Dan Discusses Dungeons & Dragons (With Brandon) - Ep. 97 of Intentionally Blank

[@jadethethief]

I love Xenk the Paladin because he's basically that moment when a DM knows they're sending the players into a dungeon with enemies that will be too strong for them, so they introduce a super powerful ally character who dumps a bunch of exposition, advises characters on their personal growth, does most of the fighting, saves them from moments that should have killed them, and then walks off to do something after the dungeon's complete.

[@FriscoFlame]

I did not put that connection together, but you are absolutely right.

[@roseNthorn]

He was a total gigachad. We loved him!

[@AngelaCSpears]

Good point!

[@cabie58]

Was originally Drizz’t in that role

[@artloveranimation]

About the scene that is practically the exact same as Avengers' "we have a Hulk-smash smash smash" scene, I bet the players at the table were quoting it as it happened because that is definitely something that happens when playing D&D.

[@ttt5020]

Yes! References are definitely used as verbs in DnD games. “I go full spiderman 2 to stop the wagon like he stops the train” for example

[@fenrirlives2226]

I think Brando and Dando misunderstood one thing about Simon: he's a sorcerer, not a Wizard, which changes the context of his whole character.
Sorcerers have magic via bloodline, which usually leads to instability and flawed use of their power (think Nynaeve from the WoT Books) in exchange for Metamagic, which generally gives them a greater level of firepower than other casters. The fact that Simon is apparently a Wild Magic Sorcerer means he's even more unstable than average (though it barely comes up in the film).
His vision in the helmet is about his bloodline, the idea that his sorcerer abilities come from a powerful ancestor and that he is unworthy of the power he wields, since he didn't learn it like a wizard or artificer, didn't bargain for it like a warlock, and didn't earn it like a Cleric or Druid.
His actions within the vision are supposed to be him self actualizing and taking ownership of his power; no longer cowering from the bloodline that overshadowed him. Good talk nonetheless!

[@CrapE_DM]

I know, right?! You'd think they'd be nerdy enough to notice that.

[@Envy_Dragon]

I love the detail that Simon is a Sorcerer, because they're Charisma casters and the character (not the actor!) is far from charismatic. It makes that entire arc feel so true to the source material.
(Level 17 though??? heck no)

[@NotYourCitizenAnymore]

This is a very well organized thought on a point I think many have missed in their evaluation of Simon! Good stuff!

[@4videovideo]

The problem is still that it's just "I can't do it, I can't do it, now suddenly I can!" There is nothing there that shows how he self-actualized. Like, why is he no cowering now, at this moment?

[@TheSwindle123]

This is true. Also I think they might have confused Bigby’s Hand (5th level spell) with Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp (2nd level spell) which Simon uses at the end of the movie (although his stat sheet does have the former and not the latter). So he seems to pull from a lower level spell pool although I believe the highest level spell he used may have been reverse gravity (7th level spell) which isn’t on his stat sheet either

[@zigorously]

The directors have actually said that each character represents a different kind of player as well: Edgin (the bard) is the casual player who doesn't feel like learning all the rules and abilities of the game, so while he probably DOES have spells he just never looks at his sheet to see what he can do 😂

[@robbhays8077]

The writers clearly knew DnD really well.

[@ryanerickson3063]

There needs to be a movie with Hugh Grant and Jeff Goldblum being odd conniving characters together

[@zacharyflint7901]

Opposing odd and conniving old men

[@ReadingAde]

Would be so much mumbling but I’d love it 😆

[@viola_case]

Road to El Dorado would be good in this format

[@SarcasmFiend23]

There’s a missed opportunity for a name here: Dan-geons and Brand-gons.

[@devonwilliams9576]

In regards to the rules of D&D, the directors said any time they decided to "break" the rules, it was a deliberate choice in order to accommodate the visual medium and/or to enhance the story

[@kaimcdragonfist4803]

Definite case of Rule of Cool, which as a DM and as a player, I approve

[@sampew1605]

I looked at it the same way as Dan. The plot holes did feel like things my DMs had to do when their plans went awry.
I’m glad you both liked it enough to talk about it here.

[@nikkyd9850]

Chonky dragon was amazing. My 16 yr old son also lost it.

[@hkfifty871]

I don’t believe it! Not only are Dan and Brandon discussing a CURRENT movie, it’s also a current movie that I have actually seen! (It’s usually somewhere from six months to two years after something comes out that I get around to actually watching it, so I normally skip these episodes and just come back to them later). I’ve never actually been ready for one of these.
Actually, now that I think about it, I REALLY don’t believe it. Dan likes something enjoyable, and Brandon went out to a normal theater… Clearly Dan and Brandon have been replaced by imposters.
Side note- my head canon for them finding the portal gun thingy was the moment where the players start pouring through their player sheets to find anything they might have forgotten about that could help them because they’ve just screwed up and have no idea how to overcome this obstacle. And then there’s the moment of someone going “oh wait, I totally forgot I had (insert magic item).”

[@ladrac198]

I went to see this movie over the weekend and it was super fun!! Kinda predictable, but that's ok. They knew they just wanted a fun fantasy adventure movie and that's exactly what they gave us. It looked really good too!

[@peaceofcrap]

Dan thank you for confirming for me that was a Bradley Cooper cameo. I thought I was going crazy because my friend I saw it with didn't see it through the make up.

[@KerahsChannel]

My question is, what is it with Bradley Cooper playing small characters? First Rocket and now the small guy 😂

[@peaceofcrap]

@@KerahsChannel He must just be intensely curious about the Short King experience.

[@robertdullnig3625]

If I'm right, this is the first one recorded since the Wired article, making Brando's Hugh Jackman shirt a major own.

[@robbybevard8034]

Oh wow that makes the episode 10 times better.

[@markbrosinsky5230]

I would love to see Dan or Brandon (or both?) Write a forgotten realms novel or series of novels. I loved the forgotten realms as a kid, still do. But would be an interesting project.

[@Duiker36]

I like the idea that Brandon and Dan would say, "Yeah, the Cosmere is pretty nice, but where it's really at is Forgotten Realms."

[@kich8672]

I would say that it was an intelligent choice to not have the Bard, Druid, and Paladin to not have spells. From a general audience perspective and an effort to make each character stand out and be unique, it would make the Sorcerer feel less unique in the party if basically everyone had magic.

[@deathhimself1653]

Even a little bit of buff magic or some sort of bardic inspiration stuff (which did sorta kinda happen a few spots but could have benefited from a magic glow) might have been neat. Though I think i agree there. Mayhaps the bard should have had some more rogue skills though. Give them some use, since the "bards are useless" joke really only went as far as 3.5
They're the strongest class in 5e in my experience. Far more spells known than a sorceror, get the best spells, d8 hit die, good extra abilities, etc...

[@ttt5020]

@@deathhimself1653 Honestly he was more of a Mastermind Rogue with high Cha and Lute prof than a true bard

[@MeemBeen]

The Druid almost cast once but she had the magic suppressor bracelet on.

[@ttt5020]

@@MeemBeen No, her arms began to turn into wings and the bracelet stopped her. She was still trying to wildshape.

[@meganhirschi6248]

Late reply because I just got to the film, but he definitely cast calm emotions on the barbarian.

[@brandontaylor3252]

It felt more like a blockbuster from the 90s/early 2000s in that it's a comedic movie but it takes itself seriously. It had a certain heart than I think the Marvel films lost a long time ago but manage to still hit from time to time with the shows.

[@noone-ld7pt]

Oh wow, you thought it took itself too seriously? I personally came out thinking the exact opposite. I was so happy they leaned into the absurdity of the world with things like the arbitrary spell limitations, the overly self-righteous paladin, the fat dragon, the interspecies relationships etc.
To me that was what made it a D&D movie and not just a generic fantasy movie, and it kinda felt reminiscent of all the times at the table when we've made fun of the hilarious in-game logic.

[@erictheriault8386]

Having already seen this movie 3 times, I am immune to spoilers.

[@jennytr5056]

I loved the tiefling character, because she's the character you get when my 14 year old niece joins us at the table for the first time.

[@ImJustMikayla]

I love the idea that the bard is using 'magic'. He does things like inspiration, inspiring words and such. I don't feel those need a 'magical effect appearance' or something. He does a lot of what Bards can do, but without it blatantly looking magical. Someone is down, he sings and inspires them, etc.

[@devonwilliams9576]

Regarding the Bard and druid not casting spells, the directors decided to go that way because letting only Simon be the magic user was better for the story, and also they didn't want magic to be the easy way out for every aspect

[@seansuprem]

Brandon wearing a Hugh Jackman shirt a sneaky dig at the Wired article?

[@lincolncothran]

Haha I hope so

[@CHRNESFWE]

***SPOILER WARNING***
First off, I’ve never played DND, so I might be completely wrong here, but I thought that the reason the citizens were able to escape from the red mist was because, in the flashback, we see a lot of red wizards holding what appeared to be a forcefield around the perimeter? Then, the one at the climax was just counting on people being trapped in the colosseum. Doesn’t stop the plan from being stupid, but I took that as the reason why everyone was able to escape.

[@robertdullnig3625]

I was generally pretty confused on what the circumstances for the whole thing were supposed to be. Like could she have just done it on a busy city square on market day?

[@ttt5020]

@@robertdullnig3625 people would run from it then. I think the idea was that they would stay during the high games, thinking it was part of the show

[@Parmandur]

The main character Monster stat blocks are CR 5, which means they are roughly Level 9. The Loch woman is CR 15.

[@AngelaCSpears]

The barbarian of the main group reminded me of Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender, but a little more serious. Her arc was really the most complete and enjoyable one of the film. It's nice to hear that you caught the nod to the cartoon, too! It was so fun. While the plot was a little light, it was the perfect popcorn movie. With things being stressful in the real world people are looking for less angst and grit and wanting more fun romps that don't go so deep.

[@matt-lang]

The bridge scene was basically going through the “ah shoot, guys what do you have in your inventories” and finally identifying those random magic items that you forgot to earlier.
It’s surprisingly common in games I’ve played. Also often the DM (me) will give innocent-looking magic objects to non-magical players (barbarians) that then forget to ever have the wizard check it, until someone else notices it while they are selling objects at a store.

[@A.Campbell]

My favorite part was seeing the cameo of the D&D cartoon characters

[@Yazeed99]

This is my first episode I'm listening to after binging all the previous episodes, this podcast is becoming a favorite :)

[@ryanjanssen6221]

Thanks for the podcast guys you help make work a little easier anywho
As a D&D player for the last 10 years I just wanna say I was pleasantly surprised with how seemless the dialogue worked in story contextually but also was super meta and I could see players PLAYING D&D saying the same exact thing.
I also thought it was just freaking hilarious and I desperately hope there are squeals.
Maybe with a little Sanderson/Wells script doctoring to boot!

[@PrettyGuardian]

Loved listening to you two share your thoughts. It's interesting how so many people can like this movie but also have a completely different perspective on it.

[@rainhunter5546]

I've been telling my friends that this movie really *really* feels like a D&D game, occasionally to its own detriment, and the hither thither staff is a prime example of that.
On the subject of the tablet, that one actually did surprise me, because what I thought they were doing with it was that Forge had lied to them at the very beginning and it really was a tablet of riches

[@TheVampireAzriel]

The Thane guy was more like Drax in his literal perception of speech

[@KerahsChannel]

It's my Intentionally Blank catch up day.
We saw the 2000s D&D movie in the theater, and I'm so so happy this version succeeded where that one seemed to fail. I absolutely see them doing another one and I am HERE for it. I don't really play, but I knew enough before and my son plays now as well to really appreciate all of the Easter eggs and locations. Movies and shows that succeed like this makes my heart happy and I'm excited to see other adaptions that get green-lit because of it.

[@adamscottv]

The Paladin was the best character, IMHO ... loved what they did there.

[@candidwings5609]

I loved seeing the use of practical effects and landscapes. I adored seeing a light-hearted tone in a fantasy movie. Solid acting. It was good fun, and it will be one of my favorite feel-good, comfort films as soon as I can get my own copy of it.
I did wish the villains were more capable, but they were sufficiently vile that I still enjoyed watching them be defeated.

[@itsfuckinamrit]

Having just watched Stranger Things season four this week for the first time, I am delighted seeing Dan wearing a Hellfire Club t shirt on the dungeons and dragons episode :’)

[@ama_goto]

Oh no! Intentionally Blank comes out and I can only watch 7 minutes of it bc of spoilers?? I have to go see this movie immediately!

[@TheLordofMetroids]

Ironically I thought the film followed the rules about as well as the Vox Machina show did, which is hilarious as we have you know, seen the campaign that one is based on.

[@lyonowens]

The red fog needs an initial number of sacrifices to get going to spread to the rest of the country.

[@Wonderwall627]

Brandon is a wizard of words.

[@MrDKH]

@11:40 The Druid cast magic stone, it's represented by their sling shot.

[@ShelahirKrynn]

The scene about igniting the dragon's breath made sense to me because I'm probably one of the few people who watched the old cartoon "Flight of Dragons". The movie does a good job at explaining that basically the way dragons create fire is by igniting exhaled gas that was created in their stomachs. Ever since I was a kid that was the only explanation to fire-breathing dragons that I've accepted XD

[@Unalochy]

I'm gonna go see it this weekend so I will be right back to watch this in full very soon

[@zhoradaiyu5184]

Just saw the movie in theater with my dad and we loved it!

[@elijahanonymous4596]

Could you discuss the new Puss in Boots? Love that movie

[@Dragonfang384]

12:50 This is exactly what I've been saying. Seeing the money pour out of Hugh Grant's balloon mouth was very funny, but I can't see how the money caused the colosseum to clear out any faster than the imminent death spell.

[@cregkly5444]

That was the plan the players came up with and the DM just had to roll with it.

[@BelgarathTAO]

One of my issues with the mini heist of getting the portal on the wagon, is why didn't she just wildshape into the fly holding the portal, then fly it in and then fly back out. It felt needlessly complicated and was just there for the cool factor.

[@koltonkulis4763]

Running away from a fight may happen more frequently then you think depending on player psychology. My group was exploring and discovered a dragon was in the area. We had a five player party. Three wanted to fight it (including me) and two were adamantly opposed. We slew the dragon but my ranger died. From the perspective of us three, we thought the fight was awesome and super memorable. My character sacrificed himself, completed his arc, and said some iconic last words. The two other players were livid that we risked our characters and stopped playing D&D with us.
If those two were playing a game together, I could totally see them running from any encounters they didn't consider balanced.

[@masonwheeler6536]

Things that stood out to me:
* Wild Shape does not work that way. (As discussed in the episode.)
* Attunement also does not work that way. You take a magic item, spend half an hour meditating, and it attunes; it's not instantaneous and it's not some sort of test of worthiness.
* The paladin was easily the best character, and he should have stayed in the party.
* The Hither-Thither Staff was definitely that one moment when a player does something dumb, makes the goal impossible to complete, and then the DM goes, "uhh, umm... that staff you have? That's not just an ordinary walking stick; it's totally a Fantasy Portal Gun and always was one; you just never noticed until right this moment. Yeah, that's definitely what it was all along." (Also discussed in the episode.)
* Needed more dragons. This _really_ needed more dragons. For all its faults, at least the 2000 movie delivered the dragons. (Also discussed in the episode.)
Dan: "I think if I had to describe myself as a D&D class, it would be Bard, but when I _play_ D&D I'm usually a Ranger.
I'm reminded of the Dresden Files, where actual wizard Harry Dresden tends to play the big, dumb Barbarian at his local gaming group.
Brandon: "The Rogue who convinces everyone he's a Wizard."
Ha! That was me in my first-ever D&D campaign. It didn't last all that long, so I didn't have as many opportunities as I'd have liked to play with the character possibilities, but it was fun messing with everyone pretending to be a not-too-competent wizard while secretly trying to put a real plan into action.

[@zenthepoet.]

Adoooonalsium

[@mndrew1]

It felt to me less like a tabletop D&D game than one of the old school SSI Gold box CRPG's; which was perfectly fine by me.

[@kacperdrabikowski5074]

I must say, all discussion about the movie aside (watched it! Great thing, got a couple friends to try Icespire), I dig Brandon and Dan reminiscening about their families and friendships.

[@Parmandur]

The palace complex heist in Neverwinter is a Dungeon

[@coolbrotherf127]

I saw it recently with my family and I enjoyed it. It was a fun movie without being too silly. I'm not into D&D really, but I did know enough about it to recognize a lot of the references. For a movie adaptation, I had no issue with them bending the rules to make the movie more cinematic. I think most people would understand that a movie version of D&D wouldn't perfectly be emulated in a movie marketed mostly to mainstream audiences.

[@yellowmartian]

I loved the movie. I will buy it on bluray. I hope paramount does a Drizzt tv show and actually give it a decent budget. 8-10 45-minute episodes would make for a good season.

[@popcorn908]

This is the review I was waiting for🎉!

[@NicolasVanOost]

Would love to see an oneshot with you guys! Brandon can still sing though the session if that is more likely to make it possible.

[@jordanneal576]

I started reading the Drizzt books in college and so I've read 35 books in the Forgotten Realms, plus I've played Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 and Icewind Dale. So I've spent countless hours in Faerun. I would have liked to see a few more character references. Jarlaxle showing up would have been cool. Drizzt would have been too on the nose. Some kind of encounter with the drow or the illithid when they were in underdark would have been cool too.

[@PeteQuad]

Faerun is so huge I was actually glad they just used it as a backdrop instead of coincidentally running into the same characters everyone knows.

[@freyrgrimsson4607]

They had intellect devourers, which are minions of mind flayers.

[@jordanneal576]

@@PeteQuad I agree, but, I mean, the movie is in Neverwinter, which is just south of Luskan, which is ruled by Jarlaxle and Bregan D'aerthe (or at least was the last book I read, I'm a few books behind). They could have found an organic way to stick him in... probably.

[@roseNthorn]

Drizzt was supposed to be in it but they cut him out and did Zenk instead.

[@Drums_of_Liberation]

Just give me Minsc and the Immortal Space Hamster Boo in the sequel and I'll be happy.

[@sierranadine]

D&D with D&B 🤑

[@Pterrordon12]

I gave it about an 8.5. I saw the Mario movie a few days later and it made me want to watch the D&D movie a 2nd time.

[@dunidane5206]

I love the idea of Brandon playing on a steam deck

[@christina_1313]

I saw this movie last night, and while I was sad they nerved the bard so much, I really enjoyed it :D
The jokes and reverences landed really well I think ^^

[@midwestindigo1397]

I would have loved these two to brainstorm ideas of what they would do with a follow up or a sequel to the movie

[@UnPlayableGames]

My hope is that people would see this movie, be lured into the RPG hobby, realize that D&D does not allow them to (easily) play the experience presented by the movie, and then LOOK AROUND for alternatives, thus stumbling on the galaxy of non-D&D games that are designed to "just work" in a movie-like way 🤩

[@UvaroviteKing]

Wish the movie would have ended with the characters in normal clothes surrounding a table being all like "All right good session guys see you next week!"

[@christhewritingjester3164]

17:40 One could assume Simon used his gust spell that we have seen him use earlier in the movie.
And one could assume that they were used to seeing magic shows and that it was all part of the act, not that it had evil intent. Also people did get away from the smoke if there was enough of a warning, that's how our young paladin got away. Also, we see that becuase in the past the red wizards had to provide a barrier to keep people from running away.
My 2 cents.

[@anastasiyaivanova4665]

Funny watching this for the first time soon after having seen the rules for the updated 2024 Druid where wild shape is (almost) unlimited now that you can exchange spell slots for wild shape uses

[@christhewritingjester3164]

28:50 That is what my wife would do. The first time I was able to play, I DM'd my for two sons and they wanted mom to join to. She didn't get it, like it was a completely foreign concept, and said she would prefer a role playing game where everyone cleaned the house.

[@bmike3000]

Dan was 100% right when he said that xenk's comment to edgin about how there is still harbor in, there was about seeing history character. That was very clearly what the scene was trying to say. It had nothing to do with planning. Being a harper has nothing to do with planning. It was completely about the kind of a person that he was showing himself to be on the inside

[@thedanielhicks]

The way I saw the characters arc's were: Bard has a weakness of being useless. He overcomes this at the end when he stuns the evil wizard for a moment by hitting her with his lute. Barbarian has a weakness of being stupid. She overcomes this by devising the plan to get inside the vault. The sorcerer has a weakness of no confidence. He overcomes this with attuning to the helmet. The druid was the only one I couldn't notice a weakness and overcoming of it for.

[@cregkly5444]

The druid didn't belong anywhere and didn't trust anyone. She found a group she could trust and a become a part of.

[@thedanielhicks]

@@cregkly5444 Good analysis!

[@xXxNickWilsonxXx]

If you like those 80s cartoon references they did a whole online advertising campaign where they use it to talk them, owlbear wildshaping, and rule lawyering being called out

[@robbhays8077]

I had no problem understanding the fire ignition thing. The dragon was clearing sparking several times before that point.

[@spunlines4557]

4e druid had wildshape at will (as it should be). though 5e moon druid has wildshape as a bonus action, which is closer to what the movie appeared to be doing.

[@ChaosChainsaw]

I can't un-see this now, but the two different cameras makes Brandon look so much larger than Dan. Like Human and Hobbit size difference almost.

[@Jon-wq2ne]

Brandon write a D&D campaign please

[@sesshowmarumonoke]

Okay, just one correction: they are all lvl 5 (except for Sofina, who is lvl 15 and the paladin, who is lvl 10). I've seen their official sheets on DND Beyond. And they are NPCs/monsters, not playable characters, that is why they get to do things that players can do, bu actually their sheets are far simpler.

[@carlosroman7552]

now i want to hear dan singing flagpole sitta...

[@willowpackerthestoryteller135]

Loved it. 8/10 I'm with Brandon the villains needed work. They were both iconic sounding but needed more scene. We know Saphina is an evil servant of Szaz Tam, but we don't know why.

[@aerynmusick4548]

I’m conflicted to hear that it’s good because Wizards and Hasbro have done everything possible to NOT earn my business in the last year or so.

[@devonwilliams9576]

K, but the boycott worked, and if you want more stuff like this (good movies, in this case) then vote with your wallet to let them know this was a good thing on their part

[@aerynmusick4548]

@@devonwilliams9576 the boycott worked for D&D and OGL maybe but that is by no means the end of my issues with the company.

[@devonwilliams9576]

@@aerynmusick4548 that's fair, but imo if you think this is a good thing from them, then you should reward the good and punish the bad

[@Vardisk]

Saying the characters are level 17, because they have 17d in their hit point calculation, is something that really only followed in earlier editions. More importantly, the characters have a listed Challenge Rating of 5. And while Challenge Rating in a stat block isn't a perfect stand in for level, it means that a party of four level 5 adventurers would have minimal issues taking down one of the characters - that certainly isn't true of a level 17, which would wipe the floor with a party of level 5s. Realistically, they are likely somewhere below level 10, with a host of special abilities/traits that make them more durable than usual.
Plus, this is a classic "Save the Kingdom" adventure, which is pretty standard tier 2 adventure, appropriate for characters levels 5 to 10.

[@hawkname1234]

Had to turn off to avoid spoilers! Thanks for the heads up!

[@michaelgustin1471]

Wild Shape:. The DM is in charge.
If thats the way it should be.
Then It can be.
(I run Druids this week way on all future games.
Scalable of course.

[@Michigan1B22]

I wish it would've been more like Princess Bride, cutting back and forth between the game world and the table. Missed opportunity in my opinion, to show how the game at the table is played and how it transfers to our imaginations as a real thing with characters we care about

[@MrJimeih]

The player character classes are just one expression of how progression can work in D&D. It's not necessarily how every character must be.

[@stone7858]

@AdamHorne @Dragonsteel @Kellyn some livestream feedback: I feel you guys should have a better system of checking the questions before asking them. Someone should make sure the list is ready about 30 min before the stream starts. Adam can then just read, not having to pick questions “live”. If you want you can maybe add in questions from the chat. Make sure there is a variety of questions, not just the same question multiple times in different ways. And this way you could also balance in questions for the guest.
Also filter out questions that are outside the scope you have asked for. When you ask for questions on Reddit, make sure to clearly identify the scope for both the first hour and the second. For example, say that questions about other stories won’t be asked (if that is what you guys want)
Maybe also try reducing the amount of really silly tangents that “steal” precious time from the spoiler part of the stream. Keep that to the first hour. Typically MTG tangents, and the part where the forger guy talked about the Taynix (would have been great first hour). A lot of Europeans stay up until three/four at night because we want “the good stuff”. Part of the reason we come back again and again. Can’t help feeling it was a little in vain this time. This is just feedback not actual criticism. You guys are great! Thank you so much for all that you do!!

[@davidarmstrong3302]

Check the new OneDND rules- the movie complies closer with that than the PHB.

[@Osyrous]

Amazon's The Wheel of time season 1 did that for me.

[@marionpoliquin5102]

I totally expected that the mother would be brought back to life because in D&D resurrection is entirely accepted and expected. But then I remembered that PCs never use resources to bring back NPCs unless they have an immediate use for them.

[@andrewberenson5717]

I agree with Brandon. The original D&D movie is a guilty pleasure.

[@wolfsongbymoonlight]

I know it bothers people in certain fields how that field is dramatized and fictionalized in TV/movies (police, spy agencies, lawyers, etc.). Imagine your field being storytelling and having that niggling "that's wrong/it doesn't/shouldn't work that way" feeling for ALL the TV/movies. Or knowing all the plot beats instantly because that's just how storytelling works.

[@mystical_charlatan]

I thought the DnD movie was fine, but I think it could have been quite a bit better given its inspiration

[@CranGrapeish]

I read the Doric prequel novel before seeing the film so my favorite thing was Doric not knowing who Simon was in the movie.

[@GeneSimonalle]

+1 for the Ranger class!!! 🤠⚔❤

[@richardjfinn13]

Oh, and pretty sure Simon was called a sorcerer many times, which was synonymous with a wizard in 1st and 2nd edition, but obviously different classes now. (D&D beyond stat block does list him as a sorcerer - they apparently retcon’d Elminster into a sorcerer in the movie unlike all the books

[@Melancholy_Scholar]

They actually addressed that, in his first attempt to attune to the helmet the vision of Elminster called him a "sorcerer, descended from wizards"

[@CapePlaysGames]

The only rule they needed was the “Rule of Cool”.

[@nocturne3008]

scatterplot lol, me too. XD

[@robbhays8077]

It was a really good movie, which, by modern standards, makes it a great movie.

[@zackjohnson8632]

A DDDDDDDOLFIN GYMMMMMNASIUM

[@CrapE_DM]

I feel like you missed a small thing with Simon's arc. Simon didn't say he had to defeat himself; he said he was the one holding himself back all along. I feel like that line could MAYBE be interpreted different ways, but the only really logical way to apply it in the movie is that his lack of confidence and/or determination was the problem all along. 1) Edgin had been saying it all along 2) The way he finally defeated his shadow self wasn't the fact that he beat him up, it was that he stopped caring that he "wasn't good enough".
The reason that he'd been capable all along in stressful situations is because his fear overrode his lack of confidence.

[@bholl6546]

In my game running is a valid strategy. Then again I play Basic/Expert.

[@bradleyhurley6755]

Just to point out, in 5e monster stats (which is what the movie characters stat sheets are) don't correlate to PC levels.