Getting Into Character

No response here or on Facebook regarding my continuing with the 31 Day / 31 Characters Challenge so I guess I'm done. Since this series of posts isn't grabbing anyone's attention or interest, I'll just bow out and go one to discuss other things.

Next year I'll get back to posting memorable characters from campaigns [and one-shots] of the past.. 

In the meantime...

I've been thinking analytically and introspectively about why I don't like Character Creation in most Tabletop Roleplaying Games. In some ways its pretty easy to comprehend, I think...

When I create a character, it's a concept in my head. The character is simply an idea for a component of the adventure, setting, or whathaveyou. It is envisioned as serving a purpose; they are an obstacle, an ally, a love interest, comedy relief, or an example of 'local color' to give the game...well, um...character. 

As I tend to GM far more than I play as a Player, my 'Gamemaster Brain' is at the forefront of my approach to characters. When I want or need a character that does X or serves X purpose, I create them. I make them as interesting as I can so that the players in my game get invested in said character and their role in the campaign, whatever that may be. I'm aware that some GMs have been known to roll up their NPCs in systems with random generation and the very idea is baffling to me.

Why? You need a bandit, you stat up a bandit. You need a wise and powerful Jedi Master, you give them more dice where you feel they need it. Do you really want to roll up a handsome and seductive spy just get a really low Charisma/Comeliness score? That's...well...dumb IMHO. 

As a player, my outlook is not so different. Say I need to come up with a character for a Star Trek game set during The Next Generation Era. OK. What is everyone else playing? I see...no Doctor or Science Officer yet, huh? I do love playing the Science Officer when I get the chance. As for a Species, ooh, so many options.

In any game where non-Human Player Characters are a possibility, there's a very good chance I will play a non-Human. Hmm, I've never played a Kasheeta, a matriarchal dinosaur-saurian species that first appeared in the Federation Council chambers of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Yeah, that'll be interesting. I love seeing TOS and TOS Movie Era Aliens in later periods. The Kasheeta can seem arrogant, aloof, and off-putting but aren't really. It's a cultural thing I can creatively expand on and add my own twist to. I like it. 

The point it, I didn't roll this character up. This is an idea for a character that I came up with and can now extrapolate from and build upon. What I want now is a rules system that allows me to make this character in the game.

Therein lies the key to why I like or dislike a game's Character Creation. I don't want a system that gives me a character and tells me what they can do. I like creating a Character outside of any system and using an RPG's mechanics to make that character to the best of my [and the game's] ability. This is why I like Champions, Smurfs, Star Trek Adventures, Star Wars D6, and why I don't like D&D and 'Playbook' games like Blades in the Dark and Apocalypse World. Don't tell me who my character is and what abilities they are allowed to have. Tell me all the options available and I'll pick the ones that fit my character. 

This dynamic is a big reason why I don't like playing most Fantasy RPGs other than Ars Magica, which I love. Most Fantasy games have hard and fast Classes that give you particular skills and abilities and Races that only have or do specific things. Ars Magica says, here are a variety of different kinds of characters that fit the setting. They're all made of points. Here, I'll give you that amount of points so you can make what you like. There isn't a Wizard Class, there are characters who can have any combination of talents and skills including casting spells and we call that person a Wizard (or a Mage in Ars Magica proper). 

That's it for now. Onward...

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Barking Alien

31 Days / 31 Characters - Talking Out of Character

I have fallen behind something fierce. 

The reasons are many and I'm too exhausted to go into them but suffice to say, life's been kickin' my butt lately. There is also the fact that I'm kind of getting bored doing the Challenge this way. Yes, I get that its the 'Correct Way' but the thing is, as I've noted:

• I'm a [largely] Forever GM. Most of these characters will never see use except as NPCs.
• I don't make NPCs this way. I have a need, a concept, and just decide what the NPCs can and can't do.
• I don't enjoy the Character Creation systems and processes of most RPGs.
• I've already done a lot of my favorites. Others just take too long.
• I've got other things I want to discuss that are waaay more interesting to me than making up essentially purposeless characters. 

So what do I do? Getting kind of burnt out on the whole thing which is disappointing as I was pretty excited about it not a week or so ago. 

*Sigh*

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Barking Alien

31 Days / 31 Characters - GOSSIP SMURF

I am constantly amazed that the most fun I've had with a Tabletop Roleplaying Game in 2025 was with The Smurfs RPG by Maestro Media. 

First announced in 2024 and followed by a highly successful Kickstarter, the upcoming RPG about three apples tall blue people is way better than it had any right to be. Better than it had any need to be. I mean, if this game was a simple, silly game fit for 5 year olds and their Generation X grandparents, that would've been fine. I'd tip my hat to the creators for a job well enough done and that would be it. 

Instead, the people at Maestro Media created a cool game with clever mechanics, an excellent reflection of the subject matter, and a few surprises I definitely didn't see coming. There are base-building rules for making your own Mushroom Cottage and that is as awesome as it was unnecessary. 

Not surprisingly, I really like making Smurf characters. It was a real effort holding off on making one before this.

Character: Gossip Smurf

AKA: None

Player: Possibly me. Possibly an NPC. I hope me.

System: The Smurfs Roleplaying Game
 
Nature: Created for this Challenge

Gamemaster: None yet. Possibly me.

Circa: January 11th, 2025

Origins: It was a given that I'd be making a Smurfs character for this year's 31 Day Character Challenge (in fact I might make two). The real mystery, even for me, was 'what character should I make?' 

I decided I wanted to make an 'imperfect Smurf', one that is defined as much by his flaw as his advantage. I figured something more along to Clumsy or Vanity might be interesting. It was the letter I was up to, 'G', that gave me the final form of my newest little blue friend. 

 
Backstory: Not too long ago Gossip Smurf was just another Smurf, one of the many identifcal Smurfs who live and work in Smurf Village. That was until he overheard Papa Smurf telling Brainy Smurf that Gargamel was up to something and he passed on that information to his friend Reporter Smurf. Reporter ended up printing it in the Smurf Tattler. Papa Smurf was very angry at first as he didn't want to panic the Village before he had more information. 

As it turned out, the Smurfs did panic and the Smurf who would become Gossip felt responsible. He decided to use his 'talent' of picking up and dishing out rumors to make Gargamel think the magical relic he was searching for was over by the Sarsaparilla Fields - where Handy and Hefty had set up a trap! Gargamel fell for it and while he was trying to escape, Brainy, Smurfette, and Grouchy moved the item from where it really was and brought it to Papa Smurf's house. 

Gargamel eventually got out of the trap but was so disoriented he got lost in the nearby Western Woods and eventually gave up. He would later learn that the Smurfs got to the artifact first. 

Reporter Smurf decided to hire the rumor spreading Smurf, giving him the name Gossip Smurf. 

Overview: Gossip Smurf has got something to tell you. Now to be perfectly smurfy, its just a rumor but he's smurfed it through several sources and it seems legit. Now before he tells you, and you know he'll smurf it to straight, he was wondering if you'd heard anything about what that new contraption is that Handy's building. Really? You don't say? Oh no, I won't tell a Smurf. My smurfs are sealed. 

The Highlights: I decided to give Gossip Smurf a different sort of Advantage than I usually go with. Instead of using the type that lowers an Action's Difficulty Level, the type that adds a +2 to an Attribute, or the kind that awards you a Smurfberry, I went with the kind that Clumsy Smurf has:

When obtaining or spreading rumors, a roll that fails or succeeds by no more than 1 becomes a Partial Success instead.

This allows Gossip to persuade people to give him information or to convince someone of information he has, though with partials the information may not be wholely accurate or wholely believed.

His item, a Quill Pen and Paper, helps him remember what he's heard by writing it down. It can be used in other ways as well of course but I feel like that's its main purpose. 

Game Info: 

Notes: I like this guy! A lot! I haven't made a Smurf character yet I haven't liked but I can totally see having fun with this fellow by getting really creative. Heheh. 

 
Legacy: None yet - the ongoing drawback of this Challenge - but I hope he gets one. I can definitely see using him as an NPC with those friends I have who play Smurfs. 

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Barking Alien

31 Days / 31 Characters - FUMIKA WATANABE

Another of my favorite games to come out in the past few years in the independent Japanese TRPG 'Tokyo Ghost Research'. 

For the most part, I have used it to run a variation on Ghostbusters but in its original form it is a more generic 'Supernatural Office Comedy' game created by Seiji Nakata of Story Engine Lab. A fan-made or 'doujinshi' Tabletop Roleplaying Game in which investigating the paranormal is the job of a small Japanese corporation with overworked employees, obnoxious bosses, budget limitations, and other juxtapositions between the mundane world of business and the spooky world of exorcising ghosts.  

I've made characters for this game before but its one of the rare RPGs where I enjoy the process so...let's meet our Employee:

Character: Fumika Watanabe

Fumika is made up of fumi meaning 'Writing' or 'History/Record' and -ka 'Fragrance/Aroma' or 'Beautiful/Splendid'. Watanabe combines 'Crossing Over' and 'an Area or Border'. My idea for her name aludes to a 'Record of Crossing Over The Border', as in crossing over from the world of the living to that of the dead.

AKA: None

Player: Possibly me, possibly an NPC. 

System: Tokyo Ghost Research

 

Nature: Created for this Challenge

Gamemaster: None yet. Possibly me. 

Circa: January 10th, 2026

Origins: As noted above, I did this one just for fun because I like this game and oddly, creating characters for it. 

Backstory: A former employee of Japan's National Diet Library (the Japanese government's equivalent of the US's Library of Congress), Fumika Watanabe was recruited to the Tokyo Ghost Research company by her college roommate who was already working there. Prior to joining TGR, her roommate was one of the few people in the world who knew that Fumika had the Psychic Ability to summon the aid of a spiritual being. This talent combined with her excellent administrative skills made her a perfect choice for TGR's General Affairs Department.

Overview: As a child, Fumika was scolded by adults and teased by other children about her 'imaginary friend'. She generally hid the fact that this entity never went away and helped her quite a bit throughout high school and college and the passing of her father. She has since learned that the being is a Ghost-like Yokai similar to a Niji-Mitama. It likes her and enjoys helping her in exchange for being told stories about her everyday life. If she is threatened or made anxious by her relationships or job it can become an Ara-Mitama and become rough and violent. It will threaten the cause of her anxiety unless she directs it otherwise.  

I came up with this idea because normally the job of a General Affairs character isn't 'out in the field' but rather gets stuck in the office as the voice of 'the guy/gal in the chair' that assists the team. I figured she could and would definitely do that but in emergencies she'll call on her spirit friend for help. Then I could play the Yokai a little during encounters with the paranormal phenomanon the other PCs are dealing with.

The Highlights: Choosing 'Causal Existence'  allows for her ability to summon the Mitama. You wouldn't normally see a General Affairs Employee with this which is why I chose it. 

I also like her Previous Work Experience being essentially 'worked at the Library of Congress'. This gives her an excuse to know how and where to get additional information on whatever Project she's working on. 

Game Info:

Notes: None right now. I would definitely like to get to know her better.

It wasn't my intention but after I finished her I realized she kind of resembles Ichiko Yoruhime, a character from The Adventures of Horai Academy!! who I posted for a previous 31 Days/31 Characters Challenge from back in 2024.

Legacy: Like Notes, I have nothing yet in this category. I hope I get to play her though some day. She seems like she'd be fun to play.

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Barking Alien

31 Days / 31 Characters - EERIE

I've been planning to run a new campaign with Wednesday Night group but, as is usual for me, I couldn't decide which of the three or four ideas I liked best. I pitched them all to my group of four players and asked, "What are your top two picks?"

Everyone, myself included, had one pick among their preferred choices, Meteor City SFRPG - Star Rainy Days, and so that is what we're going to be playing.

 
To test Meteor City's Character Creation system before sharing it with the gang, I created Eerie, a Ghost Roamer of the Outer Rim!

Character: None.

The Ghost Roamers of the Outer Rim don't normally have individual names. They take the names of those they mimic, leave them behind, take new ones, and on and on. They will, on occasion, adopt 'nicknames' given to them by companions they like and respect. 

AKA: 'Eerie'.

Nickname given to it by aquaintences teasing them about the small, simple smile it always has regardless of the form it takes. While generally pleasant, the expression has been called eerie on numerous occasion. 

Player: Possibly me, possibly an NPC. 

System: Meteor City SFRPG - Star Rainy Days

 

Nature: Created for this Challenge

Gamemaster: None yet. Possibly me. 

Circa: January 6th, 2025

Origins: I played a one-shot of Meteor City - Star Rainy Days on New Year's Eve 2024 into New Year's Day 2025 with some internet friends in Chiba, Japan, Gamemastered by my pal Yasahiro Sato. I've been low key obsessed with the game ever since. 

When considering a new game to run this year, Meteor City was one of the top three titles on my list of 'Most Want to GM'. When my Wednesday group said yes to Star Rainy Days, I figured it would be a good idea to test the system by making a new character and I was curious to try a different Alien than the one I had previously played. 

Backstory: Shapes. Sizes. Colors. The universe is so full of amazing things to see. And not just see but imagine! And not just imagine but create and show others! This Ghost Roamer has traveled throughout the stars, experiencing breathtaking and wonderous sites and hoping to make some of its own.

One day it found out about a place called Earth, the homeworld of strange beings who have among them members of a class or profession called 'Artists'. Fascinated by the idea that a portion of Earth's native sentients, called Humans, were dedicated to creativity and the same things that excited and inspired the Ghost Roamer, it decided to travel to our world to more learn more about and make Art. 

It has since made friends among the local Artist Community in a place called Meteor City. Because it has not yet mastered Human facial expressions, its smile tends to look a little odd, though it does smile a lot these days. It has earned the nickname, 'Eerie'. 

Overview: I have a clear idea for this character but I am finding it hard to convey said idea. Eerie is a dreamer; a free-spirited entity who appreciates 'art' on a deep personal level but what it sees as art is not necessarily what we would attribute that word to. Eerie might be moved by the swirls of steamed milk poured into the espresso of a latte as it is the subtle smile of the Mona Lisa. His own creations are abstract in the extreme, though I haven't yet decided how that will manifest exactly. 

Mechanically, Eerie has a Sense of 5, which gives it an excellent awareness of its surroundings. It is always looking around, always listening, wanting to feel textures, smell smells, etc. 

Like all Ghost Roamers of the Outer Rim, Eerie has Mimicry, the ability to shift into the form and appearance of any person or object (of roughly half to full Human size). Ghost Roamers are able to duplicate the look, personality, and even memories of the person they're copying but not special Features, talents, or skills. Luckily (seriously, I randomly rolled it), it has a Potion of Complete Mimicry, which allows a Human to use the Mimic Feature or a Ghost Roamer to duplicate the Features of the person they're disguised as. 

Eerie also has a Favorite Shop, maybe a Cafe or Art Supply Store, where it can go, hang out with its friends, and receive the 'Empathy' Condition/Status while there. It's a Lucky liquid-smoke and also gets the 'Blessing' Status at the beginning of each Session. 

The Highlights: I like the abilities available in the game and I'm particularly found of this cloud-out-of-water character having a warm and passionate personality but also 'Back Alleys'; connections with space pirates, galactic smugglers, and other Alien ne'er-do-wells.It sees Art everywhere and so it doesn't write-off these scoundrels as not having 'culture'. 

Game Info: 

Notes: I really like this game and making up a character is actually fun. That's pretty special as the more I do this year's Challenge this way, the more I realize how much I REALLY don't enjoy making up characters in most systems (more on this in another post). This one was cool because it evokes a concept and supports 

Legacy: I'm about to run a Meteor City SFRPG - Star Rainy Days campaign. Eerie here may show up. What more intrisic a legacy can an RPG character have I ask you!

Well? I asked.

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Barking Alien

31 Days / 31 Characters - DANAR DUGONG

The announcement of Toon getting a Second Edition made me wax nostalgic about my old Zoonatics campaign from the early 90s. My love for that game inspired me to make a brand new Zoonatics character, dusting off my copy of the original Toon.

I rolled up the character's Stats but for everything else I used my own ideas and preferences for what this character would be like instead of randomizing.

Character: Danar Dugong

AKA: None

Player: Possibly me, possibly an NPC.

System: Toon

 

Nature: Created for this Challenge.

Gamemaster: None yet. Possibly me.

Circa: January 4th, 2026

Origins: As mentioned above, the idea for this character was brought about simply by the announcement of Toon's Second Edition and a hardy dose of nostalgia for my ol' NJ Group and our Zoonatics campaign. 

Backstory: Danar Dugong was born and raised in the warm, shallow waters around the Philippines. From a very young age, Danar wanted to swim further and deeper than his fellow dugong, curious to see new places, new creatures, and to learn all he could about the deep sea. Unfortunately, he - like all members of his species - breathe air! He can only go so far and so deep before he needs to surface. 

Unless...

Danar decided to learn the art and science of Deep Sea Scuba Diving. After years of study and practice he became an accomplished Diver, Scuba Instructor, and discovered a number of shipwrecks and new fish species. After an injury that prevented him from Scuba Diving for a while, Danar filmed sequences for Zoonatics. This lead to him having his own seqment, 'Diving with Danar Dugong'.

Overview: "Hello! Beautiful day isn't it! Look at that Sunshine! Feel that breeze! Smell the salty air! I am Danar Dugong and this is Diving With Danar Dugong! That's Me!"

OK, gonna get dark here for a moment...

Zoonatics, as noted in my previous post on the campaign, has a dark secret. The animals are in a zoo for the mentally unstable. There's no show, no cameras, and the audience stares at the characters through bars.

So what's wrong with Danar? Well...

I'm thinking he dove too deep once or twice and suffered a tiny bit of oxygen deprevation. The backstory above is largely all in his head. He tends to talk about himself in the third person, he exaggerates his accomplishments, and he is absolutely fearless to the point of ignoring obvious signs of danger. At the same time, he is always positive, warm, generous, and boisterous and wants to share his love of the sea with anyone who seems even remotely interested. 

The Highlights: None yet but I can already see this guy being a lot of fun in small doses. He isn't a 'main character' like Jekyll, The Killer Emu, Uhaul, Manny, and Flamingo Rose. He's more on the level of the Ninja Zebra, Ludwig W. Wombat, and Frog and Toad. 

"Hello! I didn't see you there! I am Danar Dugong and this is Diving With Danar Dugong! Today, we are diving the Great Barrier Reef! Don't look so scared! It's easy for Danar Dugong. Danar Dugong is going, are you? Of course you are! Danar Dugong is happy for you! Let's go!"

Game Info:

Notes: I only chose four out of the eight possessions each character is allowed at the start because I couldn't think of anything beyond those items that immediately sprange to mind. They are all of the unusual items one can have as I would rule these items as kind of special and uncommon were I the GM. 

In addition to the obvious items like a Compass and Scuba Gear, I figured he'd also carry a Map of the area his diving in and a Waterproof Camera to take underwater pictures.

Legacy: We'll see. I'm sure I could drum up a one-shot of Zoonatics when Toon's Second Edition releases. 

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Barking Alien

TOON - ZOONATICS

In order to provide context to my next 3w Day Character Challenge entry, I think it's finally time to post a Campaigns I Have Known installment covering one of the greatest games I've ever done.

This one defies all logic [except its own]. It goes against what makes sense to most gamers - a long term [Semi-Dark] Comedy campaign with strong player 'buy-in' and immersion. 

'Here's Our Show (It's really funny!)

Here's Our Show (It's how we get our kicks!)

Here's Our Show (It better make us some money!)

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Zoonatics!

Here's Our Host, Jekyl the Jackal,

Trouble Won't Leave Him Alone.

His Nemesis is The Killer Emu,

Heir to the Dinosaur Throne!

His Sidekick is Uhaul the Rhino,

There's Manny the Mannequin Bird.

There's a Frog and a Toad and a Ninja Zebra*,

After that it just gets absurd. 

Here's Our Show (It's really funny!)

Here's Our Show (Sometimes we take our licks!)

Here's Our Show (It better make us some money!)

Without further adieu its The Zoonatics!'

Campaigns I Have Known

Proudly Presents...

ZOONATICS

Title: Zoonatics

System: Toon, Steve Jackson Games. Houseruled (See below).

Circa: 1993 (I believe)

Gamemaster: Me.

Like playing the AI in a Red Dwarf campaign, I was both the GM and an active Player Character here. In fact, I rarely Gamemastered in the traditional sense. I think this was the first time I had done this and I would later adopt a similar approach when running my homebrewed The Muppet Show game. Obviously I suggest going this way in The Googly Eyed Primetime Puppet Show if playing in a setting where there is an announcer, host, or Master of Ceremonies type of character.

It was extremely freeing to just act in character and make references to a possible story or adventure and see where the players take it. I honestly miss that.

Player Base: The players in this game were a collection of various friends from what I tend to refer to as 'The NJ Group'. Said group has changed and shifted its membership over the years as friends have come and gone. 

This outing featured about five regulars other than myself: Allen, Lynn, Martin, Nelson, and Anna. Others came in and out in 'Guest Star' roles. These players included Beverly, Phil, and Big J. There was a roughly even mix of male and female participants, of a variety of ethnicities, the major being older than myself by two or three years. I was in my early 20s.  

Origins: It's genesis was somewhat accidental. My friends and I were at the house of an aquaintence (a sort of mecca for much of the fandom/nerd crowd we knew) discussing the [then] brand new Warner Bros. animated series Animaniacs, which had come on the tail end (all puns intended) of Tiny Toon Adventures.

For no particular reason I went into this first-person riff where I pretended to be Jekyll the Jackal, host of a children's variety TV show (animated was the implication but never stated outright) who was putting the first episode together as it aired. I gave Jekyl an accent both Latin and Slavic, making it sound like his name was either Jekyll the Jekyll or Jackal the Jackal as I pronounced the two words nearly identically. As I went on I spoke directly to the 'audience' but not necessary to any one friend present, clearly breaking the fourth wall. 

Then What Happened?:

I did a number of very odd things to give Jekyll more character, such as make references to the 'behind-the-scenes' staff of the show (Denise the Stage Manager, Joe the Cameraman, and Andrea in Craft Services were mentioned most often), talk about his admirations for Abraham Lincoln (leading to one of the best, organically forming running gags EVER to come from one of my games), and the fact that unlike 'that silly Coyote', everytime you think Jekyll has been crushed by a rockside, run over by the stage cleaning machine, or blowtorched by the Killer Emu, it wasn't him. Of course not, he's the Star of the Show! Jekyll has people for that! There's a group of Stunt Jackals who all look nearly identical to him and are paid to get injured instead of their boss.

Next I started going on about auditions for other parts on 'the show' and my friend Martin stepped up as Uhaul, a Rhinoceros who was going for the part of Sidekick/Co-Host. We interacted and ad libbed the idea that the 'part' was that of a dumb sidekick, while Uhaul was a formally trained Shakespearean actor, thoroughly mortified that he'd been reduced to taken such a role. He read for it and then almost walked out until I said, "There are no small parts, yes? Only small actors.". Looking him up and down - Martin was a head or more taller than me and we assumed the same scale between Uhaul and Jekyll - I added, "And you my Rhino friend are NOT a small actor!".

After having Uhaul except the job, Martin has a true stroke of genius and introduced a new character, simply called 'The Emu'. The Emu was there for the part of Master of Ceremonies. He wanted to be the host of the show. Jekyll informs him the HE, Jekyll the Jackal is the host. We already have that thank you. Martin goes full melodramatic villain, whipping a black cape he found around him and declaring "You have made a grave error this day Jackal the Jackal! From today forward I shall be your arch-nemesis. I am now the bane of your existence! I shall not rest until you and your show are totally destroyed! Call me, 'The KILLER EMU!'! Muwa-hahahahaha!" He then ran into the kitchen leaving everyone, myself included, laughing hysterically. 

He also opened the flood gates. Nelson starts mimming a silent Zebra who we would later learn was a ninja. He could flawlessly (kind of) disguise himself as any Black and White animal. The new sound guy who's a Panda, that Penguin messager from yesterday, this skunk fella over here...all the Ninja Zebra! He had a tell though; he was easily distinguished by the can of Coca-Cola he always had in hand regardless of his form.

Lynn become Flamingo Rose, femme fatale singer, dancer, spy, and love interest of both Jekyll and The Killer Emu, with the latter hiring her to get intel on our Jackal host.

 

Ludwig and Livingston

Allen was Ludwig W. Wombat, host of a Wildlife Show-within-the show segment, 'The Wombat Walkabout' with his assistant, a Puffin named Livingston who only spoke in small, soft caw/chirp sounds. The two had a very Bunsen and Beaker vibe. Ludwig would come upon some ferocious animal, describe their environment and behavior, make it sound extremely dangerous, then tell Livingston to, "see if you can wake the Orca and ask if we can interview him. Go on now." Ludwig's voice was...I can only describe it as an Middle Aged Australian English Professor on Safari. 

There were rival talk show hosts, The Frog and The Toad patterned after Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon. Someone was a Possum Maintenance Worker always complaining about the 'Higher Ups' and working conditions and invoking his Union membership whenever he could. There was this Toucan, I wish I could remember his name; an easy going fella who sang and joked with a Caribbean Island accent (patterned after Bob Marley for the most part and a little like the Muppets Tonight host character Clifford - originally created for the Jim Henson Hour.).

I myself added The Killer Emu's sidekick Manny the Mannequin Bird (one of my all time favorite characters I've ever played! Inspired by Marcie from the Peanuts). Although the Killer Emu hated Jekyll, the latter couldn't be bothered to even remember who the Killer Emu was most of the time. Meanwhile Uhaul and Manny were on very good terms, often described eating with each other or playing chess in the background in some scenes. 

I thought this was an RPG campaign

We improved this whole thing for over an hour until we couldn't speak from laughing so hard. I looked up to notice others in the house watching and laughing along; a true audience! Finally, someone off to the side said, "Is this a game? WHY ISN"T THIS A GAME!". I looked over at Martin and Nelson to see they were looking at me with a questioning expression. Lynn did the same, nodding and wiping tears from her eyes. 

And so it became one. I wrote up everything in Toon, though I'll admit to being even looser with the mechanics than Toon already is. The rules had to support the improv and not the other way around. 

Highlights:

There were several re-occurring sketches/skits such as Animal General (an 80s style Soap Opera), Good Cop, Boar Cop (Police Drama Parody), Great Birds of the Galaxy (All Avian Space Adventurers), And Then You Add Bamboo (a Cooking Show featuring a Red Panda that always adds Bamboo to every dish), and the aforementioned Wombat Walkabout. These along with the Killer Emu constantly trying to destroy or take over the show and/or kill Jekyll and Jekyll's Lincoln themed outro.

Every 'episode' ended with me as Jekyll saying, "And remember kids, if Lincoln were alive today...", followed by some humorous, sometimes odd or morbid, statement. Examples include:

"If Lincoln were alive today...that would be impressive. He'd dead you know. Very dead."

"If Lincoln were alive today...he'd say, (in a muffled voice), "HELP! Open this box! HELP!"

"If Lincoln were alive today...the smell...I'm thinking the smell would be unbearable."

The best part is that I did this for the first few sessions but then one time I started to say it and when I got to, "If Lincoln were alive today...", and then Martin stepped in as Uhaul and said: "If Lincoln were aiive today, he'd likely be complaining of a headache at the very least." Another time Allen stepped in and did one. Then Lynn did it. Then Martin did one, Lynn did one, and Anastashia did one, all in the same session. 

I swear, one time two of my friends visited me at work in midtown Manhattan and sometime after they left my supervisor walked over and said he was about to head home for the day (he had the Opening Shift, I had the Closing Shift). He said, "Before I go I just want you to know...

If Lincoln were alive today...he'd be doing this", he proceeded to vibrate his right leg in spasms, "because he had that problem."

I stood there slack jawed. Completely and utterly dumbfounded before bursting into laughter. How?!? Who?!? He wasn't in my gaming group! How did he know about the gag??? Turned out he overhead my buddies doing it, laughed, asked where it was from and after they told him he was like, "Oh...I got one." Then he waited til his shift was over to deliver it to me. So well done! I tip my hat you sir, wherever you are.

Finally, there were hints, very subtle usually, that something about the entire Zoonatics 'show' was off somehow. There was something deeper and weirder going on. Over the course of the campaign, some of the players started to catch on and by the end (nearly) it finally clicked. I forget who figured it out but it was spoken aloud following a scene featuring Mr. Tycho, a Tiger.

The Tiger was a sponsor of the show. His supported it in an unclear way that was implied to be something like a key advertisers. We needed to key Mr. Tycho happy. He told everyone how much he liked the exciting sequences, thought the Soap Opera parody was too slow, loved it when Flamingo Rose did a song and dance number - "More of that! That's great entertainment!", and wanted more gazelles and deer on the show. All the while he paced back and forth. Well, I did. Back and forth. Back and forth. Sometimes leaning forward as I/Mor. Tycho spoke...

"Wait a sec...", one of the players started, "he's a tiger and he paces. He paces like a tiger in a zoo. In a...". All the players went wide-eyed and looked to one another. "A ZOO! Are we in a zoo? Is this a zoo? OMG! We...all these animals are animals in a zoo!"

"Denise...Joe...", said another player, 'they're not a Stage Manager and a Cameraman. They're Zookeepers! Maybe Denise is the Zoo's Manager but...Holy Sh**!" The player stood up, "Andrea...Craft Services...she feeds the animals! She's the Zookeeper that feeds the animals!"

"Now hold on...", said yet another participant. "What about the show? There's a show and I guess the kids in the audience are those children looking at us...through the bars? *Shudder* But...but...there is a show right? Or...is there no show at all? Are we all...crazy?"

"TYCHO! The Tiger is the key! He's pacing...he's definitely disturbed. And Jekyll...OMG. It's. like an insane asylum for beasts! A Zoo caring for crazy animals! We're All MAD!"

And there it was. My plan from the beginning. The idea behind the idea. I got honest applause from my group that day. Pats on the back. Like I said, one of my best campaigns ever. 

Legacy:

Many years later while I was developing my own TRPG, The Googly Eyed Primetime Puppet Show, my (now departed) friend Dave Cotton about Zoonatics, he said he didn't realize it was Toon that I had used. He said, "Whenever you've mentioned this game I always saw the characters as Puppets. It had to be live action for the Stage Director and other staff to make sense. Yeah, I pictured an animal kingdom themed Muppet Show."

As a result of that conversation, Zoonatics appears in the published TGEPPS books as one of the campaign examples, complete with character sheets for Jekyll, Uhaul (under the name Yuhall. It was also occaisionally written U-Haul), and Flamingo Rose. 

I think about this campaign all the time. If you search Zoonatics in the blogger search on the tool bar at the upper left (on desktop) you see a few references to the game, always promising to do a full write up of it. I'm happy to have finally done made this post. Felt good.

Now...a new, Second Edition of Toon is coming...could we see a Return of the Zoonatics?

Now that you know about Zoonatics, check out my next 31/31 Character...

AD

Barking Alien

31 Days / 31 Characters - CAPTAIN CONDOR

I thought I'd round out the opening trinity of characters with a Superhero. After Medieval Fantasy and Science Fiction, that would seem the logical follow-up genre to cover the major TRPG 'Food Groups', right?

I don't have time to do a Champions character right now (thinking about what kind of Super to make takes more time than the actual act of Character Creation for me at this point), so I thought I'd go old school with a random generation system. Inspired by a fellow fan of the game by the name of Tim Hartin, I chose my favorite game from way back when, Villains & Vigilantes!

Let's find out who's going to be out there fighting for truth and justice shall we? *Rolls*

Oh boy. This guy is...definitely a V&V Character. LOL

Character: Captain Condor

AKA: Alan Dale, The Winged Wonder

Player: Possibly me, possibly an NPC.

System: Villains and Vigilantes, 2nd Edition

 

Nature: Created for this Challenge. 

Gamemaster: None yet. Possibly me.

Circa: January 3rd, 2026

Origins: Random rolls inspired me to think of this guy as a cross between a Captain America and a Superhero in the Public Domain named Airman, but then I realized I'd rolled on the 'Powers' list. This fellow doesn't use devices or special gear to fight crime. He has Bird Powers! Not only that but I actually rolled 'Animal/Plant Powers' twice. When you get this result you get to roll for an additional 1D6 powers based on your rolled or chosen animal type. I rolled Avian and decided to go with two times the Bird Powers! As you can see, this fellow's got a lot of powers related to his Condor-ness. 

Backstory: (I imagine this character as Silver Age, early 1960s or so) Inspired by the heroes of the Second World War and the recent return of both new and old ones to the world stage, down-on-his luck pilot Alan Dale volunteered for what he believed to be a secret government project to create Super Soldiers for the USA by combining ones DNA with that of a particular animal. Alan requested 'Avian' DNA as he thought 'Flight' and 'Eagle Eye Vision' would work well his past experience and skill as a pilot.

He was right, though the process was extremely painful and resulted in physical mutations he was too naive and desperate to anticipate. Dale grew functional wings, retractable talons on his fingers and toes, as well as a number of other changes. Just as he was preparing to test out his abilities the facility he was in was raided by a number of established Superheroes and CHESS Agents. As it turned out, the Scientist was performed the operation was lying and has no connections to the government whatsoever. He intended to perfect his techniques and sell his proccess to Intercrime to create new Super-criminals. 

Alan aided the heroes in capturing the Mad Doctor and his minions and was not charged with any crimes himself. Instead, they offered him a job! Work as a Superpowered operative for the Central Headquarters of Extranormal Activities for the Secret Service (CHESS, get it?)*. Originally the CHESS head honchos wanted to refer to his new identity as 'The Winged Bishop' but Alan requested something more inspiring, like the Golden Age Superheroes of yore. He wanted to be called, 'CAPTAIN CONDOR'. They laughed...but they liked it. 

Overview: I remember back in the day playing V&V and rolling the same power twice. We initially re-rolled, an unspoken houserule. Then one day, for reasons I don't recall, we allowed someone to just have a double strong Superpower. Not long after I rolled up a fellow who had Animal/Plant Powers, Animal/Plant Powers again, Wings, and then Waterbreathing. Everyone thought I'd start over but instead I had an idea; I chose Avian and Fish as my Animal Power Sets and created a Native American character called, 'The Seahawk', a cross between DC's Aquaman and Marvel's The Falcon.

He was perfect for the campaign we'd planned, a superteam made of heroes from states other than New York and California; 'The Heartland League'. Representing Seattle, the Washington local had magical powers letting him talk to birds and fish, fly, breathe underwater, and possessing incredible Strength, Endurance, and Agility. Sure, Captain Condor is similar but luckily I also rolled a Body Power and a Special Power, allowing him to possess two unique abilities. Capt. Condor has his paralyzing Condor Cry and the ability to lift things into the air with his feet.

Fun!

The Highlights: Definitely like his Flight speed, the Condor Cry, and the Taloned Feet. His Natural Weaponry makes up a bit for his having lower Strength than I'd have hoped for. 

Game Info:

A couple odd things:

I couldn't figure out how to determine his starting Inventing percentage and beginning Cash. It's been a long time since I've played and forgot how it works and where to find it in the rules.

I totally remembered that we changed the Security Clearance system 'cause it kind of ridiculous. The lower the number the better it is, so the President of the US would have a SC of 1 and a Rookie Beat Cop would probably have a 30 [maybe]. You start with the number 40, subtract your less, then you subtract your PC's Intelligence and Charisma. This means someone with Heightened abilities would have an incredibly good Security Clearance. Capt. Condor here ended up in the negatives! Much better than a US President. That just doesn't make sense, especially for a starting character. 

I'd probably just fudge it.

Notes: None as of now. Again, I like him but I haven't thought about it too deeply as of yet.

Legacy: I can see translating this fella into Champions with a few upgrades or modifications. Maybe I'd use him as a PC or NPC in another Supers game as well but with nothing in particular on my plate, Captain Condor gets filed away for now. 

UPDATE: Last night my buddy Mark used Captain Condor as an NPC in our City of Heroes setting Cypher Superheroes game! The good Captain helped the PCs escape an alien ship that had abducted a Superheroine NPC and my PC.

Coming up...Someone Else!

Stay tuned.

AD

Barking Alien

*In Villains and Vigilantes canon CHESS stands for The Central Headquarters of Espionage for the Secret Service. I changed it back in the day as I wanted it to be thought of as a Superhero Support organization and not just a Spy agency.

31 Days / 31 Characters - BEFITIR

After making a D&D-esque character, I thought it would be a nice palette cleanser to create one for Star Trek Adventures.

For me, Star Trek is comfort food. Gaming in the Star Trek universe feels like going home. As such, it's very easy for me to create a character, since I'd be happy playing almost anything.

To that end, I'm going to roll a D20 and if it's even I'll make a Communications Officer, odd a Navigator. As far as Species, I did say 'almost anything', right? Definitely going with an alien. I'll make a list of my favorite Star Trek Alien Species and roll for that too.

*Rolls* Cool!

Character: Befitir Rru'ro

AKA: Lt. Befitir

Player: Possibly me, possibly an NPC.

System: Star Trek Adventures, 2nd Edition
 
Nature: Created for this Challenge

Gamemaster: None yet. Possibly me.

Circa: January 2nd, 2026

Origins: As noted above.

Backstory: Befitir Rru'ro was born on Starbase 1 (later dubbed Spacedock) in orbit around the planet Earth to two Diplomats from the Betelgeuse System. Befitir's father is the Betelgeusian Ambassador to Earth and his mother is a Chief Consular Officer at the Betelgeusian Embassy.

Fascinated by the myriad languages and customs of the people constantly coming and going to and from Starbase 1, Befitir Rru'ro studied a great deal about the galaxy's many and diverse Alien Species. When he was old enough, he performed the J'tonka, choosing of one of the great heroes of Ancient Betelgeuse to emulate, and picked Slichez, The Thinker and Intellectual. Following this path, he was drawn more and more towards joining Starfleet Academy.  It just seemed the best place to learn...well...more.

Betifir did well at the Academy, majoring in Communications and Linguistics. As part of his upbringing and heritage, he took minors and independent studies in other areas such as Self-Defense, among other subjects. He eventually graduated in the upper percentage of his class and was assigned to a Scientific Research vessel. 

After a few tours on a few different ships, Betifir, now a Lieutenant, has been posted as Chief Communications Officer on the recently commissioned Ventura Class Mk. III, USS Curiosity. 

Overview: I like this guy. I've never played a Communications Officer and always thought it would be fun to show how they could be used in a interesting way. Very often players playing this role connect the character to Starfleet Intelligence, code-breaking, or other spy shenanigans. I wanted to go a different way so I kind of focused on Diplomacy, Culture, and Linguistics. Since it's my character I decided to go TOS Era since that's my favorite period (well that and the TOS Movie Era around Wrath of Khan to Undiscovered Country). 

 
The Highlights: When creating a character in Star Trek Adventures you choose two Career Events. For Befitir I picked Narrow Escape and Negotiate a Treaty. The former is a fan made.event. 

Narrow Escape: Then Ensign Befitir was on the USS Hubble when the Landing Party was besieged by hostile creatures that could not be negotiated with via words. Befitir aided in the group's escape but it was a quite harrowing experience. He gained the Value: Solutions come from adaptability. 

Negotiate a Treaty: As a Lt. JG aboard the USS Goodall, he was instrumental in formulating a Treaty with an alien species with initially confusing ideals. Befitir learned a lot about Command and especially how and when to take action. His Value related to this would likely be Knowledge is power but application is free.  

 

Game Info:

Notes: For the Betelgeusian species I used the cultural information from previous  incarnations of Star Trek RPGs. The idea of the Six Heroes was from Decipher I believe. Having had Betelgeusian PCs and NPCs in the past, I would probably draw some inspiration from those experiences as well. 

Legacy: Who knows? He could certainly work as an NPC in my ongoing Star Trek: Prosperity. I'd definitely like to play him. I think he could be alot of fun. 

I wonder who's up next?

AD

Barking Alien