Pycon and Morphing

[Hornet]

I raised this topic in chat yesterday, and though I did get a good answer, I'm still not completely satisfied with it.

In the Pycon description, it states "A Pycon's clay flesh can be fully controlled, stretched, turned and twisted as long as it is attached to the head or nexus.".

This seems awfully similary to morphing for me. If I look at the description of morphing, I read "The user's flesh is pulled, twisted and shifted until it reached the desired layout." and "Just altering one's face to look like someone else requires much less power and Djed than morphing into a whale". From the replies in chat, I understand that it is possible to use morphing to actually transform the substance one is made of, as long as you keep it organical. However, that implies the ability to alter one's shape without changing the substance.

So is a Pycon's ability to change shape a subset of morphing? Or is it radically different, and why? Would it require training, experience? Or is it a completely innate ability, that can be used perfectly immediately?

Similary, if a Pycon's form changes with life-altering experiences, is that a conscious or a subconscious effect? Does a Pycon normally decide what he looks like, or does his shape reflect his experience without the Pycon consciously steering it?

[Vick]

Okay so I might be wrong but if I am well it can be fixed but Tarot will be able to shed more light on this since he made the Pycon race and Morphing as well if I am not mistaken.

A pycon's flesh I think is just a cosmetic stand point. It can bend and shape itself more in say combat or be crushed and be fine but it is more or less cosmetic since you can't fly with clay like wings I don't think.

Morphing on the other hand is what you want to use for both cosmetic and for fighting and even flying.

Now the life altering bit, I think it is more of a subconscious effect and the experiences just shape them without the Pycon really thinking about it.

[Hornet]

I must admit I'm a bit surprised at your answer, because when reading the Pycon lore, their ability to change their shape does not strike me as cosmetic. Sure, such a change of shape does not grant you any special abilities, but that doesn't mean changing shape couldn't help with abilities the Pycon does have. A Pycon changing his shape to disguise himself as a rock, compacting his mass to make himself less likely to be detected, or simply stretching out to reach an object that would otherwise be out of reach all seem within bounds of the description.

Am I mistaken in that, or is there more I'm missing here?

[Traverse]

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So this is a question, I myself, have been confuddled about for a while. I am in the process of designing a preliminary player guide on morphing that would in part address Pycon's and morphing. Having played a Pycon for a short while and being an individual who simply loves the idea of them AND morphing, I shall take a crack at your question.

A Pycon's transformation would not be a subset of morphing in the way that altering your form as a Pycon PC wouldn't net you morphing points as it is just a natural thing a Pycon does. I think what Vick meant when he referred to a Pycon's transformations being largely cosmetic is that a Pycon on their travels will adapt forms that they like, in search of what will eventually be their final form, and it won't always be something that is necessarily the best survival wise (though it could be beneficial to that). A Pycon's shape is constantly changing based on their experiences, mood, perhaps even the time of day.

Now...this is the part where I get hazy, but Pycons can learn all forms of magic, so why not Morphing? I have always thought of their shifting tendencies as akin to a Kelvic's ability to shift from human to animal form and back again. They are both races that were created by magicians of great power, so I can only assume that a morphing trait was put into their current genetic identity, BUT, what I would consider the difference is shifting one's clay form is as easy as breathing to a Pycon. They do not change their mass either, something that Morphing can eventually allow a shifter to do.

For a Pycon to learn morphing and get Xp in it I would think that instead of altering their form as most any other race would to learn this art they would do things like...change the tint of their clay, alter their mass in small increments, or alter the texture of their body. I do not know if Pycons would be able to say, eventually change into a squirrel, something with blood and veins. I would assume this would be something very difficult for them to master because it would run so counter intuitive to how they know their bodies work, but as to whether its actually possible or not...that would most certainly be an inquiry for Tarot. Even if they could I feel like that kind of transformation might fall under a similar taboo heading as alchemy, but those are just my thoughts on the matter.

As to the subconcious/ concious aspect to a Pycon's morphing tendencies I would say it depends on the PC, as I've read it both ways. Perhaps a vivid memory conjurs up a certain transformation while others are sparked by an interest in a certain races traits (I mean Eypharians have so many arms, dont you want to see how useful it would be if you had that many?)

Okay that was a bit of a ramble...I hope I answered your questions, and it makes a bit of sense.