Worlds & Monsters -- I has it, too!

[Rechan]

Can we please not turn this thread into more arguing over a pet issue like monster names or what monster x is, so it can remain being about Worlds and Monsters? The last thread got derailed something awful.

Seriously, make your own thread if you want to complain about the Shadar-kai. I don't want to wade through pages of that just to hear more about W&M.

 

[Stogoe]

Can we please not turn this thread into more arguing over a pet issue like monster names or what monster x is, so it can remain being about Worlds and Monsters? The last thread got derailed something awful.

Seriously, make your own thread if you want to complain about the Shadar-kai. I don't want to wade through pages of that just to hear more about W&M.

The more I hear of the Raven Queen, the more I like. The shadar-kai actually seem interesting now, rather than the 'elves, but with, you know, shadow' they were before.

And it's a legacy name, so phbbt. I swear, complaining about 'goth' or 'emo' is becoming just as popular (and just as annoyingly lame) as complaining about 'anime' or complaining about 'WoW'. We get it - you only read Tolkien/Howard/Moorcock. Good for you.

 

[Kunimatyu]

And it's a legacy name, so phbbt. I swear, complaining about 'goth' or 'emo' is becoming just as popular (and just as annoyingly lame) as complaining about 'anime' or complaining about 'WoW'. We get it - you only read Tolkien/Howard/Moorcock. Good for you.

Probably just Tolkien and *maybe* a little Howard. Moorcock did have that angsty albino fellow, and even Conan had his sullen emo moments, if I remember my stories right.

 

[Kunimatyu]

I'm hating them for other reasons. First off, it's like they are shoving it down our throats. It's pretty obvious they are some designer's pet monster that they think deserves to be the next Drow, Githyanki, or Mindflayer. Nobody paid attention to it, but they are so convinced it's the next cool monster with "traction" they repositioned it to take a more center stage. I bet you that we'll see a module built around them real early.

The second reason I hate them is that they are soooo emo and goth. Isn't it bad enough we have to put up with the whiney Drow? Now they want us to like these pathetic cutters. What's next, a race of bulemics? Meh, I say... Meh.

Can you think of any other likely-antagonist races native to the Plane of Shadow? Shadar-Kai are kind of it, so perhaps the designers decided to spruce them up rather than create a new race whole-cloth.

Also, slamming groups of people with a psychological disorder is at best impolite. If you're going to do that, I'd recommend Circvs Maximvs , ENW's sister site -- I'm sure there are some people who'd love to meet you.

 

[Mighty Veil]

I'm hating "Shadar-Kai". It's so hack-fantasy-writer, of which there are thousands. The hyphen. The "ai". Gah! Go on, add an apostrophe for good luck. Can we move away from the pre-teen naming conventions?

Afraid the 4e team still thinks it's the late 90s. Gotta have their emo monster. As far bad names go. Let's face it. The late 2e design team, who became the 3e team, didn't have the best imagination and talent with names. Those kept and brought on for 4e are not much better. "Raven Queen"? That's the beat they could think up for a death goddess.

 

[Incenjucar]

Afraid the 4e team still thinks it's the late 90s. Gotta have their emo monster. As far bad names go. Let's face it. The late 2e design team, who became the 3e team, didn't have the best imagination and talent with names. Those kept and brought on for 4e are not much better. "Raven Queen"? That's the beat they could think up for a death goddess.

Considering how huge emo is right now, they'd be stupid not to throw them a bone. Who knows, maybe the social aspect of the game will help some of the more tragic types to become happier people.

That said, goth (morbid eroticism - See: Isis) and emo (melodramatic melancholy - See: Rama) are horribly ancient, so ignoring them is just silly prejudice (Hell, Tom Sawyer goes emo a bit at one point in his story). Hey I know, let's not have sports in D&D because nobody likes jocks. Aztecs are so 90s.

And Raven Queen is fine. Makes me think of Neil Gaimen or Hellboy.

 

[Szatany]

The hydra concept has no limbs... four heads join into a body that tapers to a tail. No arms, legs, flippers, wings, etc.

Yay!

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

"Raven Queen"? That's the beat they could think up for a death goddess.

mmm for what it's worth I like it, makes me think of the Morrigan

 

[Reaper Steve]

Yay!

Yep, pretty much just like that!

 

[Belorin]

Is it just me or do the Shadar-kai remind you of Shades from FR?

Bel