No, transformations aren't supposed to hurt! =P

[LeilaniOtter]

I have a regular client that loves TF stories and it's usually human-to-beast. I don't mind them so much as I love these type of stories because you can take them so many places.

But it's really unsettling because the transformations are never quick and painless; they have to take place over a certain time period, via a curse or evil trinket, etc. I mean, he loves it when i write about something as simple as a terrible itching going on his head, and after a few days, he begins to feel lumps...and then fluffy donkey ears beginning to emerge through the skull. He wants ALL of it, the pain, the torture. It's not like Brand New Animal anime (Gods, I still pine for a Season 2) where it's just poof, one and done. *^^*

And then he asks for the really fun stuff, the muscles tearing, the bones breaking, the sensation of his characters' minds beginning to think like an animal, and act like an animal. (which is frankly not so different from humans)

Transformations are a lot of fun but, ugh, why do they have to hurt?! *^^*

 

[Piisfun]

I could see it if it were an initial transformation, or perhaps one forced on them by someone else, but you would think that their body would change to be able to handle it if they are switching back and forth regularly.

But yeah, I would say that client has some rather... disturbing... interests.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I could see it if it were an initial transformation, or perhaps one forced on them by someone else, but you would think that their body would change to be able to handle it if they are switching back and forth regularly.

The argument will be, "Well, a transformation is magic so it should compensate for the bone structure and all that changing and "meld" the body to adjust to that and other factors." Because magic is supposed to do that. But what if a transformation isn't through magic - but then how can that be? I don't know. To me, all TFs are magical and I don't see how anyone can prove otherwise. *^^*

 

[HisDivineShadow]

It all depends on the nature of the transformation.
If it’s magic, even the first shift can be painless.
But if it happens due to an infection, like with werewolves
then it’s going to hurt.
The body is taken over by a virus or bacteria that changes everything. The organism fights back, which means fever, inflammation, pain, and psychological trauma for the personality .
It rewrites the DNA, implants the transformation “program,” so each following shift becomes easier.
If the person is a natural shifter, then the transformation shouldn’t be painful.
Their body is built for two forms, and both are natural to them.


It really seems like your client is struggling with some mental health issues. Honestly, they should consider seeing a psychiatrist. What they’re doing comes across as outright sadistic.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

It depends on how extreme, how fast, and why the transformation takes place.
A simple gender change may happen without any real awareness in the "victim" until it's over.
Changing from human to a non-bipedal mammalian form should at least have some discomfort, if not some actual pain, unless it is a VERY slow transition over weeks or months.
Changing to (or from) a non-mammal should definitely have some pain, unless it's something like Colossus/Piotr Rasputin (X-Men) turning his body to and from "organic steel" or Stone Boy (of the Legion of Substitute Heroes) living up to his name - then it's a purely natural (but bizarre) thing that may hurt the first time it happens, but over time the body gets used to the shift. And, again, it should have less pain/discomfort if it takes place over a long period of time.
But you also have to take into account the source - a fairy trickster may give someone the head of a donkey without them feeling a thing (and then turn it into a mask that they can remove when they are forgiven the offense that triggered the transformation; c.f. A Midsummer Night's Dream).

 

[LeilaniOtter]

It really seems like your client is struggling with some mental health issues. Honestly, they should consider seeing a psychiatrist. What they’re doing comes across as outright sadistic.

I wouldn't say "sadistic"; people love a good horror story of pain and torture sometimes. Maybe the readers are just looking for something on the dark side, who knows. Yes, it's creepy as hell though.

Changing to (or from) a non-mammal should definitely have some pain, unless it's something like Colossus/Piotr Rasputin (X-Men) turning his body to and from "organic steel" or Stone Boy (of the Legion of Substitute Heroes) living up to his name - then it's a purely natural (but bizarre) thing that may hurt the first time it happens, but over time the body gets used to the shift. And, again, it should have less pain/discomfort if it takes place over a long period of time.
But you also have to take into account the source - a fairy trickster may give someone the head of a donkey without them feeling a thing (and then turn it into a mask that they can remove when they are forgiven the offense that triggered the transformation; c.f. A Midsummer Night's Dream).

That's a good analogy. It's just always fascinating how magic somehow manages to not only memorize your bodily structure, but fixes it so that the body structure you're replaced with fits like a glove. *^^*

 

[Arkus86]

Personally, I would say the more extensive, forced, and the faster a transformation is, the higher it can be on the pain scale.
An aggressive curse that completely transforms your body in a matter of minutes? Yeah, that would be ugly and painful. A curse that transforms you more slowly, less extensively? Still bad, but not nearly so. A friendly spell, shapeshifting or more natural causes doing the same? That could tone down the negative effects greatly.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Personally, I would say the more extensive, forced, and the faster a transformation is, the higher it can be on the pain scale.
An aggressive curse that completely transforms your body in a matter of minutes? Yeah, that would be ugly and painful. A curse that transforms you more slowly, less extensively? Still bad, but not nearly so. A friendly spell, shapeshifting or more natural causes doing the same? That could tone down the negative effects greatly.

Yes, I really loved the way Brand New Animal did it. One loud *poof!* and done, no muss no fuss. ?

 

[Valmond]

It depends.

Shadow Hearts for instance. Yuri’s devil fusions crashes against his sanity at the start.

It is more like a fight to maintain his humanity. In the second half of the game, he is no longer in pain, due to overcoming that fear.

It is actually a pretty nice detail.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

It depends.

Shadow Hearts for instance. Yuri’s devil fusions crashes against his sanity at the start.

It is more like a fight to maintain his humanity. In the second half of the game, he is no longer in pain, due to overcoming that fear.

It is actually a pretty nice detail.

Hmm.
Seems like what a mid-life crisis is like. ?

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

In Amber Silverblood, Amber's transformations start off painful because she hasn't accepted her lycanthropy yet. When she finally understands that it's an irreversible part of who she is, and starts to embrace it, the transformations start coming more smoothly. Becky isn't a werewolf and has to transform by injecting herself with a potion, so hers are always gruesome and painful. She's crazy, though, so that's exactly how she likes it.

Likewise, in Skinwalkers, the skinwalkers transform painlessly because they're born shapeshifters so their bodies are literally made for that. Wendigos are made, not born, so their transformations are agonizing since they're twisting themselves into something they were never meant to be.

The transformations in Henry Rider and the NuYu Prescription are painless too because 1. the NuYu pills are a commercial product and nobody would buy them if you had to go through an American Werewolf in London-esque transformation every time they took one, and 2. that would kinda ruin the cartoonish vibe I was going for. "HORSEBUTT! HORSEBUTT! HORSEBUTT!"

Anyway, the main thing you should take away from all this is that you should never read Amber Silverblood. Those books suck.

 

[Valmond]

Hmm.
Seems like what a mid-life crisis is like. ?

The thing is, he can merge with demons. And the closer he gets to it, the more they try to completely possess him.

The story takes place just before WWI, and is more of a horror/mystery theme. The tone is horror, and the concept is more like a mystery type.

The more he fights, it builds up the karma gauge. Where a specter comes for him.

You have to go to the graveyard realm, and clear it out. Otherwise, that is an insanely hard battle to win.

It is a one on one, meaning no help.

As a result, whenever he uses Devil Fusion in the first half of the game, it tears him apart. He is constantly being hunted by the ghost of his father.

He never really learned to properly use his Devil Fusion, because they were hunted down. It was some kind of family curse.

In the second half, after the Seraphic Radiance broke him. It leads up to a one on one fight with his father that moves him past his fear of being taken over by the demons in him.

As such, he commands it with ease in the second half of the game.

 

[JayMark]

I shape shift all the time. I don't see what all the fuss is about. You humans and your form limitations amuse me.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

In Amber Silverblood, Amber's transformations start off painful because she hasn't accepted her lycanthropy yet. When she finally understands that it's an irreversible part of who she is, and starts to embrace it, the transformations start coming more smoothly. Becky isn't a werewolf and has to transform by injecting herself with a potion, so hers are always gruesome and painful. She's crazy, though, so that's exactly how she likes it.

Likewise, in Skinwalkers, the skinwalkers transform painlessly because they're born shapeshifters so their bodies are literally made for that. Wendigos are made, not born, so their transformations are agonizing since they're twisting themselves into something they were never meant to be.

The transformations in Henry Rider and the NuYu Prescription are painless too because 1. the NuYu pills are a commercial product and nobody would buy them if you had to go through an American Werewolf in London-esque transformation every time they took one, and 2. that would kinda ruin the cartoonish vibe I was going for. "HORSEBUTT! HORSEBUTT! HORSEBUTT!"

Anyway, the main thing you should take away from all this is that you should never read Amber Silverblood. Those books suck.

You make a point others had, that people who become used to the transformations, if it's frequent, like a werewolf or were-something, find it easier to do so. In "American Werewolf" we really only see David transform once, very, very painfully. Then, we don't see him transform anymore after that, so it could be assumed he got used to it. "Skinwalkers" breaks a few TF rules because, like you said, their bodies were primed and ready to transform already. So, I guess it really depends on the TF, the person involved, what they TF into, and if there's any magic/gene inherited traits to affect it.

The thing is, he can merge with demons. And the closer he gets to it, the more they try to completely possess him.

The story takes place just before WWI, and is more of a horror/mystery theme. The tone is horror, and the concept is more like a mystery type.

The more he fights, it builds up the karma gauge. Where a specter comes for him.

I recall an arcade game from long ago where the combatants could shift into other creatures, but the game icons, knelt down and screamed as they changed, before they could fight again - so it's clear they felt the TF effects. This was also an advantage to the opponent, who had an opening to strike.

I shape shift all the time. I don't see what all the fuss is about. You humans and your form limitations amuse me.

Yes, yes, we know about your bovine changes. *^^* And I'm telling you, your isekai idea simply won't work. ?

 

[Valmond]

I recall an arcade game from long ago where the combatants could shift into other creatures, but the game icons, knelt down and screamed as they changed, before they could fight again - so it's clear they felt the TF effects. This was also an advantage to the opponent, who had an opening to strike.

This game uses a Sanity gauge. The protagonist uses an enormous amount for his Devil Fusion. If it reaches 0, and it decreases per turn, he will go berserk.

You have to manage other characters sanity gauge as well.

Later half of the game, to unlock his strongest abilities. You have to access the third tier of his fusions, and let him go berserk.

Then he will use their strongest attack.

The sanity gauge made things kinda risky.

The first half of the game. He holds his head, and thrashes from side to side before transforming.

The second half, he is more confident, and just swings his arm, then transforms.

Pretty nice details.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I recall an arcade game from long ago where the combatants could shift into other creatures, but the game icons, knelt down and screamed as they changed, before they could fight again - so it's clear they felt the TF effects. This was also an advantage to the opponent, who had an opening to strike.

Altered Beast maybe? Remember being amazed by the graphics but too confused by the controls to even try to play it myself.

 

[JayMark]

And I'm telling you, your isekai idea simply won't work. ?

Those be fighting words.

It'll work just fine if I'm not lazy and finish it. I have a plan. I'm not expecting to win anything, but I'm going to write true to myself with some semblance of originality. I'll have a good 70k word finished story when its done. Otherwise the craft would just become another boring chore.

And the other one will work as well. It'll be epic, because exceptionaly few people can write something that entertains me better than me. *after the third draft*

 

[LeilaniOtter]

This game uses a Sanity gauge. The protagonist uses an enormous amount for his Devil Fusion. If it reaches 0, and it decreases per turn, he will go berserk.

You have to manage other characters sanity gauge as well.

Later half of the game, to unlock his strongest abilities. You have to access the third tier of his fusions, and let him go berserk.

Then he will use their strongest attack.

The sanity gauge made things kinda risky.

The first half of the game. He holds his head, and thrashes from side to side before transforming.

The second half, he is more confident, and just swings his arm, then transforms.

Pretty nice details.

Brilliant. A video game that simulates the psychological as well as the physical. Well, this is where video games are headed, that's for sure. ?

Altered Beast maybe? Remember being amazed by the graphics but too confused by the controls to even try to play it myself.

That was it, I think. We used to go to the arcade in the late 80s and early 90s and see people crowded around that one console. You're right, amazing graphics for the times. Could still put some of the leading Mortal Kombat games to shame!

Those be fighting words.

It'll work just fine if I'm not lazy and finish it. I have a plan. I'm not expecting to win anything, but I'm going to write true to myself with some semblance of originality. I'll have a good 70k word finished story when its done. Otherwise the craft would just become another boring chore.

And the other one will work as well. It'll be epic, because exceptionaly few people can write something that entertains me better than me. *after the third draft*

Of course you will and I wish you luck and success with the idea. Now go get busy writing! ? I think what will matter most are the characters surrounding the cow to help. But seems like you got this. *^^*

 

[Zagaroth]

I have innate and spell based transformation be (usually) painless, though not necessarily comfortable at first.

But curse-specific transformations, that are meant to punish the person each time they transform? those are going to hurt.

In certain scenarios, infusing a person with a permanent transformation ability as part of an experiment may come with side effects such as pain during transformation.

On the other hand, well established rituals to guide compatible people into acquiring transformation abilities will generally be the same as having been born with them innately. These are not 'tacked on', they are fundamental shifts to who/what the person is, but do require some base compatibility.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I have innate and spell based transformation be (usually) painless, though not necessarily comfortable at first.

But curse-specific transformations, that are meant to punish the person each time they transform? those are going to hurt.

In certain scenarios, infusing a person with a permanent transformation ability as part of an experiment may come with side effects such as pain during transformation.

On the other hand, well established rituals to guide compatible people into acquiring transformation abilities will generally be the same as having been born with them innately. These are not 'tacked on', they are fundamental shifts to who/what the person is, but do require some base compatibility.

We can assume magic probably handles all the undesirable drawbacks. ? But you raise a good idea - what if the transformation is some hideous experiment, without magic? I guess you contradicted me. Not all TFs are magic after all, I guess. ?