The Shadar-kai are NEVER going to be the next drow

[DrunkonDuty]

Ya know I wondered about the Fiend Folio and why all the races in there that had a particular style to them. Knowing that the design brief basically said: "give us the new Drow" it all makes sense.

I gotta say I like the Ethergaunts, the Kaorti and the mirror people ones (their name escapes me at the mo.)

Shadar-Kai didn't do it for me. My first thought on reading their entry was: "More frickin dark-elves. Wonder how long till we have the angst-driven Drizzt equivalent?" Basically I just feel they don't have an original enough feeling to them.

 

[haakon1]

I can't recall if Chris Thomasson or Jesse Decker came up with the Shadar-Kai

Probably whichever one lives in downtown Seattle -- piercings and tattoos on a fey? Kinda lame-o early 90s if you ask me. The male shadow-kai have soul patches, like Apolo Ono, while the fem-shadow-kai have "target tats" on their lower backs and belly-button piercings.

 

[Shemeska]

I think there are some pretty decent WotC creatures. Maybe they haven't been featured in the same manner as the drow (1e D-series modules) or even recently as the githyanki (Lich-queen adventure and gith based campaigns) but there is no reason to issue so broad a statement.

What about...

Inevitable
Living Spells

The Inevitables are directly inspired by the 2e Marut from Planescape (which became on the core Inevitable types in 3e).

3.x Living Spells seem inspired by (but may very well have been created independantly) the 2e Spellhaunts from Planescape as well.

I can't say much on the others in your original listing there since I'm not as versed in their origins, 3e or pre-3e.

 

[Shemeska]

Probably whichever one lives in downtown Seattle -- piercings and tattoos on a fey? Kinda lame-o early 90s if you ask me. The male shadow-kai have soul patches, like Apolo Ono, while the fem-shadow-kai have "target tats" on their lower backs and belly-button piercings.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with soul patches and piercings.

 

[haakon1]

I like the Shadar-Kai and have used 'em in my 3.5 games. I generally picture them as angsty, obsessed with morbid art, and spiteful. The one quotes a lot of Baudelaire when he talks. The other sounds like Sylvia Plath.

I'm thinking more the goth episode of South Park. "Everything sucks." "Yeah, it totally sucks."

 

[haakon1]

"Friendlicker" could, at a stretch, be a nifty name for a sword.

How about "Fiendlicker" for a holy, cold burst, demon-slayer sword?

 

[Derro]

The Inevitables are directly inspired by the 2e Marut from Planescape (which became on the core Inevitable types in 3e).

3.x Living Spells seem inspired by (but may very well have been created independantly) the 2e Spellhaunts from Planescape as well.

You got me on the Inevitable.

I remember a ghost-spell in Ravenloft that could be a progenitor as well. I just used one to great effect which is probably why it's on my list.

 

[haakon1]

EH?! Shadar-kai aren't metal. Metal is thumping bass and blood-soaked flesh and giant axes and gratuitous T&A and hyperviolence.

Shadar-kai are "Blah! I suffer! Blarg!" That's incredibly emo, or at least more '90's Nu Metal (which is rage-based emo for suburban kids, right?).

Metal is about Vikings killing people with axes. It's Led Zeppelin and Metalicca. It's orcs and frost giants and mind flayers and balors.

Nu metal is about mom isn't sensitive enough to my emotion needs. Shadar-kai and other monster I forgot existed are Nu Metal.

Flumphs are Floyd, man, super trippy and kinda cool in their own bizarre way. Tear down the Flumph wall, dude . . .

 

[haakon1]

QUESTION: I want to make a brand new race. I envision a primitive reptilian race from the swamps. i think they'd be cool. Any new ideas to share?

Lizardmen? Bullywugs? Trolls?

 

[DrunkonDuty]

haakon1 wrote:
Metal is about Vikings killing people with axes. It's Led Zeppelin and Metalicca. It's orcs and frost giants and mind flayers and balors.

Nu metal is about mom isn't sensitive enough to my emotion needs. Shadar-kai and other monster I forgot existed are Nu Metal.

Flumphs are Floyd, man, super trippy and kinda cool in their own bizarre way. Tear down the Flumph wall, dude . . .

OK, so what are New Romantic Synth-pop?
And how about Blues? Any races out there have the blues? (and I've already considered Blues and disregarded them on account of them being rubbish.)