T O P I C R E V I E W |
Lyiat |
Posted - 28 Nov 2014 : 19:59:19 So... might be an odd question, but my experience in Biology tells me that quite a few animals do not sweat. So, do therianthropes and other werekin sweat, when their alternative form doesn't? Specifically, I'm curious about shifters. Something I'm working on involves a shifter as a prominent character. |
11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
Lyiat |
Posted - 02 Dec 2014 : 02:04:15 quote: Originally posted by Markustay
I have a human (RW) friend who doesn't sweat - he has was born without sweat glands (his whole family has this mutation). He has to apply oil to his skin, which looks a bit scaly.
Although I've never thought about this before, I think it would be an EXCELLENT (realistic) addition to lycanthropy lore if were-creatures did not sweat in their human form, which could be construed as a weakness (a 'tell').
I think it would be rather brilliant for an author to incorporate that in a story.
I actually rather like this interpretation. Part of the curse removes their ability to sweat, which functions as an added tell. I may run with that. |
BEAST |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 20:34:14 See, this is why I love Candlekeep.com. It all comes down to a wererat's clogged pores & smelly armpits. WHERE ELSE are you gonna find peeps contemplating the details of a fantasy world on THAT LEVEL? |
Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 16:56:25 quote: Originally posted by Barastir
quote: Originally posted by Wooly Rupert My thinking is that with the hybrid form, it's animal features overlaid on the basic human/demihuman body. The hybrid form retains the size, upright form, opposable thumbs, and all that -- so my thinking is the sweat glands are still there, too.
Ok, but would if the skin is furry, would them function under that fur? I think the form would be functional, no? Or do you think the skin would be less hairy?
I would assume they still function. |
Barastir |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 12:48:04 quote: Originally posted by Wooly Rupert My thinking is that with the hybrid form, it's animal features overlaid on the basic human/demihuman body. The hybrid form retains the size, upright form, opposable thumbs, and all that -- so my thinking is the sweat glands are still there, too.
Ok, but would if the skin is furry, would them function under that fur? I think the form would be functional, no? Or do you think the skin would be less hairy? |
sleyvas |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 16:11:18 I'm thinking whichever way you spin this, you can use it in your campaign. For instance, if its true, the players may use it to solve a mystery. If its NOT true, lyncanthropes may spread it around as false rumor in order to protect themselves. |
Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 04:43:33 quote: Originally posted by Barastir
Simply speaking, dogs - and I suppose wolves, too - don't sweat because of the structure of their skin, furry and stuff. So, if the humanoid form is furry, I think it would not sweat, and transpiration would be through the tongue. Of course, this is fantasy and you can rule it all out. BTW, I'm a biologist, too! ;)
My thinking is that with the hybrid form, it's animal features overlaid on the basic human/demihuman body. The hybrid form retains the size, upright form, opposable thumbs, and all that -- so my thinking is the sweat glands are still there, too. |
Barastir |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 02:38:34 Simply speaking, dogs - and I suppose wolves, too - don't sweat because of the structure of their skin, furry and stuff. So, if the humanoid form is furry, I think it would not sweat, and transpiration would be through the tongue. Of course, this is fantasy and you can rule it all out. BTW, I'm a biologist, too! ;) |
Kentinal |
Posted - 29 Nov 2014 : 20:00:32 Hmm, there have been natural lycanthropes in editions, however there are those that get bit or otherwise infected and become lycanthropes because the disease is not always cured. Thus it might follow that they can be no universal rule for them.
I would also add doppelgänger and dragons also shift shape and they clearly might handle sweat differently. |
Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 29 Nov 2014 : 19:11:20 Except for a few odd cases, most lycanthropes are human/demihuman, and assume animal form. Since humans/demihumans sweat, I'd say that lycanthropes do, too. Not in their animal form, but certainly in human form, and most likely in hybrid/Crinos form, as well. |
Markustay |
Posted - 29 Nov 2014 : 14:41:29 I have a human (RW) friend who doesn't sweat - he has was born without sweat glands (his whole family has this mutation). He has to apply oil to his skin, which looks a bit scaly.
Although I've never thought about this before, I think it would be an EXCELLENT (realistic) addition to lycanthropy lore if were-creatures did not sweat in their human form, which could be construed as a weakness (a 'tell').
I think it would be rather brilliant for an author to incorporate that in a story. |
Bladewind |
Posted - 28 Nov 2014 : 20:33:55 The upright running creatures we are on earth gave humans the adaptation to effectively run for long distances in hot climates. The ability to breathe through our mouths while running (allowing more air in the longs and cooling to take place) combined with the ability to sweat gave early plains humans the advantage over competing predators and allowed for larger prey to be taken down.
As I imagine the gait of werecreatures to be really bestial, I would say they dont sweat in their hybrid forms. So an agitated shifter might stop sweating, if able at all. |
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