Dungeon Dinosaurs

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by zuljita

Great scaly and feathered beasts roam the Endalus forest, just beyond the eastern edge of Nordlond especially as you get closer to the ruins of Rosgarth. Keep an eye out for a Kickstarter later this year: Gaming Ballistic may be publishing some of what you're looking for in an upcoming adventure . . . written by yours truly.

Hopefully there will be a therizinosaurus statted up. They look really nasty...

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Dalin

This is shaping up to be my favorite GURPS year ever.

It's shaping up to be a lot of fun.

My discussion with zuljita went something like this.

Him: "What do you think about dinosaurs?"

Me: "Well, on the one hand, they're not exactly in the sagas. On the other, OH YES PLEASE YES because I want eðlafolk riding [FNORD] attacking the PCs from out of nowhere!"

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

It's shaping up to be a lot of fun.

My discussion with zuljita went something like this.

Him: "What do you think about dinosaurs?"

Me: "Well, on the one hand, they're not exactly in the sagas. On the other, OH YES PLEASE YES because I want eðlafolk riding [FNORD] attacking the PCs from out of nowhere!"

Is there going to be some sort of reason why there are dinosaurs in a Norse-ish adventure? Like some sort of portal to a Lost World being open or is there no reason why dinosaurs are running around?

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by b-dog

Is there going to be some sort of reason why there are dinosaurs in a Norse-ish adventure? Like some sort of portal to a Lost World being open or is there no reason why dinosaurs are running around?

They're there because they're awesome.

There are PLENTY of sapient and and non-sapient flying and land-based lizard-ish creatures trundling along in the shape of eðlafolk (lizard-folk), gangaeðla (dinomen or kobolds), and of course true dragons and ormur. Having other "lesser" dragonkin in this setting is not really a stretch. Given the number of (in D&D terms) 'monstrosities' kicking around my Fantasy Viking Land (in GURPS they'd be Terrible, Dire, or Terribly Dire creatures of various sort) having dinosaurs in there is again, not a stretch.

Nordlond is not "historical vikings." It's "norse-inspired," which means taking the culture and customs and flavor of the legends and cosmology and bouncing many Dungeon Fantasy RPG tropes off of it and seeing how they taste. The DFRPG is infused with the potential for gonzo awesomeness, and this is embracing that part of it.

You can, of course, cut that out of your games if you like!

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

They're there because they're awesome.

There are PLENTY of sapient and and non-sapient flying and land-based lizard-ish creatures trundling along in the shape of eðlafolk (lizard-folk), gangaeðla (dinomen or kobolds), and of course true dragons and ormur. Having other "lesser" dragonkin in this setting is not really a stretch. Given the number of (in D&D terms) 'monstrosities' kicking around my Fantasy Viking Land (in GURPS they'd be Terrible, Dire, or Terribly Dire creatures of various sort) having dinosaurs in there is again, not a stretch.

Nordlond is not "historical vikings." It's "norse-inspired," which means taking the culture and customs and flavor of the legends and cosmology and bouncing many Dungeon Fantasy RPG tropes off of it and seeing how they taste. The DFRPG is infused with the potential for gonzo awesomeness, and this is embracing that part of it.

You can, of course, cut that out of your games if you like!

I like dinosaurs but in a Norse-ish setting I would tend to like that they be a sort of dragon that resembles dinosaurs because dragons make more sense in a Norse setting than a brachiosaurus or T- Rex running around. The setting you made makes sense and the monsters fit into the setting.

[zuljita]

Originally Posted by Dalin

This is shaping up to be my favorite GURPS year ever.

Glad to hear that resonates!

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by b-dog

I like dinosaurs but in a Norse-ish setting I would tend to like that they be a sort of dragon that resembles dinosaurs …

Ah, Gloranthan dinosaurs. If I remember correctly, they hatch from dragon eggs that didn't develop properly.

[zuljita]

Originally Posted by b-dog

I like dinosaurs but in a Norse-ish setting I would tend to like that they be a sort of dragon that resembles dinosaurs because dragons make more sense in a Norse setting than a brachiosaurus or T- Rex running around. The setting you made makes sense and the monsters fit into the setting.

They certainly won't be called brachiosaurus or t-rex by Nordlonders. As for figuring out how related to dragons (or not) they are, that's for scribes, not us adventuring types!

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Ah, Gloranthan dinosaurs. If I remember correctly, they hatch frim dragon eggs that didn't develop properly.

That's actually where ormur (worms) come from canonically in Nordlond as well: degenerate dragonkin. They're even described that way in the Dragon Heresy book, which has more extensive monster background info.

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by zuljita

They certainly won't be called brachiosaurus or t-rex by Nordlonders. As for figuring out how related to dragons (or not) they are, that's for scribes, not us adventuring types!

Good. I think for me they will be some sort of dragon breed. It just fits better for me. I would suggest that these “dinosaurs” be powered up a little so they can deal with Scouts who love to shoot out the eyes of monsters (maybe eye DR like dragons have). They must also be able to deal with magic too and maybe have some supernatural attack too. Just my 2 cents. Straight mundane monsters get hacked too quickly in DF.