|
Post by GRWelsh on Jul 5, 2023 10:23:29 GMT -5
I don't know about any of that stuff, I just wanted to post the video because I thought it was nice to hear EGG's voice again. I had read the transcript posted many years ago but it helps to hear the audio to catch more nuances and humor. I don't know anything about Bill Silvey other than I played with him in Allan Grohe's AD&D Greyhawk Dungeon game at the last GARY CON and he seemed okay. That was a fun game!
In regards to the multiverse, I wonder if that would have been too much for an initial D&D movie. The concept reminds me of module Q1 which I think was the only TSR treatment of the multiverse up to that point, other than a few references in the rule books about other worlds. The goal of the villain to be played by Orson Welles sounds similar to what Lolth wanted to do in taking control of several alternate Prime Material worlds. The multiverse was definitely a part of the D&D game by that point but I'm wondering if it would have confused audiences to have characters jumping between worlds or even genres. This also reminded me of the Roger Zelazny "Amber" and "Changeling/Madwand" series and the "World of Tiers" by Philip Jose Farmer.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Jul 5, 2023 13:14:48 GMT -5
Sorry to derail. Now I'm not just grinding an axe, I'm right back to " fireballing the whole place" like GT used to say about my forum posts.
I talked with Gary about all the films and the pre-Gord novels. So in lieu of the conflict, I'm going to recuse myself from commenting further until a later time.
|
|
|
Post by Erik Larson on Jul 9, 2023 12:25:59 GMT -5
The interesting thing about Gary's various forms of Earth relative to the Great Wheel/multiverse is that Gary seemed to focus a lot more on alternate Earths/Prime Material Planes (perhaps due to his wargaming 'What If' background?) rather than the inner or outer planes. The continuums of Primes seemed more important to him than the rest of the multiverse (as seen through his Odd Alley/Weird Way stories mentioning the cross-Prime planar trade and travel). This is an aspect of the planar cosmology for Greyhawk that's not really explored much, and warrants further digging! Allan. I seem to recall this walking through the alternate Earth/Oerth/Aerth/Yarth path was what was meant in the Hierophant Druid write up as "walking the lines of probability", where some of the worlds were more or less magical along that line.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Jul 9, 2023 16:05:34 GMT -5
I've always thought the best way to capture the feel of D&D is with a series. A film just can't capture the feel of the game. A Netflix, etc. series would be the best option IMO.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Jul 10, 2023 10:24:23 GMT -5
Mark (one of the players in our group) has often commented that the concept of a D&D movie doesn't make sense since D&D isn't a story, it's a game, and movies are about stories. D&D is just a rules system that allows you to take play characters in fantasy worlds that may be described in a story, but the game is never a story. Therefore, no movie can ever capture the true 'feel' of a D&D game since the game is a unique experience to every gaming group.
I get his point, but I think there some roughly universal points that one could use as a framework for a D&D movie... For example, it is about a group of people with various abilities in a medieval fantasy world who work together to overcome obstacles like monsters and traps to get treasure. D&D doesn't have to be about a group of player characters cooperating to succeed, but the game works best that way. It also doesn't have to be set in a medieval fantasy world -- it could be the ancient world, or steampunk, or anything you can imagine -- but a medieval setting is most immediately recognizable. And it doesn't have to be about getting treasure -- but that is the most old school objective and also instantly recognizable as a classic element of the game.
A D&D TV series would definitely allow more individual character development which would be a bonus. You could also capture a lot of the common game experiences like players bickering or fighting with each other, coming up with crazy plans and then abandoning them, researching new spells with unexpected results, etc.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Jul 10, 2023 10:58:09 GMT -5
The kids were going back and forth about Spider-Man movies losing it and I chimed in that none of the post comic book continuity of the late 1990's, which the films are based, can match Marvel mentality for the first 25 years or so. You are never going to get the "What pile of goons are going to pop next?" feeling one month away that a comic gave you.
The same applies to D&D, its too big for Hollyweird thrill-makers to compute into film format.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Jul 10, 2023 12:17:03 GMT -5
My expectations for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES were low and it far exceeded them so I loved it for that. But... if I'm going to be critical, I'd prefer it to be more true to the classic D&D rules and monsters, and to be action with comedy rather than a comedy with action. Ultimately, if it doesn't feel dangerous with high stakes, it isn't true D&D... Leaning into comedy too much neutralizes that.
Speaking of Spider-Man... Yeah, I'd love to see a character who makes funny comments in the face of truly dangerous threats. That's the sort of comedy I like in action movies, but not to make everything that is supposed to be dangerous a joke (obese dragon, intellect devourers, etc.)!
|
|