Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 markustay63 Feb 25, 2008 23:57:41	The 'interview' part is just a play on the other 'interview' threads floating around, but what I really want to discuss is the 4e Undead here. I got the idea for this thread in the other one about Waterdeep harbour freezing, and I was thinking how undead would just become 'frozen meat' in a cold climate. Anyhow, on to 4e.... I don't have the preview books, but I read through them. I remember that living creatures were composed of three different 'things', and as long as a creature still had at least one of them, it would be undead. Now, I assume 'spirit' for our incorporeal types, but what about the rest? One would provide 'locomotion', and the last would of course be something to represent intelligence (got the whole "body, mind, and soul" thing going, eh?) Who has the books? What are these three 'essences' called, and how do they interact to create the various undead we are familiar with? Are the Incarnum rules being used at all?
#2 Bullet06320 Feb 26, 2008 5:30:03	Body, Soul, and Animus(the connection between the 1st 2) To be alive you need all 3, when you die, the souls go away usually, and then you need some form of Necromantic force to create the undead, it verys with the type. Still rereading to fully grasp the concept, sorry just got off work and about to go to the Dentist, not fully functional to absorb the material at the moment
#3 green_elven_vampire Feb 26, 2008 8:03:28	It's 4ED man... they're probably going to rule kingdoms and make spell flavored snow cones!!!
#4 markustay63 Mar 01, 2008 10:17:55	Body, Soul, and Animus(the connection between the 1st 2) Thanks for the info - They are actually using the word 'soul'? They're getting ballsy, I'll give them that. ;) So 'Animus' is not a completely seperate 'thing', but rather just a link between the other two? I'm kind of confused about how all of that is going to work, and give us the traditional undead we have all come to know.
#5 GothicDan Mar 01, 2008 11:42:58	In Latin, 'animus' is the intelligent/knowledgeable/sentient part of the soul. Umbras (shades) are the physical reflection of the dead, known as psyke (psyche) in Greek, I believe.
#6 the_ubbergeek Mar 02, 2008 2:40:15	I will remark also that it vaguely remind me of what I have learned from ancient egyptian believes. Hardly dumbing down, then - more complex, and dare I say, philosophic-metaphysic quite. Intrigating.
#7 Bullet06320 Mar 02, 2008 22:01:41	Thanks for the info - They are actually using the word 'soul'? They're getting ballsy, I'll give them that. ;) So 'Animus' is not a completely seperate 'thing', but rather just a link between the other two? I'm kind of confused about how all of that is going to work, and give us the traditional undead we have all come to know. Soul is the exact word the book uses
#8 neveroth Mar 17, 2008 11:39:51	And someone would have a problem with that because...?
#9 markustay63 Mar 17, 2008 12:00:09	No one here would have a problem with it, nor would any gamer, I think. I think that certain religious groups may have a problem with it, especially given the fact that humans are now easily 'corruptable' IG. Then again, seeing as how they've handled the release of the 4e game info, I think that 'negative press' might be EXACTLY what WotC is shooting for. After all, when the RC church went after them in the 80's, the D&D games popularity soared. Everyone likes to do what they are told NOT to do. ;) They've even gone back to calling the fiends Demons and Devils, so it almost seems like they are 'calling out' the church this time around. I know that started in 3e, but still, when you add in the other 'flavors' that they are tossing in now, one can definately read-into who they are trying to attract, and who they are trying to piss-off. Adding in those 'metaphysical' aspects will certainly draw the attention of the Harry Potter/Witch-lover crowd, while at the same time bring over some of the religious negativity that is aimed at those fans. Brilliant piece of marketing, if thats what they are going for... to bad they didn't put that much thought into the rules.
#10 neveroth Mar 17, 2008 13:40:11	Well, as far as I know, both the concept and the term of 'soul' have been used in D&D already. In fact, quite a few Necromancy spells mention soul-related effects. Oh well, either way. Frankly, the people who complain about things like that are nothing but nitpicking hypocrites who seldom have the faintest clue of what they're talking about.
#11 markustay63 Mar 17, 2008 16:37:52	The also like to burn books. It just gives them an excuse to do so... I think they are trying to bring back the 'Dark Ages'.
#12 neveroth Mar 17, 2008 18:12:37	As long as they keep the showers, that could actually be fun.
#13 markustay63 Mar 18, 2008 1:45:16	I don't bother with those myself... If god had intended man to be clean, he would have coated us with Teflon. :P
#14 neveroth Mar 18, 2008 2:13:11	You'd probably need a feat for that.
#15 markustay63 Mar 18, 2008 10:26:32	Only if I were a Warforged. :P
#16 SmartPaladin Mar 25, 2008 21:08:47	Heh, I love reading some of Markus's stuff. Always good for a laugh. Seriously, I came to this thread with the image of a bunch of Zombies shuffling around going "Braaaiiiinns...!" I'm talking the good ol' black and white Zombie flicks, not the crappy ones we have no a days. One's where all the Zombies "say" "Uhhh...", alot like most people when asked "So what do you want for dinner?", minus the confused look in the eyes. :P