WotC News - Is this for real???

[InVinoVeritas]

I think we are having an English-English vs American-English problem here.

I think on the other side of the pond "Scoundrel" is a much stronger, and more negative word. Think of "hoodlum" or "cad" but somewhat stronger.

For this American, my issue is that "Complete Scoundrel" is a cliche. It's a phrase I've heard enough times that it... just made me laugh to hear it. I rarely hear the word "scoundrel" without the word "complete" in front of it.

Admittedly, another "other side of the pond" issue is that you probably could call an American any of these things (cad, bounder, scoundrel, ruffian, etc.) and he'd take it as a compliment. Does it mean "disreputable person, to the point of being dishonest and possibly violent"? Absolutely. But being able to outsmart and outstrike the competition are valued in American culture, at least at some level. So, being a scoundrel is cool. Thug? No, not cool, thugs are stupid. Hoodlums tend not to have personal identities, so they aren't liked, either. But a scoundrel, now that's something to aspire to.

The book I don't want to see? Complete Loser.

 

[Hairfoot]

The book I don't want to see? Complete Loser.

Oh, great.

And here I am, finishing the index to "Complete, Dungeons & Dragons-Playing, Anime-Collecting, Scared of Girls, Slight-of-Physique, Pale-Skinned Geek Loser."

Thanks for killing my market, man.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Oh, great.

And here I am, finishing the index to "Complete, Dungeons & Dragons-Playing, Anime-Collecting, Scared of Girls, Slight-of-Physique, Pale-Skinned Geek Loser."

Thanks for killing my market, man.

Sweet!

How much XP do I get for the market?

 

[Hairfoot]

Sweet! How much XP do I get for the market?

50XP (it's a CR 1/4 market), and an unexpected, low-level run-in with the Tarrasque in a 30x30 adamantine cell.

 

[Shadowdancer]

what about " Complete Rapscalian" or "Complete Scallywag"

"Complete Raconteur"
"Complete Scamp"
"Complete Rascal"
"Complete Scapegrace"
"Complete Knave"
"Complete Varlet"
"Comlete Charlatan"
"Complete Conniver"
"Complete Miscreant"
"Complete Saboteur"

 

[Bardsandsages]

I think if you are going to call it Complete Scoundrels, will it have the stats for Laurence Jamieson and Fred Benson?

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A free PDF copy of The Manipulative Player's Guide to Sympathetic Magic to the first person who can identify the movie referenced above.

 

[Asmor]

For this American, my issue is that "Complete Scoundrel" is a cliche. It's a phrase I've heard enough times that it... just made me laugh to hear it. I rarely hear the word "scoundrel" without the word "complete" in front of it.

Admittedly, another "other side of the pond" issue is that you probably could call an American any of these things (cad, bounder, scoundrel, ruffian, etc.) and he'd take it as a compliment. Does it mean "disreputable person, to the point of being dishonest and possibly violent"? Absolutely. But being able to outsmart and outstrike the competition are valued in American culture, at least at some level. So, being a scoundrel is cool. Thug? No, not cool, thugs are stupid. Hoodlums tend not to have personal identities, so they aren't liked, either. But a scoundrel, now that's something to aspire to.

The book I don't want to see? Complete Loser.

Dude, that reminds me of something. You know those ubiquitous placemats at the chinese restaraunts? The red/gold ones that show the chinese astrological signs?

At the top, they say something like "Witty, brave, gallant, wise, recognize yourself? Spiteful, stingy, cunning, must be somebody else." I never understood the implication that cunning was a bad thing... I still don't. Cunning seems like a totally desirable quality to me.

 

[Drowbane]

Quite true.
However, not sure we need this particular content, imo.

Be sure to keep your "we" to yourself.

As for me, I will judge the book when I'm down at the FLGS thumbing through it.

 

[Goblyns Hoard]

Complete Iconic Nerfherder

<incredulity>

Who's scruffy looking?

</incredulity>

 

[Davelozzi]

Clearly, WoTC does. "Books with Dragon in the title sell well, and books with the word Magic in the title sell well. Dragon Magic should sell really, really well. Make a book about it."

It would be interesting to har whether or not it worked, as in my humble opinion, Dragon Magic looks to be one of the least intriguing books that WotC has put out.