Mutation Questions

[technoshaman]

I have some questions about mutations from the corebook. I creating a character that has (or wants) monkey features and I am using mutations for and was wandering which mutations would work the best? Hands could do it but not sure if it can sure having bonuses to skills like climb, fine manipulation, jump and others. Imitation not sure cause you are only imitating the feature not actually having the feature, well not until major level but do you have the actual feet? Structural Improvement is another mutation I'm not sure about as well, and still not sure if could or should grant skill bonuses for some of the added body parts.

any suggestions would be helpful.

[soltakss]

If you want a character with monkey features, then I'd just say that the character has them. It is easier that way.

However, if you want to build a character from, say, a human base and add features then Mutations might work. A human already has hands, so I'd add prehensile feet and a prehensile tail (if you want monkeys not apes), probably some kind of bite.

Bear in mind that the mutations are just samples and guidelines - if you want something that isn't there then invent the mutation. You are not randomly rolling and hoping you choose the right ones, you are picking them and you might as well pick new ones which work.

[Mankcam]

Pretty much what Simon has said. The system won't break from a few homebrew powers, and it certainly won't have been the first time that its been done.

Either that, or just do your own variants from the Mutations you have already suggested. I think you could cover it with those mutations, just use those mechanics and give the trappings of monkey features, adjusting the character's APP and social skills accordingly (I'ld probably give the character monkey behaviour as well, so that's likely to affect social skills - perhaps a POW x 5% to resist acting on base instincts etc. That way the character has to take the good with the bad, so to speak).

Shouldn't be too much a quandary I reckon

...or alternatively, you could actually roll up the character using the animal statistics in the rulebooks, except replace INT, POW, and APP/CHA with the attribute rolls for Human PCs. There's a sample Gorilla in the BRP BGB, and in the Basic Creatures book there is a Baboon and a Chimpanzee, so a few monkey breeds to use as templates.

Depends on how much you want the monkey traits to be evident

so just another idea to go with...not sure how I would do it, but there's a few choices on the plate

Edited January 21, 2013 by Mankcam

[Atgxtg]

You might want to consider looking at the super powers. Yes, monkey boy isn't a superhero, but the super power system is better for modfiying a character around a specfic concept, whereas the mutation system is better for seeing what random affliction a character has been stuck with. With the super power rules, you, as GM can bypass the whole super hero creartion bit and instead just build a small package of powers thart you think reflect what the monkey can do. With the super power system you can add skill bonuses, maybe a level of leaping, or anything else you think fits, but at a low level. You can get a lot more control and be able to fine tune the character much easier with the powers system and say 5-10 Hero Points, than you probably can with the mutation system.

[Mankcam]

Yep, Super Powers does work better from a 'build' perspective. You can also use the Failings to describe the social impact of having ape features, it would grant you an additional 1-3 'budget points' in order to spend on Ape abilities (Powers). Some ideas could include using Super Characteristics, Leap, and Unarmed Combat Powers at low levels to describe some 'ape abilities' perhaps...

[Charles Green]

If you're wanting to use mutations, you can convey a lot of a character's "monkey-ness" with them. It depends on how your mutations are selected, and how many you get, but this is what I would do:

Hybrid would probably be your first mutation, with the specification of "monkey." This would cover an animal-like appearance, and, if you take the Major form, you'll have sharp nails or fangs big enough to do better damage than a human fist.

Other useful mutations might be:

1. Hands, which would cover both a prehensile tail, or the use of feet for grasping or climbing.

2. Imitation (Monkey) would cover skill bonuses to monkey-like skills, like Climb or Search (for Banana)

3. Increased Characteristics to bump up your DEX.

4. Keen Sense (Smell) is a possibility

5. Natural Armor might be good too, for thick fur.

6. Speech (Mimicry) might be fun, and I seem to recall some species of monkey do this to a limited degree.

Of these, I think Hybrid (major) and Imitation (Monkey) are your best bets, and you can tailor the character with other ones, depending on how many mutations you can select.

[seneschal]

All good suggestions. As others have said, it depends on how monkey-like you want the character to be. If you want him to be an intelligent, talking monkey, go with the animal stats and human-level INT and POW. If you want him to be monkey-ish but mostly human, go the Mutations or Super Powers route. In addition to boosting DEX, I'd boost STR as well. Most simians have greater muscle mass for their size (or SIZ) than humans do.

Monkey around with both concepts and see which result you like best.

[Mankcam]

LOL

[technoshaman]

I had roll for my mutations and this for a Swords of Cydordia and I a race that gains mutations natural at character creation and I got lucky rolling player choice on my first roll. The others rolls are good like Coloration, Hardy, Metabolic improvement, Regeneration. So I have to choose my first mutation carefully. I am wanting the monkey feet and tail for helping with manual controls for a vehicle or for the setting and airship.

Edited January 23, 2013 by technoshaman

[seneschal]

It has a license to drive!

Glad you found a solution you like. Have fun with your campaign.

Perhaps the airship requires a pilot with extra limbs (feet and tail) to fly it because of its ridiculously complicated manual controls. Good reason for the other PCs to protect "Monkey Boy."

"I told you not to call me 'Monkey Boy!'"

[seneschal]

Apes get iPads at National Zoo | Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News

FYI, orangutans at the National Zoo are now provided with iPads so the poor dears won't be bored. Hmmmm. This is where our tax dollars and private donations are going ....

On the other hand, playing around with that DoodlePad app may be how they began developing their engineering skills for their eventual takeover.

[technoshaman]

It has a license to drive!

Glad you found a solution you like. Have fun with your campaign.

Perhaps the airship requires a pilot with extra limbs (feet and tail) to fly it because of its ridiculously complicated manual controls. Good reason for the other PCs to protect "Monkey Boy."

"I told you not to call me 'Monkey Boy!'"

where did you get that I found a solution? All I said that I had roll for mutations and those were my results, and I got lucky with first roll. I still need to decide which mutation choose for monkey feet! My first post was asking did or could the Hands mutation have skill bonuses or not? Imitation can handle the skills but have the actual "look" for minor level, I have to get major level of the mutation it be "real monkey feet". Hybrid the samething if it grants skill bonuses.

[seneschal]

I'm sorry. Perhaps I misunderstood. You said you'd gotten good rolls and I assumed things were going well. After re-reading the Mutations list, I personally think Hands gives the effect you want best. Imitation gives temporary skill bonuses for faking animal traits, but then it wears off. Great for Animal Man, but not the character you envision. Hybrid would potentially give the character a Natural Weapon at major level but generally leaves characteristics and abilities unaffected. The Hands Mutation, on the other hand, would ensure that your character's feet are fully functional manipulative limbs, just like his original hands. No bonuses merely for having the Mutation, but you'd handle that by buying up his appropriate skills like Jump and Climb. Meanwhile, though, your character would be able to do things a normal human couldn't, like sit at the card table and shuffle the deck while also fixing himself a sandwich. Or cling to a skyscraper girder while punching an opponent with full strength (a regular Joe would have to hold on with one hand or risk falling off himself). Also, the Big Gold Book says your GM should work with you on the exact ramifications of your character's differences.

[technoshaman]

I have another question. Would you say Structural Improvement would allow multiple uses of a new body part? Like having a prehensile tail that can be manipulate items normal and grapple items and us them in combat similar to nightcrawler?

[seneschal]

I would say yes because an extra arm or arms provided by Structural Improvement is a full-fledged body part just like the character's normal arms. That said, while it might give a boost to STR for the purposes of exerting force or hanging onto something, the extra arm(s) won't necessarily give the character a bonus to hit or an extra attack per combat round -- unless your GM says otherwise. And the character would take the normal penalties for two-handed (in this case, three-handed?) sword technique (assuming BRP has such an option; check with all these RuneQuest grognards).

[technoshaman]

I have question, what does the mutation Metabolic Improvement actually do in game terms? It rally doesn't give give that type of info.

[KjetilKverndokken]

I have question, what does the mutation Metabolic Improvement actually do in game terms? It rally doesn't give give that type of info.

Yes it does (p107).

Longer lifespan, less sleep etc. It has no mechanical effect, only narrative. It should be discussed between you and your GM what type of metabolical effects you want to have.

[technoshaman]

Which would be good to get for combat, Hardy or Regeneration? I am leaning towards Regeneration but for eaither i have to choose which damage type to get. This is still for Swords of Cydoria and I know Energy Blast will good to get of course.

[seneschal]

Hardy makes you harder to hurt, at least by certain things. Regeneration helps you heal up faster, no matter what damaged you. So a Hardy character is tougher, but a Renerative character bounces back faster.

[technoshaman]

Well we are about to start our game in 2 weeks and I have 2 points left in mutations for my character and I have been wandering if Structural Improvement will allow doubled jointed or contortionism type ability or would it be a skill?