GTS 2009 D&D Seminar - the Rouse discusses D&D

[JeffB]

Eberron is not my fave D&D setting, but I like it and I think it would prolly have the most mass appeal for a movie setting.

In fact some sort of Indiana Jones-ish Xendrik type thing would be very cool.

I think the thing that is CRUCIAL- is no..I repeat NO.. oppressed band of normal type would-be heroes need to find and use a magic item to destroy a "Dark lord" and bring peace to the lands....PLEASE!!! PLEASE! None of that.

That is all

roger

over

 

[Mephistopheles]

This is a little off-topic for this thread, but is WoTC/Hasbro doing anything special in this regards? As a former film-school kid, this topic always interests me - and the thing that always strikes me is that WoTC should be approaching this from the same sort of angle that Marvel Comics used, trying to attract the right kind of talent so that the films made are quality. I also beat the drum of making a D&D movie that isn't a "D&D Movie" but rather a "Driz'zt Movie" (just to use one obvious example) in the same way that Marvel doesn't make "Comic Book Movies" but "Spiderman" or "Iron Man" movies.

I think that's a great idea.

On a bit of a tangent I'd have loved it if this old gem could have somehow turned into a series...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5V-fF-2URE]YouTube - Drizzt mithril drow fantasy[/ame]

 

[merelycompetent]

Scott:

I like what I'm reading here, and agree wholeheartedly with much of what you've posted. I would like to ask a few questions about some of your preceding comments:

You had mentioned that the lack of a conversion method for 3.5E to 4E put up an artificial barrier for gamers who wanted to switch, and a desire on your (WotC's) part to draw in older edition gamers. I, and many of the gamers I associate with, fall into this category. There are many things about 4E that I like and admire - enough to back-port into my existing high-level campaign.

1) Will there be such a conversion process/method from WotC in the forseeable future? What I'm interested in is a single location (web) or document (articles?) dedicated to lessening the pain (and it is very painful) to perform such a conversion.

2) You also mention doing conversion pieces/articles for classes, adventures, and books. Will there be any focus on the mechanics problems/incompatibilities? I can see several pitfalls from reading the 4E core rulebooks. I am very sure there are others that I would miss, with the results leaving a painful bruise upon my face (at least psychologically). Being prepared means more fun in the campaign and less DM (and player) pain.

3) Is WotC actively researching this matter, and if so, is there some way that we can help?

I'd also like to thank you for posting the information that you have. It's helped relieve some of the frustration, and provided much fodder for enthusiasm

 

[Furluge]

I'm going to disagree. Pathfinder is just one avenue for those that dislike 4e. However, not everyone that dislikes 4e are going to Pathfinder.

...

I'd say one or two sessions is giving it a chance. That is a good enough time to get a feel for the game. They just are not enjoying the game for whatever reason.

<Really off-topic diatribe of why Greg K hates 4e>

In response to your post, I said Pathfinder is the biggest problem. Not the sole reason, the biggest one. It's the one I hear about the most. We're not losing 4e players to Mutants and Masterminds games, even though M&M is concentrated awesome and also OGL.

I disagree with what you say about one or two gaming sessions being an accurate portrayal. In one or two gaming sessions you haven't even gained a single level. Classes haven't started to show their many-colored distinctions. Like past editions and many other RPGs at beginning levels characters still have a lot in common and less to distinguish themselves from other classes than they do at higher levels. What edition of D&D is two games at 1st level a representative of the entire experience? If I did that with any of the previous editions I'd think that Wizards are useless because you just cast magic missile three times and take a nap, Paladins are lame fighters, Fighters are fighters, and Barbarians are supah-fighters, Clerics are healy fighters, And rogues are lametastic fighters, and druids are wolves.

As for the rest of your post. This thread is not about edition wars. I was posting anecdotal evidence (Admittedly the worst kind of evidence.) about what I see causing splits in gaming groups. Not posting my manifesto of 4e. I do disagree with a majority of your points though, and I think a number of them show a lot of evidence of not really trying the game system, but you've apparently made up your mind to hate it. Hope you enjoy whatever else you're playing then.

 

[Greg K]

In response to your post, I said Pathfinder is the biggest problem. Not the sole reason, the biggest one. It's the one I hear about the most. We're not losing 4e players to Mutants and Masterminds games, even though M&M is concentrated awesome and also OGL..

Pathfinder might be what you are hearing the most. However, I hear people going not only to Pathfinder, but I hear just as many people going to True20, Warriors and Warlocks (the new M&M fantasy expansion), and retro games.

I disagree with what you say about one or two gaming sessions being an accurate portrayl. In one or two gaming sessions you haven't even gained a single level. Classes haven't started to show more their many-colored distinctions. What edition of D&D is two games at 1st level a representative of the entire experience?

If you have played many different rpgs, you know what elements you like and what you don't like in rpgs- especially, when certain dislikes crop up in many games.

As for the rest of your post. This thread is not about edition wars. I was posting anecdotal evidence (Admittedly the worst kind of evidence.) about what I see causing splits in gaming groups. Not posting my manifesto of 4e. I do disagree with a majority of your points though, and I think a number of them show a lot of evidence of not really trying the game system, but you've apparently made up your mind to hate it. Hope you enjoy whatever else you're playing then.

I have played nearly 100 rpgs if not more. I know what works for ME in an rpg and what does not. A lot people on these boards will tell you that if you play enough rpgs, you know what works and doesn't work for you. And, my post was not meant as an edition war. As I wrote, there are elements that I like in 4e over 3e, but there are just many more that me not want to play and what I gave was a list of some of those reasons..

 

[Scott_Rouse]

Lot's of talk and ideas on the idea of a totally awesomtasticool movie so here's the deal.

Stories: we've got 'em. Awesome stories. NY Times Bestseller stories that I know would make awesome movies.

What we don't have yet is: a screenplay, producer, studio, director, cast, or budget.

A couple years back a few of us went to LA and pitched D&D to some amazing producers (I won't name drop but if I did you might say wow!). The meetings went well and we had some interest but then the writers strike hit and the leads went cold. So it is back to square 1. Hasbro has a partnership with Universal and they are working on some projects. D&D is not one of them but who knows what the future could hold. Fantasy has proven potential but it also has a lot to live up to with the success of LoTR (and conversely some baggage with movies like Dragon Wars). D&D has this baggage but as someone pointed out, bad movies from the past don't rule out future potential for success (just look at comic book movies from the 80s vs now). It is all about the getting the right writers, director, cast, and budget.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

Hey Scott.

4E is not really my kind of game, I mean I would play it, but it is not my number one game of choice.

But, I wanted to let you know that I think it is great you are here on the forums responding to everyones questions.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

It is all about the getting the right writers, director, cast, and budget.

Let's hope we one day do

Oh, and Scott I now got a question actually. Do you know when the next big, Mailbag will be? I am sure with the release of PHB2, Arcane Power the new info we are getting for MM2 and PHB3 that there will be questions galore.

Thanks for being so responsive and taking your time out to do this

 

[amysrevenge]

D&D has this baggage but as someone pointed out, bad movies from the past don't rule out future potential for success.

They made another Hulk movie. They can make another D&D movie.

Frankly, I still think the best thing for showcasing the hobby is showing cool people *playing* D&D in otherwise unrelated movies or TV shows, not showing actual gameworld characters having adventures.

The problem is doing it without "let's laugh at the nerds wearing costumes and talking in funny accents" being the only reason it's there, and yet to still have it entertaining in some way. The wrong kind of publicity (and yes, I do believe there is bad publicity) could only further marginalize the hobby from the mainstream. We need to have prominent examples of normal people playing D&D in a typical sort of way. Not super-nerds in elf ears talking in faux-medieval 'thees' and 'thous' and taking the game too seriously.

The above is the reason I actually thing having the nerd herd on Big Bang Theory have a D&D-themed episode could actually be a bad thing for the hobby. Sure, they could theoretically do a respectful job, but it would be soooo tempting for the show to do the things I mentioned above - they could fill their entire episode with cheap laughs at our expense, reinforcing stereotypes we would probably prefer to let disappear. Heck, they'd be fools to pass up such an opportunity to use these gags - they almost write themselves.

 

[Droogie]

D&D would work well as a TV series. There are truly endless story possibilities, and it would require a long-running series to tell even a fraction of them. Of course, it would be hard to do all the races, creatures and exotic locations on a TV budget....maybe a CGI animated show (ala Clone Wars) would be an option?