Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles

Tom Mazanec · 10-25-2009, 06:52 AM

How would you design these races (well, the Borribles aren't exactly a "race", but they can be treated as one for GURPS description)?

PK · 10-25-2009, 07:56 AM

GURPS questions belong in the GURPS forum -- moved.

(And I'd offer to help, but I have never heard of these things you mention.)

nerdvana · 10-25-2009, 08:19 AM

I assume that the OP is referring to this trillogy. I don't know it so I can't comment on this, but having this link (or a confirmation that this is correct) is, IMNSHO, the first step in getting the original question answered.

~~Taliesin~~ · 10-25-2009, 08:58 AM

Well, other than pointed ears and remaining children forever the only differences between borribles and child-sized humans are cultural. Pointed ears is probably a 1 pt quirk and unaging is 15 points. Rumbles would need a host of disadvantages to cover the problems of being humanoid rats made out of grass in the "real world" but nothing that isn't already covered in the basic set.

~~Peter Knutsen~~ · 10-25-2009, 09:17 AM

Pointed ears should be an Unnatural Feature, not a Quirk, I think. Not having read the trilogy (although it's no my "to buy" list, because of "Epic Pooh"), I don't know whether the Borribles differed from humans in other ways than the ears and the immortality.

Tom Mazanec · 10-25-2009, 11:02 AM

Yes, this is the trilogy I was referring to.
The Borrible's nature was secret...a Borrible would rather die than be discovered as a Borrible.

PK · 10-25-2009, 03:02 PM

Well, if anything bad would happen to them if they were found out, that's a Secret. Otherwise, if it's just a racial compulsion to keep their identity secret, I'd use Vow.

Hans Rancke-Madsen · 10-25-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev. Pee Kitty

Well, if anything bad would happen to them if they were found out, that's a Secret. Otherwise, if it's just a racial compulsion to keep their identity secret, I'd use Vow.

They get their ear clipped and are turned into normal children who grow up to lead boring adult lives. It's a fate they literally consider worse than death, and in a sense it is death, or at least oblivion. Essentially they cease to exist as Borribles.

Hans

Gold & Appel Inc · 10-25-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Rancke-Madsen

They get their ear clipped and are turned into normal children who grow up to lead boring adult lives. It's a fate they literally consider worse than death, and in a sense it is death, or at least oblivion. Essentially they cease to exist as Borribles.

As someone who hasn't read the books, it sounds about good for a [-10] Secret to me. If discovered, you could remove Unnatural Feature [-1] and Unaging [15] and add Chronic Depression (15-) [-7] and Background Knowledge (Former Borrible - Is Fully Human but Possesses Defaults for all Borrible Culture Skills) [1] for a net loss of [-20].

Tom Mazanec · 10-25-2009, 10:05 PM

I have just re-read the first book. Read the second years ago and have ordered it (along with the third) from Amazon. I may learn more about the Borribles when I get them, but the ex-Borrible in the first book was a very bitter and disagreeable character, so "depression" would be the least of a Borribles worries if they get caught. He was a Borrible Snatcher, kidnapping Borribles and forcing them to steal for him. The cultural knowledge would be good...the Borribles have their own culture, such as not having a name until one has had an adventure worthy of earning a name. The books would make nice inspiration for a GM!

10-25-2009, 06:52 AM	#1
Tom Mazanec Join Date: Oct 2007	Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles How would you design these races (well, the Borribles aren't exactly a "race", but they can be treated as one for GURPS description)?

10-25-2009, 07:56 AM	#2
PK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dobbstown Sane Asylum	Re: Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles GURPS questions belong in the GURPS forum -- moved. (And I'd offer to help, but I have never heard of these things you mention.) __________________ Reverend Pee Kitty of the Order Malkavian-Dobbsian (Twitter) (LJ) MyGURPS: My house rules and *GURPS* resources. #SJGamesLive: I answered questions about *GURPS After the End* and more! {Watch Video} - {Read Transcript}

10-25-2009, 08:19 AM	#3
nerdvana Join Date: Nov 2006	Re: Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles I assume that the OP is referring to this trillogy. I don't know it so I can't comment on this, but having this link (or a confirmation that this is correct) is, IMNSHO, the first step in getting the original question answered.

10-25-2009, 08:58 AM	#4
~~Taliesin~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: https://t.me/pump_upp	Re: Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles Well, other than pointed ears and remaining children forever the only differences between borribles and child-sized humans are cultural. Pointed ears is probably a 1 pt quirk and unaging is 15 points. Rumbles would need a host of disadvantages to cover the problems of being humanoid rats made out of grass in the "real world" but nothing that isn't already covered in the basic set.

10-25-2009, 09:17 AM	#5
~~Peter Knutsen~~ Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Europe	Re: Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles Pointed ears should be an Unnatural Feature, not a Quirk, I think. Not having read the trilogy (although it's no my "to buy" list, because of "Epic Pooh"), I don't know whether the Borribles differed from humans in other ways than the ears and the immortality.

10-25-2009, 11:02 AM	#6
Tom Mazanec Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles Yes, this is the trilogy I was referring to. The Borrible's nature was secret...a Borrible would rather die than be discovered as a Borrible. Last edited by Tom Mazanec; 10-25-2009 at 11:45 AM.

10-25-2009, 03:02 PM	#7
PK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dobbstown Sane Asylum	Re: Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles Well, if anything bad would happen to them if they were found out, that's a Secret. Otherwise, if it's just a racial compulsion to keep their identity secret, I'd use Vow. __________________ Reverend Pee Kitty of the Order Malkavian-Dobbsian (Twitter) (LJ) MyGURPS: My house rules and *GURPS* resources. #SJGamesLive: I answered questions about *GURPS After the End* and more! {Watch Video} - {Read Transcript}

10-25-2009, 10:05 PM	#10
Tom Mazanec Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Racial templets for Rumbles and Borribles I have just re-read the first book. Read the second years ago and have ordered it (along with the third) from Amazon. I may learn more about the Borribles when I get them, but the ex-Borrible in the first book was a very bitter and disagreeable character, so "depression" would be the least of a Borribles worries if they get caught. He was a Borrible Snatcher, kidnapping Borribles and forcing them to steal for him. The cultural knowledge would be good...the Borribles have their own culture, such as not having a name until one has had an adventure worthy of earning a name. The books would make nice inspiration for a GM!