Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes preview: Giff and Gray Render art

[Unoriginal]

Hi guys.

Not sure if you have seen those, but they put a few more of the MToF artworks on twitter.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbQG1IsUMAA0L8S.jpg


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbeqCWoU0AEdTqw.jpg:large

I like them both a lot.

[RazDelacroix]

We're getting our Space Hippos!? WOO! SPACE HIPPOS AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

[KorvinStarmast]

Hi guys.

Not sure if you have seen those, but they put a few more of the MToF artworks on twitter.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbeqCWoU0AEdTqw.jpg:large

I like them both a lot. He's got a blunderbuss! Woot. Reminds me of the dwarves in Warcraft III.

[Rfkannen]

I really want a variant motf where all the art is pancakes!

[JackPhoenix]

Imperial French hippo is awesome.

I'm... not a fan of the Grey Render, though. I prefer more stubby face and bulky look from 3.5e art. This looks too much like shell-less turtle. Or a shaleback.

[xroads]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbeqCWoU0AEdTqw.jpg:large



Oooh. I wonder if giffs are going to be an AL playable race. And if so, what are they going to do about the tech? I mean I don't think blunderbusses are part of AL yet.

[Rickety Stick]

I really want the Giff to be a playable race. Probably wont be the case but hey, one can always hope xD.

[Unoriginal]

Giffs aren't going to be a PC race in this book unless they add a "other monster races" section to what they announced.

[Mith]

Oooh. I wonder if giffs are going to be an AL playable race. And if so, what are they going to do about the tech? I mean I don't think blunderbusses are part of AL yet.

Once the Alchemist/Gunsmith class hits AL it would work.

[Unoriginal]

You know, one might wonder why the Giff has a monocle (aside that it looks great), but then I realized that since they're handling Age of Sail-style firearms, it would be an effective protection against the smoke, dust and ashes that risk to be projected from the loading hole or the hole for the ignition device.

[Waazraath]

Is it me or do the Giff look a lot like the Umpani race (also hippo's from space with blunderbusses), in the Wizardry computer RPG series of the 90's?

And if yes: who had those hippo's from space first?

[JackPhoenix]

Is it me or do the Giff look a lot like the Umpani race (also hippo's from space with blunderbusses), in the Wizardry computer RPG series of the 90's?

And if yes: who had those hippo's from space first?

Giff first appeared in Spelljammer in 1989. Umpani first appeared in Wizardry VII, in 1992. Considering the inspiration D&D was to the period's fantasy videogames, I think it's pretty clear which one was original.

[PhoenixPhyre]

Giff first appeared in Spelljammer in 1989. Umpani first appeared in Wizardry VII, in 1992. Considering the inspiration D&D was to the period's fantasy videogames, I think it's pretty clear which one was original.

Especially since Wizardry was pretty much a direct D&D rip-off"homage" (which I enjoyed greatly, so don't get me wrong).

[smcmike]

These look sweet. The grey render is reminiscent of the Stranger Things monster in pose, and the giff looks awesome.

[Waazraath]

Giff first appeared in Spelljammer in 1989. Umpani first appeared in Wizardry VII, in 1992. Considering the inspiration D&D was to the period's fantasy videogames, I think it's pretty clear which one was original.

That's clear, thanks. I played a (short) spelljammer campaign only once, and no space hippo's there back then.

[EvilAnagram]

That Giff art is beautiful. It perfectly encapsulates everything I love about militaristic space hippos.

Also, this is compelling evidence that we're never getting a Spelljammer campaign guide.

[Mikaleus]

Would 100% play a Giff.

That artwork is brilliant :D

[Unoriginal]

It makes me happy that people like the Giffs.

[the_brazenburn]

Giff is beyond amazing. I laughed so hard when I saw that that people started giving me strange looks.

Grey Render: Okay, I guess? The art is kind of cool, but other people are right. It looks more like a cute miniature space pet than a horrible monster.

I'll be looking forward to the stats.

[Ivor_The_Mad]

Giff is beyond amazing. I laughed so hard when I saw that that people started giving me strange looks.
Can't argue with that. You know When I was thinking about what I want in D&D and I said to my friends. "You know what i want in D&D a big anthropomorphic hippo in renaissance clothes" They thought I was crazy but who's laughing now!!!!!! MWAHAHAHA.

Ok back on topic I like the idea of the giff and I can think of a bunch of uses for it. I will fit perfectly into my next dungeon.
as for the Gray render I think its kind of bland. Nothing special I can use it but it's not as interesting as the giff.

[EvilAnagram]

The Grey Render seems to have a bit of a following, and I don't know why. Plenty of people homebrewed one, so it's evidently in demand, but I can't think of a reason to want one.



Ok back on topic I like the idea of the giff and I can think of a bunch of uses for it. I will fit perfectly into my next dungeon.

Interesting. Did one of their ships crash on your world?

[strangebloke]

The real question, is it pronounced "Jiff" or "Gif" as in "Gift"?

[Unoriginal]

The real question, is it pronounced "Jiff" or "Gif" as in "Gift"?

Like "Gift" without the "t".

It's meant to sound similar to "Gith", I think.

[strangebloke]

Like "Gift" without the "t".

It's meant to sound similar to "Gith", I think.

I feel a completely unreasonable urge to pronounce it "Jiff" from now until the end of time.

[Ivor_The_Mad]

The Grey Render seems to have a bit of a following, and I don't know why. Plenty of people homebrewed one, so it's evidently in demand, but I can't think of a reason to want one.



Interesting. Did one of their ships crash on your world?

That was my plan. I felt that the travel needed to be spiced up a bit.

[VoxRationis]

The real question, is it pronounced "Jiff" or "Gif" as in "Gift"?

No, the "g" is a voiced velar fricative, like Spanish "j" or Scottish "ch" but with vibration of the vocal folds. This is similar to certain Greek (and possibly Spanish) pronunciations of "g."

[Luccan]

The Grey Render seems to have a bit of a following, and I don't know why. Plenty of people homebrewed one, so it's evidently in demand, but I can't think of a reason to want one.

I liked them in 3.5 because the idea of them "adopting" a party, village, or group of animals was fun. A destructive brute, barely smarter than an animal, but extremely protective of their "family". I also wanted to make a village where they raised Grey Renders.

[Maelynn]

I really want the Giff to be a playable race. Probably wont be the case but hey, one can always hope xD.

They gave us Tortles, so I don't see why not.

[Ivor_The_Mad]

I mean if you want it to be a playable race (which I would love) and they don't make it you can always homebrew it.

[SaintRidley]

I like the Gray Render's head. Reminds me of a Sheegoth from Metroid Prime.

[Callin]

Giiiiffffffff!!!!!

[Ivor_The_Mad]

Giiiiffffffff!!!!!
Well said. :smallbiggrin:

[MeeposFire]

I feel a completely unreasonable urge to pronounce it "Jiff" from now until the end of time.

Choosy DMs choose Jif.