While I was taking it I thought it was sorta weird they were polling me on specific elements, after the movie's been shot. Upon reflection, my guess is it may be used to get sense of which buttons to push fans with in the trailer I'm presuming we'll see sometime this summer.
Personally I think Hasbro and its Hollywood partners have forced themselves into crossing their fingers with a "meh" product that will hopefully wow more casual fans than intense fans (see Transformers). To the latter, with D&D there is just so much idiosyncratic creative passion tied up into individual games I can't see regular D&D players seeing the movie with more than a "well, it was ok, I guess" response. It's the challenge of how do you do fan service when it turns out the property you're adapting means many different things across the fan community.
...what would be interesting is if they teased the movie with cast and directors actually playing the game in a non-staged way to get the idea across that the cast and crew "get it" and experience the feeling they've been challenged to capture in film.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Should be a banner on the main site. There's some basic demographics and some "what franchises are you into" stuff to weed through, like a few questions, before they get into what they really want to know about (gen thoughts on D&D quickly then deep dive into what you'd like to see in a D&D movie.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I was disqualified from taking it due to having family that works in the news and entertainment industries; what was the gist of the survey?
Mostly just what you'd think would be cool in D&D movies. There were also a few things about classes that wasn't clear whether it was talking about in game or in a movie.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
As a huge fan of ALL Forgotten Realms novels I believe this points rather directly at a setting and plot the movie will likely follow. I won't spoil what I believe to be the factions, but there are 2 major "good" and "evil" factions several of the questions seemed to focus on, indication that may well be the core groups focused on. With existing lore via the novels, the pair have always been at odds to an extent and it would easily fit with what's been established in released fiction.
I think there's about a 50-50 chance it's been well done, honestly. CGI costs have come way down over the years, so spell effects and so forth SHOULD be well done. Again with CGI/Hologram technology, characters, races and such should also at least look decent. As digital technology advances and costs drop to accomplish realistic effects, there are fewer reasons for companies to be putting out half-assed work. With this in mind, I am cautiously optimistic.
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Talk to your Players.Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
I was disqualified from taking it due to having family that works in the news and entertainment industries; what was the gist of the survey?
It was l mostly a series of questions about “how cool/important is X to you in a D&D movie?” And X included:
Various races including the usual suspects including elf, dwarf, and half-elf, and some less obvious ones such as dragonborn, tiefling, tabaxi and (my personal favorite) hobgoblins. (I get the impression one of the main characters will be a tiefling judging by the number of questions there were regarding that race.)
Various classes, most notably Barbarian, Sorcerer, Wizard & Barbarian. (I know I listed Barbarian twice, so did they.)
D&D related “concepts” like barbarians being strong and rogues being sneaky.
Various canon characters, factions, and locations from the FR, non of which I cared about because I prefer Mystara and don’t play in the FR at all. (Pro’ly someone else will be able to fill in those blanks for you.)
Well, I saw THAY and Neverwinterprinted in very large letters across the survey.
Harpers will probably be involved, too, as they're mentioned several times, and we're probably see Claugiyliamatar, because I don't see any other reason to mention Krypgarden, unless my brain isn't working.
I'm also very happy to know that WotC wants my opinion on whether or not Barbarians should be strong.
DnD/WoW/Willow/Neverending Story etc have always failed to present an adequate sense of wonder and excitement of a fantasy adventurer due to the failure to acknowledge the UNSCRIPTED & EPISODIC nature of collaborative gameplay and storytelling. Hollywood is by nature driven by scripted characters and plots. It never ends well. If they ever hope to succeed it must be a long form tv series not a short 1.5-2 hour movie.
The thing that worried me the most, in the beginning they were asking about how much we like various movie genres and one of the questions was if we like comedies. 😟 Anyone else getting flashbacks to this travesty?
It's the challenge of how do you do fan service when it turns out the property you're adapting means many different things across the fan community.
The challenge of making a D&D movie or show has always been figuring out what makes something "D&D" as opposed to just "LOTR adjace generic fantasy"
Weirdly, I think Crit Role kind of backed into a viable formula with the Amazon show -- even if you don't watch the stream, it's recognizably a show based on a D&D campaign, with a campaign-like structure, story beats and character growth/levelling up, rather than just being a fantasy story with some D&D-branded terms in it
A new story about the Harpers, with some Waterdeep NPCs sprinkled it randomly, doesn't seem like something that's going to move any needles. A movie based on Dragon Heist or Against the Giants with a fun party of brand-new characters just might
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Weirdly, I think Crit Role kind of backed into a viable formula with the Amazon show -- even if you don't watch the stream, it's recognizably a show based on a D&D campaign, with a campaign-like structure, story beats and character growth/levelling up, rather than just being a fantasy story with some D&D-branded terms in it
This is what I came here to mention, although I do think that the D&D elements are primarily only recognizable by people very familiar with D&D.
I think being a little bit more explicit about the idea that the story and actions are being improvised in the moment would make it feel more like D&D. Make it more clear that the characters are rogue agents in the world rather than just another element of the pre-written story. Get a little meta with it, like scenes of the actual players reacting to things in a format like The Princess Bride. Maybe even tie the two worlds together as they did in The Neverending Story. I'm not sure how to do that well in the current era of filmmaking, but someone surely does.
I really dread a goofy comedie with just some one liners and cgi. I hope they have a good story first that works without DnD attached. It doesn’t have to be LotR but Peter Jackson was able to present a believable fantasy world and relatable characters with flaws and strengths that slowly developed as a group, which a DnD group is too. I also hope it having a more serious vibe like the Witcher. What I really would hate is things like dice rolling or a switching between our world and the made up DnD world.
I think it is a very difficult task as so many people want so many different things. I just hope it’ll be ok.
I really dread a goofy comedie with just some one liners and cgi. I hope they have a good story first that works without DnD attached. It doesn’t have to be LotR but Peter Jackson was able to present a believable fantasy world and relatable characters with flaws and strengths that slowly developed as a group, which a DnD group is too. I also hope it having a more serious vibe like the Witcher. What I really would hate is things like dice rolling or a switching between our world and the made up DnD world.
I think it is a very difficult task as so many people want so many different things. I just hope it’ll be ok.
Case in point, I think a movie with a group of players having to save the world à la Neverending Story would be kinda cool if they did it right.
https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/6865622/f11f84a60b92
What do youse all think that portends?
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I was disqualified from taking it due to having family that works in the news and entertainment industries; what was the gist of the survey?
While I was taking it I thought it was sorta weird they were polling me on specific elements, after the movie's been shot. Upon reflection, my guess is it may be used to get sense of which buttons to push fans with in the trailer I'm presuming we'll see sometime this summer.
Personally I think Hasbro and its Hollywood partners have forced themselves into crossing their fingers with a "meh" product that will hopefully wow more casual fans than intense fans (see Transformers). To the latter, with D&D there is just so much idiosyncratic creative passion tied up into individual games I can't see regular D&D players seeing the movie with more than a "well, it was ok, I guess" response. It's the challenge of how do you do fan service when it turns out the property you're adapting means many different things across the fan community.
...what would be interesting is if they teased the movie with cast and directors actually playing the game in a non-staged way to get the idea across that the cast and crew "get it" and experience the feeling they've been challenged to capture in film.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Link to the survey, please?
Should be a banner on the main site. There's some basic demographics and some "what franchises are you into" stuff to weed through, like a few questions, before they get into what they really want to know about (gen thoughts on D&D quickly then deep dive into what you'd like to see in a D&D movie.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Probably more movie tie-in box sets, similar to Rick and Morty and Stranger Things perhaps.
Mostly just what you'd think would be cool in D&D movies. There were also a few things about classes that wasn't clear whether it was talking about in game or in a movie.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
As a huge fan of ALL Forgotten Realms novels I believe this points rather directly at a setting and plot the movie will likely follow. I won't spoil what I believe to be the factions, but there are 2 major "good" and "evil" factions several of the questions seemed to focus on, indication that may well be the core groups focused on. With existing lore via the novels, the pair have always been at odds to an extent and it would easily fit with what's been established in released fiction.
I think there's about a 50-50 chance it's been well done, honestly. CGI costs have come way down over the years, so spell effects and so forth SHOULD be well done. Again with CGI/Hologram technology, characters, races and such should also at least look decent. As digital technology advances and costs drop to accomplish realistic effects, there are fewer reasons for companies to be putting out half-assed work. With this in mind, I am cautiously optimistic.
Talk to your Players. Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
It was l mostly a series of questions about “how cool/important is X to you in a D&D movie?” And X included:
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
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Well, I saw THAY and Neverwinter printed in very large letters across the survey.
Harpers will probably be involved, too, as they're mentioned several times, and we're probably see Claugiyliamatar, because I don't see any other reason to mention Krypgarden, unless my brain isn't working.
I'm also very happy to know that WotC wants my opinion on whether or not Barbarians should be strong.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
DnD/WoW/Willow/Neverending Story etc have always failed to present an adequate sense of wonder and excitement of a fantasy adventurer due to the failure to acknowledge the UNSCRIPTED & EPISODIC nature of collaborative gameplay and storytelling. Hollywood is by nature driven by scripted characters and plots. It never ends well. If they ever hope to succeed it must be a long form tv series not a short 1.5-2 hour movie.
Can someone share link to survey, please? I can't find it.
I added a link in the first post.
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The thing that worried me the most, in the beginning they were asking about how much we like various movie genres and one of the questions was if we like comedies. 😟 Anyone else getting flashbacks to this travesty?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
The challenge of making a D&D movie or show has always been figuring out what makes something "D&D" as opposed to just "LOTR adjace generic fantasy"
Weirdly, I think Crit Role kind of backed into a viable formula with the Amazon show -- even if you don't watch the stream, it's recognizably a show based on a D&D campaign, with a campaign-like structure, story beats and character growth/levelling up, rather than just being a fantasy story with some D&D-branded terms in it
A new story about the Harpers, with some Waterdeep NPCs sprinkled it randomly, doesn't seem like something that's going to move any needles. A movie based on Dragon Heist or Against the Giants with a fun party of brand-new characters just might
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Thanks! :)
Happy to help.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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This is what I came here to mention, although I do think that the D&D elements are primarily only recognizable by people very familiar with D&D.
I think being a little bit more explicit about the idea that the story and actions are being improvised in the moment would make it feel more like D&D. Make it more clear that the characters are rogue agents in the world rather than just another element of the pre-written story. Get a little meta with it, like scenes of the actual players reacting to things in a format like The Princess Bride. Maybe even tie the two worlds together as they did in The Neverending Story. I'm not sure how to do that well in the current era of filmmaking, but someone surely does.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I really dread a goofy comedie with just some one liners and cgi. I hope they have a good story first that works without DnD attached. It doesn’t have to be LotR but Peter Jackson was able to present a believable fantasy world and relatable characters with flaws and strengths that slowly developed as a group, which a DnD group is too. I also hope it having a more serious vibe like the Witcher.
What I really would hate is things like dice rolling or a switching between our world and the made up DnD world.
I think it is a very difficult task as so many people want so many different things. I just hope it’ll be ok.
Case in point, I think a movie with a group of players having to save the world à la Neverending Story would be kinda cool if they did it right.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting