Let's show rather than tell (was Re: Preparing for play, how I do it)

From: Jeff <jakyer_at_...>
Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:28:42 -0000

• In HeroQuest-RPG_at_yahoogroups.com, "Ian Cooper" <ian_hammond_cooper_at_...> wrote:
  >
  > > So, how do I turn into a bear?<
  >
  > I went with Bearwalking as a practice secret for Bearfather.
  >
  > It's a good question though because I care about fun at the table
  over Gloranthan fidelity.
  >
  > Now my feel here was to go for bearwalking being something that
  Rathori heroes do. I wanted to make them mystic and cool, and imply Harrek might be using this magic. But its possible that the feedback from the players might be "I want to turn into a bear too" and as a secret its too unavailable. In that case I need to go for something closer to your Pralori way.
  >
  > I'll ask the players, which is always the way to resolve this for a
  game.
  >
  

Hmm. Interesting. When writing BoG, I felt that the Pralori shapeshifting was more common than was entailed by a secret - and I didn't want all the Pralori to have the same secret - so I tied it to an integration of elk spirits (or people spirits if you're an elk) into your own. I think shapeshifting is something every hsunchen can do, regardless of their other affilitiation so its probably tied to the tradition (and being hsunchen) rather than a specific practice. But whatever's cooler is fine - it's your table, afterall!

I am not sure that all hsunchen peoples use the same method of intergration, however. That said, they could resemble each other mechanically, it may be similar or it may be a mix of acquired abilites, secrets, or something else entirely. It is not, according to Greg, as simple as the "I just change" that the Puma Folk get (lucky bastards).

Jeff