ROTFL
Sorry, but that article includes the quote, "The most famous swamps in the United States are the Everglades, Okeefenokee Swamp, and the GREAT DISMAL SWAMP (emphasis added)."
So I'm not the only person to connect "dismal" with "swamp."
18) Star Spawn seem like a clear nod to Cthulu-type gaming. They are creepy in a way that pseudonatural creatures never seemed to be.
Aww... "Apart from that, there is a certain literary tendency in fantasy and horror to see swamps as dark and dismal. The monster is more likely to live in a swamp than in Internet cafes and bookstores" would be so much better.I am aware that to some folks, swamps are beautiful parts of nature, but I am not one of those folks. I'm much happier with Internet cafes and bookstores.
Apart from that, there is a certain literary tendency in fantasy and horror to see swamps as dark and dismal. The monster is more likely to live in a swamp than on rolling farmland.
To WotC's defense, they actually discuss this in a sidebar, essentially saying "don't allow it".Yes, and in fact, they are very valuable commodities when you want to get rid of an outdated magic item. "Quick, Bob! Feed ol' Rusty that +2 Greatsword you never use anymore! We need to Raise poor Larry, here, but won't get nearly enough residuum from just Disenchanting it!"
If I'm running 1e? Yes, absolutely. I have an undying love for rust monsters in an oldschool game, where magic items are often plentiful in published modules, and wealth-by-level guidelines are laughable. Balance, schmalance!However, what's with the anxious baby-sitting? Why do WotC assume players can't take the fact that their precious Firebrand +3 loses a little (essentially turning into a Firebrand +2) by going through the digestive system of a rustie?
Isn't that the whole point of adding in a Rust Monster? To see the players (not characters) panicking, fleeing or going out of their way to defeat the critter without having to enter melee?
19) Steel predators have a new back story tying them to Bane. I'm ambivalent about this.
Klaus said:"Eyes of Vecna have a strong connection to Vecna..."
Really? I'd never guess!
"Eyes of Vecna have a strong connection to Vecna..."