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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 8218923" data-attributes="member: 7635">I think that the gnoll update was my favorite because it seems to imply they aren't "people" in the traditional sense; they're mutated sentient hynea-men who have managed to gain some semblance of society. The closest to a hybrid of rabid animal and demon-made-flesh. It set them apart as a force of chaos, a low-level 'demon-like' enemy that didn't have much in terms of empathy, humanity, or free will. An orc could be reasoned with, a goblin can have a change of heart, a gnoll is nothing but hunger and death.  I guess they should have typed them fiends, but that opened them up to planar effects like infernal calling or protection from good and evil. What would disappoint me would be a complete undoing of the only thing that has made gnolls interesting. Remove the demonic connection, they become stock evil humanoids again and stock evil humanoids are rapidly becoming obsolete, which would further make gnolls humans with hyena heads. Even if we are going to remove the negative stereotypes from orcs, drow, and such, I'd like to keep something that is utterly inhuman, unflinchingly evil and can (and must) be fought without mercy or hesitancy. Sometimes, it's nice to have a foe that is unapologetically evil and insane-demonic-worshipping-hyeneamen would fit that bill, even if they are still "humanoids".</blockquote>