Just as the half-giant is a magical/genetic experiment between humans and giants, why wouldn't there be a darker, more sinister experiment between humans and those beast-headed giants that kick around Athas?
I think it'd be a great chance to really Frankenstein a classic like that! And to give those half-giants an opponent capable of blasting a few teeth down their throats. :D
...if it doesn't already exist in print.
Has there ever been a Dark Sun version of the minotaur?
Just as the half-giant is a magical/genetic experiment between humans and giants, why wouldn't there be a darker, more sinister experiment between humans and those beast-headed giants that kick around Athas?
I think it'd be a great chance to really Frankenstein a classic like that! And to give those half-giants an opponent capable of blasting a few teeth down their throats. :D
...if it doesn't already exist in print.
Beastheaded half-giant?
Ever since I saw a few pics of exotic minotaurs - especially in Eberron Campaign Setting - I'm interested in seeing athasian minotaurs somewhere. Should they be half-bull/half-mans? Don't know. Maybe not even some half-something at all, but just a unique design.
Beastheaded half-giant?
The difference could only really be cosmetic, aside from maybe detailing a tribe of particularly nasty brutes that have been razing villages of late. In other words, an adventure hook involving (extremely) monstrous humanoids.
However, as to designing an athasian minotaur...
Personally, I'd honor the myth by having the minotaur be a creature from below Athas. Give it that dank, dungeon-dweller factor that it deserves, only the creatures have developed into almost mindless behemoths due to a millennium or so in their claustrophobic prison with slim pickings to choose from as a food source. As a result, they have resorted to cannibalism. Blood to drink, the flesh of the weak to eat. A form of mould has symbiotically attached itself to their rotting fur, and may even possess intelligence (it possibly the brain, or, taskmaster). Perhaps this psionic mould is now starting to drive the tribes up to the surface. Stone weapons sharpened by violent impact (anothers skull), weapons so big that a half-giant would think it awkward-looking, are treated like humans (generally) treat husbands and wives. Skulls and scalps are choice body decorations, and are a symbol of ones prowess. Some have turned (via the mould's beckoning) to worship elements, the Void and Earth being the two dominant in the tribal-cult atmosphere.
A few starters...
Just my two bits.
Minotuars are created due to a curse in some cases. It could be that on DS they are cursed humaniods but rather than bull like features, its some other type of creature. Perhaps an inix or kank?
From an athasian point of view, these creatures are, I feel, a little too familiar. Everyday, kind of run-of-the-mill type creatures. Just like the minotaur is a little too familiar to us, thanks to mythology, and depending, Dragonlance (Kaz).
In my head the athasian Minotaurs, if they were to exist, need shock value. Massive, brooding monsters that will strike terror in all who they come across, partly because they are alien to the inhabitants of Dark Sun (nobody has seen this race, whatever it may be, for possibly thousands of years), and partly because of their wanton nature. And that's saying something, considering the world above!
Only thing from a design point of view is to watch their numbers. Don't make the mistake of overexposure, like the drow in Forgotten Realms. Great world, great (sub)race, but just too damn much. I'd suggest the numbers be single, or band (2-12), with the odd tribe being a super power so to speak. Triple band.
Definitely nocturnal.
Barbarians, in all manners and misconceptions, to the Roman Empire.
It's just gratifing to see the lack of minotaurs being discussed. HA HA Take that Josh!
It's just gratifing to see the lack of minotaurs being discussed.
Yeah, it does come off as an almost taboo subject for some reason.
Bad idea maybe?
What are their distinct features.
I could think of:
Horns
Ability to navigate mazes
8-10ft tall
warrior society
sea faring.
* the last 2 are dragonlance specific
I think of Braxat's already covering much of this area.
Probably a bad idea. They are a bit too well known as they are - would need a real makeover to suit athas.
Too well known to us (no different than giants, a DS staple), but to an athasian? What's a bull?
I do see what you're saying. Maybe I just should've said "beastmen" instead.
As to the idea about the cross-dressing gladiator (:P ), I wouldn't go that far. If there are to be no minotaurs in Dark Sun, then there should be no minotaurs in Dark Sun. To include that would be to somewhat force your hand to include the history of the beast (s)he is mimicking, and that would be the same as introducing the minotaur really.
Too well known to us (no different than giants, a DS staple), but to an athasian? What's a bull?
I do see what you're saying. Maybe I just should've said "beastmen" instead.
As to the idea about the cross-dressing gladiator (:P ), I wouldn't go that far. If there are to be no minotaurs in Dark Sun, then there should be no minotaurs in Dark Sun. To include that would be to somewhat force your hand to include the history of the beast (s)he is mimicking, and that would be the same as introducing the minotaur really.
Even in other worlds the name is misused:
In mythology, THE Minotaur is the taur that belongs to Minos, King of Crete.
In order for a minotaur to be called that, you need a minoean dynasty or at least some person called Minos that has something to do with the creature.
No description of the DnD Minotaur I ever read mentions any of the above.
I say drop the bull (no pun intended) and use some horned lizard or a Nightmare Beast...
Although actual minotuar might not be around, I think a Gladiator called "The Minotaur" would be pretty cool. He could wear a helmet to make himself look like a minotaur and do the whole gore attack thing. Come to think of it he could have a game where slaves or other gladiators have to navigate a maze avoid traps and the biggesty threat of all "The Minotaur". That way the idea of a minotaur could be included in the game without actually needing to make it a race. It could just be a Half-Giant with a Bull-Headed helmet and a panchant for theatrics.
Your cross-dressing Gladiator could be called "The Nightmare of the Criterion" (if he dresses in a Nightmare Beast-like fashion and fights in Balic)... or something like that.
OR it could be a Half-Giant who saw how cool Beast-headed Giants are and wears a Ram-like helmet. An Arena Champion and pet of the Sorcerer-King, he could be "The Androram"...
Knowledge of this place is how the gladiator 'Minotaur' got a bastardised idea of this ancient race.
There - no actual minotaurs, but you get cool statues and a cool gladiator
Actually, I'll have full details soon, regardless.
(If real life doesn't interfere.)
I do like DracoChapel's idea (as a filler for Ruhl-Than Sage's) as an alternative.
Second, just because a world has real monsters doesn't mean that they don't have mythical ones, the minotaur could be a mythical monster.
Third, minotaurs wouldn't have to actually exsist in the setting to make the idea of a gladiator called the minotaur interesting to the players, who do get the reference. Maybe the gladiator called "The Minotaur" is what starts off the myth of the minotaur, or a similar personage in the past. Many mythical creatures in D&D such as Pegasus were origionaly singular unique creatures of mythology.
Oh and last, Why are you people calling him a cross-dressing gladitor??
The Green Age idea works nicely too.
First although there are no cows there are Carru which are quite similar and honestly I would have no problems using cows in DS anyway. They would just have to be a little more desert adapted. So a Carru bull head could be used.
Second, just because a world has real monsters doesn't mean that they don't have mythical ones, the minotaur could be a mythical monster.
Third, minotaurs wouldn't have to actually exsist in the setting to make the idea of a gladiator called the minotaur interesting to the players, who do get the reference. Maybe the gladiator called "The Minotaur" is what starts off the myth of the minotaur, or a similar personage in the past. Many mythical creatures in D&D such as Pegasus were origionaly singular unique creatures of mythology.
Good points. Once again, I stand corrected.
Oh and last, Why are you people calling him a cross-dressing gladitor??
:heehee
Just arsin' around.
Yeah, 
:D So far, I have a few combinations of Dark Sun-worthy beast men that I'm working on: Goat men, Rat men, Boar men, and combinations of were creatures (of which I might yet eliminate).
The Goat men (whom I replaced the minotaur with) are the largest, most having the height and physique of half-giants, and are the tribal leaders by nature. Why? Simply because of cult imagery. ;) Their size and brutality helps, along with the fact that they are the smartest of the lot.
The Rat men make up the main forces partially because they are easiest to keep in line, and partly because they possess the highest population amongst the lot. Not extremely bright; more reactional in and through sheer volume. Instinctual might be the word I'm looking for here.
Boar men are the shock troops, plain and simple. As you can imagine they charge into battle with a ferociousness that would scare the crap out of most. Heavy weapons and the will to use them.
"Were creatures" are the lieutenants of the lot, second only to the Goat men when it comes to lack of survivors. Very intelligent, and while some able to penetrate society as humans and what have you, most are stuck in their monstrous humanoid forms (which has increased in size over the millennium).
Full descriptions of these beast men have yet to be written, but hopefully they'll escape my head soon.
Also, don't forget that all (especially the Goat men) are under the influence of that psionic mould that I talked about earlier. What exactly that mould does, and its intentions are not yet thought out. I'm thinking that maybe it was what kept these beasts alive over the millennium (like the mul, they are sterile), and is also the cause for their transmutation. Not yet decided.
Their numbers? I got 'em under control. I'm thinking no more than maybe a half dozen tribes, with numbers ranging between six and fortyish, aside from the odd survivors of a shattered tribe.
They might not have broken the surface yet, but the Beast Men are coming... :D
To be perfectly honest, almost as quick as I posted it the idea of were creatures on Athas didn't sit right with me. I think I went ahead and posted it more for a personal reminder than anything, with the intention of solidifying the idea that there will be other beast men of the uniqueness of a were creature. In other words, not fitting into the three other beast men types I mentioned.