Ponyfinder/MLP-style Ponies for Great & Small

Given my penchant for animal fantasy tales, it is probably ironic that I've never seen an episode of any version of My Little Pony (MLP).  It has managed to cruise under my radar for the entire span of its existence; it's not that I'm averse to it, per se.  It's just that I wasn't the franchise's target demographic.  I always filed it under, "Get Around To It One Day."

There is, however, no irony in the fact that I've never been a big fan of Pathfinder.  Just not my cup of tea.  After the burn-out I had with 3.5, I just wasn't ready for a system that doubled-down on all the elements of which I'd grown weary.  Though they do put out some excellent supplements...

So, imagine the quandary in which I found myself when I stumbled upon the Ponyfinder game yesterday.

One the one hand, it's a complete campaign setting designed for animal player characters.  Well, sort of (I'll come back to that).  And it's gotten excellent reviews, especially from people who claim to have been skeptical of the project.

So, I sort of feel like I have an obligation to buy it, both for scholarly and collecting purposes, and for solidarity with other animal roleplaying fans.

On the other hand, it's a Pathfinder supplement, which makes me want to avoid it.  There is, apparently, a 5e conversion manual, and like many PF-compatible products, it's full of rules-neutral setting fluff... so I'll probably end up buying a copy in the near future.

Which means I'll probably get around to watching MLP.  

(To be clear, Ponyfinder doesn't reference any of MLP's intellectual property, just creates a set of rules for PCs who are similar enough to ponies to pass whatever the MLP version of the Turing test would be, and gives them a setting that "feels" like MLP at its best without actually using anything from the show. Or so I am told.)

Meanwhile, I figured, why not drum up some blog hits by statting out Ponyfinder ponies in Great & Small?  Following is a more-or-less straight conversion of the basic pony from Ponyfinder (which I am able to read as part of the product's free review pages).  If I buy the actual product, I might do more conversions later.

You knew this day was coming...

Fey Pony

"Ponies are a race whose time has come and left. According to their legend and lore, they once oversaw nature, guiding and protecting it much like contemporary druids: controlling the weather,overseeing animal migrations, and protecting the lands they called home. They have surrendered much of these tasks over time, but their spirit is not yet faded. Most ponykind live in isolated communities, far from civilization, but growing numbers have migrated to join multiracial cities, where they trade, craft, and make their livings."
-- Ponyfinder Campaign Setting, p. 8.

     AC: 7
     AT: Bite 1d3 [1d4], two hooves 1d5 [1d6] 
     Beginning HP: 7 [8]
     Habitat: Any
     MV: 8 (4 bipedal)
     SZ: Medium

Species Traits:

• Feyborn:  Ponies and their kin are natives of the faerie realms.  As such, they are considered fey for the purpose of herbal, magical, or other effects that effect or can be used by fey beings.
• Feyspeech:  Ponies automatically know and can speak the language of faeries.
• Low-Light Vision 
• +2 bonus on all Poison saves
• +2 bonus on all saves vs. magic, regardless of save category
• +1 bonus on all Runner lore checks
• +1 bonus all lore checks to push, pull, drag, break, or otherwise use their raw muscle power on heavy objects.
• Suitable Niches: Any

Sylvestara, Queen Of Cats, Goddess Of Familiars

Source

Sylvestara is the goddess of small cats. She is also often portrayed as the familiar of the deity of magic, and her followers sometimes claim this status made her the first of the Eld-Beast Kings. The Cat Queen watches over all small cats who live in proximity to the races of Man, be they domesticated or feral. She also watches over familiars and animal companions of all species, and as such has picked up a handful of longpaw worshipers.

Queen Sylvestara values self-sufficiency, curiosity for its own sake, and the revelation of others' secrets. Though largely benign, she can be unspeakably cruel, and has a dark aspect who encourages followers to toy with their prey.

Priests of Sylvestara are encouraged to be nosy about other people's secrets while closely guarding their own.  They tend to be loners, but take a special interest in befriending wizards with familiars, druids or rangers with animal companions, and elves.  In small communities, they also serve as pest controllers, and sometimes have a pride of small cats who follow them wherever they go.

Holy Symbol: A housecat sitting in a pentagram.

OSR Notes
Clerics in service to Sylvestara often multi-class as magic-users or thieves, not least because doing so allows them to use easily concealed bladed weapons.  Even single-classed (usually human) clerics practice stealth and misdirection at every opportunity.

D&D 5e Stats
Sylvestara, queen of cats and goddess of familiars -- Alignment N; Suggested Domains: Knowledge, Life, Trickery; Symbol: housecat sitting in a pentagram.

Source

Pathfinder Stats
Sylvestara
Title: Queen Of Cats, Mistress Of Familiars
Portfolio: Small cats, familiars, animal companions, magic, secrets, stealth, deception
Alignment: Neutral
Typical Worshipers: Arcane magic users, awakened familiars or animal companions, thieves
Typical Worshiper Alignments: Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Good, Neutral Evil, Lawful Neutral, True Neutral
Domains (Subdomains): Animal (Feather, Fur), Darkness, Knowledge, Magic (Arcane), Trickery
Favored Weapon: Nekode
Favored Animal: Small cat

Anaxskylos, Patron Deity of Dogs

Anaxskylos, King of the Dogs, is a minor deity whose influence is more widespread than his name.  Closely associated with deities of agriculture, community, nature, the hunt, war,  protection, and the home, he is specifically the patron of the ancient sacred bond between man and dog.  Though rarely popular with adventurers, he is widely revered by common folk, thanks to the role of his priesthood.

Anaxskylos' priests are enjoined to provide healing support to a community's animals, especially domesticated ones, and those rare few to whom he grants actual spells thus serve as a sort of magical veterinary/rescue service.  They often also oversee the health of temple hounds, noblemen's stables, and other collections of domesticated animals.

Sometimes affectionately called "Rex" even by his human worshipers, Anaxskylos has many other names, as well: Garmr, Lykegenes, Wepwawet, Xolotl, and St. Guinefort being only a few.

All priests of Anaxskylos must adopt a puppy to raise and care for throughout the creature's life, and treat this dog's life and needs as equal to their own.  This dog serves as a living connection to their deity, and they cannot regain spells if the hound is absent from their presence.

Holy Symbol: A dog's paw extended in friendship.  However, the canine companion also serves as a living holy symbol; if priest and dog are traveling together, a cleric can channel her turning ability through the dog, who growls, barks, or otherwise frightens away such foul beings.

OSR Notes
Most priests of Anaxskylos aren't members of the cleric class, and don't have any spell-casting abilities. They are normally just community herbalists and such. Those few adventuring clerics of Anaxskylos are similar to standard clerics in every respect; however, they are noted for favoring the mancatcher as their weapon of choice.

D&D 5e Stats
Anaxskylos, god of hounds -- Alignment NG; Suggested Domains: Life, Nature, Trickery: Symbol: dog's paw extended in friendship

Pathfinder Stats
Anaxskylos
Title: First Dog, Friend Of Man
Portfolio: Community, loyalty, protection, play, the hunt, domesticated animals
Alignment: Neutral Good
Typical Worshipers: Breeders, farmers, hunters, paladins, rangers
Typical Worshiper Alignments: Lawful Good, Neutral Good
Domains (Subdomains): Animal (Fur), Community (Cooperation, Family, Home) , Protection (Defense)
Favored Weapon: Mancatcher
Favored Animal: Dog