Editing Greg Fulton/Fanstratics Newsletters/41 (section)

== HoMM3 Question ==
'''Why are [[Dendroid]]s called Dendroids?'''

During one of my sessions with [[Jon Van Caneghem]] (JVC), we were finalizing the roster for the [[Rampart]].  At the time, Dendroids were named Treants, as derived from Dungeons & Dragons.  At the time, I did not know there had been a copyright issue between Dungeons & Dragons and the Tolkien estate, as Treants were originally named Ents (referring to anthropomorphic tree creatures from Lord of the Rings).  Regardless, JVC didn’t like the name Treant.  I offered up ‘Ent’.  Didn’t like it.  Treefolk?  Nope.

After retrieving a paperback Thesaurus from my office, I sat in front of Jon and read all the synonyms for Treant, Ent, etc.  Woodfolk?  Nah.  Grove Giant?  (shakes head).  Tree Spirit?  No. 

 Me, “Dendroid?”
 
 JVC, “What’s a dendroid?”
 
 Me, after retrieving a paperback Dictionary from my office, “Dendroid... resembling a shrub or tree.”

JVC shrugged his shoulders.

 Me, “I like Treefolk, but I could live with Dendroid,”
 
 JVC, “Let’s go with Dendroid, until we think of something better.”

Well, we never thought of anything better, and to be perfectly honest, the name grew on me.

As a bonus, in hindsight, we probably avoided a potential copyright issue with Dungeons & Dragons.