Re: Telmori in Heroquest

From: Ian Cooper <ian_hammond_cooper_at_...>
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:37:58 -0000

In Trotsky wrote:
> However, they clearly had this power in older supplements (i.e.
> RuneQuest), so, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it's
> difficult to see why anything would have changed.

I suspect there are two issues here: gameplay and setting.

Gameplay

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One thing to bear in mind is that this is more important as a mechanic in RQ than HQ, because it armors the wolfman and makes them a tougher opponent than an ordinary wolf. This is necessary, I suspect, to preserve their status as 'monsters' as opposed to animals.

In HeroQuest armor is less significant, effectively being an augment to whatever skill the wearer is using to defend themselves. In addition, as a lot of folks are going to have some sort of magical augment on their weapons for the average Telmori warrior a high dodge skill is a better bet in combat against warriors. So in HQ this ability only really gives you an edge against folks without combat magic. They won't have high weapon skills either, so you don't need a big number to avoid their attacks. At the same time I would want to put it in reach of a newbie PC with a hero point for that lucky strike.

Setting

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We know that the Telmori are tough and bat 'above thier weight' from the fact that they have wiped out two Sartarite tribes and held off others. However I suspect a lot of this is the efficiacy of the mobilized tribes against non-combatants who don't have weapon magic rather than their being absurdly difficult to kill for trained warriors.

I have always assumed it was the fur both because this is what 'changes' in human form and because of a Cults Of Terror where the sword seems to slide off the fur.

I guess the alernatives are:

Resistance to Unenchanted Weapons is a Telmori ability in wolf form and is at whatever ability level this Telmori has it at.

Resistance to Unenchanted Weapons is a fixed rating ability (10W, 10W2, 10W3)

I prefer the former but YMMV.