DragonLance Kenders
- Thread starter Sado
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wingsandsword
Legend
Kender are the halflings of the Dragonlance setting. They look like similar to halflings, but tend to always look like slightly exotic little children with pointed ears and well tanned skin, and often act with childlike wonder and innocence. They often wear their hair in a topknot. IIRC they used to be "normal" halflings in the distant past, but a powerful artifact called the Greystone mutated halflings into Kender.
They are famous for being kleptomanicacs. Culturally, they have no real concept of individual property, so if they see something they like they tend to take it (even if they don't realize they are doing it, and normally don't realize that anyone else would take offense). They are also known for their ability to taunt and tease mercilessly, goading their opponents into foolish acts. They are also utterly fearless.
Traditional Kender weapons include the hoopak, a spear with a copper spearhead and a slingshot on the other end, and made a vaguely musical sound when spun overhead. Most traditional kender weapons could be used as improvised musical instruments.
I don't remember the game-mechanic differences or how they are depicted in the current Dragonlance book, but you didn't have it you could play them with just a 3.5 Halfling. Maybe change their racial skill bonuses to Sleight of Hand, Open Lock and Disable Device and Bluff instead of Climb, Jump, Move Silently and Listen.
They are famous for being kleptomanicacs. Culturally, they have no real concept of individual property, so if they see something they like they tend to take it (even if they don't realize they are doing it, and normally don't realize that anyone else would take offense). They are also known for their ability to taunt and tease mercilessly, goading their opponents into foolish acts. They are also utterly fearless.
Traditional Kender weapons include the hoopak, a spear with a copper spearhead and a slingshot on the other end, and made a vaguely musical sound when spun overhead. Most traditional kender weapons could be used as improvised musical instruments.
I don't remember the game-mechanic differences or how they are depicted in the current Dragonlance book, but you didn't have it you could play them with just a 3.5 Halfling. Maybe change their racial skill bonuses to Sleight of Hand, Open Lock and Disable Device and Bluff instead of Climb, Jump, Move Silently and Listen.
Tsyr
Explorer
In the "new" Dragonlance, there are a subset of kender that are all dour and pessamistic now, but...
That said, I think the basic concept of Kender has spiraled out of control. Read the original Dragonlance novels by Wies and Hickman. Tas was not as rediculously over sterotyped as most kender are anymore. He *did* have basic common sense, could be quite ruthless in his own way (Witness the very first scene of the very first book), and generally tried to get along with people.
No, he didnt understand the concept of personal property as such; and yes, he was fearless. Those are kender-ish traits. But they dont *have* to be played to the point of being silly.
Likewise, some kender can 'learn' fear. They aren't afraid, so much as (As tas eventually learned), "Think about if doing what I'm about to do would have a negative effect on doing things in the future", or something like that.
That said, I think the basic concept of Kender has spiraled out of control. Read the original Dragonlance novels by Wies and Hickman. Tas was not as rediculously over sterotyped as most kender are anymore. He *did* have basic common sense, could be quite ruthless in his own way (Witness the very first scene of the very first book), and generally tried to get along with people.
No, he didnt understand the concept of personal property as such; and yes, he was fearless. Those are kender-ish traits. But they dont *have* to be played to the point of being silly.
Likewise, some kender can 'learn' fear. They aren't afraid, so much as (As tas eventually learned), "Think about if doing what I'm about to do would have a negative effect on doing things in the future", or something like that.
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