Yakfolk -- Why the jokes?

[Thurbane]

Also, because Yaks are known for their legendarily awful smell.

Personally, I don't consider anthropomorphic Yaks that much "sillier" than anthropomorphic cats, goats, lizards, hyenas or bulls.

If the name is the problem, maybe they should be called Bosians (the same way Goatfolk are called Ibixians).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Probably because not enough people have ever read or, better yet, played in the awesomeness that was Al-Qadim.

And yeah, they're no less silly than minotaurs are, and ENWorld is a hotbed of minotaur love much of the time.

If WotC were concerned about it, I'd just go with a non-English name for them and drop them in that way. Tibetans call them the drong, which is a pretty good start, IMO.

 

[Robert Ranting]

I tend to agree with the "yak folk are silly" crowd. Our local gaming groups had our fair share of Yak jokes imported from other media. When the DM asks for initiative and someone has rolled a one, that person often quips "I move with the speed of pregnant yak". Or whenever someone kills something with a mental/psionic attack, inevitably someone makes a reference to killing a yak with mind bullets. Yak is just a word that has too many silly connotations for us to take it seriously as a villain.

All that aside, I think the thing that really gets me about the Yakfolk is that they have magic jar as a spell-like ability. They're bodysnatching cowfolk. "Everybody run, Timmy's got the Mad Cow!"

...


Robert "Far too Silly" Ranting

 

[Joshua Randall]

Using yakfolk in your game can also lead to a yaktastrophe if you're not careful.

 

[ivocaliban]

Using yakfolk in your game can also lead to a yaktastrophe if you're not careful.

Yakkity-Yak...Don't talk back.

I agree with Whizbang. The word "yak" in and of itself is seen as rather silly and comical whether it applies to incessant yammering or a big lactating beast of burden. I'm not sure that Drongfolk is a much better choice, though...

The Drong might work. Always adding "The" before it as in "The Borg."

You will be domesticated!

 

[freyar]

Probably because not enough people have ever read or, better yet, played in the awesomeness that was Al-Qadim.

This actually seems like a really good reason for me to take a look at some Al-Qadim stuff. I've not used yakfolk, but they seem really fun mechanically from a monster-geek perspective and potentially quite flavorful. For example, the recent Dungeon Seeds of Sehan campaign arc didn't do it for me, but the Inscrutable Ones were great.

 

[Nifft]

"Yak" is also a not-very-respectable verb.

I could never say "yakfolk" in my game and maintain a straight face.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Tonguez]

"The Yakfolk are just so very Drong"

although I'd fear the Drong...

 

[jdrakeh]

I don't get it, either. Personally, as somebody who has read a lot of pulp adventure fiction, Yakmen seem like pretty credible foes (I mean, really, I could see them turning up in a Doc Savage novel). There are far more rediculous creatures in D&D.

 

[Nifft]

There are far more rediculous creatures in D&D.

Like the Rouge Modron!

, -- N