Scent Glands

Jeminai · 01-19-2012, 11:28 AM

I am making a felenoid type character loosley based on the standard one in GURPS. I wanted to include a feature that I think would be a Perk but may be an advantage so I wanted some feed back.

The feature is Scent Glands. By rubbing the face against trees, walls etc a trail can be established that could be followed back and prevent one from becomming lost. Many cats use this in their teritory and other cats, in the area, can tell if there are males present (or females), and some scientists think there are other types of information in these scents like:

general health of the one who left the scent
mating information (is a female in heat or not)
possibly even the maturity of the one who left the scent

I don't really want the advantage to be that communicative. i really like the idea of using it as a marker to find one's way back or to mark one's territory so others know they are encroaching on someone else's area.

Is this just a perk?

Refplace · 01-19-2012, 11:32 AM

I think so.
It can be used against you about as much as it can help you and the markings will fade due to conditions or possible sabotage.

Turhan's Bey Company · 01-19-2012, 11:33 AM

Yeah, perk. You're leaving a very limited amount of information in somewhat limited circumstances. It's not objectively much more useful than, say, a bunch of people carrying around highlighter markers to make brief notes almost invisibly on solid surfaces and small UV flashlights to make the markings more visible.

RyanW · 01-19-2012, 11:36 AM

I'd call it a perk, at most. It wouldn't be much superior to just leaving a series of blazes. Maybe a little faster to do.

Jeminai · 01-19-2012, 05:51 PM

Thank you, that's what I thought.

Ulzgoroth · 01-19-2012, 06:54 PM

I'd even say perk at most. The ability to detect the markers is advantageous, but probably covered as part of a more comprehensive high-performance sense of smell. And most characters will leave potentially detectable scent if they rub against something.

Miles · 01-19-2012, 07:33 PM

Honestly, it could just as easily be a 0-point feature, balanced by a bonus to people trying to track you by scent.

Flyndaran · 01-19-2012, 07:45 PM

Not even qualifies an accessory perk: ink pen to write notes with.
Having body odor rarely qualifies as an advantage. ;)

01-19-2012, 11:28 AM	#1
Jeminai Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Jacksonville FL	Scent Glands I am making a felenoid type character loosley based on the standard one in GURPS. I wanted to include a feature that I think would be a Perk but may be an advantage so I wanted some feed back. The feature is Scent Glands. By rubbing the face against trees, walls etc a trail can be established that could be followed back and prevent one from becomming lost. Many cats use this in their teritory and other cats, in the area, can tell if there are males present (or females), and some scientists think there are other types of information in these scents like: general health of the one who left the scent mating information (is a female in heat or not) possibly even the maturity of the one who left the scent I don't really want the advantage to be that communicative. i really like the idea of using it as a marker to find one's way back or to mark one's territory so others know they are encroaching on someone else's area. Is this just a perk? __________________ Two things that I learned from Dungeons & Dragons is that I LOVE GURPS and it isn't really a compliment when a gnome tells you your hair smells nice.

01-19-2012, 11:32 AM	#2
Refplace Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Yukon, OK	Re: Scent Glands I think so. It can be used against you about as much as it can help you and the markings will fade due to conditions or possible sabotage.

01-19-2012, 11:33 AM	#3
Turhan's Bey Company Aluminated Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East of the moon, west of the stars, close to buses and shopping	Re: Scent Glands Yeah, perk. You're leaving a very limited amount of information in somewhat limited circumstances. It's not objectively much more useful than, say, a bunch of people carrying around highlighter markers to make brief notes almost invisibly on solid surfaces and small UV flashlights to make the markings more visible. __________________ I've been making pointlessly shiny things, and I've got some gaming-related stuff as well as 3d printing designs. Buy my Warehouse 23 stuff, dammit!

01-19-2012, 11:36 AM	#4
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: Scent Glands I'd call it a perk, at most. It wouldn't be much superior to just leaving a series of blazes. Maybe a little faster to do. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.

01-19-2012, 05:51 PM	#5
Jeminai Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Jacksonville FL	Re: Scent Glands Thank you, that's what I thought. __________________ Two things that I learned from Dungeons & Dragons is that I LOVE GURPS and it isn't really a compliment when a gnome tells you your hair smells nice.

01-19-2012, 06:54 PM	#6
Ulzgoroth Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: Scent Glands I'd even say perk at most. The ability to detect the markers is advantageous, but probably covered as part of a more comprehensive high-performance sense of smell. And most characters will leave potentially detectable scent if they rub against something. __________________ I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident.

01-19-2012, 07:33 PM	#7
Miles Join Date: Oct 2009	Re: Scent Glands Honestly, it could just as easily be a 0-point feature, balanced by a bonus to people trying to track you by scent.

01-19-2012, 07:45 PM	#8
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: Scent Glands Not even qualifies an accessory perk: ink pen to write notes with. Having body odor rarely qualifies as an advantage. ;)