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Psst. Nobody mention that we of the...*ahem*...gravedigger's union have had this sort of amusement going on since the very first days of the 5e PHB. Well, mostly. Skeletons need a certain...finishing...to serve as adequate roaming end-tables. But they masquerade quite nicely as foolhardy...

Huh? They focused on items that would actually be functional in play. A cantrip would be a VASTLY higher cost than a ritual 1st level spell that one can swap out every day. Notwithstanding that the concept of a cantrip - a minor or simple magical spell (originally orison for prayer) learned...

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I really don't like the zealot death-breaking mechanic; and I strongly suspect that if I threw a Zealot NPC at the PCs, one might die (depending on party composition) before they realize what's going on and find ways to deal with it . HOWEVER, if we're going to talk about game or...

I'm thinking more along the lines of this actually (Catholic rite). There's actually a whole host of religious and folklore-based examples of rituals or other things (such as this) that can remove sin/wrongdoing and a fair few require a holy figure who knows or has been empowered to conduct the...

I too interpret the description to mean that the temp hit points last longer than end-of-turn (i.e. until next long rest by default). I don't personally see how. A paladin is still specifically a trained warrior; presumably force of arms is to be used after other forms of dissuasion prove...

If you're worried about it, you're free as DM to decide that the NPC can't or won't join the PCs. Maybe he has urgent things he needs to attend to elsewhere. Maybe he's been mistreated for so long that he has lasting injuries. Or maybe he promises to intercede once (or a couple times) before...

Presumably because they involve large amounts of torture, humanoid sacrifice, and cannibalism.

Some classic medieval examples would include Roland's twelve peers and a couple of the Arthurian legends. (E.g. quest for the holy grail). Often the characters have overlapping base roles, but have distinct characters and strengths.

Denying that the existing archetype was a major impetus behind the ranger, not denying that it predated Tolkien...

Rogues in the House, Red Nails, Beyond the Black River... But I'm sure LOTR doesn't REALLY count as a "party adventure" either since Boromir dies, Gandalf is dragged off by a balrog, and Frodo is incapacitated by Shelob, leaving Sam to rescue him from a troop of orcs alone...

I blame my equipment.

Off topic a bit, but: I myself used to be a biologist. This concept of genetic drift differs sharply with common usage thereof....Genetic drift typically refers to random variation in allele transmission between generations (eventually leading to particular genes being weeded out), not...

I don't give Tolkien credit for material he didn't write. If Steeldragons is correct then that would be the brothers Hildebrandt. The fact that such illustrations were made in response to Tolkien's work is irrelevant. Tolkien didn't popularize the illustrations over and beyond his writing -...

*cough* Balrog-Balor-type 6 demon *cough*? I suppose I find the lack of apparent recognition for the ranger/huntsman/woodsman as a prior fantasy archetype to be obnoxious. And I find certain arguments to be...specious. Which does not necessarily make the thesis wrong.

If you ignore all the other prominent fictional characters that skillset could just as easily apply to...whee, circles are fun.

I personally posted this upthread, so....

Maybe. I'm seeing a poster say "I went to school with Joe Fischer" and not much more. Not beyond the realm of possibility, but.... I personally game with a different guy that claims he invented the thief class and that Gygax stole a bunch of material he wrote. Again, not beyond the realm of...

Aragorn has no magic, even the subtle Tolkien-style of magic. He knows his herbs, uses a poultice, and strikes a bargain with an undead creature. "Upping the power curve" is what we'd call outside influences.

Yeah, because we all know the chronological order of influence doesn't matter. Absurd, if you know anything about Fafhrd as a character (ice-dwelling barbarian type). And one example amongst many.