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cold spell in a cold land... why?
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<blockquote data-quote="Jeremy Ackerman-Yost" data-source="post: 1821862" data-attributes="member: 4720"><p>Can't speak for the other thread, but I don't recall anyone here mentioning that following the theme or pattern most of the time makes it that much more interesting when you choose to diverge.</p><p></p><p>A whole bunch of frost giants running around with fire weapons is no more interesting than giving them all frost weapons. And giving them all random or really, really efficient weapon types is similarly uninteresting. Having a baseline by design, however, to which each DM can tailor interesting exceptions, makes for a fun experience, IMO. </p><p></p><p>Generally, Frost giants have Frost-y weapons. Their general icy-ness and that of their environment, etc, etc. It's a simple theme that fits player expectation. But perhaps the Frost giant king, in his youth was a great hunter and hero of his people. He single-handedly slew a Remorhaz. When he withdrew his blade from the beast, it was imbued with the flames. After that, he could be a hero of his people who carries this dreadful weapon as a badge of honor or a bloodthirsty tyrant who conquered his own people with this abomination of fire and now rules them with an iron fist.</p><p></p><p>Now that character makes the players take notice. It would be the same if he quenched his newforged blade in the blood of a blue dragon and it became imbued with lightning or something. That character has something unique about it. In a straight combat scenario, he could come as a surprise. The characters would be all insulated against cold and be a bit surprised when lightning starts frying people. Or, in a more stealthy or story-driven group, they would be able to learn about this guy ahead of time, and maybe prepare for him (also conveniently allowing the DMing to drop some fun flavor-text and history on them <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> ).</p><p></p><p>Difference for the sake of difference is no more imaginative than theme-matching. Who cares after the first 30 seconds about an entire group of Frost giants with Dancing weapons? But one unusual giant in the group with a Dancing weapon is interesting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jeremy Ackerman-Yost, post: 1821862, member: 4720"] Can't speak for the other thread, but I don't recall anyone here mentioning that following the theme or pattern most of the time makes it that much more interesting when you choose to diverge. A whole bunch of frost giants running around with fire weapons is no more interesting than giving them all frost weapons. And giving them all random or really, really efficient weapon types is similarly uninteresting. Having a baseline by design, however, to which each DM can tailor interesting exceptions, makes for a fun experience, IMO. Generally, Frost giants have Frost-y weapons. Their general icy-ness and that of their environment, etc, etc. It's a simple theme that fits player expectation. But perhaps the Frost giant king, in his youth was a great hunter and hero of his people. He single-handedly slew a Remorhaz. When he withdrew his blade from the beast, it was imbued with the flames. After that, he could be a hero of his people who carries this dreadful weapon as a badge of honor or a bloodthirsty tyrant who conquered his own people with this abomination of fire and now rules them with an iron fist. Now that character makes the players take notice. It would be the same if he quenched his newforged blade in the blood of a blue dragon and it became imbued with lightning or something. That character has something unique about it. In a straight combat scenario, he could come as a surprise. The characters would be all insulated against cold and be a bit surprised when lightning starts frying people. Or, in a more stealthy or story-driven group, they would be able to learn about this guy ahead of time, and maybe prepare for him (also conveniently allowing the DMing to drop some fun flavor-text and history on them :D ). Difference for the sake of difference is no more imaginative than theme-matching. Who cares after the first 30 seconds about an entire group of Frost giants with Dancing weapons? But one unusual giant in the group with a Dancing weapon is interesting. [/QUOTE]
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cold spell in a cold land... why?
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