12 new monster images revealed from Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes!

Flexor the Mighty! · May 10, 2018

Demetrios1453 said:
They've been around since 1st edition, actually...

1e MM2 I believe.

And I agree with Olgar, its hard to take the gun wielding, pipe smoking, cut from Star Wars space hippos seriously. Then again I could never take Spelljammer seriously as a whole. Not my thing.

Parmandur · May 10, 2018

Flexor the Mighty! said:
1e MM2 I believe.

And I agree with Olgar, its hard to take the gun wielding, pipe smoking, cut from Star Wars space hippos seriously. Then again I could never take Spelljammer seriously as a whole. Not my thing.

Do you take Elven Wizards and Dwarven Barbarians "seriously?"

Are people taking D&D seriously.

MechaTarrasque · May 10, 2018

Shemeska said:
They were created via collaboration of Tiamat and Pearza of the Dark 8. Assuming that 5e keeps that bit of lore (which I wrote) within its continuity.

Curious why they spelled them abashai when they're abishai. Still, that typo aside, that artwork is just spectacular for the abishai.

I wonder if they aren't actually the same thing after all. I (and I think everyone else) has been assuming that, but if they are new critters that Tiamat (or whoever) created to replace the abishai, that could explain the name change and the high CR's that reportedly were seen (I think) on D&D Beyond.

Ath-kethin · May 10, 2018

Flexor the Mighty! said:
And I agree with Olgar, its hard to take the gun wielding, pipe smoking, cut from Star Wars space hippos seriously. Then again I could never take Spelljammer seriously as a whole. Not my thing.

Yours is not an uncommon opinion, and I think that's unfortunate. I totally get it not being your thing, and that's fine.

But to my mind one of the real strengths of Spelljammer is it's refusal to take itself too seriously. It's a setting that recognizes the inherent goofiness of D&D, embraces it, and doubles down on it.

It's possible to run horrific and serious Spelljammer campaigns - I have done so myself, and some of the last supplements produced for the setting leaned more in that direction. But to me Spelljammer overall emphansizes the sense of wonder and amazement and possibility of D&D, without the kind of jaded cynicism that led to stuff like Planescape and Dark Sun. Planescape itself is more or less a 90s style gritty reboot of Spelljammer anyway, in a sense.

To each their own. But I don't see how a hippo dude is any sillier than Slight Elf Variation #2387 (this time, with even pointier ears!) or cat people or turtle people or pick your staple.

It's all make believe, people.

Flexor the Mighty! · May 10, 2018

Parmandur said:
Do you take Elven Wizards and Dwarven Barbarians "seriously?"

Are people taking D&D seriously.

To a degree. Those are a core feature of the D&D milieu, and the larger traditional fantasy milieu. Gun wielding space hippos, not so much.

SkidAce · May 10, 2018

Here is a scan of the lore from my book.

View attachment 97340

SkidAce · May 10, 2018

I always liked them because of change self.

Had an avatar of Tiamat encounter the group in a sin city type area with a harem of abishai.

dave2008 · May 10, 2018

Flexor the Mighty! said:
1e MM2 I believe.

And I agree with Olgar, its hard to take the gun wielding, pipe smoking, cut from Star Wars space hippos seriously. Then again I could never take Spelljammer seriously as a whole. Not my thing.

What you mean this guy

View attachment 97341

EDIT: ninja'd by [MENTION=7706]SkidAce[/MENTION]

Flexor the Mighty! · May 10, 2018

Ath-kethin said:
Yours is not an uncommon opinion, and I think that's unfortunate. I totally get it not being your thing, and that's fine.

But my mind one of the real strengths of Spelljammer is it's refusal to take itself too seriously. It's a setting that recognizes the inherent goofiness of D&D, embraces it, and doubles down on it.

It's possible to run horrific and serious Spelljammer campaigns - I have done so myself, and some of the last supplements produced for the setting leaned more in that direction. But to me Spelljammer overall emphansizes the sense of wonder and amazement and possibility of D&D, without the kind of jaded cynicism that led to stuff like Planescape and Dark Sun. Planescape itself is more or else a 90s style gritty reboot of Spelljammer anyway, in a sense.

To each their own. But I don't see how a hippo dude is any sillier than Slight Elf Variation #2387 (this time, with even pointier ears!) or cat people or turtle people or pick your staple.

It's all make believe, people.

In not into anthropomorphic animals and would say the same about cat or turtle people. The hippo people imagery looks like out of furry fic set in the 19th century. Just not my deal.

dave2008 · May 10, 2018

Flexor the Mighty! said:
In not into anthropomorphic animals and would say the same about cat or turtle people. The hippo people imagery looks like out of furry fic set in the 19th century. Just not my deal.

But they don't have any fur?