i09 picks on D&D's 24 most ridiculous names, fails at basic reading

[Agamon]

No need to be offended by it.

But the article fails for another reason: no mention of any of the goofy 4E classes, like "Battlemind" (especially when combined with the goofier race, Shardmind. Yes Shardmind Battlemind is an option in 4E).

Beware, I am Mindbullets McMinderson, the Shardmind Battlemind! Watchmind your step!

Intimidating!

 

[Remathilis]

The problem with it is many of his criticisms are based on inaccurate descriptions of the classes and kits. He claims the anchorite was ridiculous because they lose their powers when they move 100 feet from an anchor point. But this isn't a feature of the class at all. Anchorites only lose their powers if they leave ravenloft. There were other examples like that in the list.

Now, is this worth getting mad over? No. There is no point getting upset over someone's rediculist. But it was reposted all over Facebook so lots of gamers took an interest and commented. i think it is fair to point out that many of the claims about the classes in the list are plain wrong or highly misleading.

Thanks BRG, you saw my point.

There is plenty of dumb D&D classes. Some of the 3.5 prestige classes are downright goofy! That doesn't even get into some of the strange classes that graced Dragon over the years either. However, so many of his jokes seemed like he found a name, saw what book it was in, and then made a joke over the name without bothering to find out anything. It bothered me that it was so clear he didn't do the research, and as a teacher I can tell when someone is pulling it out of their kiester and it irritates me.

That said, I found a few of them funny. However, most of them felt like a 90's stand-up comic. "Women. Am I right fellas?" style humor. Will it keep me from sleeping a night? No. Still annoyed me though.

tl;dr Do some research before putting things on the internet. We'll all be better for it.

 

[KirayaTiDrekan]

Going to agree with the apparent minority here (Remathilis and Bedrockgames). I found the article to be lame and unfunny. Certainly not offensive but just totally meh. If you want to be funny, know your subject.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Going to agree with the apparent minority here (Remathilis and Bedrockgames). I found the article to be lame and unfunny. Certainly not offensive but just totally meh. If you want to be funny, know your subject.

For me the issue is this is clearly meant as a kind of "in" humor, where the jokes are funny because they point to things in the hobby participants can all recognize. I love that sort of thing. It just fell short of being effective for me, since so much of it wasn't even accurate. It would be like making a 10 goofiest doctor who monsters list, and getting the details that are supposed to be funny completely wrong.

 

[JediSoth]

Ah it is good to have a laugh. But they missed the Jester class from an early Dragon magazine. I remember having one in an AD&D campaign and the Jester was such an annoying character: everyone wanted him to die a horrible death.

Give a Jester a Wand of Wonder, though....

I played one once in a one-shot that out-magicked the magic-users in the party.

 

[Alzrius]

For me the issue is this is clearly meant as a kind of "in" humor, where the jokes are funny because they point to things in the hobby participants can all recognize. I love that sort of thing. It just fell short of being effective for me, since so much of it wasn't even accurate. It would be like making a 10 goofiest doctor who monsters list, and getting the details that are supposed to be funny completely wrong.

That's my take on the whole thing. I find these articles funny when they point out the inanities that were there all along; this article wasn't that.

 

[Remathilis]

For me the issue is this is clearly meant as a kind of "in" humor, where the jokes are funny because they point to things in the hobby participants can all recognize. I love that sort of thing. It just fell short of being effective for me, since so much of it wasn't even accurate. It would be like making a 10 goofiest doctor who monsters list, and getting the details that are supposed to be funny completely wrong.

Or worse, throwing a Tribble on that list.

 

[Luce]

Or worse, throwing a Tribble on that list.

You called?

 

[pemerton]

Raging?? Raging with laughter!

Agreed.

I thought it was pretty funny, and it doesn't really both me that they got the anchorite wrong. Or that I personally have nothing against the idea of a unicorn rider.

 

[pemerton]

Beware, I am Mindbullets McMinderson, the Shardmind Battlemind! Watchmind your step!

Wins thread, as far as I'm concerned.