New Dungeon Article

[Nahat Anoj]

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.

Yeah, they're like some combination of Abyssal/Wraith/Vampire emo gothness. And frankly, they sound pretty neat IMO (D&D needs the whiny angst-ridden emo crap to lure in some more new gamers ). I'll be interested to see how "master of illusion and shadow magic" makes its way into the game world.

I somewhat hear the complaints regarding "double names" like dragonborn, gloomdeep, or whatever. But I guess it doesn't bother me so much.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

I'm wondering about Shadar-kai stuff, like how they reproduce. Are there baby Shadar-kai hanging around? Also, do they die? I think some fluff indicates they are immortal, but if they are trying to reduce the amount of all-knowing NPCs (for example, Elves now only live around 300 years or so), that seems counterintuitive. Alas, we have to wait so long for answers ...

 

[Greenfaun]

Within the shadar-kai culture, a sometimes-cruel meritocracy, consisting of contests of wit, skill, and combat prowess, abounds.

This may not be the worst sentence ever written in the English language, but it's the worst I've seen in a long time. Seriously, this is what editors are for.

Other than that, no strong feelings about the article. Another reasonably good preview about a part of the game that doesn't interest me. Clearly shadar-kai are the new monsters picked for stardom in the new edition (well, and gnomes. Rarr... ) but they don't do a lot for me. I'm sure lots of people think they're totally awesome.

 

[Thyrwyn]

Actually, it is not a sentence - at best it is a phrase with some clauses:

"Within the shadar-kai culture...abounds." What abounds?

Or, "Within the shadar-kai culture, a sometimes-cruel meritocracy...abounds." How can a meritocracy "abound"? it is either a meritocracy or it isn't; it can't "abound".

 

[Dausuul]

This may not be the worst sentence ever written in the English language, but it's the worst I've seen in a long time. Seriously, this is what editors are for.

Other than that, no strong feelings about the article. Another reasonably good preview about a part of the game that doesn't interest me. Clearly shadar-kai are the new monsters picked for stardom in the new edition (well, and gnomes. Rarr... ) but they don't do a lot for me. I'm sure lots of people think they're totally awesome.

Yeah, I don't really feel like my campaigns need a double helping of emo with extra piercings.

Actually, it is not a sentence - at best it is a phrase with some clauses:

"Within the shadar-kai culture...abounds." What abounds?

Or, "Within the shadar-kai culture, a sometimes-cruel meritocracy...abounds." How can a meritocracy "abound"? it is either a meritocracy or it isn't; it can't "abound".

I'm fairly sure it's the latter, which means it is actually a sentence, just a horribly bad one. As you say, a single meritocracy cannot "abound."

 

[Voss]

This may not be the worst sentence ever written in the English language, but it's the worst I've seen in a long time. Seriously, this is what editors are for.

Other than that, no strong feelings about the article. Another reasonably good preview about a part of the game that doesn't interest me. Clearly shadar-kai are the new monsters picked for stardom in the new edition (well, and gnomes. Rarr... ) but they don't do a lot for me. I'm sure lots of people think they're totally awesome.

Indeed, I'm busy stuffing them in a very crowded rocket thats going to be shot directly into the sun. Along with drow, 90% of the humanoid races and 95% of the aberrations from the 3e days. 4e seems to be continuing the tradition that 3e set with monsters: 'Lets make the flumph look cool by comparison'!

 

[Dausuul]

Indeed, I'm busy stuffing them in a very crowded rocket thats going to be shot directly into the sun. Along with drow, 90% of the humanoid races and 95% of the aberrations from the 3e days. 4e seems to be continuing the tradition that 3e set with monsters: 'Lets make the flumph look cool by comparison'!

Now, now. Every edition has its atrocious monsters; if shadar-kai are the worst we get from 4E, we should count our blessings. Remember the ascomoid?

"The ascomoid attacks by rolling over its opponents..."

 

[Cyronax]

Now, now. Every edition has its atrocious monsters; if shadar-kai are the worst we get from 4E, we should count our blessings. Remember the ascomoid?

"The ascomoid attacks by rolling over its opponents..."

Check out this article on crap D&D creatures.

http://www.headinjurytheater.com/article73.htm



I also am thinking about jettisoning most of the humanoid races from D&D, aside from most of the PHB's races and a few possibilities like the shifter, doppleganger, etc.

And with 4e's streamlined monster design, this should be a fun and easy process!

 

[Yergi]

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.

Any chance of you sharing any of that, Hong?

 

[Yergi]

Within the sometimes cruel meritocracy of shadar-kai culture, contests of wit, skill, and combat prowess abound.

Ah, much better. Sorry, I had to do that so my mind would stop screaming about the atrocity.