So in last night's D&D encounters, apparently goblins attacked the group. Goblins?
I'm surprised by how much this displeased me -- am I that much of an Athasian grognard that I can't stand goblins in my Dark Sun?
For me, that means no cleansed races. No goblins, no gnomes, no orcs.
However, if the mechanics are cool, then maybe some new race or forgotten desert tribe has developed to fill that nitch. Skin is skin. Reflavor as needed.
They meant to, but didn't get around to it.
Ah, Dunefreaks. Such a lovely name. Stolen!
Not a Sysane original unfortunately. Dune Freak is another name for Anakore.
No, you aren't a grognard. You're merely a traditionalist. I remember reading that they weren't supposed to be called goblins. They were supposed to be reskinned as a small, yellow skinned desert tribe, but something (laziness, bad editting, who knows) prevented this before it was published. Personally, I think that it doesn't matter. Skin is skin, and we can do what we want to.
For me, that means no cleansed races. No goblins, no gnomes, no orcs.
However, if the mechanics are cool, then maybe some new race or forgotten desert tribe has developed to fill that nitch. Skin is skin. Reflavor as needed.
They meant to, but didn't get around to it.
Goblins in Athas is not a deal breaker for me, but I really enjoyed that aspect of Dark Sun. They really took many core elements from traditional D&D, turned them around, and made Athas really interesting. Not having goblins, gnomes ect... was one of the things that really hooked me the setting.
I don't mind if they changed that, but I do mind if a really awesome part of old Dark Sun history is completely reversed because of a mistake. I think I would not be so reactive if there was a podcast, or blog about how and why they are bringing goblins back into the world. To see it now after it was published and presented to a lot of folks new to Dark Sun is unsettling for me.
I used to think that the old school Forgotten Realms people were just whining, but now I understand how they feel about a beloved settings changes. I know that Dark Sun won't be just like it was in that first box set I used to have, but these little changes are piling up and getting on my nerves.
I know that the way something is originally presented to a person is usually the way they remember it, and if that person enjoys what they see then that original presentation becomes etched in stone. It is like that for me anyway. I guess new players might have a permanent thought about their Thri Kreen riding a Kank into glorious battle against the Goblin hordes of Ahtas. It might be awesome for them, and really pull them into the setting.
Oh, what am I saying? Dark Sun, you can never hurt me I'm willing to forget about the Goblin affair. We can spend time in the deserts killing PCs; making them work down their Character tree just like the old days. I love you, and I can't wait for August!
They could have called goblins Desertfreaks or whatever, while keeping the goblins' original stats. They didn't. Eric is right in saying this is an embarrassment.
Or maybe somebody screwed up. I dunno.
Daskinor. What a slacker.
Well, he is more than a little off his rocker, so to speak.
I was appaled to be quite honest with you all, and I would have to agree that this is a major embarassment to the writers of these D&D Encounters to have included an extinct race which was erradicated by 14th Champion of Rajaat - Daskinor "Goblin Death"
I think the word "appalled" is a little strong here. Hyperbole much?
I've been on a lore-consuming binge since deciding to DM the new Dark Sun, and in looking through my old books, I can't actually find a reference to Daskinor succeeding in his task (other than, of course, the complete lack of goblins). I haven't looked through many yet, but several other Champions are specifically listed as having completed their task. Daskinor is not one of them.
I haven't read enough for that to constitute any sort of educated opinion, and I'd welcome a reference that clarifies my confusion. Just throwing the possibility out there.
EDIT: The primary book for 3E from Athas.org specifically mentions Daskinor eliminating the last of the goblins, for what it's worth.
"14th Champion of Rajaat - Daskinor "Goblin Death": Male, Cleansing Time : 822 years, Sorcerer King of Eldaarich, Alive. Descended into insanity and paranoia."
If the cleansing was not successful in the wiki it states it. This entry does not.
"Goblins: My decision to include "goblins" was purely technical. I meant to describe them as desert sand people rather than straight-up D&D-style goblins, but i missed this in the final round of editing. Feel free to reskin them as small desert sand people instead of goblins if that makes you more comfortable."
Thus...the enemies in encounter 1-3 were not supposed to be goblins, they are reskinned sand people using the mechanical details of goblins.
So, the actual author of the module's intent was NOT to include goblins. Ergo, this is not truly evidence of goblins being canon in 4E Dark Sun, merely an oversight in the final edit.
Just an FYI.
The thing is...the author of the module specifically said:
"Goblins: My decision to include "goblins" was purely technical. I meant to describe them as desert sand people rather than straight-up D&D-style goblins, but i missed this in the final round of editing. Feel free to reskin them as small desert sand people instead of goblins if that makes you more comfortable."
Thus...the enemies in encounter 1-3 were not supposed to be goblins, they are reskinned sand people using the mechanical details of goblins.
So, the actual author of the module's intent was NOT to include goblins. Ergo, this is not truly evidence of goblins being canon in 4E Dark Sun, merely an oversight in the final edit.
Just an FYI.
Whew...okay. All is good in the world of Athas. Um...if anything can be good on Athas.
IIRC the info on each Champion is backed up in what is called the "Athasian Timeline", an unreleased product given by TSR to Athas.org or some other site. Simple Googling will find you the original, unmodified document.
I should have though of this *facepalms self*.
Similarly, in one of the playtest sessions Rodney runs, he creates the ruins of a never-before-detailed city-state.
It sounds like people doing human stuff and adding their own viewprint. Now, I would like to have the first DS adventures be a bit more canon. While I can argue pro or con on goblins, there is no reason to add them in a random DDE session with no explanation or reason. Having goblins make an incredible comeback should be handled differently, in my opinion. I might like King Kalak, but if I get a job at WotC I shouldn't just add him as an NPC in an encounter.
The question is not really whether the game can work with these types of things. Of course it can. The question is what is best for the campaign world at the basic level. For example, upright non-abdomen Thri-Kreen is arguably an approach to make them more easily understood and appealing to the average gamer. I would counter-argue that I have never seen any player have an issue with playing a kreen. In fact, the alien mantis-like appearance was what drew many players to them. Such is the stuff of arguments, of course.
The Goblin Song:
Goblins chew and goblins bite.
Goblins cut and goblins fight.
Stab the dog and cut the horse,
Goblins eat and take by force!
Goblins race and goblins jump.
Goblins slash and goblins bump.
Burn the skin and mash the head,
Goblins here and you be dead!
Chase the baby, catch the pup.
Bonk the head to shut it up.
Bones be cracked, flesh be stewed,
We be goblins! You be food!
(Even if there are no horses on Athas, it is a great song!)
Stab the dog and cut the crodlu - - now you just need a good rhyme for crodlu - -