Revisionist game publishing

[ExploderWizard]

What is ridiculous is that you actually think that a species that grows up in the dark will spontaneously develop the ability to see in the dark, rather than being totally blind like EVERY OTHER creature that lives underground.

And then complain about how it's so unbelievable that PC kobolds can't see in the dark as well as other kobolds.

Its only ridiculous if the the rest of the kobold nation has it and the PC doesn't.

 

[Hussar]

Its only ridiculous if the the rest of the kobold nation has it and the PC doesn't.

But that wasn't your complaint. Your complaint was that it doesn't make scientific sense that PC Kobolds lack and ability that other kobolds have. The fact that the ability doesn't make any scientific sense in the first place apparently doesn't matter.

Simple answer - kobold shamans grant darkvision from their god(dess) through daily rituals. PC kobolds do not have access to a kobold shaman therefore they lose darkvision.

There, end of problem.

 

[keterys]

So explain to me again why kobold PCs lack darkvision, when other kobolds have it, if it's not "balance."

A racial writeup for kobold PCs has not yet been published (nor has one for bugbears, hence them having oversized weapons). So first you have to show that kobold PCs actually lack darkvision.

Now, I wouldn't be surprised if the final kobold PC writeup lacks _shifty_ in its current incarnation, moving to something less at-will.

 

[ExploderWizard]

But that wasn't your complaint. Your complaint was that it doesn't make scientific sense that PC Kobolds lack and ability that other kobolds have. The fact that the ability doesn't make any scientific sense in the first place apparently doesn't matter.

Yes. The problem isn't scientific, it instead a consistency issue.

Simple answer - kobold shamans grant darkvision from their god(dess) through daily rituals. PC kobolds do not have access to a kobold shaman therefore they lose darkvision.

There, end of problem.

So now every little kobold encampment will have to include a shaman if the little buggers want access to darkvision. This bass ackwards type of justification just makes more work for the DM.

Simpler answer- all kobolds have darkvision. End of problem.

New problem: DM doesn't want to permit PC races with darkvision.
Player: " Can I play a kobold?"
DM: " No"

End of problem.

 

[Garthanos]

Yes. The problem isn't scientific, it instead a consistency issue.



So now every little kobold encampment will have to include a shaman if the little buggers want access to darkvision. This bass ackwards type of justification just makes more work for the DM.

nyeah the shaman idea is far cooler....it creates a culture for them (or actually starts you thinking about one) and the rituals effects might last till the rise of a new moon...or till some other condition like being in bright sunlight at noon..

Some times cool is far better than simple ... if I liked kobolds enough to have them in my game world I would like them enough to jot that down.

 

[Scribble]

Maybe the Kobolds themselves don't really know why, but when a Kobold leaves the clan, he looses certain attributes... Dark Vision being one of them.

The clan is strength, safety... Abandoning the clan is dangerous not only for yourself, but it weakens the clan as a whole (one less Kobold to help build the rock slide traps...) Therefore, the Shamans say it's a curse from the gods to punish the one who would hurt the clan.

Personally I love the little "inconsistencies." They leave more room for imagination. People that get hung up over this stuff amuse me in a weird way.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Maybe the Kobolds themselves don't really know why, but when a Kobold leaves the clan, he looses certain attributes... Dark Vision being one of them.

The clan is strength, safety... Abandoning the clan is dangerous not only for yourself, but it weakens the clan as a whole (one less Kobold to help build the rock slide traps...) Therefore, the Shamans say it's a curse from the gods to punish the one who would hurt the clan.

Personally I love the little "inconsistencies." They leave more room for imagination. People that get hung up over this stuff amuse me in a weird way.

I am likewise amused by the "oh noes we can't let a PC do that!" gyrations that people need to come up with in order to justify inconsistencies.

Can I play a kobold?
Sure.
Nice. Shifty lil bugger with nightvision will be awesome!
Well......
What?
You won't get the shifting ability or the darkvision.
.......
Ok then I guess I'll play a gnome who wears a kobold mask.

 

[Scribble]

I am likewise amused by the "oh noes we can't let a PC do that!" gyrations that people need to come up with in order to justify inconsistencies.

Can I play a kobold?
Sure.
Nice. Shifty lil bugger with nightvision will be awesome!
Well......
What?
You won't get the shifting ability or the darkvision.
.......
Ok then I guess I'll play a gnome who wears a kobold mask.

I think you're looking at things backwards there...

 

[catsclaw227]

Maybe the Kobolds themselves don't really know why, but when a Kobold leaves the clan, he looses certain attributes... Dark Vision being one of them.

The clan is strength, safety... Abandoning the clan is dangerous not only for yourself, but it weakens the clan as a whole (one less Kobold to help build the rock slide traps...) Therefore, the Shamans say it's a curse from the gods to punish the one who would hurt the clan.

Personally I love the little "inconsistencies." They leave more room for imagination. People that get hung up over this stuff amuse me in a weird way.

Early editions of D&D were chock-full of these little inconsistencies and they unintentionally added a load of flavor. I don't mind them at all.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Early editions of D&D were chock-full of these little inconsistencies and they unintentionally added a load of flavor. I don't mind them at all.

I don't mind flavor added for its own sake but having to paint it over a lame justification such as game balance handed down from the corporate machine kind of stinks.