Racial feats in Specialties?

[Antilles]

Oh yes, I agree, Reveler has many good uses, I was just pointing out that the Maenad was about more than the "constantly drunk" part.

Reveler is probably the best specialty so far for recreating Maenads, but as soon as we got some madness rules to play with, a better match can probably be made.

[Toccata]

I don't know if I'd make Maenads all constantly crazy all the time.

I actually know a lady who does Dionysian ecstatic dancing and stuff, and she's remarkably reserved and rational the rest of the time.

[Antilles]

Based on what it said in the wiki article, I'm getting a definite 'crazy' vibe. Alcohol and drinking may be a part of it, but crazy's definitively a part. If you have some other resource where they're not described as "wild, insane women who could not be reasoned with", I'll gladly read it, but for now I'm soundly in the "Maenad = crazy drunk" camp.

[Toccata]

True. And depending on how close you're going to hold to the mythology, that's the best way to play it.

I'd personally go with they're crazy at least some of the time, but probably not perpetually, and generally only when they're really trying at it.

A lot like going into a berzerkergang, actually, only with more booze involved.

[Forcegypsy]

Based on what it said in the wiki article, I'm getting a definite 'crazy' vibe. Alcohol and drinking may be a part of it, but crazy's definitively a part. If you have some other resource where they're not described as "wild, insane women who could not be reasoned with", I'll gladly read it, but for now I'm soundly in the "Maenad = crazy drunk" camp.

Keep in mind, this is Wikipedia. While a good place to start, it's hardly the last word. Historically, almost anything dealing with women acting in a non-standard, subservient manner would be reported/thought of as 'crazy' and 'hysterical'.

[TheAuldGrump]

Larouse is not any kinder to them than Wikipedia.

Something to bear in mind - the Greeks and Romans both added lead to their wines. The Greeks were also known to add other intoxicants to their wines, ranging from poppy (opium) to resins (including hashish). The lead at the least could cause long term problems with mental stability.

Add this to some of the more ecstatic religious practices and you have a recipe for insanity, both permanent and temporary. Given that some of the proclivities assigned the maenads included the eating of raw meat... the result is fairly savage.

Cybele's (though an import she was sometimes associated with Bacchus) worship was no less mad - the priests being known to emasculate themselves at the height.

While dated, and no longer considered entirely accurate Frazer's The Golden Bough is an excellent gaming resource. Later authors, including Campbell, have built upon this foundation.

The Auld Grump

[Morgenstern]

I'm ore excited about the growing pool of optins for the Test Subject Specialty. Lettting them take a species feat is really multiplying the weirdness you can achieve.