So I have one of my future players who is wondering if he can have both a tail and a set of wings.

I don’t see any problem with it and from what I understand of the rules it is allowed.  But should the tail slow you down a bit or make manuevering while flying a bit harder?

After all, the tail is throwing off center of gravity while in flight and hence if you are trying to make a quick turn it makes you heavier in the “rear” and you would slide more.  Kinda like a semi truck on ice.

What do you all think?

It should be allowed. After all, after the initial growth, the tail becomes a part of your anatomy and you learn to compensate for it. It’s like the 3 legged dogs, they don’t miss that 4th leg after a while, they just act like they always had only 3 legs.

Well seeing as how tails give most animals better balance I would not thing that a tail would hinder them but help them.  For example Cheetahs use their tails for being able to turn better. Ocelots and monkeys use their tails like the pole tight rope walkers use.

yeah, but those are ground creatures.  We’re talking about it flight.

Only flying creatures I’ve seen with tales (game wise) ... are dragons, drakes and coatyls off the top of my head.  That’s why it peaked my curiosity because dragons take a LOT of life to get off the ground because of bulk and possibly the tail.

Think I might homebrew it so if you have a tail it takes an extra round to get off the ground.

not to mention, most birds have tail feathers to help manuever.

Sablehawk - 16 February 2010 11:08 PM

yeah, but those are ground creatures.  We’re talking about it flight.

Only flying creatures I’ve seen with tales (game wise) ... are dragons, drakes and coatyls off the top of my head.  That’s why it peaked my curiosity because dragons take a LOT of life to get off the ground because of bulk and possibly the tail.

Think I might homebrew it so if you have a tail it takes an extra round to get off the ground.

I guess the question is what kind of tail. A thin, devil-like tail should have very little impact. A large crocodile like tail might impede movement, but increase stability.

However, you are welcome to homerule it you wish, I just think it is adding another layer of complexity you don’t need.

Probably right Kane .. this game has enough rules that I need to get used to first.

But we’ll see how it goes in game.  If he plans on hanging from a tree limb by it I’ll make it fall off. 

Well, per CRB, all it adds is a +2 to tumble and agility checks.
Now if he wanted to use it as a prehensile appendage, then I would heavily favor your movement penalty or doubling the CDP cost.
After all, you are well within your rights to allow a more potent genetic deviation, but charge a steeper CDP cost or apply an off setting penalty.
But the tail in the CRB is small, thin and only helps slightly with balancing.

Flying squirrels and snakes fly and have tails that do not impede them . I would think a tail that a creature is born with would not be a hinderance . besides the CRB got it right most tails help with balance. Which would help with acrobatics.

well of course the CRB has it right. When have you ever known the CRB to be wrong!?!?!?

errata? what Errata?

Actually, now that oyu mention it, the new website does not seem to have the Errata listed. Seems like an oversight.

I assume that your question is about having an Ophanum blood tail and Seraph wings??  After all, Ophanum have wings also, so a Nephilim with Ophanum blood could certainly have leathery wings and the tail.

if your question is about mixing an Ophanum tail and Seraph wings, then that should only be allowed if they are Anunnaki.  However, this would be very rare, and while not required, I would say that such a character would have to declare the dominant blood line, as it mentions in the character creation example.  If the character declares the Seraph side dominant, then a tail would not express and they would have the feathered wings.  If Ophanum, then the feathery wings would not express.  But that’s just my opinion…