Eberron: The XTREME D&D Setting!

[am181d]

Using the word "extreme" hasn't been trendy in about five years. And if there's one thing that annoys me more than people trying too hard to be trendy, it's people trying too hard to be trendy but missing the mark by five years.

(Missing the mark by ten years or more, by contrast, is strangely endearing. The "Gnarly Explorer" has a certain ring to it.)

That said, I'm still very much looking forward to the Eberron Campaign Setting. I'm optimistic that Wizards may yet see the error of their ways and replace word "extreme" in these prestige classes to something more appealing.

Might I suggest "Daring Explorer" or "Fearless Explorer"?

 

[NarlethDrider]

When I 'hear' extreme rangers, I think......
GO! GO! POWER RANGERS!

 

[RangerWickett]

Oh, c'mon, I love it. I recognize how kitschy the term 'Extreme' is now. It's extremely kitschy. But I know that WotC realizes how silly the term is, and so I'm reading this as a bit of tongue in cheek humor. As maligned as the term is by 'highbrow' members of pop culture, extreme entertainment is still fun, especially when we don't actually think it's more intense or important than normal entertainment. It's just more more.

 

[~Johnny~]

Oh, c'mon, I love it. I recognize how kitschy the term 'Extreme' is now. It's extremely kitschy. But I know that WotC realizes how silly the term is, and so I'm reading this as a bit of tongue in cheek humor. As maligned as the term is by 'highbrow' members of pop culture, extreme entertainment is still fun, especially when we don't actually think it's more intense or important than normal entertainment. It's just more more.

Haha, I really like this take on the subject. WotC could easily turn this around by embracing the silliness of the term "extreme."

 

[Trickstergod]

Ahh...

Hmm.

I haven't been particularly paying much attention to Eberron; I'll go to Wizards of the Coast for mechanics and rules, but when it comes to flavor, which a campaign setting is all about, I'll look elsewhere.

Even disregarding the extreme adjective - which certainly isn't a selling point for me - the description of something being akin to Legolas jumping the oliphant in Return of the King isn't a selling point for me. All that scene did was make me roll my eyes.

Magic as technology isn't necessarily a selling point for me either; however, that's just on the surface. Iron Kingdoms could possibly be described as such, but it looks intriguing.

So there you have that.

Other snippets I've heard - such as dinosaur mounts - really don't nab my interest, either.

On the other hand, based on my little brother and the folk he role-plays with, well, I'm sure Eberron will have its audience, much to my chagrin if it turns out to be what it seems it might be...

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Haha, I really like this take on the subject. WotC could easily turn this around by embracing the silliness of the term "extreme."

Problem is, D&D doesn't (by default) have a "silly" theme. If I saw an Extreme Ranger in something like Munchkin, or even Hackmaster, I would just chuckle and go on. But it's different with D&D.

Imagine Frodo saying: "We can't beat Sauron, he's just too l33t for our skillz!!"

It may just be because the hole "extreme" thing is a major pet-peeve of mine, but to me, they're putting a square peg in a round hole....with a sledgehammer.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Imagine Frodo saying: "We can't beat Sauron, he's just too l33t for our skillz!!"

Or that archer Uruk Hai slowly walking up to Boromir's arrow-pierced body, Boromir raising his eyes to behold his slayer as the sounds of his wailing halfling companions are carried away by armored foes, the cloven horn of Gondor at his feet, as shattered as The Fellowship itself, and the ork regards him and says

"Yo, you suckas got served."

Ugh.

-z

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Or that archer Uruk Hai slowly walking up to Boromir's arrow-pierced body, Boromir raising his eyes to behold his slayer as the sounds of his wailing halfling companions are carried away by armored foes, the cloven horn of Gondor at his feet, as shattered as The Fellowship itself, and the ork regards him and says

"Yo, you suckas got served."

Ugh.

-z

 

[gloomymarshes]

It'd be funnier if the ork just simply said "Owned." I half expected legolas to say the same thing right after he killed that oliphaunt in rotk

 

[DanMcS]

Mmm, irony. The iconic Midnight fanatic, complaining about hype for a setting.