Working on an essay for publication about the need to remove politics from genre fantasy. It strikes me that much of the art of the genre (in the new D&D books) has shifted away from traditional heroic exploits into a sort of cozy-core, distinctly feminized aesthetic, with as
The Wheel of Tiiiiime! It keeps on turning, keep's on turning...
It returns once more. Last week I upset the old guard, now to sully my reputation with the new. Wheelchairs make no sense in medieval fantasy.
This does not mean to say you cannot do what you want at your own
New Dungeons and Dragons looks to be homogenised slop stuffed with as much ideologically imposed diversity as they can muster.
@Wizards_DnD
seek to represent California. Not a Fantastical World.
Repost for Apolitical Fantasy.
#TTRPGs
#TTRPG
#OSR
#DnD
On a world-building level explain to me this group of people. I doubt you can without reaching or name calling.
Cultures and ethnicities are shaped through environment; especially in medieval-esque settings.
Represent their world. Not ours.
#TTRPG
#TTRPGs
#OSR
#DnD
Humans are only boring if one's idea of creativity is that of a five year old's. Your character is not interesting due to their skin colour, their possession of wings or a tail, or even pointy ears. Your character is interesting based on their, you know, character.
Escapism is a high calling. To present a world free of a political aim or bias is a true achievement. One may represent political systems in fantasy without bashing the reader over the head with one's message.
Repost if you agree.
#Fantasy
#Writing
#TTRPG
#TTRPGs
#DnD5e
#OSR
#FantasyArt
by Renato Casaro of the Conan (1982) film. I have quite the fondness for this sort of pulp style fantasy
#art
. Beautiful women and handsome men with larger than life... personalities.
Luis Royo is probably the master of
#FantasyArt
for me. There are others that could probably out do him in terms of grounded realism but the sheer aesthetic pleasure in his work is second to none.
#Art
#Fantasy
#Dragon
I've seen several arguments about the new food D&D controversy that state Dungeons and Dragons is not now, nor has it ever been, a medieval fantasy roleplaying game.
I think we've been playing very different games.
#TTRPGs
#TTRPG
#TTRPGcommuity
#OSR
#DnD
#Medieval
It can be tempting for the creative to insert his or her political beliefs into their creation. This is a bad idea. It dates the work, offering messages purely of the moment from which they arise. Instead we ought seek the removal of the political from work and seek rather the
@RagingOwlbear
On this point, women enjoy being desired. And lesbians enjoy desiring women.
My wife is the sort of lady that will see the scantily clad woman and go 'nice'. You've just generalised 50% of the population with your own stereotypical view, no?
The best part about the new Wizkid's model changing the warrior from male to female is that its a re-writing of Dungeons and Dragons history for no real reason outside of 'modern day' messaging.
Elmore has some fantastic female artworks for D&D. Use one of those.
If you think
The wife and I watched The Sword in the Stone this week. I remembered the film fondly and thought I would have my rose-tinted spectacles removed.
Not so. It still remains better, and by a wide margin, than most modern entertainment inflicted on me.
A thought occurs.
If Gary Gygax was truly a woman hating misogynist, then he would not have hired the woman that would one day proceed to take everything he had worked for from him.
Funny how things work out.
#TTRPGs
#OSR
#DnD
Baldur's Gate 3 is not as good as the original Baldur's Gate but it is an adequate D&D video game. It is let down by poor writing and story decisions, a sub-par cast of companions, and from being constrained to three main areas.
What do you think?
#BG3
#BaldursGate3
#TTRPGs
Much like the Sword in the Stone, I remember fondly the Black Cauldron. So much so that it is one of the few films I have made my wife watch.
It is severely underrated and the messaging of selflessness and courage in the face of evil is timeless.
Woke up to many people saying I don't think disabled people should exist in medieval fantasy worlds.
I implore them to read the part of the post where I talk about cool ideas for disabled people existing in fantasy worlds.
Astarion is a terrible character. Not only is he a badly written gay stereotype, he is an actively evil monster.
You may like what you like, of course, but I think we'd be doing better at writing 'gay' characters by now. Yes, I know he is not canonically gay. Wyll and Gale make
Having posted about the Black Cauldron film it was brought to my attention that I really ought read the novels it sprang from.
As a lover of old fantasy I agree. The box set is on the way. I should also do the same with the Sword in the Stone, though my to be read pile is
Stormbringer.
That name just ignites imagination. The description of it; a great black battle blade marked with ancient runes, exuding a dark radiance, moaning in hungry anticipation, creates a masterpiece of fantastical writing.
Elric's sword occupies my thoughts, and the
Heaven forbid my world even begin to approach the level of depth and love lavished upon Middle-Earth by the Master of Fantasy JRR Tolkien.
Play your TTRPGs the way you want. Your table, your world, your way.
Just offer me the same courtesy.
FIGHTING NAKED IS A GLORIOUS WIN!
Alright, so a few days ago
@The_Lord_Otter
asked people to justify bikini armour in fantasy.
I'll go a tad farther than that and say that fighting in the nude is completely acceptable in fantasy literature!
Why?
Because we actually did that
Karlach is a terrible character. She is a focus grouped mess, the equivalent of dangling keys in front of a toddler to keep them occupied.
Did that catch your attention? Good. Let me explain.
Karlach is the epitome of an 'over designed' concept. She's a Tiefling, already
I argue for apolitical escapism in Fantasy.
My detractors are fond of ad hominems and of saying that all human interaction is political. If such is the case, is anything truly political? Or is it all just an ineffable soup?
#TTRPGs
#Fantasy
#Politics
#DnD5e
#OSR
#Writing
#BG3
I have been reading old fantasy fiction for much of this year so far and I must say it has been quite refreshing.
My heart longs for true and proper genre Fantasy from years gone by.
#TTRPGs
#OSR
#Reading
#Books
#Fantasy
Drizzt was spared the offering table of Lolth and instead was sacrificed to thirsty gods known as 'sensitivity readers'. Salvatore's early work is some of my favourite and Drizzt is an inspirational figure. Shame to see him thrown under the bus by his creator.
#Writing
#TTRPGs
This is where I can and do restrict my players. I denied several of my group the ability to play 'exotic' races for the current campaign - and this is the best one we've had yet. Why? Banning exoticism seems to also do away with the meme-ification of the campaign.
Working a full time job six days per week and still trying to pursue my creative goals is, and this may be hyperbolic, cripplingly exhausting. From planning for TTRPGs to slowly chipping away at writing my book all activities are done on fumes.
Do you struggle with maintaining
Having now finished two of the Elric books, and having no time to read more of them for a short while, I think I should like to heartily recommend Moorcock's work to my followers. I had wanted for a while to expand my fantasy reading beyond what I knew and Elric is a huge, if
@fellawhomstdve
Seems pretty typical to be honest.
Thirteen years of Skyrim has turned it into an anime fan service game. The modders are just gearing up for this one.
I've been thinking somewhat about the argument that states that, if one can believe in one thing, why can't one believe in another?
I have decided not to name the particular mode of transportation that this argument is often made in defence of. If you know, you know.
The reason
I do enjoy the 'why are you complaining about a change that doesn't matter' argument.
If it doesn't matter, why make the change?
The comments of my video on changing Race to Species are full of it.
#TTRPGs
#TTRPG
#DungeonsAndDragons
#OSR
#5e
#DnD
The Terrible Story Hook of Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3, despite being a marvel and a true achievement in gaming, has some terrible flaws that often go overlooked by the game's more serious fanbase.
The greatest of these flaws is its main story hook.
The sheer bombastic
Apolitical Escapism in Fantasy
Repost if you're for Apolitical Escapism in Fantasy.
Over the last little while I've been poking the 'everything is political' crowd. From the now thousands of replies I've had, it is clear to me that there is a certain strain of authoritarianism
Would you look at that... Princess Bride is trending. As it should be.
My oldest brother watched this many times. He was the one who introduced the movie to me. Since then, I've watched it countless time. It's my Christmas movie.
#PrincessBride
#NovaScotia
Hm, that was quick. The Chronicles of Prydain have just been delivered to my office several days ahead of schedule. Now to ruin the Black Cauldron film for myself by seeing how much grander the books are!
The idea behind fifth edition paladins is terrible.
Power from an oath? Weak.
Power from a deep, rich faith rooted in crusader ideals and romantic knighthood? Strong.