Sliding Scale of Hibernation

[Flyndaran]

Imagine if they were the ones to become technological instead of we tropical apes. Soft living leading to obesity? Just spend a winter in the higher latitudes and sleep the weight off. Insurance companies would set up resort hotels just to lower their clients' risk factors. Ha.

Now that's a setting for an adventure if I ever heard one. Easy to add NPCs too as "well, he just woke up early".

[Tallor]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Imagine if they were the ones to become technological instead of we tropical apes. Soft living leading to obesity? Just spend a winter in the higher latitudes and sleep the weight off. Insurance companies would set up resort hotels just to lower their clients' risk factors. Ha.

Now that's a setting for an adventure if I ever heard one. Easy to add NPCs too as "well, he just woke up early".

I can see it now. Ursa Luxuria: Resort for Bear People

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Tallor

I can see it now. Ursa Luxuria: Resort for Bear People

The Shining isn't about an abandoned hotel. The guests are just all asleep... or are they?
Bates Motel's guests are all sleeping too... or are they?

[Johnny1A.2]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Imagine if they were the ones to become technological instead of we tropical apes.

A legal defense against charges of ursicide: the perpetrator woke up early and was starving, disoriented, and thus not responsible for his or her actions.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Johnny1A.2

A legal defense against charges of ursicide: the perpetrator woke up early and was starving, disoriented, and thus not responsible for his or her actions.

People get found "not guilty" after driving over people, because they were tired. I still remember the youth that killed three cops and didn't get prison here in Oregon.
So I'd believe it would be a serious concern even if exceptionally rare for such hibernators.
Aliens that lack sleep altogether would probably be horrified at both humans' and our hypothetical ursines' "acceptance" of such "murderous" behavior.

[Tallor]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

...
Aliens that lack sleep altogether would probably be horrified at both humans' and our hypothetical ursines' "acceptance" of such "murderous" behavior.

Just tell them that the Drowsy status effect gives -2 to DX, IQ, and self-control rolls.

[Celti]

Originally Posted by Johnny1A.2

A legal defense against charges of ursicide: the perpetrator woke up early and was starving, disoriented, and thus not responsible for his or her actions.

Alternatively, because it's so much more likely for an ursine to suffer from “sleep madness”, it gets treated like a standard DUI charge — because it is avoidable and they should have known better.

[Johnny1A.2]

Originally Posted by Celti

Alternatively, because it's so much more likely for an ursine to suffer from “sleep madness”, it gets treated like a standard DUI charge — because it is avoidable and they should have known better.

It might be seen to depend on the circumstances, like the difference between DUI because you drank, or DUI because somebody spiked your drink. If you didn't take reasonable precautions against sleep madness, it's your fault. If somebody knowingly barges in on your winter den without warning, OTOH...

[Bruno]

Kinda gives new urgency to "Hungry and Homeless, Please Help" signs, doesn't it?

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Kinda gives new urgency to "Hungry and Homeless, Please Help" signs, doesn't it?

AtE: the long double-winter leads to hordes of the hungry tired-mindless attacking anyone that might have (or be) food. Perfect 28 Days Later, where your PCs wake up amidst it all not sure what happened.