Bloodbath Bunnies is a role playing game supplement written and published by Kent David Kelly. The supplement is aimed at Dungeons & Dragons games, by the looks of it primarily AD&D 1st Edition and B/X. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as result.
This is a 30 page PDF that is available from DriveThruRPG for $1.29 but was purchased at the reduced price of $0.99 during a sale. One page is the front cover, one and a half pages are the front matter, one and a half pages are About the Author and two and a half pages are the Open Gaming License.
The supplement introduces a new player class/race, the Bloodbath Bunny. This takes quite a lot of inspiration from the Rabbit of Caerbannog from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, as can be seen by the references (not the first RPG supplement to do so either; ICE‘s Creatures & Treasures had a Killer Rabbit that was vulnerable to H.H.G.O.A. – the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch) as well as the tendency for medieval monks to draw killer rabbits in the margins of illuminated manuscripts.
The Description says that this is intended to be a less-than-serious class to be used when a break is needed from more serious gaming, and that the class is entirely playable.
The Introduction says that the Bloodbath Bunny is both a race and a highly specialised sub-class of the fighter, and how the population of the rabbits has exploded from under 50 to tens of thousands, because they breed like… enthusiastic goblins. The Rule of the Missing Rule states that any needed information that is missing should be taken from the fighter class.
Basic Class Precepts as details on the class to 17th level, including level titles, hit dice, experience and other abilities. Some notes are given for beyond 17th level. Combat and Saving Throws are the same as the fighter.
Hit Dice explains that Bloodbath Bunnies only have 1d6, thanks to their small size. Bloodbath Bunny Hit Points give some typical hit points and notes that they get 1d8 per level, not 1d6, if fighters get 1d10. Physical Size gives bunny sizes by STR attribute.
Random Bloodbath Bunny Names is a series of four tables that can be used to generate a name, with title, name prefix and suffix and epithet (an actual name will need inserting). Ability Score Minimums and Maximums gives the class attributes, followed by the Prime Requisites. The Enigmatic Lepus Cornutus Sub-Race has details on the rare antlered bunny. Hare-Raising Alignment Concerns explains that Bunnies have to start of Chaotic (either pure Chaotic or one of the three for nine alignment systems) but can alter their alignment twice without penalty.
Allowable Weapons lists the weapons Bloodbath Bunnies are allowed to use. These are weapons that bunnies are depicted wielding in medieval manuscripts at least 400 years old. If a player can find a viable manuscript with a new weapon, the bunny can use that weapon also.
There are then bits on Single- And Two-Handed Death Dealing and Nasty Big Dual Wielding. Weapons that can be wielded with one or two hands do more damage with two and Bloodbath Bunnies can dual wield a number of weapons. This is followed by Allowable Armor and Shields and Penalties for Use of Forbidden Weapons and Armor. Bunnies who do not follow the prescriptions on weapons and armour do not earn experience.
Superior Rabbit Senses and Rabbiting Skills has a number of special abilities; being hard to surprise, being good at surprising, sensing traps, escaping snares – and finding fruit and veg. This is followed by Known Languages.
Ere the Wrath of the Holy Hand Grenade, Lo, the Death Parley is a strangely titled section (referring to Monty Python of course) is a bonus that Bunnies gain after a parley with a potentially hostile monster or NPC turns violent, based on CHA. Lepus Leaping is the Bunnies’ leaping ability. Martial Celerity is a bonus for certain types of armour.
Critical Hits for the Chaos God is added damage on a critical hit. With, from level 8, a small chance (1% increasing to 2%) of causing an instant fatality. Yes, any creature, no matter how powerful, can be instantly killed by a Bloodbath Bunny at higher levels. Not something that is common in D&D.
Battle Rage and Joy heals the Bunny a couple of HP if they strike a killing blow against a living foe and Unholy Blood Fury allows a Bunny to keep fighting below zero hit points. Grim Whimsy: Utter Humiliation gives an XP bonus to Bunnies who force an INT 3+ creature to surrender. Lucky Foot Trophy Takers allows a Bunny to get a bonus to saving throws from a lucky charm made from the foot of a defeated foe (the charm only lasts a day).
The Incarnation of Hop-Hopdu’um, the Blood Fury of Chaos grants Bunnies the ability to increase a random ability score – not more than class limits – by 1 for every level gained beyond level 3. They also permanently lose 1 point every time they are brought back from the dead.
Bloodbath Bunnies in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and a table of contents. It may not be that long, but bookmarks at the very least would have been appreciated. Navigation is poor. The text maintains a two column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are colour and black and white stock and public domain illustrations; the black and white are predominately stock and the colour ones are primarily taken from manuscripts and show bunnies wreaking painful havoc. Presentation is okay; the artwork is generally suitable and well placed.
This is not really a serious supplement, but it isn’t supposed to be. GMs may not want to have Bloodbath Bunnies in their normal campaigns as, despite the author’s efforts, and some disadvantages, they really aren’t that balanced a class. Even though a Bloodbath Bunny may not quite be up there with some of the other classes at high level – the author mentions monks, cavaliers and magic-users (the first two would be the old versions of such) – they could well have a lot of high ability scores at high level, many attacks and the ever-present chance of an instakill on a GM’s prized powerful NPC or foe. The class is suited to a lighter, albeit bloodthirsty, break from a regular campaign. The class is also very extensively detailed. Bloodbath Bunnies can be found by clicking here.
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