Re: Design Resolution
 

Many types of illithids in 2e, like the illithid liches of the Forgotten Realms, or the weird "psionic variety" that was added in the Monstrous Manual (that had a beak! I don't like that...).

In terms of NPCs, there was an interesting illithid in the Realms that was not evil - he was a priest of some human god (Oghma? I forget).

I think there were some more in Spelljammer, but I forget...

Re: Design Resolution
 

I feel kind of bad about injecting a resolution comment into the middle of a discussion of Illithids, but not enough to make any difference.

I voted for 640x480 because that's what I use on my old 15" piece-of-junk monitor, mainly because I'm getting old and my eyesight is going. Plus, it looked lonely sitting up there with no votes.

I'd probably like a higher resolution on my laptop, but I hate Vista enough to go with the old beast instead.

Re: Design Resolution
 

I used to have the same situation (well, okay, my monitor was 17")... now I am running Windows (and DC) on an iMac using VirtualBox, which unfortunately means that my 640 x 480 DC games are played as little windows only taking up about a quarter of my (Mac OS) desktop... (Of course, some of you WANT that, but...)

Re: Design Resolution
 

Illithids: I'm ignoring everything 2e and later and just going my own way. :) I do realize that technically, Illithids are 2e, but I like that name better than mind flayer (which I like other creatures to use to refer to them in a derogatory manner).
In fact, I like to think of my way of using 1e as the way I used it before I started getting the 2e books, which was a couple of years after they started coming out. I use it as the base for my world/universe and add what I want for the story, but continuing to use the 1e mechanics. However, I also have some house rules that "suspend" some of the 1e rules, most notably level caps for demi-humans. ;)

Resolution: I respect that vote, nologgie. In fact I identify with it. :) Something that hasn't been mentioned so far is that the combat icons, walls, etc. are the same for all resolutions, so the higher the resolution the smaller they appear. I have a 19" monitor, so it isn't too bad, but my laptop which is 1024x768 only has a 12 and a half inch screen - if I play a game in the highest resolution, I have lots of squinting to do during combat and for that reason only play around with the 640x480 resolution on it.
The strained eyes during combat was one of the main reasons I originally came up with the 800_square resolution - improve detail during "3D" play without losing as much in combat. :) For this reason, I might do some work in my new 640_square resolution. :D:D:D

Re: Design Resolution
 

I do like your new square resolution... but I don't want to do new walls, so I guess I am stuck with the default :D

Re: Design Resolution
 

I figure not too many people will use it because of the idea of doing new art. Not a problem for me, but I've been doing the square viewport thing a while now, not to mention before that doing only 1024 res walls. I've always had to make all my own, so I've become rather skilled (if not good) at it.

Re: Design Resolution
 

I believe the term "Mind Flayer" fell into disuse largely because of confusion with other terms. To wit:

Mind Flair: Characterized by a certain mental panache.

Mine Flair: Result of subterranean interior decorating, often performed by effeminate gnomes, usually involving the color mauve.

Mine Flare: Incendiary device used for illuminating mines. Sometimes used in conjunction with other combustibles to dispose of Mine Flair.

Mind Flare: A popular drink of the 1960s, consisting of two jiggers of whiskey, twelve hits of blotter acid, and a cinnamon stick.

Re: Design Resolution
 

From what I've heard from my buddy, Dirk Thundermug, the term "effeminate gnome" is a bit redundant. But you know how dwarves get, always judging others by the length of their beard...

Re: Design Resolution
 

You can try to use the "mind flair" pun on mind flayers, to see if you can make them laugh... :D

Dwarf view of masculinity:

1. Dwarf - MAN!
2. Gnome - boy
3. Half-elf - baby
4. Elf - girl!
5. Dwarven woman - WOMAN!

Re: Design Resolution
 

Ha ha ha. You guys are cracking me up, along with Vix over in the FRUA Community forums. :D

Uatu, what do dwarves think of humans and half-orcs? What do dwarves think of human mages with their long flowing beards?