Dungeon 204 - The Ecology of the Swordwing

[Shroomy]

I didn't see a news thread for my article detailing the ecology of the swordwing. I though these monsters, which are new to 4e, were interesting conceptually and artistically since they were previewed in 2008, so I was glad to get a chance to expand upon them. I hope everyone enjoys it:

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (The Ecology of the Swordwing)

 

[Zaukrie]

You probably didn't see a thread, because most of us have given up on the "magazines". There are almost no threads about articles anymore, probably because there are so few articles now. W/o the character builder and monster builder, who would keep DDI at this point?

That said, I loved the concept and art, and I'll be stealing ideas from the article, thanks for writing it.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

I really enjoyed the article and it changed my impression of swordwings. I had no intention of ever using them before but I think I will now.

All that said, I still have no idea why these are Epic threats... or how their queen can be a 30th-level solo. Epic threats should be threats to a world or a plane but these are just really high level magpies. Personally, I would use them around high Heroic or low Paragon: how do you, Shroomy, see them after writing the article?

(BTW, I really stress how much I enjoyed the article. I am just trying to get a handle on what is Epic about them.)

You probably didn't see a thread, because most of us have given up on the "magazines". There are almost no threads about articles anymore, probably because there are so few articles now. W/o the character builder and monster builder, who would keep DDI at this point? (snip)

Honestly, it's felt like that for at least a year now. See how few threads there are here. You can really see the unpopularity of 4E by the reduced traffic on this and other websites (and I say that as someone for whom 4E is my favourite edition).

 

[Shroomy]

I really enjoyed the article and it changed my impression of swordwings. I had no intention of ever using them before but I think I will now.

All that said, I still have no idea why these are Epic threats... or how their queen can be a 30th-level solo. Epic threats should be threats to a world or a plane but these are just really high level magpies. Personally, I would use them around high Heroic or low Paragon: how do you, Shroomy, see them after writing the article?

(BTW, I really stress how much I enjoyed the article. I am just trying to get a handle on what is Epic about them.)

I view swordwings as extremely powerful alien monsters that thankfully live in the remotest reaches of the Underdark; if they lived closer to civilization and if they weren't constantly distracted by their hoarding they'd be a dire threat (slaughtering entire cities is definitely in their wheel house). Also, they're powerful enough that they can take what they want from whomever they want whenever they want; crownwings and queens even more so. Imagine a queen that collects powerful artifacts or perhaps the heads of the most powerful kings of the surface world...

 

[the Jester]

Weren't they a 3e, MM5 monster?

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

Weren't they a 3e, MM5 monster?

I had a quick look and I didn't see them there.

I think they may have started life as the sabrewings (?) from the BECMI adventure Sabre River.

 

[Jhaelen]

Weren't they a 3e, MM5 monster?

There was a very similarly looking monster in MM5, but it was rather low-level:
Vivisector

Still, I always assumed it was what inspired the creation of the Swordwings for 4e.

 

[Zaukrie]

Nice sidetrek, not perfect, but nice. That's how Dungeon should work....

 

[Shroomy]

Nice sidetrek, not perfect, but nice. That's how Dungeon should work....

Yeah, Mike did a great job; I particularly liked how he made the magic sword work like a hazard. Very nice.