Flightless Kenku?

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sjmiller

Explorer

• May 31, 2007

• #1

Last Friday I picked up Dragon - Monster Ecologies on a whim. I was looking through it and saw the Kenku listed, so I started reading. In the "Birds of a Feather..." sidebar Kenku are described as "flightless pilferers." When did they become flightless? Their original appearance in the 1st Ed. Fiend Folio has them listed as fliers. I don't have access to any 2nd Ed. books, or the current MMIII, so I don't know what those say.

So, when did this change, and why? I kind of like the idea of Kenku flying, stooping* to snatch a prized object. It makes them a bit scarier and a bit more of a threat.

*Yes, I mean "stoop," as in to descend rapidly like a bird persuing its prey.

 

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DragonBelow

Adventurer

• May 31, 2007

• #2

Since 3e

They are one of my favorite races, IIRC they weren't evil either, just neutral.

 

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Ender_rpm

First Post

• May 31, 2007

• #3

Check out the Tengu from OA for winged bird types. Its a pretty steep LA, IIRC.

 

Piratecat

Sesquipedalian

• May 31, 2007

• #4

Are you sure about 1e? I remember them as being flightless in the Fiend Folio.

 

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sjmiller

Explorer

• May 31, 2007

• #5

Piratecat said:

Are you sure about 1e? I remember them as being flightless in the Fiend Folio.

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Yup, I am sure. I pulled out my FF to check. I do not have it here at work, but I believe they have a 15" flight speed.

 

BlackMoria

First Post

• May 31, 2007

• #6

Make them fliers for your campaign... or not as you like.

It not like there are Monster Designer Nazis out there that are going to come to your house with a barrel of Kenku feathers and a bucket of hot tar to punish you for making them fliers.

 

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sjmiller

Explorer

• May 31, 2007

• #7

BlackMoria said:

Make them fliers for your campaign... or not as you like.

It not like there are Monster Designer Nazis out there that are going to come to your house with a barrel of Kenku feathers and a bucket of hot tar to punish you for making them fliers.

Click to expand...

I know that, and planned on doing it anyway. I was just curious as to the when and why of it all.

 

frankthedm

First Post

• May 31, 2007

• #8

IIRC they used to have some spell like abilities too.

 

Sejs

First Post

• May 31, 2007

• #9

BlackMoria said:

Make them fliers for your campaign... or not as you like.

It not like there are Monster Designer Nazis out there that are going to come to your house with a barrel of Kenku feathers and a bucket of hot tar to punish you for making them fliers.

Click to expand...

We're not?

*looks at his barrel of Kenku feathers*

*sigh*

Fine.

 

Mercule

Adventurer

• May 31, 2007

• #10

sjmiller said:

I know that, and planned on doing it anyway. I was just curious as to the when and why of it all.

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It was probably a balance issue. Flight makes a critter much tougher -- at least in theory.