Yakfolk -- Why the jokes?

[diaglo]

I've got it! I'll have a yakfolk villain in my campaign named Bos Grunniens, along with his consort Drinak and his necromancer advisor Poephagus. They'll enslave the local populace, forcing them to begin production of massive quantities of chhurpi and byaslag to support the evil yakfolk armies. (Aside ... chhurpi at least makes an unusual race name ...)

The climax of the campaign will be a fight from yak-back during a yak race (or perhaps a game of yak polo, I'm not sure which).

don't forget to have rules for selling buicks too.

 

[ephemeron]

Like the Rouge Modron!

Suddenly, I want to write a shaggy-dog story of an adventure about a mysterious marauder of the planes.

 

[Raven Crowking]

The Yakfolk were, hands down, the best monster added to the rules in 2e. I don't know why they aren't loved, excepting (perhaps) that some just don't get the intended "feel" of the things. I always imagine the REH story, "The People of the Black Circle" when I think of the Yakfolk.

RC

 

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

Are there 3.5 stats for yakfolk anywhere?

 

[diaglo]

The Yakfolk were, hands down, the best monster added to the rules in 2e. I don't know why they aren't loved, excepting (perhaps) that some just don't get the intended "feel" of the things. I always imagine the REH story, "The People of the Black Circle" when I think of the Yakfolk.

RC

if you wanna go Warcraft 3 style. imagine them as the Tauren.

still means they look funny

 

[Tarek]

What I don't like about the Yakmen is the way they were introduced.

Al-Quadim, a Middle-Eastern/Arabic setting in which Geniefolk played a large role, and who are the big bad guys?

Demonic shapeshifting Tibetan cattle.

I'm sorry, but that just doesn't fit. I could understand Rakshasa, as there is a strong Persian/Indian element in the Arabic-derived culture presented in Al-Quadim, but Yakmen?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Are there 3.5 stats for yakfolk anywhere?

They were the villains of a trilogy of Dungeon adventures. It should be in the third issue.

 

[Heckler]

Are there 3.5 stats for yakfolk anywhere?

Yes, but you have to find the secret yak level.

 

[trancejeremy]

Minotaur, anyone?

Yeah, but minotaurs are bull-people. Bulls are quite intimidating, especially when angry. And strong.

Yaks on the other hand, seem pretty docile, even the male ones.

 

[Wolfspider]

Minotaur are just as silly conceptually as yakfolk.

It's just that we (and I am using "we" to refer to Westerners in generall) are culturally and linguistically familiar with bulls and the legend of the minotaur. Yak are an unknown quaility for most folks, outside some silly cultural references that have shaped our perceptions.