[Kobold Press] Black Flag Friday

[jerryrice4949]

I'm guessing it is the replacement MM, not something that obviates their Tomes. They have said their back catalog is going to be compatible.

Yes I believe you are correct. But since the MM is backwards compatible with Black Flag that shouldn’t be necessary. But I bet updates are also made to the CC and ToB 1-3 next. After all the world book already appears to be revised. It is just the inevitable creep of revision and re-release. I just think this is the beginning all these 5E look alike beings lightly different making using them together just a little bit more laborious.

I own a lot of 3PP 5E stuff but if they are all different I may just head to OneD&D.

 

[Zaukrie]

Yes I believe you are correct. But since the MM is backwards compatible with Black Flag that shouldn’t be necessary. But I bet updates are also made to the CC and ToB. 1-3 next. After all the world book already appears to be revised. It is just the inevitable creep of revision and re-release. I just think this is the beginning all these 5E look alike beings lightly different making using them together just a little bit more laborious.

I mean, the SRD monsters are boring sacks of hit points with basically the same actions but different fluff. Level Up and KP and others are doing things with at least some differences between the monsters. The more you work on monster PDFs to sell, the more you realize how much is fluff (with 1-2 attacks that read different but are really just hitting PCs) and how much is actual interesting things for monsters to do.

 

[jerryrice4949]

In general, this sounds great, and I'm looking forward to the playtest.

However, I see some ugly stuff in the comments on that page, and I want Kobold Press to be clear on one thing: if y'all put out a core rulebook which uses the terminology of "Race" in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Three: No Sale. Period.

Yikes. Just read the comments. That has taken a turn.

 

[jerryrice4949]

I mean, the SRD monsters are boring sacks of hit points with basically the same actions but different fluff. Level Up and KP and others are doing things with at least some differences between the monsters. The more you work on monster PDFs to sell, the more you realize how much is fluff (with 1-2 attacks that read different but are really just hitting PCs) and how much is actual interesting things for monsters to do.

I agree but that doesn’t really address my main point. Do you really think the other KP monster books won’t be updated?

 

[Parmandur]

Yikes. Just read the comments. That has taken a turn.

It's not too hard to fix, even. Call it "People," "Kindred," "Ancestry"...but "Race" is a non-starter.

 

[jerryrice4949]

It's not too hard to fix, even. Call it "People," "Kindred," "Ancestry"...but "Race" is a non-starter.

Agreed. The term race is loaded at this point.

 

[darjr]

The playtest should provide an opportunity to let them know about using that word.

 

[Zaukrie]

The playtest should provide an opportunity to let them know about using that word.

I'm concerned they aren't aware enough without feedback

 

[Zaukrie]

I agree but that doesn’t really address my main point. Do you really think the other KP monster books won’t be updated?.

I think we might get short conversion PDFs. But who knows?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm concerned they aren't aware enough without feedback

If they're looking at that page at all, they know. And hopefully are cringing.

 

[Parmandur]

If they're looking at that page at all, they know. And hopefully are cringing.

I believe it is fixable, I hope they follow through and sonthe right thing.

 

[Anon Adderlan]

While I have no doubt they'll change the name, I don't think it'll do anything to change either the systemic issues or biological essentialism.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

While I have no doubt they'll change the name, I don't think it'll do anything to change either the systemic issues or biological essentialism.

I think it depends on the feedback. They aren't unaware of this debate, which has been center stage in the RPG scene for years now.

 

[darjr]

I think it depends on the feedback. They aren't unaware of this debate, which has been center stage in the RPG scene for years now.

absolutely they are aware.

Kobold Press has even had to deal with a bit of it in their own products from early on.

 

[Reynard]

It is so weird to me that people seem to want unlimited choice of character races to play, as long as all the races are both mechanically and culturally bereft of anything that distinguishes them. Just say characters can look like anything the player wants and be done with it.

 

[Zaukrie]

It is so weird to me that people seem to want unlimited choice of character races to play, as long as all the races are both mechanically and culturally bereft of anything that distinguishes them. Just say characters can look like anything the player wants and be done with it.

Sigh. No one said that. You can have flight, or darkvision or breath weapons. Sigh. You can have oozes (like plasmoids). There are a lot of ways to give different types of people differnces, w/o them having anything to do with racist tropes.

 

[overgeeked]

It is so weird to me that people seem to want unlimited choice of character races to play, as long as all the races are both mechanically and culturally bereft of anything that distinguishes them. Just say characters can look like anything the player wants and be done with it.

I agree. Something like Fate’s aspects for races and be done with it. Trouble is, most gamers want long, detailed, and crunchy sets of options for everything.

 

[Reynard]

Sigh. No one said that. You can have flight, or darkvision or breath weapons. Sigh. You can have oozes (like plasmoids). There are a lot of ways to give different types of people differnces, w/o them having anything to do with racist tropes.

But not a strength penalty.

Anyway, you're right, I was being flip. I am totally on board with changing terminology (heritage, species, whatever).

 

[bedir than]

The changed the word to Lineage

 

[darjr]

The changed the word to Lineage

Yup just saw that myself.

Project Black Flag Friday: All Hands on Deck - Kobold Press

Project Black Flag will be compatible with 5E DnD! Take a look at just a few of our VTT partners to bring your 5E D&D game under the Black Flag!

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