Is it just me, or do dragons seem highly overrated?
When it comes to cliche fantasy, dragons are up there with unicorns and fairies.
Is it just me, or do dragons seem highly overrated?
When it comes to cliche fantasy, dragons are up there with unicorns and fairies.
Overrated in what way?
Everyone's got their own set of tired cliches, honestly. For me, it's prophecies and dwarves and NPC allies who betray the PCs.Is it just me, or do dragons seem highly overrated?
When it comes to cliche fantasy, dragons are up there with unicorns and fairies.
I'd also like to add amulets and the "chosen one" to the list.
FedEx questing... you need the purple oak leaf, but have to get Bob's chicken recipe so you can bribe the Troll Witch(who likes chicken) into telling you where Fred's(infamous bald pirate) toupee is buried so that you can give it to the bald goblin alchemist who will then ask for 3 ultra rare ingredients to make a potion which requires you to jump through a billion more hoops!!! *screams, pulling out hair and collapsing to the ground*
I don't know if it's cliche, but it's definitely tiring.
Overrated in what way?
Well, dragons are basically the poster child for the fantasy genre.
Walking through the fantasy section of a bookstore, I noticed that nearly 50% of the books had dragons on the covers.
I've seen goofy dragon incense holders for sale at the mall.
I've seen people wearing outlandish dragon shirts and necklaces.
I've seen cars with dragons airbrushed on them (which, I admit, takes some serious balls).
I'm just a little burnt out on dragons.
I think it's time we give the Chupacabra his chance at fame.
Honestly for me it's swords. The good guy 'uber-weapon' is always a sword! Just once I'd like it to be something hokey or odd ball, something few people ever use... like a the heavy pick.
And Wizards ALWAYS have stave's! Use something else! I actually don't have any suggestions for this one.
It's probably just me.
Dragons though, I like in case you could tell :P, but I do see how they can become a little tired as with any thing in fantasy. The key is to put a twist on it. The one thing I like about Warcraft is that they put a slight twist on some things, just enough to throw your expectations off a bit. Red Dragons being the Guardians of Life instead of engines of destruction is a good example.
Then there are Elves, anything you can do they can do better. The ancient race of 'been there done that you don't know what you doing.'
Anyway... I'm done with my little rant for now...
I think it's time we give the Chupacabra his chance at fame.
Hey yeah! Chupathingy, how about that. It's gotta ring to it...
Creative Director
|
Drow...and Duregar...and Derro...and pretty much anything from the "evil" alternative version of reality we call the Underdark, or Darklands, or somesuch.
I can see where you're coming from with drow and duergar... but I should point out that in Golarion/Pathfinder, derro aren't an "evil" version of something, really. They're really their own thing.
And Wizards ALWAYS have stave's! Use something else! I actually don't have any suggestions for this one.
Baseball bats?
Drow...and Duregar...and Derro...and pretty much anything from the "evil" alternative version of reality we call the Underdark, or Darklands, or somesuch.I can see where you're coming from with drow and duergar... but I should point out that in Golarion/Pathfinder, derro aren't an "evil" version of something, really. They're really their own thing.
Is there an "evil" version of humans? Dark Stalkers, perhaps?
|
Creative Director
|
Drow...and Duregar...and Derro...and pretty much anything from the "evil" alternative version of reality we call the Underdark, or Darklands, or somesuch.I can see where you're coming from with drow and duergar... but I should point out that in Golarion/Pathfinder, derro aren't an "evil" version of something, really. They're really their own thing.Is there an "evil" version of humans? Dark Stalkers, perhaps?
The evil version of humans is humans, in my book. :P
Drow...and Duregar...and Derro...and pretty much anything from the "evil" alternative version of reality we call the Underdark, or Darklands, or somesuch.I can see where you're coming from with drow and duergar... but I should point out that in Golarion/Pathfinder, derro aren't an "evil" version of something, really. They're really their own thing.Is there an "evil" version of humans? Dark Stalkers, perhaps?
Nah, just humans. But they all have goatees...
Nah, just humans. But they all have goatees...Drow...and Duregar...and Derro...and pretty much anything from the "evil" alternative version of reality we call the Underdark, or Darklands, or somesuch.I can see where you're coming from with drow and duergar... but I should point out that in Golarion/Pathfinder, derro aren't an "evil" version of something, really. They're really their own thing.Is there an "evil" version of humans? Dark Stalkers, perhaps?
Don't forget the eye patch and/or a large scar across the face.
Overrated in what way?Well, dragons are basically the poster child for the fantasy genre.
Walking through the fantasy section of a bookstore, I noticed that nearly 50% of the books had dragons on the covers.
I've seen goofy dragon incense holders for sale at the mall.
I've seen people wearing outlandish dragon shirts and necklaces.
I've seen cars with dragons airbrushed on them (which, I admit, takes some serious balls).I'm just a little burnt out on dragons.
I think it's time we give the Chupacabra his chance at fame.
Most bad guys are dragons or wizards, both examples of powerful enemies. I dont think that will change.
|
1) Necromancers that aren't evil
2) misunderstood monsters/witches/mystical punk rockers/whathaveyou that aren't really evil after all, just misunderstood.
3) Pagans who eviscerate the evil Christians.
Wow, I don't think I've *ever* seen 1 or 3 in any show, novel or movie, ever. 2 seems pretty common, these days, 'though.
Baseball bats?And Wizards ALWAYS have stave's! Use something else! I actually don't have any suggestions for this one.
~innocent look~ Hockey Sticks? Would that work as a replacement to a Staff? ~grins~
misunderstood monsters/witches/mystical punk rockers/whathaveyou that aren't really evil after all, just misunderstood.
Don't you just hate those mystical punk rockers?
Those darn kids and their rock & roll music.
|
Drow...and Duregar...and Derro...and pretty much anything from the "evil" alternative version of reality we call the Underdark, or Darklands, or somesuch.I can see where you're coming from with drow and duergar... but I should point out that in Golarion/Pathfinder, derro aren't an "evil" version of something, really. They're really their own thing.
In fairness I wrote Derro because I couldn't for the life of me remember how to spell "deep gnome" properly. I absolutely LOATHED the NE Faerun Drow. How their society not only survived but thrived is still beyond me.
|
|
And Wizards ALWAYS have staves! Use something else! I actually don't have any suggestions for this one.
I would love to see some meaningful Feat or Class Options or PrCs that make a wizard and his staff something other than a stereotype. An order of Wizards or Sorcerers who train to be effective staff-fighters would be neat, having some sort of natural spell storing feature allowing them to imbue touch spells into their staves as a move action in the same round as they make a staff attack or something.
Having a melee-mage PrC that didn't focus on using non-Wizard weapons, such as staves or paired daggers could be very cool.
And yeah, less swords, more maces and spears! (Axes and hammers tend to get overused as well, particularly for dwarves, who never seem to have anything else.)
And yeah, less swords, more maces and spears! (Axes and hammers tend to get overused as well, particularly for dwarves, who never seem to have anything else.)
Yeah, hammers are lame. Screwdrivers are where it's at. You can duel wield them. Phillips head in one hand and flat head in the other.
|
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
|
1) Necromancers that aren't evil
2) misunderstood monsters/witches/mystical punk rockers/whathaveyou that aren't really evil after all, just misunderstood.
3) Pagans who eviscerate the evil Christians.Wow, I don't think I've *ever* seen 1 or 3 in any show, novel or movie, ever. 2 seems pretty common, these days, 'though.
1 is the modern day equivalent of the dual weapon drow elf. It's cliche and overdone, yet everyone who builds one thinks it's original and new.
In fairness I wrote Derro because I couldn't for the life of me remember how to spell "deep gnome" properly. I absolutely LOATHED the NE Faerun Drow. How their society not only survived but thrived is still beyond me.Drow...and Duregar...and Derro...and pretty much anything from the "evil" alternative version of reality we call the Underdark, or Darklands, or somesuch.I can see where you're coming from with drow and duergar... but I should point out that in Golarion/Pathfinder, derro aren't an "evil" version of something, really. They're really their own thing.
Svirneblin? They're not evil.
Svirneblin? They're not evil.
If they're not evil, then why is their name so hard to pronounce?
They laugh cruelly at our mispronunciations.
Ah...it's just puckish laughter of friendly gnomes. Just please, do no attach picks to their arms.
Based on the thread title, I never expected this thread to be so entertaining.
|
~innocent look~ Hockey Sticks? Would that work as a replacement to a Staff? ~grins~Baseball bats?And Wizards ALWAYS have stave's! Use something else! I actually don't have any suggestions for this one.
Take a couple of levels of ranger and learn how ot use the staff....... or maybe hmmm
A ghost kid ranger with a hockey stick?
Two things I find cliché: "Kill the monsters, take their loot," and "killing the monsters and taking there loot is RACIST, your a RACIST!"
Zo
See, you said hockey stick and came to a completely different conclusion...
I thought the same thing
Two things I find cliché: "Kill the monsters, take their loot," and "killing the monsters and taking there loot is RACIST, your a RACIST!"
Zo
Hardy-har-har! :D Especially #2.
See, you said hockey stick and came to a completely different conclusion...
Goongala!
|
1) Necromancers that aren't evil
2) misunderstood monsters/witches/mystical punk rockers/whathaveyou that aren't really evil after all, just misunderstood.
3) Pagans who eviscerate the evil Christians.Wow, I don't think I've *ever* seen 1 or 3 in any show, novel or movie, ever. 2 seems pretty common, these days, 'though.
#1--a lot of off-Wotc 3 and 3.5e splat books
#2--every other issue of the Northlanders comicbook oozes neoemopagan angst. It was funny in Nemesis the Warlock which I picked up in the 1980's, it's just getting so played the f+$@ out.|
|
1 is the modern day equivalent of the dual weapon drow elf. It's cliche and overdone, yet everyone who builds one thinks it's original and new.1) Necromancers that aren't evil
2) misunderstood monsters/witches/mystical punk rockers/whathaveyou that aren't really evil after all, just misunderstood.
3) Pagans who eviscerate the evil Christians.Wow, I don't think I've *ever* seen 1 or 3 in any show, novel or movie, ever. 2 seems pretty common, these days, 'though.
I credit you with pointing out the blip on the radar screen for me on this one.
Trenchcoats and katanas. Grrrrr...... Well, that doesn't apply to PRPG, but I needed to get it off my chest.
4) Underwear model vampires.1) Necromancers that aren't evil
2) misunderstood monsters/witches/mystical punk rockers/whathaveyou that aren't really evil after all, just misunderstood.
3) Pagans who eviscerate the evil Christians.
YES. THIS.
Overrated in what way?Well, dragons are basically the poster child for the fantasy genre.
Walking through the fantasy section of a bookstore, I noticed that nearly 50% of the books had dragons on the covers.
I've seen goofy dragon incense holders for sale at the mall.
I've seen people wearing outlandish dragon shirts and necklaces.
I've seen cars with dragons airbrushed on them (which, I admit, takes some serious balls).I'm just a little burnt out on dragons.
I think it's time we give the Chupacabra his chance at fame.
Dungeons and Chupacabras.. it's got a nice ring to it.
but seriously.. dragons have and always will be integral to the genre. It's like looking at science fiction and saying... not aliens and robots AGAIN...puhlease...
How bout a GOOD, yet MISUNDERSTOOD dragon?
That's crazy talk. How about a beautiful, silver-haired female elf who turns out to be.. wait for it... A SILVER DRAGON
I think it's time we give the Chupacabra his chance at fame.Hey yeah! Chupathingy, how about that. It's gotta ring to it...
What in sam hill is a PUMA?!?!
My most tiresome cliche' is defeating a menace… to find out there is a more sinister menace behind that one… and when you defeat the 2nd menace there's yet another, more powerful menace pulling the strings… until finally, the menace is so great that it threatens the entire fantasy world of x.