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View Full Version : Reimagining Mythological Dogs Using Mutants and Masterminds



Kid Jake
2014-05-21, 02:46 AM
I've got an M&M 2e game going at the moment and one of the recurring plot points involves hints of the government's attempt at manufacturing super-humans. In my next session I'm hoping to reveal the existence of several successful test animals, namely a group of super-powered attack dogs kept around to help hunt down the occasional mistakes.

I'd like to have between six and ten of them but I'm having a hard time coming up with interesting power combinations. So far I've got:

Argos: Golden Retriever. Basically the Captain America of dogs, far stronger, faster and tougher than any dog has a right to be.

Cerberus: Rottweiler. Control of 'hellfire' and enhanced regeneration.

Fenrir: German Shepherd. Monster dog the size of a Volkswagen with a bulletproof hide and claws sharp enough to shred steel.



I've toyed with using Cavall, Culain, Lycaon and Orthus (maybe a limited duplication ability?) but I can't really think of anything good to do with them.

So, can anybody think of a mythological dog with a cool schtick or just a neat superpower to see in dog form?

Rhynn
2014-05-21, 02:54 AM
Culain

Culain/Culann was the smith whose dog Sétanta killed - the Hound of Culain, or Cú Chulainn. Not the name of the dog.

Kid Jake
2014-05-21, 03:08 AM
Hrm, so it is. I thought it was 'the Hound Culain' for some reason. I was already reaching with Lycaon though, so I might still roll with it.

Sith_Happens
2014-05-21, 02:52 PM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Kryptoanim.jpg/220px-Kryptoanim.jpg

More seriously:

Laelaps (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laelaps_(mythology)): Bloodhound. Unerring tracking ability and a monster grab bonus.

Tindalos: Greyhound. Teleportation.

Terraoblivion
2014-05-21, 03:28 PM
How about Garm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmr)? Powers would probably relate to both guarding and breaking bonds as well as general fighting.

The Oni
2014-05-21, 03:35 PM
You could have a hound called Baskerville. Make him big, murderous, intelligent and telepathic, so he can basically track a "cursed" target through the surface thoughts of any person who's seen them. Losing your scent won't work on this guy. And he just will not stop until the target's dead.

He can also project a telepathic aura that causes his enemies to hallucinate thick fog and nightmarish supernatural stuff - meaning that if anyone reports a killing, they're even less likely to believe him on account of the reporter sounding like a crazy person.

Kid Jake
2014-05-21, 04:44 PM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Kryptoanim.jpg/220px-Kryptoanim.jpg

More seriously:

Laelaps (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laelaps_(mythology)): Bloodhound. Unerring tracking ability and a monster grab bonus.

Tindalos: Greyhound. Teleportation.

Aiming for more of this:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/UnLegend/hulkdog_zps1cafca04.gif

But yeah, basically. :smallbiggrin:

Tindalos sounds like a cool concept. I think I'll add in some thematic spatial warping abilities and see what kind of trouble he can cause.

Laelaps also seems like she'll be a game changer considering the way the story looks like it's going to progress.




You could have a hound called Baskerville. Make him big, murderous, intelligent and telepathic.

I really like the idea of a telepathic dog that has more than the old standby of 'see man, bite man.' Definitely going with this.




How about Garm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmr)? Powers would probably relate to both guarding and breaking bonds as well as general fighting.

Thinking I might make him a mastiff and pair him with Fenrir. Seems like they'd make a good pair.

JustSomeGuy
2014-05-22, 07:43 AM
Obligatory


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR9J2ITspyU


http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/phantom-black-dogs.html

Has exactly the dog(s) i read a story about as a kid which stuck with me; a phantom dog which appears to control storms, has lightning/burning powers and is quick and deadly.

Pokonic
2014-05-22, 05:06 PM
Jake: Pug. Adept size and shape shifter, as well a being quite stretchy. Not as vicious a fighter as most of the other dogs, but would be a potent ambush threat because of being able to go from being the size of a mouse to a small car in a few seconds or being able to, say, sneak up through a sink.

Kid Jake
2014-05-22, 06:39 PM
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/phantom-black-dogs.html

Has exactly the dog(s) i read a story about as a kid which stuck with me; a phantom dog which appears to control storms, has lightning/burning powers and is quick and deadly.

Every time I read about Black Dogs I end up getting forgetting what I was doing and spend the day reading stories, an attack dog that leaves smoldering corpses is definitely a plus. I could see giving it the Variable power to represent the different varieties, every fight it's something different.



Jake: Pug. Adept size and shape shifter, as well a being quite stretchy. Not as vicious a fighter as most of the other dogs, but would be a potent ambush threat because of being able to go from being the size of a mouse to a small car in a few seconds or being able to, say, sneak up through a sink.

I actually considered that, but no one at the table would get it. However a stretchy dog that's basically a living net trap could be a hoot. I think I'd describe it like

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/UnLegend/pug_zps77aff5ad.jpg

and then it just kinda leaps on top of you and grapples.

Terraoblivion
2014-05-22, 09:12 PM
And, of course, if you get really desperate you can always pick Amaterasu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okami). At least if you're fine with selecting a character based on incredibly lame, Japanese puns.

Lyndworm
2014-05-23, 01:35 AM
How about Garm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmr)? Powers would probably relate to both guarding and breaking bonds as well as general fighting.Thinking I might make him a mastiff and pair him with Fenrir. Seems like they'd make a good pair.
If you want a pair of Norse attack dogs, I would normally suggest Geri and Freki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geri_and_Freki). Although, according to that article, Geri might be another name for Garmr and Freki might be another name for Fenrir... so you're doing pretty well, I guess.

I learn something new everyday.

Beleriphon
2014-05-25, 02:34 PM
I'll just leave this here for your perusal later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mythological_dogs

As for suggestions I'm going with Xolotl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xolotl) name after the Aztec god of the fire and lightning. He also guarded the sun as it travelled through the underworld every night. I 'd make him a chihuahua that shoots lightning and has a toughness save and strength much higher than anything that size has any right to have.

Sith_Happens
2014-05-28, 02:52 AM
As for suggestions I'm going with Xolotl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xolotl) name after the Aztec god of the fire and lightning. He also guarded the sun as it travelled through the underworld every night. I 'd make him a chihuahua that shoots lightning and has a toughness save and strength much higher than anything that size has any right to have.

If you're naming it Xolotl, then it has to be a xoloitzcuintle (a.k.a. Mexican hairless) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xoloitzcuintli).

SethoMarkus
2014-05-28, 07:00 AM
For a generic supernatural dog, Cu'-Sith is always a possibility: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B9_S%C3%ACth

Powers could be a sonic based fear inducing baying, ability to transform between a corporeal form and an incorporeal mist form, and supernatural strength.

Beleriphon
2014-05-28, 05:53 PM
If you're naming it Xolotl, then it has to be a xoloitzcuintle (a.k.a. Mexican hairless) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xoloitzcuintli).

I suppose one could do that, but it must be a miniature/toy breed of said dog!