D&D General Why Fantasy? Goin' Medieval in D&D

[Paul Farquhar]

When did Conan swim underwater for three days straight?

I don't remember Conan doing it, but I have seen action heroes from Indiana Jones to James T. Kirk survive under water for impossible lengths of time.

 

[Micah Sweet]

When did Conan swim underwater for three days straight?

It's in Conan vs. The Devil-fish of the Ocean Depths. A lesser-known work.

 

[Umbran]

Indeed, a type of power fantasy. One in which a lot of folks want to take out of D&D.

I find this overstated, a figment of how internet conversation drives people to poles and backs them into rhetorical corners in conflicts that have more to do with ego than game design desires.

I will buy the idea that many people are perfectly willing to allow this kind of power fantasy to fall by the wayside if that's the way they get the fantasy they prefer. But that's not the same as actively seeking its removal.

 

[payn]

I don't remember Conan doing it, but I have seen action heroes from Indiana Jones to James T. Kirk survive under water for impossible lengths of time.

Sure 3 min is a dialing back of the 3 days. Which is what we are discussing a level of difference between protagonist power and ability. There may be no difference at all to you, but to many folks, its stark.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's in Conan vs. The Devil-fish of the Ocean Depths. A lesser-known work.

It certainly could exist. Action Heroes can do whatever the plot requires them to do. They have far fewer limits than superheroes, whose abilities are limited by their powerset.

Who would win in a fight between Conan and Hercules? Conan, because Hercules only has superstrength, whereas Conan's abilities are always just enough for him to win.

 

[payn]

I find this overstated, a figment of how internet conversation drives people to poles and backs them into rhetorical corners in conflicts that have more to do with ego than game design desires.

I will buy the idea that many people are perfectly willing to allow this kind of power fantasy to fall by the wayside if that's the way they get the fantasy they prefer. But that's not the same as actively seeking its removal.

Fair enough, I think it was a major element of the edition wars. Though, I am going to leave it there as to not get off topic.

 

[Cadence]

One of my reasons for preferring fantasy/D&D is that I have trouble GMing some of the other settings:

• In modern and non-post apocalyptic sci-fi games, I get bogged down in how communications and data searches make a lot of things easier and have trouble not just jumping to the easy solutions (or just not ruling them out).
• In super-hero games, much of the comic literature doesn't particularly feel like it fits a campaign set-up to me. The motivational literature centers too much on fights, has vast intra-party power level differences, and ignores the easy fixes (Monica Rambeau or Flash moving at close to the speed of light knocks everyone out).

For ones I haven't tried to run yet, I've wondered:

• In wild-west games the motivating literature has gun fights being really dangerous with a single shot. Do the PCs have hero armor? Is there actual risk of losing? Do they just die?
• In crime-noire/detective settings is there a way to enforce the classic of getting people knocked out instead of just gunned down.

I haven't run one in a long time, post post-apocalyptic feels like it hits a lot of the notes fantasy does. It's not in my usual readings or viewings, but does steam punk too?

 

[Umbran]

When did Conan swim underwater for three days straight?

"After these words, the prince of the Weather-Geats
Was impatient to be away and plunged suddenly:
Without more ado, he dived in to the heaving
Depths of the lake. It was the best part of a day
Before he could see the solid bottom."

(emphasis mine) Where is it three days straight? I mean, sure, swimming underwater for hours is still superhuman, but let's keep to the text, at least, right?

 

[reelo]

Why bother, some tables excepted, D&D is not exploring any history. The medieval period has been beaten into something that we can all use. Where a potboy can mouth off to a lord and survive the experience (again there may be tables where this is not so) and it is a thing of its own.
It has a much resemblance to anything historic as the "Mystic Knights of Tír na nÓg" has to the Book of Conquests

I bother. I like history. Even if it is infused with fantastic elements like actual magic, or gods that actually exist and intervene. Fantasy needs to be grounded in some semblance of historic verisimilitude to have any appeal for me. And since—and this is a purely personal opinion of mine—I don't like magitech and steampunk, I prefer going back instead of forward in time. I just can't stand swashbuckling musketeers riding magic trains and wearing laced velvet shirts.

Something like Design Mechanism's "Mythic Britain/Logres", TLG's "Codex Nordica/Germania/Slavorum/Celtarum" or Mongoose's "Vikings of Legend" is right up my alley.

 

[payn]

"After these words, the prince of the Weather-Geats
Was impatient to be away and plunged suddenly:
Without more ado, he dived in to the heaving
Depths of the lake. It was the best part of a day
Before he could see the solid bottom."

(emphasis mine) Where is it three days straight? I mean, sure, swimming underwater for hours is still superhuman, but let's keep to the text, at least, right?

"Beowulf had to swim underwater for three days and then he fought The Troll-Wife. After he defeated the troll wife he then proceeded to get back to the king to get his reward."

Even the best part of a day is inhumanly possible. Even low level D&D spells that allow this kind of thing don't last long enough to do it at low level.