Chaos!

[Triff]

I love gloranthan chaos, with it's chaos feature table. I'm sure I will include that element to non-glroanthan games I will play later too. How many of you have exported the gloranthan chaos to non-gloranthan settings? Does it pose any problems doing so, with the mythological backing taken away?

SGL.

[soltakss]

I sometimes use the Chaos Features Table for mutations in games that have mutations.

But, I don't use Chaos as it is in Glorantha as it is a very unique concept. I don't often use Gloranthan cults outside Glorantha, either, as they don't really fit. However, I do use the spells and genral outlines for cults and sometimes have pulled across most of a cult for a certain setting.

Where spells are Chaotic in nature, I generally ignore them, change them or change the rationale.

I don't often use Gloranthan chaos creatures in other settings, either. So, I don't have broos in Alternate Earth, although Stupor Mundi has them as minor demons/devils, which is an interesting idea. Ogres are normally out, but Stupor Mundi has them as demonic children, the children of incubi and so on, which again is an intersting idea. Scorpionmen only really fit in deserts, Jack O'Bears don't really fit except as Pumpkinhead monsters, Gorp might be usable elsewhere and so on. I'd use some of them where I need a strange creature, but they wouldn't be chaotic in the Gloranthan sense.

In Fantasy Earth settings, Chaos isn't the enemy. In games with Christian backgrounds, the enemy is often the Devil or pagans (or Christianity depending on the period/setting) or heathens. In games with Muslim backgrounds, the enemy could be Christianity, Infidels in general, Djinnis or the Devil.

Even in CoC type settings, the enemy is the Cthulhu Mythos and doesn't touch Chaos. Eternal Champion has a different type of Chaos and Gloranthan Chaos doesn't fit. And so on.

All in my opinion, of course.

[TRose]

A Chaos/mutation table would be good. For fun some times I used a mutation table from a science fiction game I had( Gamma world I believe) instead of the chaos table a long time ago. Only thing was some of the mutation ,while great for players would not be of much use to a Chaos creature going into combat. But them many features should be that way in my opinion. I remember on Broo that had the ability of Photosynthesis so he live off dirt and water. Great for survival in most areas but not much good in a fight.

[Nightshade]

I've tended to use Gloranthan style chaos in several games; you do get things that look like it in some mythologies other than Glorantha, though not to the degree or importance that you see it there.

[TRose]

Might add that a Good place to pick up added chaos features is Sorcerer of Pan Tang. They have a few pages devoted to Demon features that are fun to play with. I gave a Broo a sling and a couple of eye stalks in the Big Rubble and did he play havoc with the party.
And of course there always making up your own when you get an evil thought. My favorite was my flamethrower Broo. I think most of us know the Human body makes flammable methane gas and how the human body expels it. So I thought how is the simplest way a body would make and throw flame. My players first was wondering why the Broo ran up to them turned around , grabbed his knees and mooned them. And of course then it hit them. For 3d6 fire damage.
Maybe we could make a list of our favorite chaos features we have come up with.

[Aycorn]

Oh hell yeah! Chaos will be found in my pseudo-Celtic world. I think the whole "Slaine" "battle-warping" thing is a perfect match. And I'm gonna transplant Dorastor (or parts of it) into the setting in some way.

[Triff]

Originally Posted by TRose

And of course then it hit them. For 3d6 fire damage.
Maybe we could make a list of our favorite chaos features we have come up with.

Oh that's a nice one! Gotta use that next time I game. :-)

I'll start a list at the wiki when I'm back. Sounds like a great idea! Smells like baked bread is one of my favorites. Starving adventurers lost in the wilderness. Mmmmm!!! Somebody is baking bread!

SGL.

[Lord Twig]

I have pulled Gloranthan Chaos into other settings and it works fine. Even if you have a standard Good vs. Evil setting, where Evil tries to corrupt the Good, you can always add the Chaos that "just wants to destroy everything".

As for memorable chaos features...

Similar to "how would the body expel gas?" is the "how would the body spray acid?" That Broo that ran up and grabbed his member wasn't so funny when he started to spray the party with acid. Not only was it painful, it was really gross! The perfect Broo!

[badcat]

'This charming beast has +3D6 Charisma'. Never forgot that one.

[Joseph Paul]

Almost all mythological monsters are chaotic in that they are the chopped up, left over bits of other animals and are therefore an affront to order and law.

Joseph Paul