About ravens as allies [4e]

[marcusbaer99]

I do not quite understand how this would work. I get the basic gist but not how to apply it to ravens (Single and unkindness)

[Dalillama]

You find or make a Raven template (Here's a workable one, although I would add the mimicry skill.) and buy one as an Ally. It's a Perk for most PCs. (Might even be a Dependent). A whole bunch of ravens is an Ally Group, again probably pretty low cost. If they're special ravens (e.g. they can talk in the sense of having a conversation and reporting back what they've seen, or are able to distinguish "get the key" from "get the gem" instead of just bringing back whatever's shiny, or things linke that, then the template will have a higher IQ or lose Mute or etc )

[marcusbaer99]

Thank you for the informative reply.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

You find or make a Raven template (Here's a workable one, although I would add the mimicry skill.) and buy one as an Ally. It's a Perk for most PCs. (Might even be a Dependent). A whole bunch of ravens is an Ally Group, again probably pretty low cost. If they're special ravens (e.g. they can talk in the sense of having a conversation and reporting back what they've seen, or are able to distinguish "get the key" from "get the gem" instead of just bringing back whatever's shiny, or things linke that, then the template will have a higher IQ or lose Mute or etc )

This.
Also a raven or group of ravens could be used to support other powers.
Granted by Familiar is an obvious modifier but seeing through their eyes (Clairsentience, Environmental, ravens only, -20%) or things like 360 Vision or TK (raven picks things up for you) are also possible.

And if its a normal raven that is probably just the Pet perk. So simpler than dealing with Ally but assumes it doesn't really do much for other than just hang around.

[johndallman]

There's a worked example in the article "Amanda Svartvinge" in issue #3 of the fanzine The Path of Cunning, available free from the link in my signature.

[whswhs]

If you want a raven template, there is a detailed on specifically worked out for ravens in GURPS Template Toolkit 2: Races. You can either use it as it is or buy up the IQ and maybe buy a couple of other traits that make it a more effective Ally.

[Christopher R. Rice]

GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 5: Allies also suggest you could use the Hawk as a Raven if you have that book.

(Also, it's a thread about ravens. You *know* I am going to pop in.)

[marcusbaer99]

Thank you everyone for the replies. :)