 February 5, 2014 - 8:04am | Dovecotes were a regular part of a castle's infrastructure. Players like cool adventure pets like say a hawk. if you established dovecotes as a regular feature in a fantasy campaign and gave a beginning character a hawk it would not be unexpected for the hawk to pick a pidgeon or dove out of the air upon arrival to a castle or town. But... at some point the PCs are visiting a town and the local owner of the dovecote demands payment for the poached stock. Then latter they are visiting a duke and their hawk poaches but there is trouble because they weren't given leave for this (basically the Duke is looking for an excuse to put the PCs on the defensive and then make demands of them to sooth his affronted honor). Falconry was a lordly past time and including the practice in a fantasy setting makes a lot of sense The Book of St Albans 1486 listed birds by social standings with a kestrel for a servant or knave, sparrowhawk for a preist and gyr falcon for the king, interestingly a vulture for the emporer (or a golden eagle) the list is almost reminiscent of the D&D level lists where each level of a class has a new title A player with a trained falcon or hawk would be able to have fresh meat very nearly all the time while travelling in the country. five a benefit to distract an opponent in combat giving the falconer a distinct combat advantage and it becomes a valuable addition to the game. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 February 5, 2014 - 3:43pm | Depending on the fantasy system, you may need more than a dovecote. I've had a game where a PC dragon tended to well, have a cow when he saw one. I guess if you're going to play a 30 foot long flying predator you're going to eat a cow now and then. This lead to a discussion of whether you could bring a cow back from the dead and whether doing so robbed the dragon of his dinner. |
February 5, 2014 - 4:47pm | This lead to a discussion of whether you could bring a cow back from the dead and whether doing so robbed the dragon of his dinner. Reminds me of a story I heard once: Players put a ring of regeneration on a goblin then tortured him with a dagger till he talked. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
