seen the space shuttle take off, you see the bright yellow flames come out of the solid rocke boosters and the barely visible almost colorless flames coming out of the space shuttle's main engines, the second is what a hydrogen flame looks like.Originally posted by Employee 2-4601:
Hmmm... You've got an interesting idea there, Space Cadet; I might borrow parts of it to create a "precursor" race (now extinct) older than the Ancients.
On a different note, does hydrogen gas seem like good way to explain the breath-weapon of a dragon, or would it combust too quickly? Otherwise I'll use hydrogen for bouyancy and an oily liquid (possibly crude petroleum which the Dragon would drink from natural tar-pits?) for the breath weapon. Or maybe methane would fit the bill?
I had some thoughts on the space faring dragons. I think its more fun if they aren't extinct. You see there was a period millions of years ago when they formed a society and were technological innovators, then they had a War that devastated them, the dragons never truly recovered from that, most of them now are solitary creatures among their own kind. Their technology is biomechnical, their star ships are creatures their ancestors engineered, they have the intelligence of whales, and the dragons control them through psionic contact. Dragons still need humanoid crew for their starships, mostly to perform damage control and maintenace. Damage control and maintenace involves medical procedures, the administration of drugs and surgery performed on the biomechnical starship. These organic starships have persormance capabilities similar to tech level 15 Imperial starships. The starships grow in size to accomodate the increasing size of the dragon as it ages. Dragon ships have a number of rooms to accomodate its humanoid crews and its livestock to feed the dragon with. Dragons like to kill their food when they eat. There are two sorts of dragons, those who use fear to keep their servants obediant and others who truly develop a symbiotic relationship with them, it other words the Dragon actually cares for them after a fashion, such as one might regard a beloved pet.
All dragons think they are superior to all other beings, most dragons think they are superior to other dragons, so they don't get along with each other very well.
Typically a dragon might take over a planet in this fashion. A mated pair would land on a planet in their dragon ship, and then cow the local inhabitants into obediance, they would lay their eggs, and for a time a family heirachy would take effect, each dragon would take control of wide swaths of the planet, and they would all defer to the Alpha Female. Female dragons tend to grow larger than males, and a planet would typically have a Dragon Queen for a while until either the inhabitants overthrew the dragon or one of the younger dragons were to grow up and challenge the queen for her position. If the challenge is successful, the former queen is either basnished or killed. Dragons employ "lesser" races as their cannon fodder in their wars. A single dragon typically possesses enough knowledge accumulated over a thousand years to uplift an entire civilization to space faring status, they know all the steps once they take control of a primitve society, starting with metalurgy, steam engines, internacombustion, electronics, nuclear energy, spaceships, gravity control, maneuver drives, and jump drives, all stored away in that draconic cranium of theirs.
Such a creature might have a "methane" tap in its digestive track to siphon off waste gases, and then channel them to a bladder or lung of somekind. Thus, when the dragon exhaled, it's not only exhailing air, but fuel as well. The mix then passes over a natural "ember" above the vocal chords (which is why dragons don't hack and sound like chain smokers), and juts out like a flame thrower.Originally posted by Employee 2-4601:
Hmmm... You've got an interesting idea there, Space Cadet; I might borrow parts of it to create a "precursor" race (now extinct) older than the Ancients.
On a different note, does hydrogen gas seem like good way to explain the breath-weapon of a dragon, or would it combust too quickly? Otherwise I'll use hydrogen for bouyancy and an oily liquid (possibly crude petroleum which the Dragon would drink from natural tar-pits?) for the breath weapon. Or maybe methane would fit the bill?
Another possible solution is the dragon manufactures its own "napalm", or napalm like substance, secretes this in a gland, then spits it out like a cobra. That might make more sense with non-fire-breathers; i.e. swamp dragon and the kind.
Don't ask me to speculate on exotic breeds like Crystal dragons
p.s. some great conversions. I think a Trample attack would be a modified "hoove" attack with some kind of heavy DM for damage. Not sure what though.
Space Cadet
SOC-12
Flame throwers are rather primitive weapons, and their range isn't so good. Dragons in Traveller would probably retain their flamethrowers, but would also use more futuristic weapons. For example a dragon is a spacesuit isn't going to use its breath weapon.
One big advantage a dragon would have in the Traveller setting its its longevity. Dragons live for thousands of years, this gives it many human lifetimes worth of experience and learning.
While a human would specialize, a dragon would be a generalist, it would know everything about how is starship works including all the details that go into building it, what key technologies would be needed and the details of manufacturing all the parts required. Every thousand years is equalavent to 50 human lifetimes, 50 human specialities wirth of learning. Dragons would therefore have an encyclopedic knowledge of just about everything it bothered to study.
One big advantage a dragon would have in the Traveller setting its its longevity. Dragons live for thousands of years, this gives it many human lifetimes worth of experience and learning.
While a human would specialize, a dragon would be a generalist, it would know everything about how is starship works including all the details that go into building it, what key technologies would be needed and the details of manufacturing all the parts required. Every thousand years is equalavent to 50 human lifetimes, 50 human specialities wirth of learning. Dragons would therefore have an encyclopedic knowledge of just about everything it bothered to study.
But what about a regular old medieval fire breather? The type that doesn't have an advanced civilization.
Good Ol' Firebreathers? Here you go!
DRAGON Flying Killer, 800kg, hits 24/10*, Cloth, Teeth+2 (5D damage), Claws+2 (5D damage), As Flamethrower**, A3, F9, S3.
The Dragon is a large airbourne predator native to a SIZE-3, ATM-8 world. Its firebreathing capabilities stem from the fact that it could siphon and filter methane from its digestive tract and store it in two large sacks at its belly. The gas is then pumped through its mouth and ignited by a bio-electric spark-generating organ in its thorax. The Dragon carries enough methane in its sacks for 2D6 rounds of breathing fire; they will refill after a good meal and 6D6 hours of rest.
A Draon's skin is strong, scaly and very light. A suit of armor may be made from this skin, requiring a Craft/DEX/-2 UGM task and 4D6 days of work. This armor will be similar to Jack in shape and weight, but will provide the protection of a Cloth armor.
* Every time a Dragon is hit with an explosive or incendiary weapon, roll 9+ for its methane sacks to catch fire, painfully killing the creature and setting it on fire. Ofcourse, if all of the methane in the sacks has been used up, ignore this rule.
** Flamethrowers are described here.
DRAGON Flying Killer, 800kg, hits 24/10*, Cloth, Teeth+2 (5D damage), Claws+2 (5D damage), As Flamethrower**, A3, F9, S3.
The Dragon is a large airbourne predator native to a SIZE-3, ATM-8 world. Its firebreathing capabilities stem from the fact that it could siphon and filter methane from its digestive tract and store it in two large sacks at its belly. The gas is then pumped through its mouth and ignited by a bio-electric spark-generating organ in its thorax. The Dragon carries enough methane in its sacks for 2D6 rounds of breathing fire; they will refill after a good meal and 6D6 hours of rest.
A Draon's skin is strong, scaly and very light. A suit of armor may be made from this skin, requiring a Craft/DEX/-2 UGM task and 4D6 days of work. This armor will be similar to Jack in shape and weight, but will provide the protection of a Cloth armor.
* Every time a Dragon is hit with an explosive or incendiary weapon, roll 9+ for its methane sacks to catch fire, painfully killing the creature and setting it on fire. Ofcourse, if all of the methane in the sacks has been used up, ignore this rule.
** Flamethrowers are described here.
HYDRA Killer, 6,000kg, hits 42/21*, Cloth**, Teeth x6*** (2Dx2 damage each), A2, F8, S1.
* The hits given are for the main body; if the heads are attacked, each has 14/7 hits.
** The armor given is for the main body; the heads are treated as protected by Mesh.
*** The Hydra has 6 heads, each of them attacking each round. It is possible to severe the heads one by one (see above), reducing the number of attacks the creature has; however, its vital organs and brain are all in the main body, and all the heads will regrow within 1D6 weeks if the main body remains alive.
* The hits given are for the main body; if the heads are attacked, each has 14/7 hits.
** The armor given is for the main body; the heads are treated as protected by Mesh.
*** The Hydra has 6 heads, each of them attacking each round. It is possible to severe the heads one by one (see above), reducing the number of attacks the creature has; however, its vital organs and brain are all in the main body, and all the heads will regrow within 1D6 weeks if the main body remains alive.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Actually it's not fantasy or weird science, or at least not so much given that truth is stranger than fiction. There is a disease that when I first heard about it saw the connection (as I'm sure others have) to the mythology of the medusa and similar legends. The disease is called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva and it is horrifying in ways no ancient myth can compare to.
In brief:
So for a science fiction based medusa effect you might have it instead a viral infection caused by an immune carrier and give it a much more rapid onset and progression.
Space Cadet
SOC-12
Then its more of a plague than a creature. You'll have authorities trying to contain the contageon with quarantines, and anybody in a space suit is immune to the medusa. Not the same thing, certain things are impossible to replicate or not worth trying, A ghost for example.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
For someone with your imagination Space Cadet you're not really looking at this one at all
Ghosts are quite easy to add using psionics - they'll be residual psionic emanations from recently dead persons. They won't "haunt" places for long (unless some psionic creature "maintains" them) - but they'll be visible and audiable psions (even untrained ones if the PSI is high enough) for several hours after the person's death.
Possessing demons would be psionic parasites, leaping from mind to mind; outright demons are out unless you simply want a psionic animal that resembles a demon an/or if you want to insert the notion of extradimensional beings (brought forth by psionics) into your game.
Well, petrification stares I can't figure out a Traveller version of, but ghosts are a snap. I actually have a half-finished adventure about a haunted house on the back burner.
The paper JTAS had adventures (or was it amber zones?) about both vampires and werewolves.
If I had to come up with a Traveller medusa or basilisk, I'd probably end up with a gaze attack that put people into comas. Not a perfect analogy, but not impossibly far from it either.
Hans
The old animated movie "Titan A.E." had a strong 'Traveller' feel to it, and they had a non-corporeal race for the bad guys. It would not be hard to convert a 'pure energy' being into a ghost.
(Of course most of these creatures will still give the game a cross genre feel no matter how good your scientific explanation).
(Of course most of these creatures will still give the game a cross genre feel no matter how good your scientific explanation).
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