So how do you like your gnolls?

[Tonguez]

So I've been thinking about Gnolls and went and read Dunsany and a bit of other stuff which got me wondering how you PREFER your gnolls

Dunsany is somewhat vague on description except that they live in the woods and use spy holes in the trees, they also have a house full of emeralds.

DnD originally described them as a cross between Gnomes and Trolls but not much else (I still can't quite conceive what that might look like)

then of course later edition gave us the savage, Yeenoghu worshipping deranged hyaena-men and then the more noble savage 'Flind'.

Discworld describes their gnoll as "small, matted and dirty enough to sprout fungi and grasses on their hides (and seem to relate to soil as trolls relate to rock). They act as street-cleaners in Ankh-Morpork; they "pick up this, pick up that, maybe bang it against the wall until it stops struggling.

personaly I prefer this conception of gnolls which in my head seem to invoke images of a demented Womble

so there you have it, what is your preference?

 

[DnD_Dad]

I love discworld! Unfortunetly my brain and imagery is based off of what I learned first, ad&d hyena man.

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[Storminator]

Discworld describes their gnoll as "small, matted and dirty enough to sprout fungi and grasses on their hides

I'm pretty sure this description is just to enable "grassy gnoll" puns.

PS

 

[DnD_Dad]

That's why pratchett is hilarious!

 

[Mishihari Lord]

I voted "other." Physically I use the hyena-man look. Culturally, I base them on Genghis Khan's mongol horde, but without any of the positive aspects.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Hyena-like but in my games, they will replace orcs if I use them that is, you have one or the other but not both.

 

[Jhaelen]

I've never used gnolls in any of my adventures.

I had forgotten something called a 'gnoll' existed in one of Dunsany's novels. I seem to recall they came into existence in D&D because of a typo, so there wasn't any connection between them and Dunsany's.
I doubt they're creatures based in folklore or myth, hence my reluctance to use them. Besides, as hyena-men they only seem to fit in regions where hyenas would naturally dwell and my campaigns tend to be set in colder climates.

 

[doghead]

I chose "a cross between a gnome and troll" because I don't know what it means. It could be anything. IN the same way I like to try and mix things up a bit with the common monster races, the idea being to create something that is recognisable to most as a gnoll, goblin, orc, troll or whatever, but not exactly what they expected.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

thotd

 

[Evilhalfling]

In one campaign I had them as nomadic savages, on a great unexplored grassland.
the hook was that they used WAR CHARIOTS! one driver, one "Hero" with a great bow, and 2 runners with spears. Hyena's pulled the chariots.
It was awesome.

they will be appearing this way again in my next campaign.