What ever happened to the Kinder Race?

[loverboy000150]

I am 34. I have been playing D&D since I was 13. I have DM'ed for over 20 years and I have created my own Realm. Believe me I have credentials. Halflings and elves make for very effective rouges, but when you want to really enjoy the role of the dirty, pick-pocketin-est, back-stabbin-est, low-down, dirty Theif, you just havent gamed until you have played as a Kinder.

Almost halfing, almost elf. The best of both their racial abilities, infravission, and nimble as a minx. whenever there is a theives guild, theres almost always a Kinder. You can reccognise them from their top-knots, and by their hand gestures (thats a theives cant for those of you who have never gamed table-top).

Ive got thousands of dollars in table top equipment...lol. And everything I have shows that Kinders are the elite race for theives (rouges). Its kind of like their religion. 'Swiping' things is humorous to them. They are taught from birth to steal.

I think its great that D&D is online. Even though I truely miss table-top, I am glad to see people getting back into D&D. Even though it kinda limits the imagination, I have always enjoyed playing more than I have enjoyed DM'ing. Hopefully, once I learn all the important game mechanics to this online stuff, I can contribute more to the rest of the hard-core gamers, like myself.

Out of character, and out of game,
loverboy000150

[rimble]

Do you mean Kender? That's a different campaign setting--Dragonlance.

I call shenanigans on your vast cosmic D&D knowledge since you called them Kinder...and didn't even mention their awesome staff slings.

SHENANIGANS!

[Merian]

Kenders don't steal, they "borrow".

[Angelus_dead]

Almost halfing, almost elf. The best of both their racial abilities, infravission, and nimble as a minx. whenever there is a theives guild, theres almost always a Kinder.

A "Kender" is what they call Halflings in the Krynn setting (Dragonlance). In other D&D settings they're Halflings. Note that D&D's Halflings share traits introduced by Kender, most obviously a bonus against Fear effects.

[rimble]

If I recall, there were random tables to roll on to see what was in your Kender's pockets...it was like a special ability--Kender Pockets. That always cracked me up.

Boring Human Fighter: "****, we really need some string and a ping pong paddle to solve this weird dungeon puzzle."

Awesome Kender Rogue: "String, string..." *pats around his pockets, rolls on the table* "Oh yeah, got those right here...I wonder where those came from...?"

Random Sewing Merchant Back In Town: "***?! Where's all my string?!"

[SilkofDrasnia]

i just have to add its ROGUE not make-up (rouge)

[thwart]

Do you mean Kender? That's a different campaign setting--Dragonlance.

I call shenanigans on your vast cosmic D&D knowledge since you called them Kinder...and didn't even mention their awesome staff slings.

SHENANIGANS!

And I call shenanigans because you didn't use the name of the staff slings ... hoopaks.

[rimble]

And I call shenanigans because you didn't use the name of the staff slings ... hoopaks.

Well I call double shenanigans because while you were one-upping me I emptied out your pockets!

*ninja vanish*

[loverboy000150]

lol... SO, this is where all the table-toppers went to. Ok. I misspelled Kender. I was going on memory. Yes I played a lot of DragonLance when I firt started gaming. I have also played a lot of Forgotten Realms. But when you do what D&D was designed to do, and create your own campaign; you as the DM can do whatever you want to with 'Your' world. And to make it interresting you take the best of everything and create the best world you can.

For all the 'By-the-Book' (BOERING) people who try to take the 'fun' out of the game by following the book too closely, remember that in the Players Hand Book, and in the DMG, it is repeated that the DM's ruling is final in every aspect of the game. So, if I want to throw the tarrasque at you, and let no one harm it, until the rest of you are dancing, (lol) thats my call.

Everyone I have ever gamed with has tried to create their own campaigns. And every one likes the Kender. Maybe its just my little circle of friends. -Who have been gaming together for about ten years now.- But everyone pretty much agrees that the Kender has always been the best race for a theif.

And just for a little info. The Halfling Race was inspired by the book, "THE HOBBIT". That book was also the inspiration for the CREATION of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, by TSR.

[IgorHackNSlasher]

And I call shenanigans because you didn't use the name of the staff slings ... hoopaks.

Yes but what about thier trademark topknots and gaudily bright clothing

[Bemidji]

I had a kender thief. Both fun and tough to play. My kender had a good heart, though, and when he found items in his pack or pockets that he thought others could use, he would gladly give gifts. Unfortunately, the Lawful Good Paladin in the group had a different view of "ownership".
He wasn't even using the shield that I found on the ground near where he was sleeping. Some avatar got mad at him for losing it, so he got mad at my kender. Besides the tinker gnome was really excited about getting it and it worked real good as a boat for him as he went down the river.
And no one mentioned that the tinker gnome wasn't our friend and that he was tied up for a good reason. Ok, so maybe someone mentioned it, but look at the neat hat the gnome gave me! He looked so uncomfortable and honestly, I don't even know how the rope ended up in my pack.

Lesson: never let the Kender have a turn at night guard duty while the rest of the group sleeps.

[thwart]

Well I call double shenanigans because while you were one-upping me I emptied out your pockets!

*ninja vanish*

D'oh!

[underpants]

Its not a race or class in ebberon its just an uncool kleptomaniac halfling with ADHD.

[Elfvyra]

i just have to add its ROGUE not make-up (rouge)

Sigh, and I have to add, it's THIEF and THIEVES....

[FlyingTurtle]

Its not a race or class in ebberon its just an uncool kleptomaniac halfling with ADHD.

That.

Dragonlance sucks as a setting. Wizards are gimped in terms of spell selection and have to wear uniforms to identify their alignment, halflings are turned into annoying squalling children (kender -> kinder = german for children), dragons can be instakilled with +5 imba ubernoob sticks of poking, and draconians are just annoying to fight (they're very easy to kill but do the most inconvenience to you AFTER they're dead).

It's basically "let's take the most generic elements of Forgotten Realms and then cram as much annoying stereotypes into it as possible".

[rimble]

That.

Dragonlance sucks as a setting. Wizards are gimped in terms of spell selection and have to wear uniforms to identify their alignment, halflings are turned into annoying squalling children (kender -> kinder = german for children), dragons can be instakilled with +5 imba ubernoob sticks of poking, and draconians are just annoying to fight (they're very easy to kill but do the most inconvenience to you AFTER they're dead).

It's basically "let's take the most generic elements of Forgotten Realms and then cram as much annoying stereotypes into it as possible".

Oh lawd! Draconians...*cry*

Oh, he turned to stone when I killed him...there goes my sword...again...

[katana_one]

And just for a little info. The Halfling Race was inspired by the book, "THE HOBBIT". That book was also the inspiration for the CREATION of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, by TSR.

True enough, but when 3rd edition came out, they were given a makeover, and Kender is pretty much what they went for in looks (just not nearly as annoying as true Kender).

And while Tolkein definitely had a major impact on the game, his works were not the sole source of inspiration.

[loverboy000150]

True enough, but when 3rd edition came out, they were given a makeover, and Kender is pretty much what they went for in looks (just not nearly as annoying as true Kender).

And while Tolkein definitely had a major impact on the game, his works were not the sole source of inspiration.

...Wow.... I take it you know your stuff. With the exception of the few gaming experiences shared in this thread, I would like to hear more of what you have to say.

Im interrested in learning this online thing. Is there anything you could point out to help me have a good gaming experience here?

[Philibusta]

A "Kender" is what they call Halflings in the Krynn setting (Dragonlance). In other D&D settings they're Halflings. Note that D&D's Halflings share traits introduced by Kender, most obviously a bonus against Fear effects.

Until WotC got their claws into D&D, Halflings and Kender were similar, but not like they are now. Kender had a complete immunity to fear effects, both normal and magical. Halflings didn't even have a bonus against fear.

Kender were also a little taller and more slender than Halflings. Also, all Kender, regardless of class, had a base 5% chance to perform any Thief skill. Except Climb Walls. That was 40%.

Kender also had one special talent that Halflings don't possess: The Taunt. This was the ablility to...basically, talk smack to an enemy until he was so enraged that he suffered penalties to his attack rolls.

Kender and Halflings were different in other ways too. All Kender have wanderlust, whereas most Halfllings tend to be homebodies. Oh yeah and then there's the whole "wearing shoes" thing. I about puked in disgust when I first opened a 3E PHB and saw the Halflings wearing shoes.

For those questioning my accuracy, I directly referenced the 2E PHB and Complete Book of Gnomes & Halflings while typing this post.

Halflings: Just another of many things Wizards of the Coast effed all up.

[loverboy000150]

Until WotC got their claws into D&D, Halflings and Kender were similar, but not like they are now. Kender had a complete immunity to fear effects, both normal and magical. Halflings didn't even have a bonus against fear.

Kender were also a little taller and more slender than Halflings. Also, all Kender, regardless of class, had a base 5% chance to perform any Thief skill. Except Climb Walls. That was 40%.

Kender also had one special talent that Halflings don't possess: The Taunt. This was the ablility to...basically, talk smack to an enemy until he was so enraged that he suffered penalties to his attack rolls.

Kender and Halflings were different in other ways too. All Kender have wanderlust, whereas most Halfllings tend to be homebodies. Oh yeah and then there's the whole "wearing shoes" thing. I about puked in disgust when I first opened a 3E PHB and saw the Halflings wearing shoes.

For those questioning my accuracy, I directly referenced the 2E PHB and Complete Book of Gnomes & Halflings while typing this post.

Halflings: Just another of many things Wizards of the Coast effed all up.

....loverboy taunts:... Yeah!, Take that... You non-table-toppers...