Ninja Hero/Asian Bestiary

[Sketchpad]

I have a quick Q ...
The Asian Bestiary that's coming out, will it include info on Asian demons and such? I'm curious as I'm working on a "Jackie Chan Adventures"-esque game ;)

[Old Man]

Cool! Didn't know there was an asian beastiary planned. I would presume that there would be demons in it as there are demons in the first beastiary.

[Susano]

Depends on what you mean by "demon."

I mean, I'm putting in everything I can find a decent amount of information on. So far, I have (demon wise), the Chiang-Shih, the Pishacha, the Rakshasa, the Oni, and some other strange creatures (still trying to pin down the Kuei...).

The book will also have dragons, serpents, ghosts, ghouls, vampires, 100-foot-long centipedes, foo lions, 700-mile-long catfish, flesh-eating horses, fish-elephants, flying heads, shape-shifting sorcerers, and beastmen.

Oh, and one enormous [deleted by sysop].

Oops... :D Guess you'll have to read the book to find that one.

[Archon]

Sorry mis-post. Please ignore.

[Lord Liaden]

Susano, are you aware of the approach taken to the kuei by Dean Shomshak in The Super Mage Bestiary? If you're interested, these would seem to be the items from his bibliography most pertinent to his research on the subject:

Cavendish, Richard (ed.) Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural.

Thompson, Stith. Motif-Index of Folk Literature.

[Susano]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
Susano, are you aware of the approach taken to the kuei by Dean Shomshak in The Super Mage Bestiary? If you're interested, these would seem to be the items from his bibliography most pertinent to his research on the subject:

Cavendish, Richard (ed.) Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural.

Thompson, Stith. Motif-Index of Folk Literature.

No, I haven't seen the The Super Mage Bestiary (maybe I should???). But I'll look up these other two titles. Thanks!

[steriaca]

There are a few beast of intrest to me.

1) The Baku, also known as Dream Eaters. I asume that thay "eat" dreams via Transformation (prehaps a major one, since thay only "eat" one night of dreams, not take your dreams away forever).

2) Anything on Youma? Great sourse for them is the anime called Youma (better know to us in the US as Cures Of The Undead Youma, and another title). By the way, a flesh eating horse shows up in Youma. Oh, and who can forget the first seasion of Sailor Moon.

3) There was this lion headed eagle with a snake tail in the book Sandman: The Dream Hunters, but I can not remember the name of the beast. Anyone know?

4) And, finaly, there should be the Draconous Oriental, better known as the oriental Dragon.

[Susano]

Originally posted by steriaca
There are a few beast of intrest to me.

1) The Baku, also known as Dream Eaters. I asume that thay "eat" dreams via Transformation (prehaps a major one, since thay only "eat" one night of dreams, not take your dreams away forever).


The eat bad dreams. I'm still working on this one.



2) Anything on Youma? Great sourse for them is the anime called Youma (better know to us in the US as Cures Of The Undead Youma, and another title). By the way, a flesh eating horse shows up in Youma. Oh, and who can forget the first seasion of Sailor Moon.


Youma/Yoma is a generic name for all sorts of Japanese creatures from "yomi," the netherworld. So... in effect... yes.



3) There was this lion headed eagle with a snake tail in the book Sandman: The Dream Hunters, but I can not remember the name of the beast. Anyone know?


That's a nue.



4) And, finaly, there should be the Draconous Oriental, better known as the oriental Dragon.

There are around 3300 words on the kioh-lung alone.

[NuSoardGraphite]

Don't forget about the TENGU! (or are those already in Ninja Hero? I don't have Ninja Hero yet...forgive me)

[Susano]

Originally posted by NuSoardGraphite
Don't forget about the TENGU! (or are those already in Ninja Hero? I don't have Ninja Hero yet...forgive me)

No, there is no tengu in NINJA HERO.

[Fur Face]

What a teaser! I have been waiting for years for a book like this! :D And to have Mike do it guarantee's quality and authenticity! When is the projected completion date"?

[urbwar]

Originally posted by Susano
Depends on what you mean by "demon."

I mean, I'm putting in everything I can find a decent amount of information on. So far, I have (demon wise), the Chiang-Shih

Is that the Hopping Vampire, also known as the Jiangshi?

If so, are you going with their actual feeding practice (stealing breath), or the cinematic version of drinking blood?

I saw later in your post you mentioned vampires. I take it that means other vampires from asia, like the detached head fliers (Pennagulan I think is the name?) and others?

[Susano]

Originally posted by Fur Face
What a teaser! I have been waiting for years for a book like this! :D And to have Mike do it guarantee's quality and authenticity! When is the projected completion date"?

Jan-Feb 2003.

[Susano]

Originally posted by urbwar
Is that the Hopping Vampire, also known as the Jiangshi?

If so, are you going with their actual feeding practice (stealing breath), or the cinematic version of drinking blood?


Yes it is the Jiangshi, no, it doesn't hop.

And I give several options for the vampire.



I saw later in your post you mentioned vampires. I take it that means other vampires from asia, like the detached head fliers (Pennagulan I think is the name?) and others?

Oh yes indeedy. And man, some of this stuff is very, very, cracked... :D

[urbwar]

Originally posted by Susano
Yes it is the Jiangshi, no, it doesn't hop.


If it doesn't hop, what's the point? :p

[steriaca]

Uebwar asked, if it dosen't hop, then what's the point. Well, some oriental vampiers don't hop. Some float around in the air, and can never touch the ground at all.

And I remember other monsters.

Will we see the Yamato No Oricih, the infamous 8 headed giant snake which your screen name namesake killed in legends? How about lesser Orichi?

There is also a japanies monster/demon of war called Ashura, which also never touches the ground (if what I read is true).

Oh, and Susano, while you proably don't NEED my permition to do so, I give you the permition to mention, as an option to the Tengu, the Tengu Ryu Kenjustu. Or, at least, mention it.

[Susano]

Originally posted by steriaca
Uebwar asked, if it dosen't hop, then what's the point. Well, some oriental vampiers don't hop. Some float around in the air, and can never touch the ground at all.

And I remember other monsters.

Will we see the Yamato No Oricih, the infamous 8 headed giant snake which your screen name namesake killed in legends? How about lesser Orichi?

There is also a japanies monster/demon of war called Ashura, which also never touches the ground (if what I read is true).


As I said, I'll be including write-ups for anything and everything I can get a decent amount of information on. Nothing is too big or too small to be included in the book.

[steriaca]

Originally posted by Susano
As I said, I'll be including write-ups for anything and everything I can get a decent amount of information on. Nothing is too big or too small to be included in the book.

Nice to see our anime god Susano on the job. Good boy. Hears a Pockey (TM).

[urbwar]

Originally posted by steriaca
Uebwar asked, if it dosen't hop, then what's the point. Well, some oriental vampiers don't hop. Some float around in the air, and can never touch the ground at all.


Which had nothing to do with my comment. I asked Mike if the Chiang-shi were the Jiangshi, who are hopping vampires. Mike said they don't hop, so I asked sarcastically, what's the point. If they are hopping vampires, and you include them, but don't have them hop, why include them as non hoppers? That's my point.

I know that some oriental vampires don't hop; I did mention the ones whose heads detach. I was specifically asking about the ones who do hop. I figured that was obvious by my asking specifically about the Jiangshi. Sorry I wasn't clear enough on that

[MarkusDark]

Originally posted by urbwar
Which had nothing to do with my comment. I asked Mike if the Chiang-shi were the Jiangshi, who are hopping vampires. Mike said they don't hop, so I asked sarcastically, what's the point. If they are hopping vampires, and you include them, but don't have them hop, why include them as non hoppers? That's my point.

I know that some oriental vampires don't hop; I did mention the ones whose heads detach. I was specifically asking about the ones who do hop. I figured that was obvious by my asking specifically about the Jiangshi. Sorry I wasn't clear enough on that

Heh, I'd hate to come back to unlife like that...

"What? Oh, CRAP! I was bitten by one of the dang hopping vampires! Why couldn't I be one of those cool floating ones. Now everyone will laugh - here comes Peter BloodyTail - hoppin' down the vampy trail..."

Of course, I know very little about Japanese Mythos, but eh, it struck me funny.

"EEK! A vampire! Run away!"
*hop* *hop*
"What the???? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

[urbwar]

Originally posted by MarkusDark
Heh, I'd hate to come back to unlife like that...

"What? Oh, CRAP! I was bitten by one of the dang hopping vampires! Why couldn't I be one of those cool floating ones. Now everyone will laugh - here comes Peter BloodyTail - hoppin' down the vampy trail..."

Of course, I know very little about Japanese Mythos, but eh, it struck me funny.

"EEK! A vampire! Run away!"
*hop* *hop*
"What the???? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Actually,

These are Chinese, not Japanese vampires (though they do exist in Japanese myth too, but it originated in China) :p

Also, depending on which legend you follow, they don't have to bite you. They can infect you with what is known as "Corpse Poison" through their clawed nails.

As to why they hop, it might have to do with the fact that they would bind the legs of the corpses prior to burial.

If you really want to see Jiangshi in action, check out Mr. Vampire. It started a whole slew of movies with Hopping Vampires in it, and they can be pretty nasty if portrayed properly (of course, the cinematic versions drink blood, but normally they don't. One type steals a person's breath, and there might be other types as well, kind of like the Gaki).

I actually did a setting for All Flesh Must Be Eaten/Enter the Zombie (their Hong Kong add on) based around Jiangshi. I think they're almost as cool as ninjas myself

[Susano]

All the material I could find on the Chiang-Shih (also known as a ch'ng-shih, jiang-shi, kiang-shi, kyonshi, kyuketsuki, or a qing-shi) mentioned nothing about them or any other vampires hopping. At least one reference said the HK film industry started the whole "hopping vampires" look.

So, based on what I could find, in various references, I wrote up the Chiang-Shih the best I could.

[urbwar]

Originally posted by Susano
All the material I could find on the Chiang-Shih (also known as a ch'ng-shih, jiang-shi, kiang-shi, kyonshi, kyuketsuki, or a qing-shi) mentioned nothing about them or any other vampires hopping. At least one reference said the HK film industry started the whole "hopping vampires" look.

So, based on what I could find, in various references, I wrote up the Chiang-Shih the best I could.

I copied an article I found online into an email, and it has a paragraph that covers this part. I'll post it here, since it was the only info I found on why they hop:

I've asked several people why Chinese ghosts hop and I've yet to receive a definitive answer. My guess is I probably won't. Best guesses yet: the tradition of burying the corpse in a standing position suggests that it would hop. Some people believe that it's the nature of the burial garments (usually of the Qing - Ching- Dynasty) that essentially bind the legs together making it impossible to walk. Some people believe that it's because rigor mortis has set in and the joints have lost all flexibility making a hopping motion the only possible option for mobility. Others maintain that the hopping motion is symbolic of the ghost's attachment to the physical plane and the inability of the soul to move on. Really, what it all boils down to is this: more often than not, Chinese vampires hop.

I don't have the url for the site, but it was a site covering various types of undead, eastern and western.

Still, it doesn't matter if the book has them hop, though I would suggest you should at least mention it. I mean, even if it's cinematic, wouldn't you want to mention that for people who want to run cinematic games? It does fit.

[Susano]

Originally posted by urbwar
Still, it doesn't matter if the book has them hop, though I would suggest you should at least mention it. I mean, even if it's cinematic, wouldn't you want to mention that for people who want to run cinematic games? It does fit.

I've done so. Thanks.

[urbwar]

Originally posted by Susano
I've done so. Thanks.

No, thank you. I'm really looking forward to this book!

[Enforcer84]

Susano, is this going to be a print book or an E-Book?

[TLOshel]

Originally posted by Susano
Jan-Feb 2003.


You mean 2004, don't you? :)

[Susano]

Originally posted by Enforcer84
Susano, is this going to be a print book or an E-Book?

E-book AFAIK.

[Susano]

Originally posted by TLOshel
You mean 2004, don't you? :)

Oh no, 2003. I am a master of time and space after all.

[Ron]

Originally posted by Susano
E-book AFAIK.

Damn it! I hoped that it would generate enough expectative among HERO fans to justify printing it. Still, I sure it will be a very cool supplement.

[Sketchpad]

Originally posted by Susano
Oh no, 2003. I am a master of time and space after all.

Hmm ... if that's the case, then could you zip foward and grab me a copy of Fantasy Hero, Horror Hero and Danger International? Oh ... and my fiancee would like the lotto numbers for next week ... and we're hoping that the AB is in our mailbox :D

[Susano]

BTW -- if anyone has any good references for Asian monsters, ghosts, dragons, and assorted creatures, please let me know.

If you have anything you can send me, that's even better!

[gewing]

Dean also did Oni, Interesting low power superheroes/villains. :)


Originally posted by Susano
No, I haven't seen the The Super Mage Bestiary (maybe I should???). But I'll look up these other two titles. Thanks!

[urbwar]

Originally posted by Susano
BTW -- if anyone has any good references for Asian monsters, ghosts, dragons, and assorted creatures, please let me know.

If you have anything you can send me, that's even better!

Mike,

Do you have this:

Jikininki
In Japanese myth, jikininki are demons, corpse-eaters, who eat dead human bodies. These demons are often the spirits of dead men or women whose greed prevented their souls from entering a more peaceful existence after death. They continue a half-life by devouring corpses. A particular myth tells of a strong-willed priest called Muso Kokushi who once kept watch near the body of a deceased person. Suddenly a jikininki arrived to devour it, but the priest's prayers liberated the demon's soul.

[Susano]

Originally posted by urbwar
Mike,

Do you have this:

Jikininki
In Japanese myth, jikininki are demons, corpse-eaters, who eat dead human bodies. These demons are often the spirits of dead men or women whose greed prevented their souls from entering a more peaceful existence after death. They continue a half-life by devouring corpses. A particular myth tells of a strong-willed priest called Muso Kokushi who once kept watch near the body of a deceased person. Suddenly a jikininki arrived to devour it, but the priest's prayers liberated the demon's soul.

They are on the list of "things to write up."

I recently found (on line) a big list of things from the Philippines, and am really trying to find some "offical" material on them...

[steriaca]

My official apologies to Ubwar. I diden't mean to insult you.

As for what is the "official" take on oriental vampiers, I beleve that, like there ocidental cousands, there is no real "true" vampier. There ARE lots of difrent stories in which thay all have simuler abilities, thoe. The most simuler is the drinking of blood, but even that is questioned. It is more likely that a Vampier can be defined as "Any undead / evil spirit creacher which 'eats' the life force / blood / chi / breath of the living".

My question is: Mike, are you going to follow the Hero System Beastery path, and print only non-intelegent and semi-intelegent beast? That can be problmatic, for even in legions, even the most lowly monster can comunicate with humans.

Hear is a short list of sourses for you to try.
1) Orental Adventers (TSR, for Dungions And Dragons 3rd Edition): Great beastery in the back of the book.

2) Monsters Of Rokugen (Again, for DND 3erd): Another beastery, this time focusing more on the world of Legions Of The Five Rings.

3) Legions Of The Five Rings: Prehaps the most compleat RPG about fanticy Japan ever.

4) Sandman: The Dream Hunters (DC): A reteling of the clasic story The Monk, The Fox, And The Mikido Of All Night's Dreaming. Excelent artwork by the ilistrator of Vampier Hunter D novals.

5) Yu Yu Hisneko (Shoen Jump, and Cartoon Network's Tusnami block): Again, a difrent take on Japanies Myth, in the moderen day.

6) 3X3 Eyes (Dark Horse): This time, it is hindu myth.

7) Blue Seed (AD Visions): A look at the legion of the Yamato No Orichi, and it's relationship with monsters all over Japan.

8) Oger Slayer (Viz): Oni take the spotlight in this one.

9) The Mermaid Saga (Viz): The oriental mermaids (Nihgo?) are featured in this one.

10) Princess Monomoko (Beur Vista): Prehaps the best look at Monomoko ("spirit of things", a type of Kami) which we westerners will EVER see.

Of course, this list is nowhere complete. And, chances are, Susano has seen most (if not all) of the items on the list before. Anyone else want to add something to it?

[urbwar]

Originally posted by Susano
They are on the list of "things to write up."

I recently found (on line) a big list of things from the Philippines, and am really trying to find some "offical" material on them...

Mike,

Do you go to rpg.net at all? There is a poster there who is from the Phillipines, and he posted some links for a comic company that is doing comics based on Phillipine myths. He might be able to help you out. His screen name there is pointyman2000 (I think; I know it's pointyman with numbers at the end)

[urbwar]

Originally posted by steriaca
My official apologies to Ubwar. I diden't mean to insult you.


I didn't take it as one, so no worries.


Originally posted by steriaca

As for what is the "official" take on oriental vampiers, I beleve that, like there ocidental cousands, there is no real "true" vampier. There ARE lots of difrent stories in which thay all have simuler abilities, thoe. The most simuler is the drinking of blood, but even that is questioned. It is more likely that a Vampier can be defined as "Any undead / evil spirit creacher which 'eats' the life force / blood / chi / breath of the living".


I think some "vampires" in Asia are really Gaki, the hungry ghosts. The similarities are there, so they all get lumped in as cultural examples of vampires.

[Susano]

Originally posted by steriaca
My question is: Mike, are you going to follow the Hero System Beastery path, and print only non-intelegent and semi-intelegent beast? That can be problmatic, for even in legions, even the most lowly monster can comunicate with humans.


The Asian bestiary will have all sorts of stuff, both intellgent and non.



Hear is a short list of sourses for you to try.

(SNIP)

Of course, this list is nowhere complete. And, chances are, Susano has seen most (if not all) of the items on the list before. Anyone else want to add something to it?

The problem here, is that these are mostly gaming resources, which I want to avoid. I want to get to the original sources. Here is my current list of sources:

Aldis, Stephen, ed. Japanese Ghosts & Demons.
Allan, Tony and Charles Phillips. Land of the Dragon: Chinese Myth.
Allan, Tony, Michael Kerrigan and Charles Phillips. Realm of the Rising Sun: Japanese Myth.
Barber, Richard and Anne Riches. A Dictionary of Fabulous Beasts.
Borges, Jorge Luis. The Book of Imaginary Beings.
Bryant, Anthony and Mark Arsenault. Sengoku.
Coleman, Loren and Jerome Clark. Cryptozoology A to Z.
Coleman, Loren and Patrick Huyghe. The Field Guide to Bigfoot, Yeti, and Other Mystery Primates Worldwide.
Davis, F. Hadland. Myths and Legends of Japan.
Drnnys, Nicholas B. The Folklore of China.
Gould, Charles. Mythical Monsters.
Grate, Lane. GURPS Blood Types.
Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits.
Hardin, Terri, ed. Myths and Folktales from Around the World.
Hogarth, Peter and Val Clery. Dragons.
Iwasaka, Michiko and Barre Toelken. Ghosts and the Japanese.
Kane, Thomas M. GURPS China.
Hearn, Lafcadio. Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things.
Knappert, Jan. Indian Mythology.
Knappert, Jan. Pacific Mythology.
Mack, Carole K. and Dinah Mack. A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels, and Other Subversive Spirits.
Mackenzie, Donald A. Myths of China and Japan.
Melton, J. Gordon. The Vampire Book.
Nigg, Jospeh. The Book of Fabulous Beasts.
O’Sullivan, Stephen. GURPS Fantasy Bestiary.
Page, Michael and Robert Ingpen. Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were.
Piggot, Juliet. Japanese Mythology.
Rose, Carol. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth.
Rose, Carol. Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins: An Encyclopedia.
Ross, Catrien. Supernatural and Mysterious Japan.
Shucker, Doctor Karl. Dragons: A Natural History.
Spengler, Egon. Tobin’s Spirit Guide.
Steiger, Brad. The Werewolf Book.
Turnbull, Don, Ed. Fiend Folio.

[Susano]

Originally posted by urbwar
Mike,

Do you go to rpg.net at all? There is a poster there who is from the Phillipines, and he posted some links for a comic company that is doing comics based on Phillipine myths. He might be able to help you out. His screen name there is pointyman2000 (I think; I know it's pointyman with numbers at the end)

Sorry, I don't, so I don't know if I will be able to get in touch with him or not...

[Doug Limmer]

Originally posted by Susano
I recently found (on line) a big list of things from the Philippines, and am really trying to find some "offical" material on them... You may want to see if you can get the attention of KawangaKid, here on the Hero boards, with him being from (or at least, in) the Phillippines, and all.

[Lord Liaden]

Doug's right, KawangaKid has posted several descriptions of creatures from Phillipine folklore to these boards in the past. If he's not actually an authority, he might know of some good sources.

I noticed when I searched his past posts that he has the Private Message function active - perhaps you could drop him a request.

[steriaca]

About aisan vampiers...I am reminded of some sort of Korien undead critter who's touch can cause miscarages in pregnet women. I forgot the name of this one, thoe. Is it Dab Tsung?

Anyways, it would proably be a transformation attack (Pergnet Person to Pregnet Person Which Miscared. I would describ it as a Major Transformation, since, in my understanding, the taking of life, even one still in development, is equal to a Killing Attack).

[KawangaKid]

Originally posted by Susano
Sorry, I don't, so I don't know if I will be able to get in touch with him or not...

Actually, Pointyman2000 is also active sometimes on this board! He's a member of my gaming group for Cthulhu, HERO, and others.

Didja get my 2 e-mails, by the way?

[Susano]

Originally posted by KawangaKid
Actually, Pointyman2000 is also active sometimes on this board! He's a member of my gaming group for Cthulhu, HERO, and others.

Didja get my 2 e-mails, by the way?

If you sent them to me, no. My address is susano@guisarme.net.I'm looking for info on a whole host of creatures fromthe Phillippines, including the boroka, the bungisngis, the pugot/pogot, the buso, and the tikabalang -- and that's just for starters.

[KawangaKid]

Well, just to fire the imagination...

A Tikbalang is a creature with the body of a man and the head of a horse. Here's a pic of one... note the copyright.
<img src="attachment.php?postid=62635"></img>

[Susano]

Originally posted by KawangaKid
Well, just to fire the imagination...

A Tikbalang is a creature with the body of a man and the head of a horse. Here's a pic of one... note the copyright.


Coooool. Do you have any information on its habits?

[KawangaKid]

Actually, I'm talking to a friend of ours who's doing research on them. The problem with wading through the documents is that reports are sketchy.

I know that some say they're wild creatures, some say demonic in nature, that like to ambush travellers (at night, naturally). They're deadly in hand-to-hand combat, powerful, and seem to burn with an inner fire (smell of burning hair, smoke rising from nostrils, fiery eyes).

Others say they can also cause things like upset stomachs, or that they're harmless and like to show themselves (in a frightening visage) to people that they like.

We've uncovered that there are apparently no reports of the Tikbalangs before the Spaniards came over to colonize the place... and since horses ain't native to the Philippines... it's something to ponder.

Anyway, we'll try to put together the various versions - you choose the type that's most appropriate for the bestiary.

By the way, lots of folks in the province still believe that these things (along with manananggals, aswangs, kapres, etc.) are real.

[Susano]

I havea a file I found on-line that describes a number of creatures from the Phillippines. Do you have an email address I can send it to so you can look it over and help me with the contents?

[KawangaKid]

Sure - I'll e-mail you directly...

[Doctor Agenda]

There is an Indian creature called a Yaksha, a sort of shapeshifting ogre that runs the gamut from divine messenger to hopeless romantic to baby-eater. They form the army of Kobaru (?), a god associated with the treasures of the Earth, but are also encountered on their own. This creature and the Oni seem like they may have been inspirations for the D&D Ogre Mage.

[Susano]

Originally posted by Doctor Agenda
There is an Indian creature called a Yaksha, a sort of shapeshifting ogre that runs the gamut from divine messenger to hopeless romantic to baby-eater. They form the army of Kobaru (?), a god associated with the treasures of the Earth, but are also encountered on their own. This creature and the Oni seem like they may have been inspirations for the D&D Ogre Mage.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I have this one covered with my rakshasa write-up. Yaksha seems to be an alternative name for it. I'll be adding some notes about the yaksha to the text.

[i3ullseye]

I do hope the basic races that have appeared, if they appear as creatures, also have racial template rules for making members of that race.

Korobokuru, Bakemono, etc.....

I am not so sure why Tengu might be let out, but you certainly must have a simian race, led by Wu Kung, the monkey king.

[Susano]

Originally posted by i3ullseye
I do hope the basic races that have appeared, if they appear as creatures, also have racial template rules for making members of that race.

Korobokuru, Bakemono, etc.....


Define basic races. The format is the same as the HERO System Bestiary.



I am not so sure why Tengu might be let out, but you certainly must have a simian race, led by Wu Kung, the monkey king.

I don' follow you here. The tengu hasn't been "let out", it is in the book. As for a simian race... I don't specifically include a race led by Songoku/Wu Kung, as there isn't one. I do have the yet-teh and the hsing-hsing, both primates and/or real creatures.

Oh, and I just found something called Olgol-Khorkhol. The "Mongolian Death Worm." Now how can I leave that out?

[Susano]

Does anyone have any information on creatures from Viet Nam or Mongola. Specifically, the Con Rit -- a Viet Nam sea monster, or Moghur, a Mongolian dragon of great size?

[Rage]

Originally posted by Susano
Sorry, I don't, so I don't know if I will be able to get in touch with him or not...

Hmmmmm that sounds like one of the guys on our boards whose from the Phillipenes.

Note to self: dig through old threads.

[Susano]

Originally posted by Rage
Hmmmmm that sounds like one of the guys on our boards whose from the Phillipenes.

Note to self: dig through old threads.

No need, Rage. I got in touch with someone from the Phillipenes and am waiting for his infodump.

[KawangaKid]

About the list: there are certain 'abilities' that certain Philippine supernatural creatures have in common...

... really good illusions. As in, "I know I can hear you in front of me telling me that there's a clear path right in front of us, Mike... but all I can see is impassable jungle" type illusions. These are normally used to send people around in circles ala "Blair Witch"... among other things. Perhaps you should keep this as a 'common ability'?

[NuSoardGraphite]

Hey Mike, when is this book schedualed to be printed? My roomate is bugging me to start up the sequel to my Sengoku game.

At the end of the last campaign, the PC's had sealed the entrance to the Demon World (which Nobunaga had purposely opened by burning a Temple that was a guardian) but there are still many demons left throughout Japan. Though this time, I think I want to have Yomi take center stage...

[Susano]

Originally posted by KawangaKid
About the list: there are certain 'abilities' that certain Philippine supernatural creatures have in common...

... really good illusions. As in, "I know I can hear you in front of me telling me that there's a clear path right in front of us, Mike... but all I can see is impassable jungle" type illusions. These are normally used to send people around in circles ala "Blair Witch"... among other things. Perhaps you should keep this as a 'common ability'?

That sounds good to me. A lot of the write-ups get optional power listings, and illusions are fairly common. Of course, I know have the question of "which 'Philippine supernatural creatures' have this in common?"

And the book is due out in January of 2004.

[Susano]

For those keeping track -- there are now 50 character sheets. And that doesn't consider all the optional powers listed with many such sheets, or the sheets that describe multiple creatures under one heading (case in point, the yet-teh).

[KawangaKid]

Hey-o,

I'm in the middle of going through the list and classifying the Philippine creatures, but I'm borrowing Maximo D. Ramos' classifications for each:

Demons - Tikbalangs and the Pugot fall under this

"Dragons" - These include large animal forms... crocodiles, pythons, sharks, lahos, tigmamanukins...

Dwende or "Dwarfs" - old tiny creatures who dwell underground with jars of treasure that can curse you.

Engkantos or "Faerie" - the closest thing to it

Ghouls - aswangs that devour corpses and are terrified by bright light & loud noises

Giants

Merfolk

Kapres or "Ogres"

Vampires

Viscera Takers - aswangs and even manananggals

Werebeasts - aswangs with dog- and other hunter forms

Witches - male / female aswing who can make you extremely ill..

General descriptions for each to follow... as well as variants.

[Lord Liaden]

This sounds like a fabulous item, Susano - I'll have to try to make room for it in my poor budget. :( If it comes out Jan. 2004 as planned, maybe I can ask for it as a delayed Christmas present. ;)

If you don't mind my asking: How much of Asia are you trying to cover? I see from your remarks that most of the Pacific Rim and Indian Ocean countries and their neighbors are being addressed - how about the Middle East, or Siberia?

Not demanding that you do so; Lord knows you've got enough on your plate already. Just curious. :)

[Susano]

Originally posted by KawangaKid
Hey-o,

I'm in the middle of going through the list and classifying the Philippine creatures, but I'm borrowing Maximo D. Ramos' classifications for each:

...snip...

General descriptions for each to follow... as well as variants.

Wow...

[Susano]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
f you don't mind my asking: How much of Asia are you trying to cover? I see from your remarks that most of the Pacific Rim and Indian Ocean countries and their neighbors are being addressed - how about the Middle East, or Siberia?


I asked Steve about this -- as technically, Asia covers everything from Turkey, Russia, Israel, the Middle East and so on to China and Japan.

The book itself covers material from India to China (west to east) and Mongoila to Indonesia (north to south).

The Middle East could get its own book, if you really wanted, as could Siberia and the rest of Russia.

[Doctor Agenda]

A Middle East book has my vote. I've always had a thing for Mesopotamia. One of my favorite Hero lines was the Mythic series (Mythic Greece, Mythic Egypt--my fave!-etc.), I was even considering doing a Mythic Mesopotamia, and I'm not very ambitious when it comes to writing (as witnessed by the fact that I never actually did it...). In short, Middle East Monster Book, yay.

[Susano]

All I san say is, tell Steve.

For what its worth, I will be submitting some Middle Eastern creatures to Digital Hero in the future.

[JmOz]

Hey Susano,

You might want to consider talking to Steve about a comp copy of USMB (It is an E-Book BTW, I don't think anyone mentioned that yet)

[Susano]

Originally posted by JmOz
Hey Susano,

You might want to consider talking to Steve about a comp copy of USMB (It is an E-Book BTW, I don't think anyone mentioned that yet)

Does it have Asian creatures in it?

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Susano
Does it have Asian creatures in it?

A great deal of the USMB is taken up by creatures with their roots in western occultism or "modern" fantasy, or creatures based on Dean's own cosmology; however, it does feature interesting descriptions and writeups for the oni, kuei, rakshasa, and the maskim of Mesopotamia, as well as a "sample" djinn with a little general background.

It's an interesting collection in itself, although IMO more useful as a complement to The Ultimate Supermage; but if you're wondering about it's usefulness to your own research, I would expect that to be minimal. :(

[Susano]

52 creatures and counting. Actually, I suspect the current number is higher, as many of the entries list multiple options or describe multiple varients of the same theme.

[Doctor Agenda]

The USMB is a great supplement for USM or a Horror Hero game, but of course we always want more!:)

There is an Indonesian critter called a Sundel Balong (sp?) that appears to be a beautiful woman (heard that one before), but they have a hole in their back that they cover with their hair or clothes. Sounds like something else I heard of called a White Lady? They lure a man into a private place where they castrate him. Sounds like an urban legend sort of thing with the moral of don't go off with strange women (especially prostitutes, I would think).

I've used a Yaksha in my Horror Hero/sort of Buffyesque campaign, but it was just a thinly-disguised D&D Ogre Mage, which in turn is a thinly-disguised (for what reason I do not know) Oni. Still, it was novel and a bit of a surprise (everyone remembered that episode of Kolchak and thought it was a Rakshasa that could be killed with a crossbow bolt).

Looking forward to your finished product, definitely something I'm interested in getting.

[Susano]

Originally posted by Doctor Agenda
There is an Indonesian critter called a Sundel Balong (sp?) that appears to be a beautiful woman (heard that one before), but they have a hole in their back that they cover with their hair or clothes. Sounds like something else I heard of called a White Lady? They lure a man into a private place where they castrate him. Sounds like an urban legend sort of thing with the moral of don't go off with strange women (especially prostitutes, I would think).

Sounds like the Malaysian puntianak, which is in the book.