Treblain
2011-07-24, 10:38 PM
We've had a bunch of threads that cut pretty close to this issue, so I'll be blunt and get to what we really want to discuss. I'm just curious, and I'd like to hear other peoples' responses.
Llamas are complex, intelligent creatures, we all know that. And they're an important part of so many roleplaying games. I can't imagine playing one without these magnificent beasts. So it's only natural that human beings developed an impulse to roleplay as llamas themselves. But that's where it gets tricky. With llama NPCs, it's not as hard. You can just hew close to the default flavor from the sourcebooks and stick to their traditional roles. But a player taking on the role of a llama, it raises so many key issues that remind me of why I love roleplaying so much.
Like half-elves, llamas have a dual nature, and like dwarves, they're famed for their hair. But like halflings, they're clever and unpredictable, and like goats, they chew their cud. They can fit many classes and party roles, from wool source to pack animal, from psychic warrior to faithful watch-llama.
One concept I love to use in games is the noble llama apostate, disgusted with how mainstream llama society treats its cousins, the alpacas and vicuņas. (Incidentally, I rolled an alpaca once. I know what common wisdom on these board says about alpacas, but after getting over the level adjustment, it wasn't so bad, though I agree that the spell-like abilities got to be pretty ineffective as I leveled.)
But I digress. The llama apostate is an old trope, but a good one. It's a classic idea: the lone llama who's turned its hindparts against a hypocritical civilization. Meandering off from the herd, as it were. Another great llama background is the llama scholar, who's studied the history of dead nations in search of the truth behind his own existence. Where it goes can vary by game and DM, but it's always a great ride regardless.
I'd love to hear everyone else's opinions of how to roleplay a llama. Do you take into account the rich details of the various llama cultures that published sources have provided, or do you exercise your creativity by making up your own? I'd rather this didn't turn into an argument about fluff and crunch, but sadly that seems inevitable. I've seen some heated debates on the subject, and I can't help but wince when I read them. You're missing the point when you spend your energy arguing about whether a llama can be refluffed as a camel mutated by dark magic. The beauty of roleplaying is the ability to create a character and guide them through a world where anything is possible. I hope we can have a civil discussion about the place of the llama in RPGs.
Llamas are complex, intelligent creatures, we all know that. And they're an important part of so many roleplaying games. I can't imagine playing one without these magnificent beasts. So it's only natural that human beings developed an impulse to roleplay as llamas themselves. But that's where it gets tricky. With llama NPCs, it's not as hard. You can just hew close to the default flavor from the sourcebooks and stick to their traditional roles. But a player taking on the role of a llama, it raises so many key issues that remind me of why I love roleplaying so much.
Like half-elves, llamas have a dual nature, and like dwarves, they're famed for their hair. But like halflings, they're clever and unpredictable, and like goats, they chew their cud. They can fit many classes and party roles, from wool source to pack animal, from psychic warrior to faithful watch-llama.
One concept I love to use in games is the noble llama apostate, disgusted with how mainstream llama society treats its cousins, the alpacas and vicuņas. (Incidentally, I rolled an alpaca once. I know what common wisdom on these board says about alpacas, but after getting over the level adjustment, it wasn't so bad, though I agree that the spell-like abilities got to be pretty ineffective as I leveled.)
But I digress. The llama apostate is an old trope, but a good one. It's a classic idea: the lone llama who's turned its hindparts against a hypocritical civilization. Meandering off from the herd, as it were. Another great llama background is the llama scholar, who's studied the history of dead nations in search of the truth behind his own existence. Where it goes can vary by game and DM, but it's always a great ride regardless.
I'd love to hear everyone else's opinions of how to roleplay a llama. Do you take into account the rich details of the various llama cultures that published sources have provided, or do you exercise your creativity by making up your own? I'd rather this didn't turn into an argument about fluff and crunch, but sadly that seems inevitable. I've seen some heated debates on the subject, and I can't help but wince when I read them. You're missing the point when you spend your energy arguing about whether a llama can be refluffed as a camel mutated by dark magic. The beauty of roleplaying is the ability to create a character and guide them through a world where anything is possible. I hope we can have a civil discussion about the place of the llama in RPGs.