New Dungeon Article

[The_Gneech]

"Asherack" is not as funny as "Balsag."

But neither of those are as funny as "ball-peen hammer."

-The Gneech

 

[pukunui]

I wonder if they do the whole compound word thing on purpose in hopes that we will customize all the fluff to suit our own campaigns.

I don't mind it that much. Sometimes it's easier just to use a bunch of English words that, while not very creative, nevertheless give the players a good idea of what to expect ("Gloomdeep" might sound dumb, but at least the players know they'll be going somewhere dark and gloomy whereas "T'ak-Darmoordath" doesn't mean anything to them and if they asked for an English translation, I'd have to end up saying something like "gloomdeep" anyway). A nonsensical fantasy name isn't guaranteed to evoke anything, let alone what you were hoping it would evoke ... as others have pointed out, made up words (or even real foreign words) are more likely to make your players laugh at you than shiver with fear or whatever.

Actually, I've found that my players don't generally laugh at the made up names in my campaigns. Instead they either butcher the name beyond recognition (or use a different name that sounds similar) or come up with a nickname that's easier for them to say and, I suppose, remember. They don't just do this with NPC/monster/location names, either. They do it with each other's characters' names, too. As an example, one of the current PCs is an elf named Lyaelrae Besthar. Looks great on paper. But the others decided not to even bother trying to pronounce it (or try to spell it on the initiative board) and dubbed him "Lye" instead.

 

[med stud]

I kind of like the noun-noun words, they remind me of my own language . For those who want a Norse touch to D&D, you got your share now

 

[Yergi]

Yeah, I think that's what they meant. And you did it without resorting to more clauses than a family reunion at the north pole. Still, eurgh.

Yeah, I did the best I could by just rearranging or cutting out words. I'm sure a real editor could do better still.

 

[Yergi]

I haven't got anything concrete yet. If and when I get my act together, I might start a thread in Plots & Places, and later put it on a web page.

Give me a heads up when you do, this mashup of different settings has me intrigued.

 

[pukunui]

Yeah, I did the best I could by just rearranging or cutting out words. I'm sure a real editor could do better still.

Considering how WotC apparently employs a group of "editorial assitants" (see the 3.5 MM credits), it's no surprise we get given so many grammatical gems.

EDIT: It was fixed for the special edition MM, so you'll have to look in one of the earlier ones.

 

[jackston2]

My players will always forget the name unless they change it into a simple descriptive nickname. Like (hypothetical) Ignathorak, who is a Ku'lockai Elder (a giant spider that weaves flaming webs), will just become, say, the Giant Fireweb spider.

 

[Stoat]

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

They make great villains. Nothing inspires a player to fits of rage and anger like a pasty, angsty, poetry-quoting faerie. Make 'em morally ambiguous and dangerous enough that it's worth the players' time to try and talk with 'em. Throughout any negotiation, the Shadar-Kai speak in absurd metaphor, focused on gloom, mortality and fate. They take a long time to come to the point and obsess over art and aesthetics.

It's worked great for me.

 

[pukunui]

They make great villains. Nothing inspires a player to fits of rage and anger like a pasty, angsty, poetry-quoting faerie. Make 'em morally ambiguous and dangerous enough that it's worth the players' time to try and talk with 'em. Throughout any negotiation, the Shadar-Kai speak in absurd metaphor, focused on gloom, mortality and fate. They take a long time to come to the point and obsess over art and aesthetics.

It's worked great for me.

Yeah, cos everybody loves to hate emos, right? Including the emos themselves.

So you shouldn't have any problem getting your players (and their PCs) to hate the shadar-kai, too ...

 

[Khur]

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!
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......

I laughed out loud at this post, Mach, and I made that name up. Just that one, mind you. I can't take credit for them all.

I also wrote that stinker of a sentence. Phew. What was I thinking? It apparently happens to the best of us, as well as writers such as me.

I'm glad everyone seems to be generally enjoying the article, despite a few foibles. What do you think of the art? Me? I think it rocks.