New Dungeon Article

[wedgeski]

I thought 'Gloomdeep' was okay until about halfway through when it started to sound unintentionally funny in my head. Otherwise, a good article. Solid art, some nice ideas, and a good little pocket of crunch.

What I would like to start seeing from Dungeon is a bit of imagination in layout and presentation. I need to start feeling like I'm being given something unique... at the moment the presentation, if not the content, is no better than a good fan affort.

 

[mach1.9pants]

It is not Gloomdeeps per se but the continual use of this doubled-up naming scheme by WotC and especially 4E. They just need to change the tune a bit.
But as I said mine probably won't be better (although I'll like them) and it is easily house-ruled fluff.

 

[Stogoe]

I find Wizards' names unimpressive. But I find the alternatives people suggest even worse.

Names are a b*tch. I hates making them up.

Gloomdeep could be called, say Thi'adum'dae. Or Vorzinknoble. Mantilfeceleety. Düstertief. Zurknestebkol. Xirxaxux. Ekel'erregend'Dunkel.

I agree with the sentiments of both these posts. Besides, any specific name in Elvish they slap on is just going to be a portmanteau with words you don't recognize.

 

[hong]

My 4E playtest had the players explore the "Koboldhöhlen" (Kobold Caverns?). I think that's a name someone might come up with if there are caverns with kobolds in them...

The Kobold Hole. That has possibilities.

 

[Dausuul]

Man I am getting doubled-up name fatigue MAJOR style. It has been going on for a while now, with 4E it seems to be getting worse. Can't they use a little imagination rather than a doubled-up word generator!

...Gloomdeeps...sorrowsworn...Bloodspear...Shadowf ell...gloomblade...bloodragers...chainfighters...

Some are worse than others, I'm looking at you Gloomdeep, GLOOOOOM DEEEEEEEP to be said in a deep ghostly voice :\
Thankfully it is fluff (bye bye) because the article is a really neat short encounter background. Definitely worth either a go or, at least, some plagarism!

woooo bewaaare of theee gloooom blades in the glooooom deeeeep......

*LAUGH*

True. Entirely too true. I think I'm going to find out WotC's date of incorporation and send it a thesaurus for a birthday present.

 

[Shroomy]

Judging by the article, I suspect that the sorrowsworn demon from MMIII made the cut to 4th edition.

 

[Rex Blunder]

So every opponent is worth approximately 50 XP per level (elite 100, minion 12); encounter XP is the total of all the opponents; and to determine the encounter level, you divide the total XP by (number of characters x 50)? That seems to work if you assume 4 PCs.

 

[Irda Ranger]

Does anyone else think the Shadar Kai and Firefly's Reavers are very similar? Not blatant-plagiarism similar, but similar.

 

[hong]

Does anyone else think the Shadar Kai and Firefly's Reavers are very similar? Not blatant-plagiarism similar, but similar.

Nope, don't see it at all. Shadar-kai are quintessential emo goth, not slavering insane psychos. They will make GREAT Abyssals in the D&D-IH-Exalted mashup I'm planning.

 

[SeRiAlExPeRiMeNtS]

Does anyone else think the Shadar Kai and Firefly's Reavers are very similar? Not blatant-plagiarism similar, but similar.

It's worst, they look like the Yuuzhan Vong!