The Herald. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The Herald.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Apr 05, 2004 10:30:21 Is 'The Herald' going to be making anymore appearances in the KoD module ? I am actually hoping that he doesn't.

~~~
#2
zombiegleemax
Apr 05, 2004 12:31:24 At the moment, nope, the Herald doesn't make another appearance.

At least, not that I'm saying he won't, or perhaps some other agency makes an appearance, however, I like to try and avoid such deus ex machinas as much as possible ;)

Christopher
#3
zombiegleemax
Apr 05, 2004 12:46:39
Originally posted by Stormprince
I like to try and avoid such deus ex machinas as much as possible ;)

Yeah my copy of Key of Destiny only has gold dragons swooping out of the sky to rescue the PC's twice. Any more would have been overdoing it. ;)
#4
zombiegleemax
Apr 05, 2004 13:06:31
Originally posted by Kai Lord
Yeah my copy of Key of Destiny only has gold dragons swooping out of the sky to rescue the PC's twice. Any more would have been overdoing it. ;)

*thwaps!* Like I would use gold dragons!

...

...

...

It was silver dragons, glinting gold because of the sunlight silly :P

Christopher, Just Joking!
#5
brimstone
Apr 05, 2004 16:00:00 Okay...could someone please explain to me what "deus ex-machina" means exactly?

I've seen it many times...it's a phrase that gets thrown around alot (especially involving gaming...but not always). And I haven't been able to discern what it means. Which means either A) no one else does either, B) everyone else's grasp on the term is weak as well, or C) my grasp on the term is so weak that I can't encompass all the possible meanings.

Please help!

;)
#6
zombiegleemax
Apr 05, 2004 16:02:40
Originally posted by Brimstone
Okay...could someone please explain to me what "deus ex-machina" means exactly?

I've seen it many times...it's a phrase that gets thrown around alot (especially involving gaming...but not always). And I haven't been able to discern what it means. Which means either A) no one else does either, B) everyone else's grasp on the term is weak as well, or C) my grasp on the term is so weak that I can't encompass all the possible meanings.

Please help!

;)

Main Entry: de·us ex ma·chi·na
Pronunciation: 'dA-&s-"eks-'mä-ki-n&, -'ma-, -"nä; -m&-'shE-n&
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, a god from a machine, translation of Greek theos ek mEchanEs
1 : a god introduced by means of a crane in ancient Greek and Roman drama to decide the final outcome
2 : a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty

~~~
#7
brimstone
Apr 05, 2004 16:09:29 I thought we had a term for that already. Isn't it "Devine Intervention?"

Or is "Deus ex Machina" the cheesy version of that?
#8
eaglos
Apr 05, 2004 17:43:10 I would not call it a "cheesy version" but rather a more sophisticated one.
---

Use the one that suits you best
#9
brimstone
Apr 05, 2004 17:51:43
Originally posted by Eaglos
I would not call it a "cheesy version" but rather a more sophisticated one.

Really? That's odd...the only thing I ever thought that I'd gleaned about the phrase "deus ex machina" was that it was usually describing something cheesy...or at least erring on the side of cheese.

Ah well. Thanks.
#10
The_White_Sorcerer
Apr 05, 2004 18:50:50
Originally posted by Brimstone
Really? That's odd...the only thing I ever thought that I'd gleaned about the phrase "deus ex machina" was that it was usually describing something cheesy...or at least erring on the side of cheese.

Divine interventions in D&D are, in general, cheesy, no matter what you call them.
#11
zombiegleemax
Apr 05, 2004 23:17:22 There was a bit of a deus ex machina in the War of Souls books.

SPOILER SPACE

When the draconians came and helped fight the Dark Knights. Although this might not fully count, because the Nerakans were on the run anyway, but still.
#12
talinthas
Apr 06, 2004 1:20:41 deus ex refers to the classical greek theatre, where a god would come down during the play, and lead the hero along, or fix something gone awry or whatnot. Divine intervention is the modern way of saying it, but in literature, the deus ex machina is most commonly used.

It can be pretty darn cheesy if used wrong, and often leads to railroading and forced encounters.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Apr 05, 2004 10:30:21	Is 'The Herald' going to be making anymore appearances in the KoD module ? I am actually hoping that he doesn't. ~~~
#2 zombiegleemax Apr 05, 2004 12:31:24	At the moment, nope, the Herald doesn't make another appearance. At least, not that I'm saying he won't, or perhaps some other agency makes an appearance, however, I like to try and avoid such deus ex machinas as much as possible ;) Christopher
#3 zombiegleemax Apr 05, 2004 12:46:39	Originally posted by Stormprince I like to try and avoid such deus ex machinas as much as possible ;) Yeah my copy of Key of Destiny only has gold dragons swooping out of the sky to rescue the PC's twice. Any more would have been overdoing it. ;)
#4 zombiegleemax Apr 05, 2004 13:06:31	Originally posted by Kai Lord Yeah my copy of Key of Destiny only has gold dragons swooping out of the sky to rescue the PC's twice. Any more would have been overdoing it. ;) thwaps! Like I would use gold dragons! ... ... ... It was silver dragons, glinting gold because of the sunlight silly :P Christopher, Just Joking!
#5 brimstone Apr 05, 2004 16:00:00	Okay...could someone please explain to me what "deus ex-machina" means exactly? I've seen it many times...it's a phrase that gets thrown around alot (especially involving gaming...but not always). And I haven't been able to discern what it means. Which means either A) no one else does either, B) everyone else's grasp on the term is weak as well, or C) my grasp on the term is so weak that I can't encompass all the possible meanings. Please help! ;)
#6 zombiegleemax Apr 05, 2004 16:02:40	Originally posted by Brimstone Okay...could someone please explain to me what "deus ex-machina" means exactly? I've seen it many times...it's a phrase that gets thrown around alot (especially involving gaming...but not always). And I haven't been able to discern what it means. Which means either A) no one else does either, B) everyone else's grasp on the term is weak as well, or C) my grasp on the term is so weak that I can't encompass all the possible meanings. Please help! ;) Main Entry: de·us ex ma·chi·na Pronunciation: 'dA-&s-"eks-'mä-ki-n&, -'ma-, -"nä; -m&-'shE-n& Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, a god from a machine, translation of Greek theos ek mEchanEs 1 : a god introduced by means of a crane in ancient Greek and Roman drama to decide the final outcome 2 : a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty ~~~
#7 brimstone Apr 05, 2004 16:09:29	I thought we had a term for that already. Isn't it "Devine Intervention?" Or is "Deus ex Machina" the cheesy version of that?
#8 eaglos Apr 05, 2004 17:43:10	I would not call it a "cheesy version" but rather a more sophisticated one. --- Use the one that suits you best
#9 brimstone Apr 05, 2004 17:51:43	Originally posted by Eaglos I would not call it a "cheesy version" but rather a more sophisticated one. Really? That's odd...the only thing I ever thought that I'd gleaned about the phrase "deus ex machina" was that it was usually describing something cheesy...or at least erring on the side of cheese. Ah well. Thanks.
#10 The_White_Sorcerer Apr 05, 2004 18:50:50	Originally posted by Brimstone Really? That's odd...the only thing I ever thought that I'd gleaned about the phrase "deus ex machina" was that it was usually describing something cheesy...or at least erring on the side of cheese. Divine interventions in D&D are, in general, cheesy, no matter what you call them.
#11 zombiegleemax Apr 05, 2004 23:17:22	There was a bit of a deus ex machina in the War of Souls books. SPOILER SPACE When the draconians came and helped fight the Dark Knights. Although this might not fully count, because the Nerakans were on the run anyway, but still.
#12 talinthas Apr 06, 2004 1:20:41	deus ex refers to the classical greek theatre, where a god would come down during the play, and lead the hero along, or fix something gone awry or whatnot. Divine intervention is the modern way of saying it, but in literature, the deus ex machina is most commonly used. It can be pretty darn cheesy if used wrong, and often leads to railroading and forced encounters.