Class Showcase: Fighters

It’s week five of my Class Showcase series, where I take a class from D&D and give three examples from popular culture. This week: Fighters.

#3 Inigo Montoya (The Princess Bride)

It’s important to note that there are many different kinds of fighters in the D&D world, just as there are in pop-culture. In D&D, Inigo would be classified as a finesse fighter. He’s a fencer and has dedicated his life to the study of swordplay all in an effort to avenge his murdered father. Also, near the end of the movie after he is horribly wounded and then he gets back to his feet and continues to fight, that is the best example of a ‘second wind’ I’ve ever witnessed. His sword and his vengeance are his life and I’m sure that he has been the template for many characters (both PC and NPC) over the years. “You killed my father, prepare to die!”  

#2 Brienne of Tarth (Game of Thrones)

A second example of a fighter is the Knight and while there are many male examples available in pop culture, only one female promptly pops into my head: Brienne. In the books, as with the HBO series, Brienne is a highborn lady who has forsaken her feminine heritage and has re-forged herself into a knight of the highest caliber, male or female. Even though she is repeatedly forced into difficult choices and situations, she always manages to escape them with her honor and morals intact. She even manages to fight toe-to-toe with some of the most dangerous male fighters in the Game of Thrones series and, in most cases, she proves that she is the better.     

#1 Bruce Lee (Enter the Dragon, etc.)

Bruce Lee is an excellent example of both a martial artist and a street fighter. And I humbly submit that no one has yet to impress me in either of these areas like him. While I could site his speed, or strength from such a small frame, or his accuracy, for me personally it is his passion for his skills that impress me the most. It is a real treat to watch Mr. Lee at work and it is exactly his level of skill I expect from a high level D&D hero.    

5 PC/Console Games That Inspire My D&D

As a DM and a writer of many original campaigns, I draw inspiration from a multitude of sources. I have taken adventure ideas from books, events in world history, theatre, movies, anime, and even other games. In this week’s article, I want to drill down a bit deeper into one of these sources and I have decided to share with you my top five games that have inspired me and have influenced the way I play D&D. This is not to say that all of my D&D sessions look or feel like any of these games; however, they have played large roles in how I shape my plots and how many of my campaigns unfold.

Here they are in no particular order:

1.       World of Warcraft (PC)

I, like many people, got sucked into Warcraft when it was still a strategy/building game. However, when it was released as an MMORPG in 2004, not only did the game change itself but it powered a revolution in the whole gaming industry that is still happening more than ten years later. As far as D&D goes, I think most of us would agree that this game, along with many others that followed it, is mostly responsible for the changes we saw in 4^th Edition. The 4^th Edition designers saw huge potential in tapping into a new generation of gamers who were eating up WoW. Unfortunately, in their enthusiasm for change, they also managed to alienate many of their long-term customers who found the new system too combative and unfriendly to roleplaying. However, with all of this being said, I still find WoW a great resource for my D&D games. It has an epic feel to it, especially inside of the dungeons and upper level instances, that I like to emulate; it has an enormous wealth of interesting characters and NPCs to draw inspiration from; and it also demonstrates a great deal of humor and inside jokes that I feel is important to include in my D&D adventures as these break up the tension and remind players that having fun is still one of the main reasons why we play.       

2.       Dragon Warrior/Quest IV (NES)

WAY back in 1992, the Cold War officially came to an end, LA experienced the Rodney King riots, Bill Clinton was voted into office, and one of my favorite games of all time was released: Dragon Warrior IV (Dragon Quest IV in Japan and many other countries). What made this game different from the previous three Dragon Warrior/Quest games was the ability to play multiple characters in their own individual quests and eventually link them all together as one group for the epic quest to end of the game. It was, in my opinion, the very first time any console game had even come close to achieving a D&D like atmosphere and it still influences me in many ways today. Although I don’t feel like it is necessary in every campaign that I DM, it is very nice to often give each individual PC in my games personal goals that they can achieve to coincide with the larger goals that the party is working toward. Intertwining all of these story lines and aspirations is simultaneously one of the most difficult and most rewarding challenges a DM can face.   

3.       Sid Meier’s Pirates! (PC)

Originally released for PC in 1987, I didn’t stumble upon this gem until the 1994 re-release on CD. Essentially, you begin the game as a humble sailor who finds himself (sorry, no female characters ladies) elected to be captain of small sloop after a mutiny. Once you are in control of the ship and crew, what you do, where you go, and who you fight for/against are completely in your hands. The game is very open ended and only comes to a conclusion once your character reaches an age considered to be too old to go on swashing buckles (often around the late forties if you've taken good care of yourself). From a D&D perspective, this game inspired me with the idea that while sword fighting, gaining wealth, and taking down other pirates (i.e. bosses) can be fun, it’s just as important to keep your eyes on the side quests and back stories of characters. In Pirates!, the main character can engage in several side-missions that increase his rank and fame/infamy, grant him titles and lands, help him discover hidden treasure hordes, and allow him to track down a few lost family members. All of which can change how he “feels” about his retirement at the end of play which is displayed as an epilogue. As a DM, the epilogue is something I try to include at the end of all my campaigns and I try to give each character a little story about where they end up and how their lives turn out based on what they accomplished, or didn’t accomplish, during the campaign.            

4.       The Legend of Zelda Series (Various Nintendo)

Excluding Mario, there is no other Nintendo game franchise in history that has been so influential and so popular. Rather you experienced the original and the sequel in the 80’s, A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time in the 90’s, or countless other renditions since, roleplaying Link has become a rite of passage for many console gamers. And, in comparison to D&D, The Legend of Zelda has a lot of carry-over. You live and die on hit points (a.k.a. hearts); you can collect items, learn spells, and wear armor; dungeons abound and are filled with beasts, traps, and treasure; and you fight a myriad of monsters and bosses in a grand effort to save the world. Also, many of the conventions that drive D&D are present in the Zelda games such as gaining new fighting techniques, solving riddles/puzzles, looking for hidden doors/passages, and exploring exotic locations. In retrospect, one of the big lessons I’ve learned from the Zelda games that carry over into my D&D games is the idea that dungeons should be unique from one another and having a theme for each dungeon is an excellent way to get players interested in them.

5.       Dragon Age Series (PC)

I love the Dragon Age games for two main reasons: 1) They are produced here in Canada; and 2) They are relentlessly brutal. Since Dragon Age: Origins was released in 2009, this series has won several awards including PC Game of the Year 2009 and has sold more than five million units. A third major installment, Dragon Age: Inquisition, is due to arrive roughly a month from the time of this writing. As previously mentioned, these games are known for their bloody, gore-filled battle scenes and I’ve noticed that my own battle scenes in D&D have changed to emulate them over the past few years. I think anyone who spends a few hours hacking away at monsters in Dragon Age will rapidly develop a greater appreciation for combat in D&D.

What other games have I missed? What games have inspired you? Please feel free to comment.

Class Showcase: Druids

It’s week four of my Class Showcase series, where I take a class from D&D and give three examples from popular culture. This week: Druids.

#3 Beorn (The Hobbit)

For those people who have read the book, as opposed to watching the Peter Jackson movies, the character of Beorn provides the heroes with much needed help and shelter during their perilous journey to the Lonely Mountain. He is described by Tolkien as a shape-shifter and is descended from a race of men who all had the ability. He also raises animals at his homestead but it is specifically written that they are not for the purposes of food. Within the book itself, his encounter with the heroes of the story convince him that he must shake off his hermit lifestyle and join the fight against the growing evil.

#2 E.T. (E.T. The Extra Terrestrial)

I realize that some of you might be saying, “E.T. can’t be a Druid!”, well hear me out. According to extra material written for the movie and the “E.T. Adventure” ride, Stephen Spielberg describes E.T. and his fellow aliens as botanists from a distant solar system looking for help in healing their planet from a deadly disease. During the course of their experiments on earth, E.T. gets accidentally left behind and is eventually taken in by a young boy named Elliott. While he makes attempts to contact his race and be rescued, we discover that he has access to several abilities including: empathic-link, levitation, plant regeneration, and animal regeneration. He even displays the ability to create deep connections with animals, which unfortunately from his perspective would be with us humans. All of that sounds a lot like a Druid to me.     

#1 Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy 2014 Film)

I know, I know, two aliens in the same week. But maybe pop culture is trying to tell us earthlings that we need to smarten up where caring for nature and the environment is concerned because it obviously means something to the other more “mature” races of the galaxy. Anyhow, Groot himself exhibits more Druid-like powers than any other film character I have ever witnessed. He has the ability to shape-shift, he can regenerate, he can create “magical” effects (such as the light spores), and he is also quite adept at befriending animals (sorry if that insults you Rocket). In fact, it wouldn't be all that difficult to recreate Groot as a D&D character as long as your DM would be willing to allow Trents as a playable race. 

4 Topics I Avoid in D&D

As a DM, there has been more than a few times in my career when I’ve thought to myself, maybe I shouldn’t go there. Often, these times involve topics or story arcs that are controversial in real life and the idea of turning D&D into my own personal soapbox for whatever moral or political views I may have is very distasteful. Further, I feel that using D&D for the purposes of allegory or metaphor is a very poor distraction from what should otherwise be a fun, exciting story. On some level, I’d like to think that Tolkien and I share the same philosophy on this subject. (See Here)

With that in mind, what follows are four examples of topics that may rear their ugly heads in D&D and why I personally think they should be avoided if possible.

1.       Rape

In my mind, rape is a bit too much for a D&D story. I know it happens in real life more often than many of us would like to admit and I also know that it has been a powerful story point for writers, playwrights, and screenwriters for generations. But somehow, as someone who has known and been friends with more than one rape/sexual abuse victim, I have a hard time imagining a D&D storyline where it becomes justified or is depicted in an acceptable way. Practically, the DM can only introduce a rape situation to the story in one of three ways: #1) A PC or PCs are the rapists; #2) A PC or PCs are raped; or #3) A PC or PCs witness a rape. As for #1, if your DM allows you or one of the other players in your group to rape someone or something in your game, I seriously want you to get up and leave. This is unacceptable. It serves no purpose other than a sick kind of self-indulgence. Do yourself and the other people involved a favor and walk out. As for #2, even though this could be done with careful planning and the prior consent of the player, it still seems unnecessary to me in a D&D setting. I want to you think about what you’re doing and saying for a moment and then think about whether you would feel so confident about it if a rape victim was present in the room listening in. It’s the same kind of thing when guys make sexist comments about women when they’re not around but then shut their mouths when the women show up. As for #3, this seems like the only acceptable scenario, in my opinion, where the idea of rape can be introduced to the game. And even in this case, only just long enough for the PC or PCs to do something to stop it. Long story short, rape is a horrible reality for some people and giving it life in D&D can be terribly disrespectful.

  

2.       Torture

Let’s be honest, torture is one of those things that has slowly found its way into mainstream culture over the past few years. We see it on television and in movies; we read about it in books; it gets made into jokes; and many of our governments have even endorsed it from time to time as an acceptable intelligence gathering option. In fact, I’ll wager that if you watch any news program in the world three nights in a row, torture will get mentioned at least once. We don’t even bat an eyelash anymore. So why, if this topic is so common, should it not come up in D&D? Because, in my opinion, we should be setting a better example. Just like the rape topic, it is very disrespectful to play with pretend torture when real people are enduring it every day. PCs should not be engaged in it, DMs should not be subjecting their players to it, and any references to torture should be done with care and by necessity only.        

3.       Slavery

In the past, I have used this topic as a story arc for many of my PCs. Starting an adventure as a slave is a very common beginning for many DMs. It’s also not uncommon for the PCs to be sold or abducted into slavery at critical points in a story. Slavery seems to be a universally accepted low point in which heroes can rise. I’ve also never heard a PC object to the idea of being a slave. Fair enough. However, my issue occurs when a PC decides that they want to purchase/own a slave. Thankfully, this has only happened once in my personal experience and I quickly made the price range unacceptable to the PC and they lost interest. I’m sure that the PC in question had no idea how despicable their request really was. They had asked about it on a whim and I believe that if they had put just five minutes of thought into it they would have been quite embarrassed. Even if I had been inclined to allow such a transaction to take place, what would have been the point? Someone to shine your armor and cook your meals or maybe someone to boss around and degrade? If you really want that, you can always go the henchman or underling route. You don’t need to bring all of the baggage of slavery into the game. Again, it’s about respect and it’s about setting a higher standard.     

4.       Sexuality   

This would be the whole issue of including lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgendered characters into the adventure, whether they be PCs or NPCs. I believe that many DMs, myself included, haven’t delved intothis content in their games simply because they don’t feel qualified to do so accurately. But I am, and every DM should be, very aware that including these characters into the game can also make them easy targets for jokes and ridicule, which is something no one should abide. Overall, my instincts tell me that unless you have a mature and understanding group of people around your table, this is another topic best left to the sidelines. Forcing players to confront sexuality (whether it be their own or someone else’s) when they are not expecting it or unable to deal with it in a controlled manner, is asking for trouble. Firstly, you don’t want to offend anyone taking the time to play your game; and secondly, you don’t want your D&D night to degrade into a “bashing” session where people may say things they can’t take back.

The most important thing I can say is this: D&D is a game designed to be fantasy entertainment. Yes, it can handle “the big issues” if necessary; however, if you feel the need to get a point across or make your argument on any of these or other socially-charged issues, you might want to consider a different avenue. Talking to others and having discussions about these issues is a good thing and should be encouraged; however, roleplaying is considered by many to be a venue where one can go for a little mental escape from the real world. Therefore, dragging the real world into your D&D game with these polarizing issues might be a false step.  

Class Showcase: Clerics

It’s week three of my Class Showcase series, where I take a class from D&D and give three examples from popular culture. This week: Clerics.

#3 Leo Wyatt (Charmed)

Once upon a time, there was a show called Charmed. It centered around three sisters, and eventually a half-sister, who all discover that they are descended from a long-line of witches and can manifest various powers.  Although it was very popular at the time, it seems to have taken a back seat in recent years to more “mature shows”. Regardless, one of the supporting characters in Charmed was Leo Wyatt. During his mortal life he was a medic in WWII. Unfortunately, that is also where he died. However, he was eventually brought back in a kind of angelic form to be a Whitelighter, which is a guardian that protects the innocent and heals those in need. He saves countless lives over the eight year run of the show and eventually fathers the boy who will one day grow up to be the “chosen one”. Not too shabby.    

#2 Melisandre, a.k.a The Red Woman (Game of Thrones)

Here’s a bit of information you should already know: Not all clerics are of good alignment! Such is most definitely the case with The Red Woman. In the books, as with the television series, Melisandre is a bit of a mystery. She has confidence, intelligence, cunning, and an undisputable power to command the supernatural. All of this while also proclaiming unshakable faith to her “Lord of Light” and encouraging others to do the same. However, her true motives and end goals are anyone’s guess.     

#1 Sheppard Book (Firefly)

There is not a single character on the show Firefly that is not interesting on multiple levels. In the case of Sheppard Book, he is not only a man of faith, but also a man with a very mysterious past. He begins the series as a simple Sheppard (similar to a reverend or priest) joining the crew of Serenity as a kind of moral compass for the others to cling to and bounce ideas off. However, as the show progresses, we begin to learn that Book had some kind of military training in his youth and is able to call in a favor or two from the highest levels of government when the need is great. Want to learn more? So do a lot of us.

What kind of Dungeon Master are you?

So have you ever been told in the past that you’re a hard DM? Have you ever been told that when you DM you’re a soft-touch or don’t lay down the law enough? Never heard either of these critiques? Well here’s a little quiz you can take to find out just where you fall on the DM scale. Write down your answers for the calculator at the end and please do your best to answer honestly. After all, lying to yourself is the first step towards total insanity.  

Q1 -  When making a character a player comes to you and asks if they can re-roll their ability scores after rolling really poorly the first time. What do you do?

A)     I say no. The rules are the rules.

B)      I say yes. I want a happy player.

C)      I say no but give them one or two extra points in key abilities.

D)     I say yes but make them keep a couple of low scores.

Q2 – When making a character a player comes to you and asks if they can create their own original weapon/armor/item. What do you do?

A)     I say no. If it’s not in the book, I don’t want it in my game.

B)      I say yes. I want a happy player.

C)      I say no but allow them to modify something in game that’s similar.

D)     I say yes but keep them on a very short leash.

Q3 – You discover on the first session of a campaign that one of your players has legally min/maxed their character to be very over-powered. What do you do?

A)     I mulligan the character and tell them to start over.

B)      I let them run with it.

C)      I tell them to make a new character but give them some bonuses for the trouble.

D)     I let them keep the character but tweak a few things.

Q4 – After a few sessions you notice that one of your players is cheating on their rolls. What do you do?

A)     I immediately ask them to leave the game. No place for cheaters at my table.

B)      I ignore it. Why rock the boat?

C)      I announce it to the whole group and let them deal with it.

D)     I pass the player a note telling them to stop.

Q5 – After a few sessions you notice that one of your players seems to dislike the campaign. What do you do?

A)     I ignore it. If they got a problem, they can leave.

B)      I stop the campaign until I find out what they want me to change.

C)      I keep going but I have a chat with them about what they dislike and try to make little changes.

D)     I keep going but I try to make a few changes that I think will help.

Q6 – One of your players is constantly arguing with you about the rules. What do you do?

A)     I tell them to stop or I’ll kick them out of the game.

B)      I keep trying to show them the errors of their ways.

C)      I ask them to tone it down a bit.

D)     I patiently listen, but make my own decisions since it’s my game.

Q7- One of your players is often rude or insulting to another player. What do you do?

A)     I ask them to leave the game. No time for that at my table.

B)      I smile and go along with it.

C)      I bring it up in front of the group and ask them to cut it out.

D)     I bring it up in private and ask them to cut it out.

Q8- During a must-win fight you notice that your players are losing badly. What do you do?

A)     If they can’t hack it, they die.

B)      I immediately drop all of the foes to 1 hit point.

C)      I ease up after one or two PCs go down.

D)     I bring in an NPC to help turn the tide.

Q9- You notice that one of your players has been deliberately sucking up to you. What do you do?

A)     I tell them to stop. I don’t play favorites.

B)      I compliment them on their fine work and throw them a few extras in game.

C)      I politely tell them that flattery will get them nowhere.

D)     I tell them to cut it out but I give them something extra anyhow.  

Q10- Near the end of a campaign one of your players decides to stab the rest of the party in the back causing a crisis. What do you do?

A)     I do nothing. It is what it is.

B)      I step in with the wrath of god and make everything better.

C)      I let it happen but I make a few changes to fix things after the fact.

D)     I step in and prevent the crisis from going too far.

Alright, now it’s time to see how tough you really are.

Add up your answers using the following method:

All “A” answers = +2 points

All “B” answers = -2 points

All “C” answers = +1 point

All “D” answers = -1 point

This will give you a total between +20 and -20. Please total up your score and see the chart below for your result!

Between +16 and +20 THE DRAGON	When it comes to being a DM you are a stone. The rules are the rules and compromise is a dirty word. If your players don’t like how you do things, they can go elsewhere as far as you are concerned.
Between +6 and +15 THE MAGISTRATE	You are a bit more tough than fair. You like to uphold the rules most of the time but will concede on a few points when you feel it is necessary. Your players have confidence that you will run a straight game.
Between +5 and -5 THE DIPLOMAT	You are moderate in almost all of your decisions. You believe in the rules but you also feel like they can be bent and occasionally broken. Your players respect your ability to compromise and keep the game going.
Between -6 and -15 THE INN KEEPER	The will of your players influence you greatly. You view the rules as no more than guidelines to keep the game organized. Your players have fun but can sometimes run rampant.
Between -16 and -20 THE JESTER	You feel that the game exists for everyone to have fun and conflict is overrated. The rules mean nothing compared to the needs of your players. Your players love you as a DM but they may find your games a bit unruly.

Class Showcase: Bards

It’s week two of my Class Showcase series, where I take a class from D&D and give three examples from popular culture. This week: Bards.

#3 Brook (One Piece)

For those of you who don’t know, One Piece is quickly becoming the most popular Anime series of all time. The story is essentially about a group of rag-tag pirates traveling the world in search of a legendary item called the “One-Piece”. As you can imagine, the crew is filled to bursting with interesting characters of which Brook is one. He is, for all intents and purposes, an undead skeleton bard (I know that sounds weird but hey, it’s anime!). Interestingly, just as in D&D, Brook can invoke the power of his music (played by violin, piano, or guitar) to affect the moods of others and even use it to give them hypnotic suggestions. He is also an invaluable asset to the crew for his entertainment value during long voyages. (Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho!)      

#2 Gabrielle (Xena: Warrior Princess)

I know, I know, two characters from the same show in two weeks? But seriously, Gabrielle is the best female bard of all time when it comes to popular culture. Watching her character grow from a clumsy farm girl sidekick to a kick-ass warrior princess was one of the best side stories of the whole show. Over the course of the six year run, Gabrielle was able to talk and sing her way out of countless trouble and she was undeniably the moral support that Xena needed in difficult times.

#1 Star-Lord (Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014 film)

Let’s forget about the comic book character for a moment and focus in on the movie character. Just looking at that one source, I think I have a very strong argument to say that Star-Lord is a bard. He sings, he dances, he is very passionate about the musical connection between himself and his mom, and he seems to embody the old saying “jack of all trades, master of none”. He even gives passionate speeches and arguments that can totally change the minds of others. In fact, I’ll bet that there are more than a few of you out there that ran home after watching this movie to roll up some new bard characters! (Am I right?)