Do we really need Monkeys?

[DragonSword]

I just hope no one from WOTC sees this thread. I mean, forget just that rule, they'll make an entire monkey sourcebook. And then I'd have to go out and buy it. For $500 or whatever the current WOTC price on D&D Books is. I think I'm close.

 

[drnuncheon]

The only true monkeys are in OD&D. All monkey stats since have been pale imitations of the real thing.

 

[Desdichado]

Monkeys are vital to my campaigns. I'm anxiously awaiting the publication of Simian Races so I can get my full complement of monkey subraces.

 

[Darkness]

I think you forgot to mention that he was an undead ninja pirate who rides a dinosaur into battle.

He's a robot too.

Or maybe the dinosaur is.

 

[francisca]

Monkeys are vital to my campaigns. I'm anxiously awaiting the publication of Simian Races so I can get my full complement of monkey subraces.

Oh really? I thought the flagship bipedal mammal book was going to be Complete Primate, featuring the Bardic Chimp PrC. I heard WotC is going to put an infinite number of Chimps with this prestige class in a room, give them some computers with Monkrey$0pht w3rd, and let them write 4E.

 

[jonesy]

Oh really? I thought the flagship bipedal mammal book was going to be Complete Primate, featuring the Bardic Chimp PrC. I heard WotC is going to put an infinite number of Chimps with this prestige class in a room, give them some computers with Monkrey$0pht w3rd, and let them write 4E.

But what I really want to know is will it have stats for Monkees?

 

[fusangite]

Gleek!

Of course, the real question is how your culture perceives monkeys. In my view, the monkey familiar archetype really only enters Western culture with the second phase of the development of the comic book superhero. So, the real question is: are your characters sufficiently similar to the WonderTwins from the Superfriends to warrant getting a monkey? In my view, from the basis of cultural-literary tradition, only Druids (with their shape-shifting ability) should.

 

[skinnydwarf]

Dear All,

Hope this isn't viewed as terribly rude of me, but I really don't see what a campaign would need monkeys (MM p. 276.) They don't really seem to fit with my view of fantasy (my view being based in the books of Tolkien, etc.). I'm quite happy for them to occur in an African setting, but for a typical fantasy setting I am sorely tempted to get rid of them as an option.

What do others think? Am I missing something? Has anybody run a campaign (3e) without monkeys as a permitted option (for familiars or animal companions)?

Well, there is the point that your view of fantasy does not encompass all views of fantasy. D&D needs to account for these views, and has indeed created its own view of fantasy that it needs to support.

Now, I've never used monkeys, but I could see them being used in pirate games (as someone mentioned) or in a sword & sorcery inspired game.

On a side note, halflings don't fit my view of fantasy, I just don't see a place for them in my world. So they don't exist. (Though Lidda is growing on me, and I think I might bring halflings back when I start up a new game...)

 

[fusangite]

Oh really? I thought the flagship bipedal mammal book was going to be Complete Primate, featuring the Bardic Chimp PrC. I heard WotC is going to put an infinite number of Chimps with this prestige class in a room, give them some computers with Monkrey$0pht w3rd, and let them write 4E.

I think you're drawing a false equivalency between monkeys and great apes. It's pretty clear that the Complete Primate, while claiming to deal with all primates, really short-changes the monkey because none of the PrCs are really designed for accommodate creatures whose size category is less than Small. The only PrC monkeys get out of the book is the Ape Sultan which they just stole anyway from Encounter Critical.

* (photo credit: Teflon Billy)

 

[Mynex]

Oh really? I thought the flagship bipedal mammal book was going to be Complete Primate, featuring the Bardic Chimp PrC.

Oh that's too good.. I might have to write that up now!

No seriously, I like that idea.. I just might write that up!

Oh yea, to be on topic... Uhrm.. I'm opposed to getting rid of Monkeys and if anyone else says to get rid of them... I'd suggest re-reading my sig...

I have control of a horde of Ninja Monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them!