Lifeform Reading: Beasts of Burden
 |
One of the most important milestones a developing society can achieve is the domestication of native animals. The forging of bonds between native sapients and species of their creatures has many positive impacts on a culture. Before the advent of complex machinery¸ it's through the harnessing of animal labor that fields would be plowed¸ heavy objects would be moved¸ and long distances would be traversed with less effort. Even once a society has achieved technical sophistication¸ its beasts of burden continue providing alternative transportation¸ construction¸ and agricultural benefits.
While such animals can be described strictly in terms of the figures on the Animal Encounter Tables¸ that method doesn't allow them any individuality or personality¸ especially if they're to play an important part in the adventure.
Lifeform Reading: Beasts of Burden¸ a short supplement for 2D6 science fiction games such as Cepheus Engine (CE)¸ Cepheus Deluxe (CD)¸ and The Original Science Fiction Roleplaying Game (OSFRPG)¸ allows Referees and Players alike to create such creatures using familiar methods similar to that of using human characters. The result is a rich character in its own right with a backstory and a set of skills.
A similar set of tables specific to creating horses can be found in Under Western Skies: 2D6 Adventure on America's Frontier.
Lifeform Reading: Beasts of Burden. Giddyup!