Modrons!

[Scribble]

It's an online article, why does it 'have' to be short? There's no reason whatsoever it couldn't have been long enough to stat all the modrons.

This is a big problem with the magazines since they went online. Without having to worry about a print magazine they should be able to provide longer articles, instead they hype the hell out of something and then roll out a 4 page article that's 75% game stats. As much as I loved the modrons that's not worth my money.

Online isn't a magical land of no cost/time associated with an article.

The articles still have costs associated with formatting, editing, time to write it, art, etc...

 

[bryanlo]

It's an online article, why does it 'have' to be short? There's no reason whatsoever it couldn't have been long enough to stat all the modrons.

This is a big problem with the magazines since they went online. Without having to worry about a print magazine they should be able to provide longer articles, instead they hype the hell out of something and then roll out a 4 page article that's 75% game stats. As much as I loved the modrons that's not worth my money.

As much as I love them too, I recognize they are incredibly niche. They are born out of a setting 2.5 editions ago. They can only devote so much time to it. I just hope they get good feedback and bring out more.

 

[Scribble]

As much as I love them too, I recognize they are incredibly niche. They are born out of a setting 2.5 editions ago.

Nah- they're from the 1e MM 2 originally.

 

[bryanlo]

I stand corrected, and yet validated.

 

[MrMyth]

It's an online article, why does it 'have' to be short? There's no reason whatsoever it couldn't have been long enough to stat all the modrons.

This is a big problem with the magazines since they went online. Without having to worry about a print magazine they should be able to provide longer articles, instead they hype the hell out of something and then roll out a 4 page article that's 75% game stats. As much as I loved the modrons that's not worth my money.

It's not an online issue - they've had plenty of longer articles in the first year of the magazine. At some point, they decided they wanted more articles of shorter length. I wish they'd instead hit a better balance - an article like this one could have been much longer, and while I enjoyed it, I really found myself wanting more.

 

[Shemeska]

I stand corrected, and yet validated.

Or perhaps not. There's a difference between something being from an old edition and niche, versus something being a classic part of the game, or nearly so.

Otherwise, man why did they bother with githyanki in 4e? Those are from like 1e. They're older than I am. Or heck stuff why did they bother with demons and devils? They're even older than that - like mythology and stuff. Why waste time with them?

Modrons have been around for a long time, and they're one of those monsters that are unique to D&D. Lots of people like them for a reason.

 

[Scribble]

Modrons have been around for a long time, and they're one of those monsters that are unique to D&D. Lots of people like them for a reason.

If that "lots" is enough to make them not a niche, we don't know with our limited data.

Perhaps this article will help them determine the answer more clearly; in which case, we'll probably see more Modron articles.

 

[Shemeska]

If that "lots" is enough to make them not a niche, we don't know with our limited data.

Perhaps this article will help them determine the answer more clearly; in which case, we'll probably see more Modron articles.

D&D players > 4e D&D players > 4e D&D players with DDI. Limited data set is limited. But if it's popular they might deign to give a longer, more in-depth article (ie a majority of the pages being for flavor text rather than stats). It's not part of the cosmology that I'd use them in, DDI being exclusively 4e and all, but it might push folks to look at the 2e and 3e material if they like them, which I'm all for.

As for more modron articles: For monsters with rabid lovers and also rabid detractors which modrons seem to have, in my view it usually depends on who is on the design staff to champion them rather than anything else that determines how much support they receive. It makes all the difference between they're awesome and 'everything thinks they're silly'.

 

[I'm A Banana]

If the Astral Sea is on the far side of the cosmology from the Elemental Chaos, Mechanus should be the dominion farthest from it.

This gives me another thought:

The cogs and gears of Mechanus slowly give way to the Astral Sea (almost as if they were the backstage of the universe), which then gives way to the natural world, which then gives way to the Elemental Chaos, which slowly goes down the drain that is the Abyss. So it's almost like a river flowing from ultimate stability to chaotic dissolution.

I'm basically adopting this idea for my Planescape 4e Game.

In fact, I've managed to include all the old 2e planes in my 4e mock-up and relate most of them to existing 4e planes. Only really had to add new stuff for the Mechanus/Elysium/Celestia trifecta, which isn't TOO surprising, given (especially early) 4e's focus on the places in need of beating up, rather than the places with more subtle/nonexistent threats.

[sblock=plane notes]
PLANES
You can choose a planar origin instead of/in addition to a Faction background. You can still only gain the benefit of one background, but planar origins are also prerequisites for feats, PPs, EDs, etc.
The City of Doors
Sigil is the Crossroads of the Multiverse, where all realities converge.
Sigil Background: You’ve grown up in the alleys and politics of the City of Doors, so you know your way around a few different realities.
Associated Skills: Bluff, History, Streetwise
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in Sigil.


The Mortal World
The mortal world was created by the gods, who also created the races therein. Largely considered a backwater bumpkin-ville from Sigil’s perspective.
Mortal Background: You know the layout and history and environment of the mortal world
Associated Skills: Dungeoneering, History, Nature
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are on the Mortal World.


The Hinterlands
A place of seeming mortal-world normality where things quickly get weird; a sort of all-in-everything of the planes. From here, Sigil can be seen floating above the Spire, and approaching the Spire has the effect of nullifying great powers.
The Outlands: A place within the Hinterlands that strips power from the powerful, rendering even the gods little more than mortals, and nullifying the most powerful of magick.
Hinterlands Background: You’re handy in obscure and bizarre natural environments.
Associated Skills: Arcana, Endurance, Nature
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Hinterlands.


The Astral Sea
The “place between the Planes,” a silver void above the Mortal World. The realms of the gods often float about in this place.
Astral Sea Background: You know your way around an astral skiff.
Associated Skills: History, Insight, Religion
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Astral Sea.


The Elemental Chaos (“Limbo”)
The “place before the Planes,” a roiling soup of elemental matter where creation and destruction are entwined.
Ysgard: The place of the Creation of the World, where rivers of fire support oceans of earth, and death is only temporary.
Dischordia: A place in constant flux, a map that re-arranges itself at will, that seems to enjoy frustrating people.
Limbo Background: A random assortment of elements is your home field
Associated Skills: Athletics, Endurance, History
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Elemental Chaos.


The Feywild (“Arborea”)
A plane of rampant nature and arcane magic, where everything is charged with the energies of the fey spirits that dwell within, and the primal wildness of the place.
The Beastlands: A place of primal might where all creatures become savage animals, living free and natural and independent.
Pangea: A place of elemental primitives, where intelligence and technology are destroyed, and raw martial nature reigns supreme.
Arborea Background: You know your Oak from your Yew.
Associated Skills: Arcana, Nature, Stealth
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Feywild.


The Shadowfell (“The Gray Waste”)
A plane of death and shadow magic, where souls go to receive their final judgement. A dark mirror of other worlds, distorted and abstract.
Carceri: A place where the truly hateful beings are locked away, under the auspices of immortal spirits that keep them caged.
Nether: An endless, frozen, muddy graveyard of undead that spontaneously animate.
Shadowfell Background: You’ve been around the dead. You’re not that impressed.
Associated Skills: Heal, History, Stealth
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Shadowfell.


The Abyss
A cancer at the heart of the Elemental Chaos, constantly sucking at the world above. Infinite and evil, it spawns horrors whose only interest is destruction.
Pandemonium: A place of madness and panic, where mental illness is born.
Perdition: A place of selfish apathy, where instant gratification is the norm.
Abyssal Background: Screaming demons and alien suffering is your daily commute.
Associated Skills: Athletics, Dungeoneering, Endurance
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Abyss.


The Nine Hells
A deep tear in the Astral Sea, a place for endless diabolical machinations, and a resting place of the god Asmodeus as he schemes for multiversal dominance.
Gehenna: Floating “moons” of the Nine Hells, four volcanic slopes that produce a suffering grind.
Sheol: A place sloping “downhill,” a gravitational well around the Nine Hells, where the natives are in a constant state of cold-war.
Baatorian Background: You see schemes and plots and machinations daily.
Associated Skills: Bluff, Insight, Intimidate
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Nine Hells.


Mechanus
A world at the far end of the Astral Sea, where a seal protects against the Far Realm. A great calculating engine, home of various deities of law and order that seek to understand and puzzle out the nature of the multiverse.
Acheron: An astreroid-belt-like plane filled with geometric shapes, whose armies constantly battle in a never-ending exercise of order and obedience.
Purgatory: An infinite spiral staircase, said to reach all the way to the mortal world below, of folks who dedicate themselves to their work over everything.
Mechanus Background: The whirling gears of the multiverse are yours to traverse.
Associated Skills: Arcana, Diplomacy, History
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in the Mechanus.


Celestia
A great mountain in the Astral Sea that stretches higher than infinity, challenging the truly pure and good to climb it. A place of justice and crusading goodness.
Arcadia: Fields before the mountain, where folks pursue a life of virtuous order, hoping to be seen as good and useful citizens.
K’un Lun: A mountain range where peaceful people seek inner perfection.
Celestia Background: Shining virtue is rather old hat to you.
Associated Skills: Diplomacy, Insight, Intimidate
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in Celestia.


Elysium
A vast field in the Astral Sea full of light and color, where the innocent and virtuous go for their afterlife reward.
Bytopia: A peaceful, rural place of rugged wilderness and fraternal cooperation.
Avalon: Misty islands in the sea that reward the virtuous with rest, and conceal powerful good magic.
Elysium Background: Idyllic beauty and peace are your home life.
Associated Skills: Diplomacy, Heal, Insight
Benefit: +1 to all skill checks when you are in Elysium.
[/sblock]

 

[Scribble]

D&D players > 4e D&D players > 4e D&D players with DDI. Limited data set is limited

But in the context of my comments, 4e D&D players with DDI > then all.