[DF] Fighting with a cat on your shoulders

[Anders]

But a 20 lb. Maine Coon has more hit points.

I guess certain options would be unavailable though... Acrobatic Dodge comes to mind.

[Nymdok]

For DF, nothing but the encumbrance and even that seems a little too severe for DF (depending on the size of the cat of course).

TO target the cat on the Wizard's shoulder, probably face penalties (-5) for a 'medium' sized house cat (say a slender cross-eyed siamese).

For the vigorous wizard (flipping running jumping) Id assume the cat stays put as long as its concious and not failing fright checks.

Nymdok

[sir_pudding]

Isn't it more appropriate to just completely forget about the familiar unless it's useful? :)

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Isn't it more appropriate to just completely forget about the familiar unless it's useful? :)

I think you only get to do that in GURPS if you bought it with the switchable enhancement.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by malloyd

I think you only get to do that in GURPS if you bought it with the switchable enhancement.

Since it is a genre convention, then it can be a free campaign feature.

[Barghaest]

Originally Posted by vierasmarius

That sounds a bit harsh. After all, the cat isn't trying to obstruct the wizards in the way a normal grappler would be. But that does set one end of the spectrum for us...

A drowning person isn't trying to obstruct their rescuer in the way a normal grappler would... it just happens because they're panicking and trying to save themselves using their rescuer as an anchor.

However, due to SM differences most cats wouldn't really hamper a person that severely. I'd say if it's just clinging to his shoulder and he's not trying to dislodge it (meaning taking care with his actions) maybe impose a -1 to -2 to DX for physical activities AT MOST. If it's in a full panic, it might serve as forcing Will rolls to avoid distraction in concentrate maneuvers as well.

EDIT: But in either of these cases it would only really be justified if they purchased the familiar as a Dependent as well as an Ally. If they just bought pure Ally, then it should never do anything that would intentionally impair it's master for it's own safety... it would be aware enough to rest there without obstructing him and maintain it's own balance. You should never find ways to make an Ally inconvenient to the character who took it... that's the job of a Dependent.