D&D General No One Reads Conan Now -- So What Are They Reading?

[Micah Sweet]

Conan was In regular Avengers as well. Or is that not for kids as well?

Again, teenagers. And Marvel isn't above compromising a character to appeal to a demographic.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Also this skill gets quotes a lot (I can't spend five minutes on social media without seeing it somewhere):

 

[Umbran]

Yeah, i don' think this is true. I think most people understand there are a variety of incarnations of Conan. Even in the comics, he isn't a super. Most Conan comics are still Conan, and not his hanging around with the Avengers.

Well, his most famous turn in the comics is probably him working with Doctor Doom, so....

"So you are vain". (Savage Avengers #8)

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[Paul Farquhar]

Also this skill gets quotes a lot (I can't spend five minutes on social media without seeing it somewhere):

Yeah, that’s the one thing everyone knows. And it’s not in any of the original stories.

I also found giving Conan an obligatory tragic backstory somewhat irritating.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Yeah, that’s the one thing everyone knows. And it’s not in any of the original stories.

Honestly most people who quote that seem familiar with the books and the movie

I also found giving Conan an obligatory tragic backstory somewhat irritating.

I've heard some fans of the original stories complain about changes to the character. But I think Conan the Barbarian is maybe the greatest fantasy movie ever made

 

[Mannahnin]

Is the life of stagnation and death in the absence of the Golden Path more desirable? To bring it back to Conan, the difficulty, the struggle, is life-affirming.

But they were struggling on Arrakis, and found some satisfaction and balance there, albeit with some oppression from their colonial rulers. They were engaged in finding meaning and fellowship while contending with a harsh world for survival, which seems very much in keeping with Howard's/Conan's ethos. They were masters of their environment, even turning the apex predator into a steed and beast of burden.

I don't see the galactic jihad as particularly life-affirming, no. :/

 

[Queer Venger]

Look, Conan hasn't been relevant for over a decade at this pont and while certain trapping of Sword-n-sorcery still exists the genre as a whole is far from any influence these days.

So what are the genres and media that do have an influence these days?

Doesn't have to be actual literature ofc but basically what are the cultural touchpoints for what fantasy looks and 'feels' like for modern players in your experience? Bonus if it's from players who started with 5e.

Lord of the Ring is cheating.

Is it Sanderson's works? The romantasy 'Court of X and Y' style? Warcraft? How much anime(-adjacents)ness do you think the average DnD player considers now? Is Genshin impact the way younger player/DMs think of how fantasy 'should' be like even subconsciously? Or is it all a bit incestuous with Frieren, Dungeon Meshi and Critical Role being the touchstone of how things should be like?

I read Conan, and John Carter, and Elric, I could go on.
And I enjoy how dated it is, how unwoke it is; it's nice to see how much fantasy literature has grown but I can still enjoy these amazing books without having to compare and contrast them.


I mean, why not go back to the originals when GRRM will likely never finish ASoI&F?

 

[RhaezDaevan]

I know AI art is a thing. Will there be worry of AI authors? Publishers just telling it to gives them a new book in the style of [insert author here] and then they sell it to the masses?

 

[Imaro]

Id love to have age demographics on those who've read the original Conan stories... also of those who think those stories (not the character since then we'd have to define what incarnation) are relevant to current fantasy and current D&D... then finally for those who think the racism and misogyny is a non-factor.

 

[Imaro]

Again, teenagers. And Marvel isn't above compromising a character to appeal to a demographic.

You're seriously arguing kids under 13 dont read Avengers comics?