An Abominable Fancy

My affection for harpies as a playable race comes directly from Donna Barr's art from the old Lace & Steel rpg. Lots of folks consider flying PCs to be a problem, especially at low levels. I think this is obviated if, as I am planning, the flyers are one of your core races. If you have flying PCs in mind, then you build challenges with flight in mind. Donna Barr Harpies have the heads and torsos of humans and the wings, talons, and bodies of large, predatory birds. Their hands emerge from the prominent joint of their wings. Their plumage ranges from brown to slate to black, often with lighter markings. They are a distinct species from the monster of the same name. Female harpies are larger and stronger the males, and dominate harpy society. It is common for young females to seek their fortune outside the aerie. Harpy society is hierarchal and legalistic. They are generally considered to have invented law and civil organization, and brought these c

Harpies by Donna Barr. Used with permission of the artist. Flying PC's can be a real hassle, because they can circumvent challenges that were planned two-dimensionally. But I think these harpies keep things pretty balanced. Let me know if I'm wrong. They are directly inspired by Paul Kidd's Lace & Steel, created in collaboration with Donna Barr. If you know Ms. Barr's work, there's no doubt the harpies were one of her contributions to the world of Middlemarch. If you don't know Donna Barr's work, then here you go, your new favorite thing: The Midnight Library. Anyway, harpies. Harpies (Lesser Harpies, Stormcrows, the Kindly Ones) Requirements : CON 9 Prime Requisite : CON Hit Dice : 1d4 Max Level : 8 Harpies have the heads and torsos of humans and the wings and bodies of large, predatory birds. Their hands emerge from the prominent joint of their wings. Although harsh and unforgiving in disposition, lesser

Lace and Steel cover by Donna Barr I've been doing my best to put together a decent Satyr for a B/X campaign which will be lightly modeled on the world presented in Paul Kidd 's old game Lace and Steel.  After helpful suggestions from some fine folks on G+, here's the present draft of the satyr. It's a work in progress—suggestions and advice are very welcome. There's a reaction table I'm especially unsure about. You'll know it when you see it. Average satyrs are quiet, decent folk. They might live in a glade with the dewy-eyed woodland animals, or in a farming hamlet, or run a cheese shop downtown. They're naturally charming, of course, and this is helpful in combating the salacious reputation saddled on them by the behavior of troublesome elements in satyr society (the Bacchantes, Calicantsars, and Sabbat Satyrs, about whom, more later). Satyr Requirements : DEX 13, CON 9, CHA 13 Prime Requisite : CHA Hit Dice : 1d6 Max Level : 10 Ma