I'm Tired of Vanilla

[Ranes]

I don't like the term 'flavour' when it's applied to anything other than how something actually tastes. Even more objectionable to me is the term 'flavourful'. As for vanilla, I like it, although it always conjures images of ice cream and I'm more of a lime sorbet fan.

I agree with the OP, even though I'm having a bad day.

 

[jaerdaph]

I think we need a new rubric:


CHOCOLATE | VANILLA

FLUFF
--------
CRUNCH

 

[RFisher]

Vanilla is a slang term used to describe something that, while not inherently of lesser value, is undesirable due to over-familiarity or lack of overwhelming flavor.

I wish to make it clear that any use of the adjective "vanilla" by me with a non-food noun does not mean "undesirable". After all, the vanilla fighter is my all-time favorite D&D class!

When modifying a food noun, my use of "vanilla" usually means "my favorite ~".

 

[Goblyn]

I like Vanilla.

The ice cream as well as its adjectival use for ... anything. I'm unfamiliar with any negative connotations, though; the closest I can think of is someone saying that they are tired of the vanilla (fill in the blank), but that doesn't sem negative.

If there are any, though, I agree with the OP that there shouldn't be. Because I love vanilla ice cream.

 

[Cam Banks]

I'm tired of "gish." Unless you're playing a githyanki character, this is a faux cool term misapplied to non-githyanki characters and doesn't clarify things for the most part, since people have to know what the heck's a "gish." Instead, one's better off using the much more, er, vanilla term "fighter/magic-user," since at least people know what the heck you're talking about without a primer on geek cool.

I've been saying this since I first saw it. And the funny part is, it isn't even that cool. It sounds ridiculous.

I also don't care much for the term "build" when used as a noun. "I'm looking for an optimized halfling gish build." Ugh.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Vanilla is a nice flavor.

It doesn't stop folks from wanting to make their own sundae, with their own toppings, or additional PrCs *cough cough* flavors.

 

[solkan_uk]

Our local ice-cream place does both plain and vanilla ice-cream. And I actually prefer Plain.

In D&D I tend to prefer playing a core character. I like playing the common man - the farm-boy who serves in the militia and becomes a fighter. Or the street-urchin who grows into a rogue through his life on the streets.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

At our local supermarket there is a brand of ice cream that has vanilla, New York vanilla, French Vanilla, and vanilla bean.

 

[solkan_uk]

It's just nice to remind people that vanilla ain't plain. Though plain is nice (essentially frozen cream).

So Vanilla ain't plain, and plain doesn't mean boring (neither does vanilla)

 

[Eytan Bernstein]

I completely agree with your idea (your being the original poster because I don't want to quote the whole chunk) that flavor is what the PCs make of it. Fighter has flavor if you give it some. A wizard can be a witch, a shaman, a blood mage, a whatever, if you describe it that way and play it that way. Even if the player has trouble doing this, there are PrCs, feats, and other things to help get him/her in the mindset.

I specifically wanted to commend you on your last section. I think it would make a great signature