Thieves' World/Lankhmar - why do you like them?

Mark Plemmons

Explorer

• Jan 22, 2004

• #11

Actually, my first introduction to Lankhmar was the limited (4-issue) comic series (by Howard Chaykin and/or Mike Mignola). I've still got them around here somewhere. Great adaptations!

 

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Crothian

First Post

• Jan 22, 2004

• #12

They did a Thieves World ccomic as well. It was only 8 issues or so but also very good.

 

Klaus

First Post

• Jan 23, 2004

• #13

Mark Plemmons said:

Actually, my first introduction to Lankhmar was the limited (4-issue) comic series (by Howard Chaykin and/or Mike Mignola). I've still got them around here somewhere. Great adaptations!

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Same here! Found them completely by accident in a comic-book convention. I recognized the names from the 1e Legends & Lore, and I was (and still am) a Mignola fan, so I instantly bought the four issues. Wonderfully done, they could be a prop for any Lankhmar game!

Since there are no Lieber books down here, the comics are the extent of my Lieber knowledge...

 

Gez

First Post

• Jan 23, 2004

• #14

TheLastMehina said:

And when you get right down to it, it's refreshing to read a fantasy story that hasn't been influenced by the twin monoliths of Lord of the Rings and D&D. Not that these are bad, but there are few modern fantasy stories which can escape their influence.

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D&D was influenced by Leiber, not the other way around.

The Grey Mouser is the only reason rogues (and before them, thieves), could use magic devices. I also suspect he's the origin of the way humans multiclassed in AD&D. And a lot of adventures follow the format laid in their tales -- short, usually unrelated, adventures.

D&D was not only copied on Tolkien -- it was also copied on Anderson, Moorcock, Leiber, and Vance.

 

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Dismas

First Post

• Jan 23, 2004

• #15

Gez said:

D&D was influenced by Leiber, not the other way around.

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If gaming Urban Legends are to be believed (maybe EGG can confirm/deny) Leiber was a friend of Gygax and allegedly help write some bits under an assumed name.

 

diaglo

Adventurer

• Jan 23, 2004

• #16

for all the reasons others have already stated.

makes great urban setting.

has low magic

is very grim & gritty.

and has novels to back it up.

plus you can see how the authors mentioned by Gez influenced the game.

 

H

hong

WotC's bitch

• Jan 23, 2004

• #17

Plus, Thieves World has the character with the BESTEST NINJA NAME EVAR: Hanse Shadowspawn. Does not that name just SCREAM "silent, invisible and deadly", OR WHAT?


Hong "or is that something else I'm thinking of?" Ooi

 

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hong

WotC's bitch

• Jan 23, 2004

• #18

I swear, I don't know what Mr and Mrs Shadowspawn were thinking when they named their son Hanse. If they wanted him to be a ninja, couldn't they have picked a nice, unobtrusive name like "Dave" or something? How many times have YOU heard of someone called Dave being a ninja? EXACTLY.

 

Mystery Man

First Post

• Jan 23, 2004

• #19

Never really got into Thieves World, though I did read some of the first few books. Always liked Lankhmar though, it has a very D&D like quality to it. Or vice versa if thats your P.O.V.

 

Last edited: Jan 23, 2004

Seule

Explorer

• Jan 23, 2004

• #20

My understanding is that Mr. Lieber actually ran D&D at some point, which is why the Lankhmar gods are in the original Deitied and Demigods. I do not actually know for sure, however.

--Seule