How would you recreate D&D based on current fantasy stories?

DarcyDettmann · November 04, 2016, 02:44:22 PM

Probably is going to be called "Marvels & Monsters" with Captain America in the cover. Its all about the modern mythology AKA Comic Books, sadly DC Comics dropped the ball hard.

Krimson · November 04, 2016, 04:20:20 PM

Quote from: Necrozius;928245Yeah my idea of elves was especially molded from Moorcock and Games Workshop, actually. Other than the main protagonists' tribe in Elfquest, I pictured elves to be taller.

I actually got into AD&D before I read anything Tolkien. In fact I'm sure I read the first six Elric books before I touched the Hobbit. I never saw Melnibonéans as a type of elf, as I considered them a proto human species. I think there's even some direct comparison of the Melnibonéans being the same species as the Mabden from the Corum books, and Mabden is definitely a reference to a type of humanity.

Mind you after reading the Cloakmaster Cycle I always ended up running Elves in a way similar to the Imperial Elven Armada. They were not pleasant.

Bren · November 04, 2016, 05:13:41 PM

Quote from: Krimson;928615I think there's even some direct comparison of the Melnibonéans being the same species as the Mabden from the Corum books, and Mabden is definitely a reference to a type of humanity.

The Vadhagh (Corum's race) are not human. They are kin and enemies of the Nhadragh. Both races are annihilated by the Mabden. Here's a description of Corum and his family.

QuoteAll had characteristic Vadhagh features: narrow, long skulls; ears that were almost without lobes, and tapered flat alongside the head; fine hair that a breeze would make rise like flimsy clouds about their faces; large almond eyes that had yellow centers and purple surrounds; wide, full lipped mouths; and skin that was a strange gold-flecked rose-pink. Their bodies were slim and tall and well proportioned and they moved with a leisurely grace that made human gait seem like the shambling of a crippled ape.

It is said of Elric that "Physically he somewhat resembled the Vadhagh, for he had the same unhuman face." Though obviously the white-skinned, red-eyed albino is not the same color as the Vadhagh.

Krimson · November 04, 2016, 05:17:18 PM

Quote from: Bren;928634The Vadhagh (Corum's race) are not human. They are kin and enemies of the Nhadragh. Both races are annihilated by the Mabden. Here's a description of Corum and his family.

It is said of Elric that "Physically he somewhat resembled the Vadhagh, for he had the same unhuman face." Though obviously the white-skinned, red-eyed albino is not the same color as the Vadhagh.

Yes in the first part you are correct. I totally mixed up Vadagh and Mabden. Curse my bad memory. In the latter part though, Elric is a Silverskin and his coloration is not typical of other Melnibonéans. That said, okay maybe Melnibonéans and Vadagh are Moorcockian elves. Of course I had a big ass Rodney Matthews art book as a kid, so my image of Elric is based on his concept.

Bren · November 04, 2016, 05:19:56 PM

Quote from: Krimson;928635Elric is a Silverskin and his coloration is not typical of other Melnibonéans.

Well he's an albino so he is lacking coloration. But he's not made of connective tissue so why do you call him a Silverskin?

Krimson · November 04, 2016, 05:41:13 PM

Quote from: Bren;928637Well he's an albino so he is lacking coloration. But he's not made of connective tissue so why do you call him a Silverskin?

It was a term Moorcock used in the most recent Elric trilogy (The Dreamthief's Daughter, The Skrayling Tree, White Wolf's Son) and is a reference to Elric and his bloodline on Earth which includes Oona and Ulrich von Bek. The Ulrich in this Trilogy is also a silverskin unlike in the von Bek books.

Bren · November 04, 2016, 05:46:00 PM

Quote from: Krimson;928645It was a term Moorcock used in the most recent Elric trilogy (The Dreamthief's Daughter, The Skrayling Tree, White Wolf's Son) and is a reference to Elric and his bloodline on Earth which includes Oona and Ulrich von Bek. The Ulrich in this Trilogy is also a silverskin unlike in the von Bek books.

Oh. Thanks. I haven't read the later books so I haven't seen that odd term used.

Krimson · November 04, 2016, 05:56:58 PM

Quote from: Bren;928647Oh. Thanks. I haven't read the later books so I haven't seen that odd term used.

It's a neat trilogy, though it should probably be read in conjunction with the Second Ether Trilogy (Blood, Fabulous Harbours, The War Amongst the Angels) as well as the graphic novels by Moorock/Walt Simonson The Multiverse of Michael Moorock and Making of a Sorceror. The most recent Elric trilogy focuses on Elric on Earth, since that is where he spent his 1000 year dream. He does make forays to other places, like when he goes to Granbretan and he no sells the magic wielders there.

kosmos1214 · November 04, 2016, 06:03:52 PM

Quote from: DarcyDettmann;928602Probably is going to be called "Marvels & Monsters" with Captain America in the cover. Its all about the modern mythology AKA Comic Books, sadly DC Comics dropped the ball hard.

I think you may be talking about marvel comics.

Catelf · November 04, 2016, 06:34:23 PM

Quote from: Bren;925307the way that the author of the Nibelungenlied wove together various folk tales and myths in creating a new setting and story of his own

Nibelungslied is not the whole story.
Go to the Volsunga saga to get the full retelling.

TristramEvans · November 04, 2016, 08:11:50 PM

Quote from: Krimson;928615I actually got into AD&D before I read anything Tolkien. In fact I'm sure I read the first six Elric books before I touched the Hobbit. I never saw Melnibonéans as a type of elf, as I considered them a proto human species. I think there's even some direct comparison of the Melnibonéans being the same species as the Mabden from the Corum books, and Mabden is definitely a reference to a type of humanity.

Mind you after reading the Cloakmaster Cycle I always ended up running Elves in a way similar to the Imperial Elven Armada. They were not pleasant.

My Old School Warhammer elf army is largely composed of 1980s Citadel Melniboneans.

rawma · November 06, 2016, 12:48:40 PM

Quote from: Black Vulmea;928600Judging from the Halloween costume parade at my son's elementary school, there would be no 'fantasy' roleplaying at all - the first rpg would be about superheroes or Star Wars.

There was one girl dressed as a Viking from How to Train Your Dragon and one honest-to-goodness pointy-hatted, long-bearded wizard, but other than that, tons of Captain Americas, Wonder Women, Batgirls and Supergirls, plus a number of Reys and a bunch of Kylo Rens, Vaders, and stormtroopers - my son said he only saw one X-wing pilot, all the other boys were Imperials.

Surprisingly there were no Finns, Jakes, or PeeBees this year.

The costumes appear to be driven mostly by movies. From an article at fivethirtyeight.com, complete with trend lines for magic and superheroes in movies:

QuoteStill, films about magic come with a fascinating liability. China limits the number of non-Chinese films that it allows into its theaters each year — the current cap is 34. China is the second-largest movie market on the globe. And Chinese censors hate magic.

The article's speculation, that that has driven a decrease in fantasy, at least for movies that aren't Harry Potter or Tolkien, seems plausible.

RPGPundit · November 12, 2016, 10:00:43 PM

TV seems to be making up for it, at least to a certain extent.

Krimson · November 13, 2016, 10:29:44 AM

Quote from: TristramEvans;928672My Old School Warhammer elf army is largely composed of 1980s Citadel Melniboneans.

Those are really nice.