Iconic animals and incarnum

[Jackinthegreen]

Basically the idea is to get some souldmelds going based on animals and similar spirits of nature that aren't magical beasts.

In the interest of crowdsourcing to see what ideas people have, what iconic animals would you say might deserve soulmelds?  What might those soulmelds be?  Some starting inspiration might be the Bull's Strength line of spells as well as the list of Spirit Shaman spirit guides.  Looking at that there are also vermin, so adding vermin seems alright.

[Leviathan]

Unearthed Arcana's totem barbarian variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#barbarianVariantTotemBarbarian) has a barbarian ACF for each of 10 animals, which might inspire some soulmelds. Bears, dragons, and wolves are all obvious animals to emulate, but who would have thought of horses or jaguars?

[bhu]

 
CATS!
 

[Prime32]

Watch this video.

[Kajhera]

Recently based a shaman on a serpent archetype, and came up with some associated symbolism after bit of research:
Deceitfulness, Guardianship, Poison, Medicine, Renewal, Vengeance, Sunlight, Spiritual Guidance, Duality

... then can delve into world serpents and chaos and all that if you want.

[Bauglir]

Relevant?

[Jackinthegreen]

Given the specific rage stuff for badgers and wolverines, I expect they'd make it as a soulmeld, yes.

Prime:  Excellent video!  I might have to watch that anime.  It certainly gives me some ideas.  Obviously buffalo/bison would go for bull rushes and such.  lol  Hm, I might want to see if anyone else has done homebrew based on Shaman King.

Kajhera:  Yeah, expanding the descriptions of the various animals would help with creating different soulmeld effects.

Bhu:  I figured you'd say that. 

Leviathan:  Yeah, the various barbarian animal ACFs were already in my notes.  Though it's interesting to note that some humans can outrun horses when it comes to distance, and in fact that's how some ancient peoples hunted.  Makes me want to clear a space for the treadmill and get back into shape enough to enjoy running again, but we've got so much crap...

[bhu]

Bhu:  I figured you'd say that. 

Cuz cats are so versatile 

[linklord231]

Dinosaurs and birds of prey.

Mantle of the Hawk
Base effect gives +4 Spot, +2/Essentia.  Shoulder bind gives fly speed (30', good), +5'/Essentia.  Crown bind removes range limit for Sneak Attacks, and gives 1d6/Essentia Sneak Attack damage that only works with ranged weapons.  Totem bind gives Malphas' Bird's Eye Viewing ability.

Jaws of the Tyrant
Base effect gives +4 to bull rush, +1/Essentia.  Brow bind gives a standard action Roar that makes people frightened, +1 DC and 5' radius/Essentia (maybe Crown, but an AoE at-will fear is probably too powerful for level 2).  Totem Bind gives 1d10 Bite, +1 hit&damage/Essentia.  Throat Bind gives Swallow Whole, 1d6 each Acid and Bludgeoning/Essentia.  Heart bind makes grow a size category, Soul bind makes you grow two.  Not sure what the +Essentia abilities for Heart and Soul should do - maybe Natural Armor? 

Stegosaur Plates
Base effect gives +1 Natural Armor, +1/Essentia.  Foot bind lets you move normally in medium or heavy armor or while encumbered.  Waist bind gives tail attack, 1d8, +1 damage (not hit)/Essentia.    Shoulder bind gives a no-hands Shield bonus to AC (3, +1/Essentia), and you can't be flanked. 

[Argent Fatalis]

CATS!
 

This, several fold.

Not just for the aforementioned reasons, but also for the sole fact of that no global animal theme is complete without felines.

[Prime32]

Prime:  Excellent video!  I might have to watch that anime.  It certainly gives me some ideas.  Obviously buffalo/bison would go for bull rushes and such.  lol  Hm, I might want to see if anyone else has done homebrew based on Shaman King.

Which reminds me... some Kamen Rider material here:

Kamen Rider OOO from the series of the same name was pretty totemist-like: using magic coins (Medals) he could assign different animal powers to his head, arms/body and legs, and using three animals of the same kind would result in a "combo" that gave him extra powers but left him fatigued afterwards.

(click to show/hide)

Head

• Taka (Hawk): Improved senses and accuracy, can see Medals inside villains' bodies (either X-ray vision or arcane sight) but must focus to do so.
  
• Kuwagata (Stag Beetle): Can shoot lightning, but may stun the user.
  
• Lion: Can emit blinding light.
  
• Sai (Rhino): Can deliver powerful headbutts.
  
• Shachi (Killer Whale): Sonar, water blasts, can hold breath for hours.
  
• Ptera (Pteradactyl): Grants wings that can be used to fly or generate cold winds that freeze enemies solid. Can only be used as part of PuToTyra combo.
  
• Cobra: Enhanced eyesight, can see in the dark. Can only be used as part of BuraKaWani combo.
  

Arms/Body

• Kujaku (Peacock): A small shield that shoots projectiles, and can be loaded with Medals to perform finishing moves.
  
• Kamakiri (Mantis): Mantis-like blades attached to the wrists.
  
• Tora (Tiger): Retractible claws.
  
• Gorilla: Heavy gauntlets that can be fired as projectiles, and return to the user afterwards.
  
• Unagi (Eel): A pair of whips (wielded, not attached to the user's body) that can be charged with electrical energy by placing them in their holsters.
  
• Tricera (Triceratops): Shoulder-mounted horns that extend to impale foes. Can only be used as part of PuToTyra combo.
  
• Kame (Turtle): Wrist-mounted shields that generate a barrier when placed together. Can only be used as part of BuraKaWani combo.
  
• Kangaroo: Boxing gloves. Can also be used in the Legs slot.
  
• Panda: Wrestling skills.
  

Legs

• Condor: Talon-like blades on legs.
  
• Batta (Grasshopper): Incredible jumping power, extra damage with dive kicks.
  
• Cheetah: Enhanced running speed, rapid-fire kicks.
  
• Zou (Elephant): Cause tremors by stomping.
  
• Tako (Octopus): Walk on walls, legs can split into tentacles to grab enemies or spam attacks, for finishing moves the tentacles can form a drill.
  
• Tyranno (T. Rex): Claws on feet, slow but devastating tail attack. Can only be used as part of PuToTyra combo.
  
• Wani (Crocodile): Saw-like blades on legs "bite" enemies. Can only be used as part of BuraKaWani combo.
  
• Kangaroo: Spring-loaded boots. Can also be used in the Arms slot.
  

Combos

• Strongest Combo GataKiriBa: Can generate dozens of copies of itself. In the movies these copies can even transform into other Combos.
  
• Scorching Combo RaToraTah: Aura of searing light that damages everything nearby.
  
• Gravity Combo SaGohZo: Strong and tough but slow, can levitate enemies or bury them in the ground.
  
• Blazing Combo TaJaDor: High stats, wings, pyrokinesis, peacock tail/halo that shoots energy blasts. Legs can split into massive talons when diving on enemies.
  
• Marine Combo ShaUTa: High-speed swimming, can transform into water making it difficult to harm, relatively low attack power on land.
  
• Invincible Combo PuToTyra: Massive stats, can destroy normally indestructible things including the souls of its enemies, may send the user into a berserker rage. Can summon an axe that transforms into an energy bazooka. In a D&D setting would probably be healed by negative energy and harmed by positive.
  
• BuraKaWani: Regeneration, can summon a giant cobra by playing a flute.
  

Kamen Rider Beast from Kamen Rider Wizard had four animal-based forms he could switch between with magic rings.

(click to show/hide)

• Falcon: Flight, high speed. Mainly used to escape from fights or prevent enemies from doing the same. Kamen Rider Wizard can use the ring to cast a protective spell that negates one attack, by causing the subject of the spell to briefly discorporate into feathers.
  
• Chameleon: Tongue whip, enhanced jumping and climbing, can turn invisible in short bursts.
  
• Buffalo: Enhanced power, durability and knockback resistance, no speed increase. Mainly used for approaching dangerous enemies.
  
• Dolphin: Swimming, very high speed (faster than Falcon), can splash energy that cures ailments. Kamen Rider Wizard can use the ring to cast a spell that lets him swim through the ground, allowing him to perform hit-and-run tactics by diving in and out.
  

[Amechra]

Alright, here are a few that people haven't suggested:

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Maggots, and Rabbits.

[Jackinthegreen]

Hummingbirds reminds me that familiars and their bonuses are also valid to look at.

[Amechra]

Plus, well, Hummingbirds were considered psychopomps by a couple Suramerican societies.

And Maggots have a connotation of healing, as well.

[Jackinthegreen]

Maggots probably won't be making the list since even though they are useful for some kinds of healing by taking care of dead skin, that definitely won't translate well plus there's the gross factor for most.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Eye Of The Tiger - crown
Darkvision 60' or +30'
essentia +10' per
bound = detect invisible range as darkvision
soul bound = true seeing range as darkvision

Ghost Step Kitty - feet
auto sucess Move Silently checks at 5' round movement
essentia +10' movement per
bound = un-Track-able , Track feat fails against Kitty

[Milo v3]

Dinosaurs and Penguins

[Prime32]

Alright, here are a few that people haven't suggested:

Butterflies

Metamorphosis. You take on traits of a caterpillar, and if killed you gain a brief revenance effect that also comes with wings. Alternately something dream-based.

Rabbits

Keen senses, escape/retreat (in zig-zag paths), warning allies of danger, luck, burrowing, tremorsense, self-replication, the moon.

[Amechra]

Well, a Maggot soulmeld could literally be incarnum maggots munching on your wounds...

[awaken_D_M_golem]

T Rex - throat

Intimidate +10 checks
essentia:  standard action, Deafen all and Panic Humanoids, range 10' +10' per essentia, both one will save 10+essentia invested; this attack can be heard for +essentia miles, and spooks <1hd birds.
bound:  d6 bite attack up to +1 size category, +essentia to hit, Swallow Whole special attack vs max -1 size category