RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I pronounced it the how now brown cow way.
In part because the first time we encountered them in game it was by an underground river and some smart @$$ blurted out "Drow drow drow your boat, gently down the stream!"
If Homer Simpson was a dark elf, it would be pronounced Dr'oh!
Tzimisce aside.
** spoiler omitted **Oh, the Three Bears vampires.
If you use "ze offishul" pronunciation of Tzimisce, it sounds like you would say "Three Bears" in Polish.
Hence, Three Bears came with their szlachta and broke our party. No wonders it's hard to take Sabbat seriously.
Y'know, if I ever play V:tM again, I'm going to have to play a tzimisce, with two ghouls fleshcrafted to look like him, and have a bear motif. :P
To go further off topic. I was told Pooka (pronouncing it Pooh-ka) sounds like 'fart' in Russian. don't know if the guy was pulling my leg (or finger).
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Williams, Skip. "Sage Advice" Dragon #142 (TSR, 1989)
Ha. I pronounce half of that list wrong. (I say Dway-oh-mer, for instance).
I even spell Catoblepas wrong (with a 'pas,' instead of a 'pus').
Gosh. Don't ever say Cuirass (or some pronunciations of Geas) in public. It can be easily mistaken for something else...
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In the "Second Darkness" AP, Paizo definitively said it rhymed with bow... ;-PGreat. How do you pronounce 'bow' then?
LMAO - Nice one
Hmmmm...like a bow tied in a ribbon, bow down to the superior
i'd say bow - yet again, another f***** up indication of a singular upper class twit being responsible for writing and pinning down the english language into the first ever dictionary - Thank you Dr Samuel Johnson....
http://uk.ask.com/wiki/Samuel_Johnson
Incidentally, for those who feel tempted to link the word with ancient Norse myth describing dark elves, it has no connection to those tales. Well, the creatures themselves do, but the name doesn't. I remember reading a fairly reliable article wherein it was revealed Gygax simply turned the word "word" around to create the name. That story was repeated later by other designers and people in the know.
Don't ask me to cite sources, it has simply been too long. But read it, I did.
I believe you entirely! (I actually vaguely recall something similar, but like you, I have absolutely no recollection of where or how, as it's been quite some time - I'm guessing either an online source or a very old Dungeon or Dragon magazine I've read.)
However, the reason to relate it to other etymological elements of the Norse myths comes directly from the fact that... they're dark elves. And those myths describe dark elves. And similar etymological transitions ("t" to "d" and other sound and spelling changes) have occurred throughout the history of the English language. That's the reasoning used to link it etymologically rather more than anything else and use its origin under Gygax. Besides! That dude's crazy! I heard he made, like, a thirteen-layer dungeon for no purpose other than to have a thirteen layer dungeon! Terrible game designer*! :D
(I'mma totally call them "throatwobbler mangroves" next time at my group, though).
*
(EDIT: Uploaded the final version of my post - it posted an older version first, I don't know why.)
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Incidentally, for those who feel tempted to link the word with ancient Norse myth describing dark elves, it has no connection to those tales. Well, the creatures themselves do, but the name doesn't. I remember reading a fairly reliable article wherein it was revealed Gygax simply turned the word "word" around to create the name. That story was repeated later by other designers and people in the know.
Don't ask me to cite sources, it has simply been too long. But read it, I did.
The guy who works at the game store near me insists that you did not read that. And he's usually pretty reliable about countering sourceless claims. :p
The guy who works at the game store near me insists that you did not read that. And he's usually pretty reliable about countering sourceless claims. :p
Well, I just used an ouija (pronounced: *ow-jah*) board to ask EGG directly, and he confirmed it rhymes with *crow*.
;o)
The guy who works at the game store near me insists that you did not read that. And he's usually pretty reliable about countering sourceless claims. :p
The thing is, Sean, I'm pretty sure that I've read those words somewhere as well. I really wish I could recall where, but I am unable to do so at this time. It's strange, though, as I don't usually have history books or the like - it seems like I would have found that at the back of a novel that had an interview with the author or something. It might have even been one of those things Salvatore wrote at the back of his books answering questions or Candlekeep. I just don't recall right now, but it's frustratingly familiar.
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My point is, given how weird the human mind is, creating a false memory that supports what you heard someone else say isn't that uncommon.
And, I'll repeat, two people I know from Gygax's home campaign pronounce it like "cow."
One of them is Skip Williams, the Sage of D&D.
The other is Jim Ward. You may have heard of his character, Drawmij.
Yeah, I've always pronounced it "Tzimisce" instead of whatever horrible utterings people across the pond call out, but the bear thing sort of draws attention. I wonder if the name was originally a designer's private joke.
Emperor Tzimiskes is not amused.
Y'know, if I ever play V:tM again, I'm going to have to play a tzimisce, with two ghouls fleshcrafted to look like him, and have a bear motif. :P
If so then remember: Trzy Misie! Pronounced somewhat like tshy mishie.
Well, now I envisioned something more subtle... Tzimisce character that is Polish noble with three bears in his coat of arms.To go further off topic. I was told Pooka (pronouncing it Pooh-ka) sounds like 'fart' in Russian. don't know if the guy was pulling my leg (or finger).
It sounds like Polish word for someone's knocking: puka.
There is also word "purka" which means someone farting (but hardly used by anyone beyond age of seven). It could be possible that Russians have similar word that has silent or almost silent r.
My point is, given how weird the human mind is, creating a false memory that supports what you heard someone else say isn't that uncommon.
And, I'll repeat, two people I know from Gygax's home campaign pronounce it like "cow."
One of them is Skip Williams, the Sage of D&D.
The other is Jim Ward. You may have heard of his character, Drawmij.
That's fine! I'm not arguing its pronunciation at all!
I'll even grant that the mind can play tricks - I don't think this is one, but I do grant that it can.
I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be one way or the other. Point in fact, I say it like "cow", and it's how I've said it basically since seeing the word in print the first time. The first time I've ever run into anyone saying it with a long "o" sound was... on these forums.
My only mention in this is just that I recall that same description of its origin, i.e. that it came from "word" backwards (Gygax created words like that often, if I recall). That has no bearing on its pronunciation, however.
I'm pretty much fine with people saying however they want.
Personally, I'm currently a fan of "throatwobbler mangroves". :)
I've always pronounced it the 'cow' way, but I tend to roll the 'R' sound a little.
I've always pronounced it the 'cow' way, but I tend to roll the 'R' sound a little.
Like a cat or something?
To go further off topic. I was told Pooka (pronouncing it Pooh-ka) sounds like 'fart' in Russian. don't know if the guy was pulling my leg (or finger).
The russian words for "fart" are "pyornoot" and "bzdyet". So he was pulling your finger. ;)
And since "pooka" is an irish word... "lig broim" is irish for "fart". :p
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Personally, I'm currently a fan of "throatwobbler mangroves". :)
Now you're just being silly and I refuse to interview you.
I played in one campaign many years ago. The group was split,mostly agreeing "cow" was correct,but was still never settled. The Gm "invoked rule 0" as 2 players wouldn't drop it. He ruled in his campaign that Drow as in snow was singular, and Drow as in cow was plural. The game moved on and all was good ;) ofc one of the players in general was horrible at pronouncing anything. To this day we will never forget that he pronounced cleric as clerk, the joke goes strong 10 years later.
Personally, I'm currently a fan of "throatwobbler mangroves". :)Now you're just being silly and I refuse to interview you.
Frog God Games' Layout Designer was thinking of interviewing me?! AND I RUINED IT?!
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
EDIT:
To this day we will never forget that he pronounced cleric as clerk, the joke goes strong 10 years later.
Heh, in the largest campaign I ever ran, we had a guy come in for all of two sessions as a Halfling rogue. Every single member of that group, to this day, whenever Halflings are even mentioned almost always instantly says the same thing: "I check my pockets!"
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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To go further off topic. I was told Pooka (pronouncing it Pooh-ka) sounds like 'fart' in Russian. don't know if the guy was pulling my leg (or finger).The russian words for "fart" are "pyornoot" and "bzdyet". So he was pulling your finger. ;)
And since "pooka" is an irish word... "lig broim" is irish for "fart". :p
And I am enlightened (or nauseated, not sure which) Thank you.
And I am enlightened (or nauseated, not sure which) Thank you.
To go further off topic. I was told Pooka (pronouncing it Pooh-ka) sounds like 'fart' in Russian. don't know if the guy was pulling my leg (or finger).The russian words for "fart" are "pyornoot" and "bzdyet". So he was pulling your finger. ;)
And since "pooka" is an irish word... "lig broim" is irish for "fart". :p
To add - "pyornoot" is the general word while "bzdyet" is only used for a loud one!
I've always pronounced it the 'cow' way, but I tend to roll the 'R' sound a little.Like a cat or something?
Sorta, but without elonggating the 'ow' part. Drrow.
...yeah, in text it doesn't quite work xD. My thinking on it was that it's meant to be a word that isn't human in orgin, so I tried to pronounce it in an unusual way. Kinda like how Cthulhu is meant to be pronounced by growling at the back of your throat and coughing at the same time.
To this day we will never forget that he pronounced cleric as clerk, the joke goes strong 10 years later.Our favorite was a GM who was reading text from an adventure and told us that there was 'a flaming brassiere in the corner.'
Was it in a dungeon? Maybe it was work of orc feminists?
And, I'll repeat, two people I know from Gygax's home campaign pronounce it like "cow."
You misheard that. It's pronounced like "moo". Like, "drOOO".
Our favorite was a GM who was reading text from an adventure and told us that there was 'a flaming brassiere in the corner.'
I did that once!
...You aren't from South Florida, are you? That wasn't any time within the last decade?
Our favorite was a GM who was reading text from an adventure and told us that there was 'a flaming brassiere in the corner.'
Ah yes, the reading kid's first out-loud usages of words that have only been in his "sight" vocabulary. When I was around 14 I was reading boxed text to a gaming group from an old Conan game I'd picked up and told them they'd stumbled across a hidden "cake" of weapons (for cache). They had fun with that for the year or so it took until another guy was feeling a bit under the weather and complained of all the "fleh-jum" in his throat.
Or dyslexia. That happens too. Not that I know from personal experience or anything!
<.<
>.>
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Ooh, I got a new one on the "silly names we invented on the fly" front.
In the Linnorm Kings Chronicle there's a fabled spear called, get this, "Sjelsomdrikker". "A soul that drinks?" Something else? You decide!
"Rixbrand" is freaking cool though(not that all the names aren't cool, I just like being facetious). "Rix" as in the gallic word for "king"? "King's Edge/Blade" is totally a sword worth searching for.
I initially rhymed it with "cow". My DM prefers to rhyme it with "crow". I eventually switched to his pronunciation because The Crow is a cool movie. ;)
Rhymes with crow. Definitely.
'Cause rhyming with cow sounds like a wuss race. Those evil bastages aren't going to let themselves sound like wusses! That's why they moved away from the Elf moniker in the first place!
I've always pronounced it cow.
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Reaper Miniatures
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First, drow rhymes with cow, as indicated in the 1e Fiend Folio.
Second, I remember a player who would pronounce dwarf as "dyurf" just to be annoying.
There's a kid (he's 12) in my Serpent skull game that says dwarf "dorff". We correct him repeatedly, but he just does it that way. I don't think he's being stubborn or trying to be funny, he just says it weird.
And I knew a guy who said Tarrasque as Tear-a-sqway and Melee as Me-Lee.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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First, drow rhymes with cow, as indicated in the 1e Fiend Folio.
Second, I remember a player who would pronounce dwarf as "dyurf" just to be annoying.
There's a kid (he's 12) in my Serpent skull game that says dwarf "dorff". We correct him repeatedly, but he just does it that way. I don't think he's being stubborn or trying to be funny, he just says it weird.
And I knew a guy who said Tarrasque as Tear-a-sqway and Melee as Me-Lee.
Years ago. I played with a woman who said the w in sword. When we pointed out it's 'sord'her reply was "Well my name's not pronounced SACKhammer!"
TO which someone said "And all us guys are grateful."
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I don't get worked up much over fantasy grammar, but I do flinch when someone says 'elfs' or 'dwarfs' as a plural.
"Elfs" and "dwarfs" were the commonly used plurals until Tolkein came along.
Wikipedia:
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Our favorite was a GM who was reading text from an adventure and told us that there was 'a flaming brassiere in the corner.'
I did that once!
...
You aren't from South Florida, are you? That wasn't any time within the last decade?
I am and that same thing happened to me. I think it was just a common mispronunciation.
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First, drow rhymes with cow, as indicated in the 1e Fiend Folio.
Second, I remember a player who would pronounce dwarf as "dyurf" just to be annoying.
There's a kid (he's 12) in my Serpent skull game that says dwarf "dorff". We correct him repeatedly, but he just does it that way. I don't think he's being stubborn or trying to be funny, he just says it weird.
And I knew a guy who said Tarrasque as Tear-a-sqway and Melee as Me-Lee.
Years ago. I played with a woman who said the w in sword. When we pointed out it's 'sord'her reply was "Well my name's not pronounced SACKhammer!"
TO which someone said "And all us guys are grateful."
There's a fun iOS game that plays off that in the title: It's called Sword & Sworcery.