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More news on DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS as well as clarifications!

D&D, Explain please by Darth Fart	Aug 11th, 1999 01:33:16 AM
Is this D&D the same thing as that cartoon back in the 80s ? Or are we talking about something different ? If it is similar to the cartoon, then I am excited. Oh, I am first too.
d and d by gstargrave	Aug 11th, 1999 02:59:34 AM
I hope this new dragons and dungeons movie will be about kids who play it and end up thinking they are really in the game. Because that's what happens if you play it, you end up thinking you're in the game. Then you end up killing yourself and others.
gstargrave by Sivart	Aug 11th, 1999 03:31:08 AM
Seriously, man, put down the crack pipe before you enter the talkback area. I hope your post was intended as a joke, because any sane person knows a good game of D&D never caused anyone to kill anybody. 2 or 3 isolated incidents that had virtually nothing to do with the game itself [as I recall, one had to do with some psycho suicidal kid who ended up dying, I dont know about his buddies] dont mean anything. Chill out.
gstargrave by Dragon1	Aug 11th, 1999 03:37:28 AM
A vastly higher percentage of non-roleplayers kill people compared to a couple of isolated incidents involving roleplayers and in a mojority of these cases the roleplaying aspect is blown completely out of proportion by the media and other such narrow minded people.
D & D by Sidhe	Aug 11th, 1999 03:45:24 AM
I don't know anything about this movie (and yes, I'd like to know more), but I DO KNOW that I'm really quite tired of hearing about how D&D and games like it cause kids to hurt each other and so on. Sorry, I'm on a soapbox now. I played D&D for about 4 years in high school, then moved on to many other games through the years. Now, I have a Ph.D. and work at a major university. I'm a nice, normal person who loves animals and gardening. And I've never quit gaming. But because of the wild perceptions out there about D&D and other games, I pretty much have to keep my hobby hush hush. Sivart, you're so right. And Gstargrave, I really do hope you're joking. Listen, if you want to see abnormal go pick on the kids (and parents) who start in with beauty pageants at age 6 months! THOSE people are the real sickos. At least if my kid is home in the den playing D&D, I know she's safe and probably having a good time with her friends.
Bloodthirsty spree by Halcyon Flay	Aug 11th, 1999 04:36:58 AM
Well, I don't know about you people, but when my high-level rogue character was wasted by a demon I was so incensed that I sacrificed the entire population of Papua New Guinea to Satan and now Interpol are chasing me. And now I'm going to kill all of you!!!! Ha HA HAA HAAAA HAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D&D And Suicide? by Goodgulf	Aug 11th, 1999 06:05:15 AM
I too am sick and tired of D&D getting blamed for some kid killing himself. The majority of kids who commit suicide do NOT play D&D, but they go to school. So should we blame schools for the suicides? How about their favorite rock music? That's another easy target to blame. The idea that if you play D&D you get somehow mesmerized into believing that you are actually IN the scenario is preposterous. I've played D&D many times (though not lately), and no one ever thought that they were in anything other than a game with some friends. And out of the people I had played with who had played in other groups, none of them had ever seen any one go whacko. I defy any one to prove that ANY suicide or murder was the result of playing D&D. I want verifiable names, dates and locations, not anecdotal crap. You have more of a chance of getting injured by using sticks as pretend swords and whacking each other in the back yard than you do by playing D&D. You might put you eye out for goodness sakes!
D&D Suicides by Smilin	Aug 11th, 1999 06:40:39 AM
For good information on this subject find the right wing christian book Playing With Fire. Even this book could only come up with two cases. I did a research paper on the subject and found that the one documented suicide was committed with a gun and the parents were ultra religous and had NO actual evidence other than the kid DID play the game. The other case is even better because this one involved a kid from Texas who just disappeared. Parents and the media both made a big deal and blamed his disappearence on D&D. This case was the one that made national attn. Fortunately for the kid he reappeared two weeks later having been partying in Mexico but of course this information was never widely announced by anyone. The whole D&D suicide thing is a christian coalition Urban Myth.
Evil D&D renaissance coming our way by Agglom	Aug 11th, 1999 06:40:56 AM
Please note: this is an AICN virginal post! Is everybody ready for it? Next year's D&D renewal (the movie and the 3rd Edition) is going to re-open the D&D debate in the mainstream. I play the game, so I have a personal stake in how my hobby is perceived. Now, because the creators of the game have done a miserable job of managing the image of D&D, for my own SANITY I must point out what is actually wrong with it. I'm not an apologist for the game; these are serious drawbacks: 1) D&D, like religion, drugs, gambling, tobacco ... is addictive! 2) D&D play is repetitious and stereotyped, involving only a limited number of themes. 3) D&D is massively time consuming. Therefore, a D&D addiction WILL hinder the normal development of a teenager's social behaviour. A D&D addict quite literally does need to get a life, meaning: get into other social situations and learn what kinds of behaviour are acceptable. On the positive side, role-playing games are PLAY and play is fun, for Christ's sake! Duh!! Play, remember? Remember being a kid and playing? You don't have to stop playing as an adult, but most folk do because they consider play childish. Those sorry asses! Everybody needs to play! Unfortunately, the only place most adults role play is in bed. Bottom line: D&D is an enormously entertaining and healthy passtime, provided you don't over-indulge. Humble beginnings. Salut from the Cat Palace, Agglom
D&D memories . . . by fonebone	Aug 11th, 1999 06:43:05 AM
I was on a high school trip in the mid-80s and a few of us freshmen decided to play a game of D&D in our hotel room. Our moderators found out and told us that it was an evil game and that we couldn't play. We complained vigorously, but they just told us to go hang out with the older kids. We went next door and joined the older kids in a game of poker. I made a few bucks.
Aglomerante by Goodgulf	Aug 11th, 1999 07:05:56 AM
Nice post. Yes the game can be addictive. And it does take a long time. My friends and I usually played only on weekends when we were off from work. The other point you forgot is a health issue. Since no one wants to cook during the game, pizza, burritos and hamburgers were the main foods of choice, so while our alter egos in the dungeon may have been eating "cram", we feasted on pepperoni and mushroom pizza. And while our alter egos remained slim and trim, our real butts became larger. So if you play, you should make it a rule to play only so long and then stop. And maybe preparing a salad ahead of time might not be a bad idea. :)
A little background by Vandrad	Aug 11th, 1999 07:54:20 AM
Boy has this train gone off the track! A little history from one who learned under several of the original playtesters: Back in the mid '70s, Gary Gygax wrote a set of medieval miniature gaming rules called "Chainmail" A Minniapolis (table top) gaming group started stringing their miniaturres battles togeather and a back story slowly developed with continuing characters, based on Northern European culture and mythology. Dave Arneson wrote up their ideas and experiences and sent them off to Gygax, who decided to publish them, and "Dungeons and Dragons" as well as the market for role playing games was born. The original rules were general guidelines for the most part. In an attempt to address the constant questioins of "How does this fit in", the rules were expanded and re-published as "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons". The game and the company toiled along in the obscurity of a niche market until the early 80s, when the redical right claimed that it was a recruuitment tool for Satanism (much like Grimm's fairy tales and Mother Goose). Don't knock the riligious radicals too hard though, the spirit of teenage rebellion rocketed TSR (Tactical Studies Rules, remember Chainmail?) into a Fortune 500 company. Quite simply, Rev. Wildmont was the best salesman TSR ever had. Now back to the Movie. I assume it will be a heroic adventure based on the fictional world and mythology that has developed within the game products over the decades. Basically a standard swords and sorcery yarn with updated special effects and instant brand recognition.
What I really want to see.... by jkeener	Aug 11th, 1999 09:17:33 AM
I would really love to see the first 3 - 6 novels of Dragonlance made into movies! That would be awesome!!!!! Not that it'll slow me down from seeing the D&D movie!
Re: D&D Suicide by claymore	Aug 11th, 1999 09:44:21 AM
The guy who committed suicide over D&D was James Dallas Egbert III. He was one of them mad genius types who was into drugs and was confused about his sexual identity. He was also from a upper class family and had some issues with his parents. D&D had very little to do with his suicide it seems in retrospect. Some people are just wired too tight. Try the following site www.abraxax.sonnet.co.uk/RPG_m edia/index.html for more information on this sort of thing. The rest of the site is cool too
Tom Hanks by nornradd	Aug 11th, 1999 09:58:26 AM
Does anyone remember the really cheesy made for TV movie about 4 "wizards and warriors" playing teens (one of whom was Tom Hanks)? I think he freaked out at the end and thought his friends were orcs or some shite...
D&D movie by Hellblazer	Aug 11th, 1999 10:12:01 AM
Amazingly enough, seeing as I've been gaming for 7 and a half years now, and I loved the cartoon when I was in jr high, I just started playing D&D about a month and a half ago. I love it. Most of my gaming friends refused to play it and complained endlessly about the rules, but oddly enough most of them are in the group that I'm playing with now. I love the game, and I don't think playing it poses any danger to rationally thinking human beings. If you want a good laugh, tho, go to Jack Chick's web site ( I think it's www.jackchick.com) and read the Chicktract (yes, he is the religious tract guy) on role playing games. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. To kind of get this post back on track, tho, I can't wait for the movie to come out. Good actors, the story sounds like a solid fantasy adventure, and the FX people, it sounds like, are working hard to make the movie look good. At this point, it's about the only geek movie I have any faith in.
Dungeon Master,?,Hank?, Billy?,Uni?, Teermat?, by NORRIS	Aug 11th, 1999 11:12:40 AM
OK OK - Please answer me this will Dungeons & Dragons have Hank with his golden Bow & Arrow, Billy the little Barbarian with his Club & Uni, Sheela with her invisible overcoat, the women with the stick, Teermat the Dragon & little Bald Dungeon Master - Do they go into a magical Rollercoster and end up in a world of Dungeons & Dragons ???? CHEERS
D & D by EvilTommy	Aug 11th, 1999 11:26:59 AM
I hope this doesn't turn into something cheesy like Hercules or Zena. There is ample material to put together a grand adventure, but it seems a great deal of Hollywood writing is actually re-writing old ideas and relying on the FX people to carry the story. The Avengers, Wild Wild West, Lost in Space, The Haunting... Hopefully there is somebody out there with talent and original ideas.
look at 'em go by smitty	Aug 11th, 1999 12:58:45 PM
So some guy makes a joke about their hoppy and the geeks go crazy. Has anyone in the last ten years made any serious claim that role playing games cause suicides/murders? Talk about a non-issue.
nornradd by smitty	Aug 11th, 1999 12:59:47 PM
Incidentally, the Tom Hanks movie is Mazes and Monsters, and it pretty much sucked.
d&d tom hanks & roleplaying by capt rosenbalm	Aug 11th, 1999 01:00:36 PM
The movie with tom hanks is "Mazes & Monsters", the author was a woman by the name of Rona Jeffe (sp.?). It is the bullspit that people claim happen to roleplayers. The character has other problems, but apparently, i was the only one that caught that. BTW, can someone name all of the characters on the D&D cartoon and their weapons? Or if you know of a site, let me know? Thanks. BTW2, as i understand it, this is not about the cartoon, but a totally new script/story. But, you know, an apperance by Elimster or Warduke would rock, and be a great in-joke.
For the love of God! Meanwhile, BACK AT THE TOPIC... by Dr_Frankenevil	Aug 11th, 1999 02:01:35 PM
I love how these talkbacks spiral out of focus, and wind up nowhere close to the topic. Harry could post an article about Gwyneth Paltrow deciding to do a film where she plays Catherine Deneuve's daughter but like set against the Napoleonic Wars, in in about 5 posts time it decays into "Which is better, Wing Commander the movie, or Wing Commander the Video Game." Sheeesh! But back to the topic: THANKS FOR THE INFO HARRY! I'm actually looking kind of forward to this as a sort of guilty pleasure before Lord of the Rings hits. My advice on this is... Go into this during a matinee, don't expect much at all except for you and your buddies to sit there and mock it ala Mystery Science Theater 3000, and you might just be surprised... note I said "might be."
D&D:The Story by Argus	Aug 11th, 1999 03:54:34 PM
From what i've been hearing about the story it sounds like your average generic fantasy film. Destined for MST3000 if was still on. Why not a DragonLance movie? The first 6 books would make a kick ass set of films. If money is a problem go animated. And what is this shit about a Wayans brother being in it for comic relief? This sounds a lot like the second Conan movie with his "humerous" thief ompanion. I really hope I'm wrong but nothing I've read yet makes me think I am.
Technical Accuracy by Hildago	Aug 11th, 1999 05:31:09 PM
I remember those long afternoons spent playing Dungeons and Dragons with fondness. I will go into this movie expected to be flooded with a lot of High School nostalgia. But let's get everything straight first. Whoever is making this movie needs to have a thorough grasp of the ADnD universe, its physics, its social dynamics, et cetera. With that in mind, here is my list of suggestions. 1. At the start of the movie, all of the characters should buy 500 feet of rope. 2. For the first half hour, all of the characters should be concerned about how much weight they are carrying, and how bulky things are. Later, they will get tired of keeping track, and start shoving everything they come across into a bag, including pole-arms and silver statues. 3. Every time one of the characters swings his weapon, he has a 5% chance of dropping his weapon or falling on his ass. Make sure the fight choreographer knows this. 4. The first scene has to open in a tavern, with all the characters sitting at a bar. Suddenly, a mysterious, well-dressed stranger walks into the room and asks if there are any adventurers looking to make a little money. 5. Speaking of money, all half-human monsters carry it. 6. Whenever the actors enter a room, they should declare loudly what order they go in. 7. If the characters fight a monster, make sure that even when the monster is severely wounded, it is not slowed or weakened in the least. To be completely accurate, it should fight effectively up until the moment it drops dead. Also, the final blow should usually cleave off the monster's head. 8. Avast! 75% of sea voyages in the movie should be cut short by pirate raids. 9. For the sake of convenience, all characters should sleep in their plate mail. Also, wearing the plate mail should make it easier for the character to dodge arrows.
A roleplayer talks back by Clare	Aug 12th, 1999 11:34:11 AM
I just hope it's not shite, the film that is. It's a known fact that fantasy films do bugger all at the box office (I'm talking high fantasy here, before all you Star Wars fans jump my ass). LOTR has its work cut out for it and will probably be the one everyone goes and sees. The roleplaying community will go see D&D (I know I will, I play the damn game), but what about Joe Public? When I mention to people that I role play they tend to look at me blankly. Joe Public will probably do the same. Special effects should kick butt, I want to see some BIG dragons and the fight scenes and magic should look lovely. I only hope that if it is based on the cartoon, they kill the fucking unicorn early. Oh, I forgot something. I murdered a dozen schoolkiddies on my way to work this morning and ate their livers with fava beans and a nice chianti. That's a big fuck you to all the moral assholes out there that continually blame gaming for all the crap that goes on.
by EvilNight	Aug 12th, 1999 12:08:44 PM
Hildago, you just made my day :) Seriously, if this movie delivers something along the lines of Willow, I'll be happy (so I gave Willow a 7, shoot me). I'm hoping to be suprised but I am not holding my breath. I second that bit about making a movie out of the Dragonlance Saga. It would be a worthy film project. We could also do with Homeland - it could make one kick ass movie that would take people by suprise almost as well as Matrix did.
About Anti-RPG people... by Tupac Beer	Aug 13th, 1999 05:08:13 AM
Anyone interested to see what kind of people are spreading the "Roleplaying games are eeeevil!"-crap, check out these sites: http://www.rpg.net/252/quellen /darkdungeons/index.html and http://anduin.de/anduin61/pull ing_report.htm for some really neat info... The first is Jack Chick's hilarious and above all seriously intended (the guy actually believes this crap) "comic" about the perils of RPG's, and the second is an in-depth look at a woman who by her multiple media appearances managed to firmly entrench certain myths about RPG's in Joe Q Public's mind...
Mrs. Pulling by Halcyon Flay	Aug 13th, 1999 08:52:20 AM
Thanks for the link, Tupac Beer, to the terrific article on Mrs. Pulling's bizarre (and frequently hilarious) worldview. I particularly loved the Satanist/molemen analogy. :) What really tickles me, though, is what she would think of people like me, who not only play tabletop RPGs but indulge in LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) too. There's nothing quite like whacking that pesky Orc scout with a latex katana! Heh heh heh... A warning to the curious (quick M.R. James reference, there), though - cows will frequently try to eat your weapons and other equipment! They are the enemy!! ;)
Further to my above post... by Halcyon Flay	Aug 13th, 1999 09:28:48 AM
The cattle mutilations researched by Pat Pulling and others were obviously perpetrated by LARPers enraged by the destruction of their beloved equipment. :)
Pics and Dave by tillek	Aug 13th, 1999 08:52:05 PM
Got to talk with Dave last night here in Minneapolis. Saw some 8 by 10 color glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of ewach one to be .....Oh, nevermind. Anyway, pics look good. Some of the actors, some of props, some of sets. Should be cool. There is a rumor that there will be a "Spot Dave in the movie" contest. He did get a bit part. Speaking of games. Anyone Play Tekumel? I think the world created in it would make a great movie.
Why should there even be a Dungeons and Dragons movie! by Duran70	Sep 6th, 1999 11:13:26 AM
I already see this movie as a disaster waiting to happen. I was reading some web site that confirmed they are already shooting this movie in eastern Europe with a budget of 28 million?! This movie is going to offer absolutley nothing with that type of money, how can they afford to pay some top writer or director to helm this fantasy version of Wing Commander!! What about the special effects? I some how expect those orcs to look like those cumbersome guards at Jabba's palace. Hell, why not just go ahead and resurrect Ed Wood to help bring this masterpiece to the big screen! It does not help that the director is a Dungeons and Dragons Fan. What about his creditentials? Has he ever directed anything other then those god-awful videos that came with those board games that TSR released years ago? This movie when it comes out will be compared to such movie classics such as "The Fantastic Four" and "Captain America" all which where released to video and rightly so..THEY SUCKED!! And You would think the producers that somehow managed to pull this sort of shit off would have learned !! Unless they (the producers) get off their asses and put some "REAL" money and effort into this project get ready to expect "Dragonslayer 90210" at a theratre near you.
Dragonlance!!? You got to be kidding!!!! Please say it isn't so! by Duran70	Sep 6th, 1999 11:54:57 AM
I diagree with both EvilNight and Argus that a Dragonlance movie should be made. It's another bad movie based on a really bad series of books. The characters are two-dimensional and the backgrounds are bland. If something like this is to succeed the writing need to be intelligent to reach a wider audience, in other words not your average Dragonlance novel. It has to go beyond the core audience that has already read the books. It has to offer something that has not before been offered in the genre. The Dragonlance novels with their simplistic, adolescent plots have never offered anything new or innovative. Can a novel based on Dragonlance be successful? Based on the reports I've heard on the status on the Dungeons and Dragons movie, the chances are not good. It will be overshadowed by the hype machine for the Lord of the Rings Movie. It seems that we are going through an endless cycle of bad movies being released. If I was TSR I would seriously consider shelving the idea and stick to gaming because it would ruin their good name if the film bombs. An established game maker such as TSR deserves better than to be the laughing stock of hollywood if and when this "Classic" opens up. If nothing happens to change this disaster, all you fans of the novel will get what you wanted, a movie based on Dragonlance and nothing more.
Why no sensible actor should should be in this movie. by Duran70	Sep 6th, 1999 02:12:56 PM
This movie is going to kill some careers.
comedy by DSA	Sep 8th, 1999 11:48:07 AM
Right right right... I guess I don't have anything new to say here but the general consensus seems to be that this film will stink, and guess what - they're right! But look at it from a realist's pespective - A: First off, this film will not change a single person's opinion about D&D. If you play the game and you like it (as I do), you will continue to play the game whether or not you liked the film. If you don't like D&D, then you'll continue not liking it, nothing will change that, especially not a piece of slipshod filmmaking. B: Nobody wants or expects this film to do well. Not the producers, not the fans, not TSR/WOtC, not even the investors. They know that as soon as you attach the D&D label to something, it bombs in general release. The general public will not see it. So what do they ("they" being the investors, filmmakers, etc.) hope to accomplish with this film? It's a straight money-maker, nothing else. Wizards of the Coast, who recently purchased TSR, doesn't give a damn about D&D except for the name recognition it gives their company (any D&D players will recognize what I'm talking about - look at the quality of TSR stuff since WotC purchased them). Wizards, as a company, has one sole purpose - to make money. The reasoning behind the release of this film is: don't sink too much money into it, slap D&D on the title so that all of the RPG players will go see it (and they will, no matter how bad the reviews are - gamers are funny that way), and we'll turn a tidy little profit by the time the flick hits video. It's the way the world works. If you want a good fantasy film wait for LotR (I wonder how many other people have already said that) and if you want to see D&D (I will because I'm a gamer, even though I know it's going to be bad), don't expect anything great from it.
I have a very bad feeling about this... by Jarlaxle	Nov 9th, 1999 08:51:00 AM
Well, lotta peeps here with a lotta different ideas. So what the hell, thought I'd give you mine too. Gotta agree that chances are the new D&D movie will be (as we say in jolly old England) an "absolute bag o'shite". The kind of budget confirmed is just gonna leave us with another "Krull" (sorry) or "Sword and the Sorcerer". To be honest, I think the best bet would be to go with something a little more high medieval. The sort of stuff David Gemmell writes would be better suited to dramatisation. Ok, so I read nearly ALL the Dragonlance stuff. Not cool for a movie at all, ever. Dark Elf trilogy more promising (new pantheon, races, loadsa gore etc - Homeland probably would make a good movie - but then I am a fan - can't you tell..?) Alternatively Joel Rosenberg's "Guardians of the Flame" might be interesting- at least it has the Dragon in it. I agree with earlier comment on the technical aspects of D&D. I forsee a "I've got considerably more hit points than yow" (fans of Harry Enfield take note) scenario. The whole contrivance to make most D&D adventures could also reduce any movie to something utterly linearised - 1. Go through door. 2. Kill "wandering monster" (and what exactly is a wandering monster - don't they get bored, or get sore feet? Don't they ever eat or sleep or (gasp) go to the toilet (read: use the john)? 3. Search for traps/secret doors.4. Find either or both and uncover major plot device (ie Map/artifact whatever)5. Continue/repeat until major baddie is discovered in his/her secret den surrounded by D6 cohorts, all of whom must be dispatched prior to final showdown, death of bad person and saving of hamlet/village/town/region/sta te/country/continent/world/gal axy and so forth Well, at least it would offer the opportunity for a quick nap (not managed that since "Jefferson in Paris", a film in which absolutely NOTHING happens). Let's hope LoTR saves us all. PS to all you american gamers - you've got it easy. In England people don't just look confused when you mention D&D, they think that you've got something wrong with you. PPS. Call of Cthulu - a decent HP Lovecraft movie? That could be interesting...
My DVD player still reeks of it. by Wolfpack	Aug 22nd, 2006 07:44:36 PM

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