FEEDING:
●
All monsters need to feed off humans. This is unavoidable. With another player's permission, you are allowed to eat other monsters and this will provide equivalent nourishment, but keep in mind that eating them will go towards the devoured character's death count.
● A monster's
cravings can be anywhere from
once each week to a month or two .
Usage of skills and powers will speed up this desire. Animals will satiate monsters temporarily, but more than two months will require extreme willpower and no usage of powers whatsoever. If they go too long without feeding on humans, they will be overcome with a mad desire to eat, and will target both friend and foe until they are satiated. This is most commonly known as a
frenzy within the monster community.
●
Sharing a kill is permitted (obviously there's only one soul per kill so that can't be split).
POWERS AND CHANGES:
● As of July 2023, all monsters will have
either a Travel form or a Stealth form. Please check the FAQ compilation in the comments and the Bestiary page corresponding to your monster type for more details on how these forms apply to your character.
● The presence of
the fog has several optional effects on monsters.
♦ Fog days count as a sort of
temporal gray zone. Nocturnal monsters such as vampires and gargoyles can come out at any time, along with the diurnal Nephilim. Additionally, night-changing monsters like Werewolves and Werebears will be unable to take their human forms.
♦ Monsters
heal faster during the fog, and may even regenerate limbs and other body parts that were lost in game. Exactly how long it will take your character to recover from a serious injury is up to you! However, bear in mind that accelerated healing costs energy like any other special monster ability. Therefore, healing with this method will leave behind increased hunger.
♦ All characters who have
died in-game will come back during the fog. Please
visit the FAQ for more information on revivals and the death penalty rules.
♦ Characters with a
Fog form may transform into it for the duration of the fog. A Fog form is an exaggerated version of their monster form that appears only during the fog and is a chance to make your monster more "horrifying" during the fog.
●
Monsters are always stronger than humans, both in terms of physical strength and thanks to the monster's abilities.
♦ Monsters can take on five or less humans with ease and more than that with a little hard work. In a one on one fight between a monster and a human, there would be no contest.
♦ In monster vs. monster terms, every monster is about the same strength as every other (with various factors coming into play depending on the monster's own unique strength and weaknesses). If there is a fight between two player characters, work the result out between yourselves. If the mods have to intervene to decide the victor of a particular fight, it'll most likely come down to coin flip.
♦ Monsters who have four limbs can be faster than average. Other monsters only get faster when it's specified in their Bestiary. Travel forms are about 1.5x faster than their normal form, whereas Stealth forms are often slower or immobile.
♦ By default, all monsters will have better senses than the average human, but specific monsters will have better (specific) senses over the average monster.
● Monsters are able to
speak at all times, and this includes their animal and alternate forms.
MONSTER DESIGNS:
● We encourage players to be creative with their monster designs, so long as liberties taken are
purely aesthetic and don't serve a function. In general, anything that adds flavor and a personal flair but doesn't change the actual end result as listed in the bestiary is doable. Additionally, it is permissible to give your monsters changes that
add or exacerbate a weakness.
● Monster designs
can be based on animals or other beings which are extinct, or exclusive to a character's home world, provided they fit the monster's aesthetic. If you're uncertain whether a certain animal/being fits a certain monster, please ask the mods beforehand.
● If a character has been
dropped in the past and is then brought back by the same player, their monster form may look slightly different when they return. If so, they will need to arrive human and go through their changes all over again. When choosing the same design, characters may either return fully-transformed, or return human and go through the same changes again.
● As of
November 4th, 2022, all monsters have the
option to include one of three
cybernetic modifications on their first change log. These three body mods are: a glowing body part, a stylized tattoo in the shape of a 4 (in any language), or a subtle cybernetic ‘look’ or ‘skin’ to one body part that does not add function or durability.
This is never mandatory and it is purely for looks, and it is up to you whether you would like your character to receive a mark from the Fourth God! Players are welcome to play around with their character coming up with IC theories for its presence. Tier 3 or Priest-level Fog Followers have the option to
exchange the cybernetic mod for a fog-appropriate aesthetic mod of their choice.
✖ Do not give extra powers apart from the ones listed in a monster's page. This includes special unique traits (extra poison, special fur, etc) the creature your monster is based on would have. If you are unsure, ask in the FAQ for each monster. Who knows, we might accept your suggestion!
✖ Do
not return from death, go into a Fog form or heal faster than usual
outside of fog days unless you have some sort of bonus boon which allows for this. Please check
the calendar to verify when fog days are happening, and plan accordingly.
✖ If you apply for a character that was
dropped by another player, you may not end up with the same monster they were assigned. Monster types are always based exclusively on the current application, not the character's history under a previous player.
✖ If you apply for a character you have previously
dropped yourself, you may
not ask for a different monster type. In this instance, the character will always be assigned the same monster type as they had before. The only exception to this rule are characters who were dropped before the five new monster types were added in 2017, in which case the player may request a re-sort.
✖ If you see abuse of any powers by a monster, don't hesitate to contact us on the
mod page and let us know.
Please make sure to provide us with links to the thread(s) where the issue takes place.
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monsterdata2015-10-07 04:21 am
(frozen comment) FEEDING, SPECIAL FORMS AND ABILITIES
Whatever you want! The July 2023 revamp is only mandatory for anyone who designs a monster from that point on, be it for a newly-apped character or for a monster form change secured through Mana. For monsters who were designed before July 2023: If it improves your playing experience, feel free to start using the revamp information and use the Fog as an excuse for why there's been a change in your monster's physiology or psychology. Change logs are perfect for that sort of thing. But if you'd prefer your pre-revamp monster to stay exactly the same, that's fine too.
Have a very specific question in mind? Here's some questions that have been asked in the past!
FEEDING:
Does my monster always have to kill to feed?
Although some feeding types technically don't require a kill, it is rather difficult for a monster to pull off. And, of course, leaves the victim without limbs/blood/energy/etc, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to fend for themselves. Even apart from the immediate damage, there may be long-lasting physical and/or emotional trauma inflicted. It would also mean the monster would have to seek out multiple victims in order to be full.
Is it possible for a monster to keep eating, even if they're full? If so, what would happen? And what about minimal portions, such as just a limb?
Eating more than necessary is possible, but would only potentially lead to a stomach ache. Eating less means the monster will get hungry again sooner, because a monster must feed on the equivalent of a full human in order to sustain themselves.
What's the difference between typical hunger and an additional 'hunting instinct'? Can a monster with a hunting instinct still accept their meals from a place like the soup kitchen?
Think of it as a cat's instincts to hunt birds: there are cats that are happily fed by their owners and can exist in the same household as a bird without chasing it or killing it, but the urge will always be there. Certain movements or half-hidden patterns might inspire a predatory drive. So while eating from the soup kitchen would sate the monster's hunger and keep them from going feral, it would not erase their instinctive urge to hunt. Feel free to play around with this notion as you like!
Do monsters that eat non-tangible things (energy, souls) need to eat solid food alongside it to survive? Or can they just live off what they siphon from people?
That's up to the player!
My monster has injected 'prey' with venom. Can they safely kill-share victims they've envenomed?
Yes, with other monsters it's fine to consume something infected by venom. Venom typically isn't poisonous. Regular humans might get sick from it, though.
Can energy feeders take from multiple victims at the same time?
This counts as an ability upgrade, and would need to be gained through Mana rewards or a god boon.
If a soul feeder were to remove a soul, can it be put back in later? What about keeping it inside a container?
Once a soul has been taken out of a body, it can't be put back in and should be devoured as soon as possible. Souls spoil very quickly. Even inside a container, such as a glass jar, it won't last long.
Does a soul look like anything upon exiting the body? Does the consumer feel anything particular or personal when digesting someone's soul?
How soul eating works and what it looks like is completely up to you! If you'd like, the character can briefly experience feelings or personality traits of their victim, but they wouldn't receive any access to their memories.
Can a monster's soul regenerate with the Fog, similar to healing an injury?
No. Once a monster has lost their soul, they must be fully killed and revive to get it back.
Can soul feeders sense nearby souls?
Yes, but they can't identify them as belonging to anyone specific.
SPECIAL FORMS:
I'd like some more information about Travel & Stealth forms. What's the difference?
Travel forms allow a monster to travel at the same speed, if not faster than their usual monster form. Stealth forms allow a monster to blend into their surroundings, allowing them to get the jump on humans more easily. It's also possible to use a Travel form to sneak up on unsuspecting targets, but Stealth forms have a very specific type of magic to them where humans are far more easily fooled, and even some monsters may have to look twice before they realize that that wriggling flower over there is awfully suspicious.
What are the limitations of these forms? What happens to our powers and weaknesses?
When a monster goes into either a Travel or a Stealth form, they will lose access their baseline monster powers/abilities, unless specified otherwise. This also applies to their physical strength. For example, when a Pooka takes the form of a rat, they would have the strength of a typical rat. Each monster's specific weaknesses will also still apply, unless specified otherwise. They will, however, retain a monster's enhanced senses. If your monster gained certain spells or abilities as a god boon, or through a Mana purchase, those will still be accessible as well.
My monster's Travel/Stealth form mentions that it must be 'no longer than the average cat' (Demon, Shade, Simulacrum). How does this sizing apply?
It's about volume, not exact dimensions. So take for example a roomba: it's wider than the average cat, but also much flatter, therefore it's allowed. (For reference, we've determined the dimensions of the average cat to be about 0.5 ft3.)
If the point of a Stealth form is to blend in, does that mean I can't add any aesthetic flair that would make the form stand out more? What about adding aesthetic flair to Travel forms?
As mentioned before, Stealth forms have a sort of magic to them to pull the wool over a human's eyes, so some distinct aesthetic flair would be fine. Designing a Travel form with some aspects to reference your character is fine as well.
When a character has a Travel/Stealth form that's based on a certain animal, like a cat or a dog, can they still consume things like chocolate or alcohol? Or would that make them sick?
That is up to you.
I'd like some more information about Fog forms. Am I allowed to do This?
As of July 2023, we'd like for Fog Forms to have as few restrictions as possible. This is your chance to go wild with your monster design! Extra functional heads are allowed, extra height is allowed, bigger teeth are allowed… You can go up to two times your character's usual size, coupled with whatever other height boosts they already have to push the size even further. Your character may also be shorter in this form! In general, anything that's more of the same category and follows the spirit of the Bestiary is allowed. (So for example, you cannot give your Pooka feathery wings, or give your Vampire a dog-like tail.)
Does my monster have to go into Fog form every single time there's a fog day?
No, they do not. The first instance of a character's Fog form can manifest whenever you want, be it during their very first fog day or five years into the game. Or perhaps a character's Fog form will never manifest, since it's an optional change. Either way, once you've decided on a Fog form, you can choose when the fog triggers this form and when it doesn't. It's possible for a character to transform during occasional, but not all, fogs. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to trigger the Fog form, it must start on the first day of that fog week, and last until the fog has cleared again. Furthermore, whether or not a character goes into this form is not by character choice, but rather by player discretion.
Can the changes related to the Fog form come in gradually, spread out over several months, like with the typical changes?
Unfortunately, this would not be allowed! Since there are no mandatory changes for Fog forms, it can be difficult to judge when a transformation is 'complete'. We're worried that a slow burn Fog form might encourage players to add on new features indefinitely.
My character's monster type has two different forms (for example, a Merperson's land and aquatic form). How does this translate to Fog forms?
Your monster may only have one Fog form. However, this Fog form can shift between slightly different variations if you would like, as long as the spirit and design elements of these variations are similar. So in the case of a Merperson, if you would like a land and water variation, that would be fine!
MONSTER ABILITIES:
Can we use our powers on other monsters, or do they only work on humans?
This is decided upon between two players. Depending on what works best for you, a monster's power may either work fully on another, have a weakened effect or not work at all.
How does magic work? Is there a certain system in place? Does it require gestures or chanting? Can it be channeled through an item?
That's up to player discretion! If a character is used to a certain method of casting, they may incorporate it here just to make things easier for themselves.
My monster has a form of fire magic. Can they change the color of the flames?
Sure! It won't burn any hotter, though.
For the monsters with magic voice or music abilities, does a recording of their voice or playing have the same effect as being there in person?
No, it does not. At best, it might make the people listening a little more calm (or dizzy), but you need to have the primary source of the music/voice for it to work correctly. The same rule applies to live radio broadcasts.
My monster is based on a certain animal. Can they communicate with normal animals of that same species?
Animal-based monsters are unable to communicate with real animals, regardless of their type! For instance, Werewolves cannot communicate with dogs, Mers cannot communicate with fish, etc. However, if you'd like, you can choose to give your character a fondness for this specific animal as an optional psychological change.
My monster has gained an immunity to fire. Does this mean immunity to all heat, or just open flame?
This means all aspects of fire, both the heat and the super-heated fuel. What this boils down to is when exposed to the high temperatures a fire would have, they will not catch fire themselves. This also means that coming into direct contact with something like frying pan grease won't lead to any burns; it'll just feel pleasantly warm to both Gargoyles and Demons. Fire immunity won't save you from being smothered or suffocated by molten rock though, so please don't walk headfirst into a volcano.
And the immunity to cold?
Same basic story! A monster with an immunity to cold can easily spend their time in a walk-in freezer, or touch dry ice with their bare hands. When frozen into a solid block of ice, though, they will still suffocate.
My monster has a possession skill. Can they use it to possess inanimate objects, like dolls?
Yes! Just keep the usual limitations in mind, where applicable. Remember, for a Shade, smaller objects count as their Stealth form.
Can monster venom be harvested? For example, can someone milk a Naga to collect their venom?
Yes. Venom can be harvested from all monsters which have it. There is only one caveat with this: venoms removed from a monster's body degrade and lose potency very fast (within a day or so), no matter what sort of environment it's kept in. Someone would not be able to effectively build up giant reserves of venoms from a group of monsters.