D&D Movie/TV Drizzt original role filled by Xenk the Paladin.

[Stalker0]

That actually explains so much. As it was, Xenk felt a bit overpowered and really felt like a bad DMPC - albeit a very enjoyable one!

If you look at the official stats, xenk is much high cr than the other characters, so yea he was intentionally stronger, probably one of the reasons he wasn’t a main character, and that’s a choice I very much agree with

 

[MoonSong]

If you look at the official stats, xenk is much high cr than the other characters, so yea he was intentionally stronger, probably one of the reasons he wasn’t a main character, and that’s a choice I very much agree with

Where can you find the stats? I want to see if I was right.

 

[Ondath]

If you look at the official stats, xenk is much high cr than the other characters, so yea he was intentionally stronger, probably one of the reasons he wasn’t a main character, and that’s a choice I very much agree with

Oh yeah, lore-wise it absolutely makes sense, and the actor played the Lawful Good Paladin trope perfectly (and even showed how you can be a goody-two-shoes in a heist movie while sticking to your principles and having heart!). That said, what makes for a good movie doesn't make for a good table experience, and I'd be furious if the DM dragged us to a quest in Underdark where the only thing we did was watch this incredibly cool character fight Red Wizards single-handedly. That's what I meant with him fulfilling the role of the DMPC. But in a movie, it was quite fun and I hope to see Xenk in future movies.

Where can you find the stats? I want to see if I was right.

They released the stat blocks for all the characters in this D&D Beyond-exclusive bundle. Note that it's not fully faithful to the film, with things like Edgin casting spells.

 

[Davies]

Neat. This is much better, though. Right up until his last appearance, I was uncertain whether Xenk was going to turn out to be a bad guy posing as a good one -- the hints that what he went through on the night that the Red Death was unleashed "changed him" increased my suspicions -- where if Drizzt showed up, there would be none of that ambiguity.

 

[Aellic Mornbringer]

Neat. This is much better, though. Right up until his last appearance, I was uncertain whether Xenk was going to turn out to be a bad guy posing as a good one -- the hints that what he went through on the night that the Red Death was unleashed "changed him" increased my suspicions -- where if Drizzt showed up, there would be none of that ambiguity.

I shared your uncertainty about Xenk though considering Hugh Grant's Forge was already filling the "wolf-in-sheep's clothing" role, I didn't think they were going to drink from that same well twice in the same film. But yeah, Xenk's intensity definitely made me think "I wonder...." a few times.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Where can you find the stats? I want to see if I was right.

Claim Honor Among Thieves Bundle now! - D&D Beyond

www.dndbeyond.com

Note that they're just NPC-style stats.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Doesn't surprise me, I was reminded of the Drizzt cameo in Baldur's Gate, where he kills dozens of gnolls, when I saw the movie. You could replace Xenk with Drizzt without affecting the story at all.

But it was the right decision, Drizzt is decidedly unfunny, has no name recognition outside hardcore D&D fandom, and inside the fandom is hated by as many people as he is loved.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Hugh Grant's Forge was already filling the "wolf-in-sheep's clothing"

I would say he was more of a cuddly wolf in wolfs clothing. He never really makes any pretence of being heroic or morally upright.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Doesn't surprise me, I was reminded of the Drizzt cameo in Baldur's Gate, where he kills dozens of gnolls, when I saw the movie. You could replace Xenk with Drizzt without affecting the story at all.

At least in Baldur's Gate you can pickpocket his scimitars if you find him annoying.

 

[J-H]

They made the right choice.