Apparently the Nazi guy's name was Hank.  I was thinking Dwight... something all American.  The kind of guy that would do well in the football team, marry a cheerleader and wind up with a used car dealership, an ulcer and a comb-over.

Weirdly enough though, when I looked at the Wikipedia page I discovered an interview with the guys behind the D&D cartoon.

Apparently Eric was included as a fall guy for the morals and values behind the series; namely that the group is always right and that people who disagree with the majority should be shunned and punished.  So essentially, the D&D cartoon had a pro-conformity message and Eric was the whipping boy for the Nazi fuckhead and his cheerleaders and brutal thug.

There we go... many a true word is spoken in jest.

Secrets of the Fourth Season of D&D

* Eric discovers his nautical talents in the episode "Monkey Island".  He becomes the Dread Privateer, using his wit and skill in defeating Venger's forces on the waves.  And incidentally picking up some pretty nifty coin.

* In a Very Special Episode, Hank finally understands why his chosen weapon is a missile weapon that produces glowing bolts of power.  Eric and the others are initially shaken by the revelation, but in the end rally around with him to drive off Tiamat.  All learn the valuable lesson that about diversity and acceptance.

* After accidental consumption of actual ale at a local pub, Sheila and Presto consumate something only referred to later as "The Incident".  Hints of what occured involved blushes, giggling, and mutters about "Evard's Black Tentacles".  The two become an item.  Sheila's surge of self-confidence manifests in a penchant for skin-tight black leather armour.  

* Diana confronts the prejudice against innocent halflings in the town of Ha'arlem.  Shocked, she dual-classes as monk and fights The Man with cool kicks and her telescopic bo-staff.

* Bobbi and that f***cking unicorn die under a 50 ton lead weight conjured by Venger.  After a brief, heartfelt period of mourning everyone else in the party admits it was really for the best.

QuoteApparently the Nazi guy's name was Hank. I was thinking Dwight... something all American. The kind of guy that would do well in the football team, marry a cheerleader and wind up with a used car dealership, an ulcer and a comb-over.

Hmmm... Methinks perhaps your only knowledge of Nazis comes from internet forum accusations. LOL

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalWell they did make it home a number of times, but each time prefered to go on fighting evil.  It was a bit like the end of Quantum Leap... only with more orcs.

Yeah, basically the same thing.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalApparently Eric was included as a fall guy for the morals and values behind the series; namely that the group is always right and that people who disagree with the majority should be shunned and punished.  So essentially, the D&D cartoon had a pro-conformity message and Eric was the whipping boy for the Nazi fuckhead and his cheerleaders and brutal thug.

I was 14 or so when the show came out - I was old enough that the hamfisted morality was blatant.  Eric always suggested the wrong thing (unheroic, uncooperative, turning left instead of right) at the beginning.  I never saw more than a couple of episodes because it was just so flimsy, almost everything was in your face simplistic - and why to they get only one piece of decent equipment each, damn what a stingy DM.  

That was a bad time for cartoons - remember Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends?.

Dude, they had one artifact each. It was a Monty Haul campaign.

I have fond memories of Spiderman and his Amazing Friends but then I am quite a bit younger than you Nicephorus.  It was one of those "get home quick before it starts" cartoons for me.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalI have fond memories of Spiderman and his Amazing Friends but then I am quite a bit younger than you Nicephorus.  It was one of those "get home quick before it starts" cartoons for me.

The coolness of many cartoons is determined by how young you were when you first saw them.  For me, Transformers in mildly amusing crap, Scooby Doo! is pure entertainment.

I'm not so sure... I never liked Transformers cartoons and thought the toys were pretty crappy.  Meanwhile I started watching Bagpuss from a young age and I still think that that's is superb entertainment.

Children are easily tricked into liking complete garbage but, in my experience, they do have SOME critical faculties.

It's not universally true.  There are some high quality shows that appeal to all ages - recent ones to me are Avatar, Dexter, and Samurai Jack.  

But some of them really don't hold up if you go back and watch them.  

I don't think Bagpuss ever made it to the U.S.  I know him only as an avatar.

Bagpuss is just sublime.  

I'm an incredibly profane, cynical and worldly individual but Bagpuss reduces me to the level of a gurgling two year old.  It is just so gentle and nice and sweet that I can't help but love it.  I'm a 30 year old man with a PhD in international relations and strategy but I have FIVE Bagpuss cuddly toys and a pair of Bagpuss slippers.

I'm not a big fan of Samurai Jack of Dexter's Lab.  Dexter's Lab I'll happily watch but it's a bit like the Powerpuff Girls, I find it a little arch and soul-less.  Samurai Jack I've never been interested in.  I've never seen Avatar.

Quote from: NicephorusThe coolness of many cartoons is determined by how young you were when you first saw them.  For me, Transformers in mildly amusing crap, Scooby Doo! is pure entertainment.

But back then we didn't know any better