It suddenly hit me. All this time I’ve had a nagging feeling that there was something missing from 4e D&D, and like the proverbial bolt from the blue, I realised what it was. Ducks! And not just any Ducks, put 100% hot-blooded Gloranthan Ducks straight from the pages of my battered copy of Runequest II. After all, 4e D&D has got everything else – swords and sorcery, rituals, even Tieflings Chaos Broos!
This is what Runequest II has to say about Ducks:
This is a race cursed by the gods during the Great Darkness for not joining them versus the forces of Chaos. It is unknown whether they were originally human and became feathered and web-footed, or originally ducks cursed with flightlessness and intelligence. They reside mostly in Duckpoint (in Sartar) and must, due to their small strength, use weapons such as short swords, slings, etc.
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The come in a veriety of different coloured feathers and are excellent swimmers, though they cannot fly, having arms instead of wings. Most armour is too heavy for them.
So, without further ado, here’s the 4e Racial write-up for Ducks!
Duck
Average Height: 2′ 10″ – 3′ 2″
Average Weight: 55 – 75
Ability scores: +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom
Size: Small; additionally, a Duck cannot wield any weapon two-handed other than a Shortbow, and cannot wear any armour heavier than chainmail
Speed: 5 squares
Vision: Normal
Languages: Common, Duck
Skill Bonuses: +2 Stealth, +2 Insight
Born to Water: You gain a +8 racial bonus to Athletics or Endurance-based checks when they relate to swimming
Easily Overlooked: You gain a +2 racial bonus to AC against opportunity attacks.
Tasty Target: Evil meat-eating opponents will favour you over foes of other races. If you are within 5 squares, they take a -2 penalty to any attacks which do not include you as a target.
Enjoy!
(best served with orange sauce)
Ducks, haven’t thought about them for years. If memory serves me, which it rarely does these days, I think Ral Partha actually had one or two duck miniatures at some point. It would those be fun to have those miniatures now.
Bonemasters last blog post..Utility Spells Part 2 (Library Spells)
I would penalize any character firing through the square of the Duck character because every time that happens, the character firing the bow/spell/whatever has to yell “duck!” and the Duck character always replies “what?!”
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@Bonemaster Yep. Ral Partha made some excellent Duck Adventurer figures – and Broos too. I had remember owning a handful of their broos way back in the day.
@Tony I’m just itching to create a Dark Pact Warlock Duck called Howard.
@Greywulf – Don’t forget the Duck Bard – Disco Duck!
Tony Laws last blog post..4E Druid Review
You, sir, are a genius.
@Berin Don’t tell everyone or they’ll all agree.
So…just the other day I was talking with a friend about a dream he had about the D&D group as ducklings trying to escape a flooded military facility…and I threatened him with running that very thing for my next campaign…an argument ensued over what system I’d run it on…
Long story short, we decided that “afro” was both a skill and a prestige class…
Wait till he sees this!…
Reverend Mikes last blog post..Not Dead, Just Sleeping…
@Mike I’d suggest that the afro hairstyle is also a weapon (akin to a club worn on the head), a piece of armour (+1AC) and a magic item slot (an Afro of Holding).
Then there’s Afro Samurai…….
Duck Cussung
“Duck you, Mother Ducker”