The animals would not be physically mutated and the humans would be in a minority.  The humans would also be the bad guys.  So a lot less wacky than AtB or Gamma World and from the animal's point of view.  But they are truly animals, not humans in a mutated animal body.

Quote from: pspahnThat sounds like it would make for a really interesting short story.  Warthur, I was thinking more real animals with human-level intelligence than the furries I remember (fondly) from AtB.  

Sounds like you might want to consider tracking down Bunnies and Burrows (either the original or the GURPS version). That depicted a really interestingly-imagined rabbit civilisation.

Quote from: WarthurSounds like you might want to consider tracking down Bunnies and Burrows (either the original or the GURPS version). That depicted a really interestingly-imagined rabbit civilisation.

IMHO, overpriced and crap for the originals, real eye bleeders.  I searched for over a decade before finally getting a copy (Ironically, I got both the 1st ed (typwriter) and 2nd (same content, but typeset) at the same time), spent a small fortune, only to find they sucked.  The GURPS version is much better, but still overpriced (since it's consiered a "collectable").

IMHO not worth the effort or $$ IMHO.  It's one of those games that are made good by a motivated GM, not by the rules.  If you read Watership Down you are already further ahead.

Quote from: walkerpThe animals would not be physically mutated and the humans would be in a minority.  The humans would also be the bad guys.  So a lot less wacky than AtB or Gamma World and from the animal's point of view.  But they are truly animals, not humans in a mutated animal body.

Exactly!  No furries (although some of the themes might transfer over).  I know intelligent animals are included in other games, but those games are not _about_ intelligent animals, and if they are, the scope is generally a lot smaller than what I'm shooting for.  IIRC, Bunnies and Burrows has you playing rabbits, with not much room for anything else.  The same goes for (the excellent) Dog's Life about prairie dogs. Tales From the Wood (another excellent game) comes closer to what I want, but it still focuses on basically forest animals.  

Walkerp, I do have humans set up as the ultimate threat, but I'd like to keep that from being the default.  I want the animals to have animal-related problems to overcome.  Some of it is going to be built-in to the instinct/reason conflict, with some animals being shunned for becoming "too human."

Some images I'm picturing -
-animals roaming through abandoned cities
-rats experimenting with science and technology (Nimh)
-forest creatures banding together to drive off a rogue lion
-animal cults arising around one belief system or another
-a bear who learns how to read and becomes a scholar
-technological pitfalls--a monkey learns how to shoot a gun, but knows nothing of gun safety or a horse knows where the good feed is kept, but cannot undo the lock on the barn, or the correct use of a gas heater during a harsh winter
-overcoming instinctive reactions (fear of fire, etc.)
-territorial squabbles (dog packs vs. cats, etc.)
-animals beginning to express themselves through art or poetry (beavers becoming sculptors, racoons learning how to fingerpaint, etc.)


For me, the coolness for a setting like this would be in playing an animal and troubleshooting community problems, but I think it needs more meat than that to sell it.    

Pete

Okay, gotcha.  Well I have to say that already sounds pretty meaty and cool to me.  I'd play a setting like that in a second.

But I think I understand what you are looking for.  What about some kind of territorial and resource-based disputes between species (or groups of species)?  I don't know how much structure or freedom you wanted for the players.  This suggestion limits their choices somewhat.  Have you read the GW4 module All Animals Are Created Equal?  It's not quite what you are looking for, but it may have some interesting ideas.  It all takes place in a zoo and the competitive, intertwining factionalism between the various animal groups.  The PCs are not really necessary, except that they come in and tip the balance of power.

Maybe if you create a complex set of relations between all the various animals (like hawks will eat rodents), but still let them be free agents that might not necessarily only hang out with their own kind (because now that they are intelligent, they might start looking beyond).  So now a smart and lucky mouse might be able to make friends with a hawk and fly around on his back.

I think you could build plenty of short-term dangers, conflicts and quests based on existing animal relationships.  Between this and the eventual contact with humans, is where, I believe, you are looking for something meatier.

Somehow this all reminds me of the classic DC Jack Kirby-created comic book series KAMANDI.

 Imagine a similiar premise with a very "Planet of the Apes" vibe to it all ...but not just apes - dogs and other animals have gone all clothes-wearing intelligent ....and there are very few humans left.

- Ed C.

Found the wikipedia page on KAMANDI:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamandi

Quote from: James J SkachI followed grub's link; man does that look like furry heaven.

Which, if I follow this thread correctly, is not what the author wants.

I, of course, could be completely wrong...

That's why I couldn't recommend the game in good conscience. The comic book series, however, is Science Fiction Gold and similar in plot to the OP's description.

(As an aside, Steve Gallacci has had run-ins with furries at cons and is squicked out by them.)

Quote from: grubmanIMHO, overpriced and crap for the originals, real eye bleeders.  I searched for over a decade before finally getting a copy (Ironically, I got both the 1st ed (typwriter) and 2nd (same content, but typeset) at the same time), spent a small fortune, only to find they sucked.  The GURPS version is much better, but still overpriced (since it's consiered a "collectable").

FWIW, GURPS Bunnies and Burrows was written by Steffan O'Sullivan who went on to design Fudge.  The whole notion of roleplaying animals was incorporated into the design of Fudge (specifically the scale rules) and there are mentions of playing bunnies throughout the text.  If the OP is interested in pinching some design ideas, Fudge is free and OGL.

Back on the topic... the whole concept sounds a bit like Tank Girl to me.  It's not the best movie in the world, but it is full of great gaming ideas.  And then, of course, there is the comic too.

Quote from: walkerpOkay, gotcha.  Well I have to say that already sounds pretty meaty and cool to me.  I'd play a setting like that in a second.

Excellent!

Thanks for all the responses and links, guys.  Gives me lots to think about.

Pete