D&D-influenced Fantasy Novels

[WayneLigon]

That was my understanding too; it's just that they're so obscure that D&D seems the most likely means by which someone might know of them, unless my assumption is wrong and they're more common than that.

Nah, I knew about most of the mythology-inspired monsters before D&D was invented. Fantasy fiction is full of them, plus that led to reading about medieval monsters and looking up creatures in the library, etc.

 

[drothgery]

He DM'ed games for his kids and their friends when they were younger I cannot remember where I read it, but it was in an interview.

It's mentioned in the forward to the d20 Wheel of Time RPG.

 

[jester47]

That was my understanding too; it's just that they're so obscure that D&D seems the most likely means by which someone might know of them, unless my assumption is wrong and they're more common than that. Not so griffons, who appear rampant in coats of arms, I gather.

When the monsters are considered as a set (ogres, trolls, pegasi, hippogriffs, centaurs, dragons, elves) the odds of coincidence seem to begin to drop. Unless fantasy novels have changed a bit since I was into reading them, not even that lot are in as common currency as one might assume.

Rowlings Potter novels have some clear D&Disms in the monsters. There are certain takes on the monsters that are not backed up by their mythological versions but have traits they did not normally possess until EGG made the changes in the first MM. At least thats what I see.

 

[WayneLigon]

Rowlings Potter novels have some clear D&Disms in the monsters. There are certain takes on the monsters that are not backed up by their mythological versions but have traits they did not normally possess until EGG made the changes in the first MM

I can't remember anything where I went 'Aha!' about. Such as...?

 

[Chiaroscuro23]

Most post-D&D fantasy is influenced by it to some degree or other. I expect that's why so many old school fantasy authors detest the game--it totally infiltrated their genre. My personal test is gold pieces. If a fantasy book features gold pieces I know it's a post-D&D book.

Now that I think about it, though, I can't remember which "history of roleplaying" I read that gave me this idea. So I guess I might be totally wrong. Huh.

-C.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

Jim's an old friend of mine and a great guy. When he and his family lived close by, they were part of our gaming group. My Elizabethulhu campaign (which I started with the release of 3.0) included them as players. Jim also runs a fantastic Warhammer FRP game, too.

Cheers,
Cam

Coooool! I'm extremely jealous. Based on his writing, I bet he's a hoot to game with

 

[Dragonblade]

Robert Jordan used to DM games for his son and you can see a lot of D&D in the Wheel of Time series.

Galad is literally a LG paladin, and an excellent example of how a paladin can be a ruthless warrior who regularly deals death to his foes, and not a bleeding heart social worker/fantasy cop as many people like to think of them. The whole concept of weaves is totally analogous to spells. And the way the characters start out as simple farm kids and gradually become these epic worldshaking warriors and channellers is a realistic portrayal of PCs growing in experience and gaining levels and power.

 

[jdrakeh]

Galad is literally a LG paladin, and an excellent example of how a paladin can be a ruthless warrior who regularly deals death to his foes, and not a bleeding heart social worker/fantasy cop as many people like to think of them.

I'm pretty certain (though not 100%) that Galad was a Galahad analogue, rather than a D&D paladin analogue (although D&D paladans are, themselves, arguably based upon romanticized Arthurian knights).

The whole concept of weaves is totally analogous to spells.

I don't see Jordan's spells as being analogous to D&D's spells at all - magic works entirely differently in the WoT novels than it does in D&D.

And the way the characters start out as simple farm kids and gradually become these epic worldshaking warriors and channellers is a realistic portrayal of PCs growing in experience and gaining levels and power.

This is called the hero's journey and has been around at least since the time of Homeric Greece. It didn't originate with D&D.

 

[ElvishBard]

The book that has the orgin of the order of the stick seems to have something to do with D&D, and it isn't offical so it does count. Other than that, most books in fantasy seem to have either influenced D&D or been influenced by it.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Most post-D&D fantasy is influenced by it to some degree or other. I expect that's why so many old school fantasy authors detest the game--it totally infiltrated their genre.

I think this is probably true.

Strangely enough, even though he is a gamer - and even though it's been made into a D20 game - I don't see any D&Disms in GRRM's Song of Ice and Fire.

It is its freshness and willingness to set aside most (not all, but most) of the set piece elements of the genre that make it so compelling.