Definitely start with Skibidi Toilet and marvel at the glory of it all.
D&D General D&D is now Steampunk (poll)
- Thread starter GMMichael
- Start date
Reynard
aka Ian Eller
I would say that the Forgotten Realms was loosely Tolkienesque, but core D&D has always had at most a veneer of Tolkien by way of its imagery. But D&D elves have never been Tolkien elves, and no D&D setting has ever been as deep or complex as Middle Earth.
Is Lord of the Rings medieval fantasy?
No. It's High Fantasy.
Here, we can see Frodo wearing pretty standard Hobbit garb. Trousers that don't reach down to his large feet are a uniquely hobbitish invention. But above the waist he's wearing three pieces of clothing which bear four -INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT- details. Let's zoom in.
As you can see, he's wearing a collarless linen shirt, a lovely woolen waistcoat, and a woolen traveling jacket with large pockets. We also know that his waistcoat had pockets. The identifying characteristics to identify the time period of his clothing are: Buttons, Pockets, Waistcoats, and Jackets.
Buttons were a relatively common design since primitive days. Typically used to close bags, however, they were not a common method of affixing standard clothing in European cultures. Toggles were, occasionally used, but it wouldn't be until the middle ages and the crusades that the common tendency of wearing buttons came from the Middle East to Europe. So that narrows things a bit.
Secondly, we have pockets. This one's tricky, because 'Pocket' as a term didn't -exist- before the early 1900s thanks to American phrasing. However there were pockets before they got that name. Specifically in the 1600s (17th century) pockets were sewn into men's clothing. Before that you had Filchets. A Filchet was a slit in your clothing that you could pass your hand through to reach a purse typically tied to a belt under your clothing. Often closed with a button!
Now Waistcoats. This one is the tricky one. By which I mean they weren't invented until the 1800s.
And then Jackets like the one he's wearing were invented before the 1700s but that specific cut and hang wouldn't become popular until the late 1700s to early 1800s.
You'll find the terms "Buttons", "Pocket", "Jacket", and "Waistcoat" in "The Hobbit: or There and Back Again" by JRR Tolkien. Though the specific styling of each is a bit mum.
LoTR is not medieval fantasy.
No. It's High Fantasy.
Here, we can see Frodo wearing pretty standard Hobbit garb. Trousers that don't reach down to his large feet are a uniquely hobbitish invention. But above the waist he's wearing three pieces of clothing which bear four -INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT- details. Let's zoom in.
As you can see, he's wearing a collarless linen shirt, a lovely woolen waistcoat, and a woolen traveling jacket with large pockets. We also know that his waistcoat had pockets. The identifying characteristics to identify the time period of his clothing are: Buttons, Pockets, Waistcoats, and Jackets.
Buttons were a relatively common design since primitive days. Typically used to close bags, however, they were not a common method of affixing standard clothing in European cultures. Toggles were, occasionally used, but it wouldn't be until the middle ages and the crusades that the common tendency of wearing buttons came from the Middle East to Europe. So that narrows things a bit.
Secondly, we have pockets. This one's tricky, because 'Pocket' as a term didn't -exist- before the early 1900s thanks to American phrasing. However there were pockets before they got that name. Specifically in the 1600s (17th century) pockets were sewn into men's clothing. Before that you had Filchets. A Filchet was a slit in your clothing that you could pass your hand through to reach a purse typically tied to a belt under your clothing. Often closed with a button!
Now Waistcoats. This one is the tricky one. By which I mean they weren't invented until the 1800s.
And then Jackets like the one he's wearing were invented before the 1700s but that specific cut and hang wouldn't become popular until the late 1700s to early 1800s.
You'll find the terms "Buttons", "Pocket", "Jacket", and "Waistcoat" in "The Hobbit: or There and Back Again" by JRR Tolkien. Though the specific styling of each is a bit mum.
LoTR is not medieval fantasy.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
D&D was largely inspired by Burroughs, Howard and Lovecraft, but at around the time of the commercial publication of D&D LotR suddenly became hugely popular in the US, so some Tolkien stuff was added in, in pretty much the same way that stuff from Harry Potter, Fourth Wing etc have been added more recently.
I can’t think of ANY past 5E adventure where any characters have ever done this, so, again, I’m failing to see the big, “anachronistic” issue that “species” is causing.
Emerikol
Legend
It had many influences of course and I think D&D made LOTR popular again as it was published in 1954. But LOTR's influence is still there in D&D. When I say loosely, I am not saying in every way. I'm saying there are some connections. Many of the races. The party concept. And of course they had to be gamified.
Reynard
aka Ian Eller
I don't buy many WotC adventures but I really can't think of any that include extended dialogue between NPCs where it might come up.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
It should be by pointed out that waistcoats and pockets are in the book, not just the movies. Bilbo’s outfit is directly based on Tolkien’s own drawing.
But even more telling is Tolkien’s illustration of the hall of Bag End, which has an aneroid barometer (invented 1843) on the wall.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
Nah, LotR was largely unknown in the US until it was embraced by hippie culture in the early 70s and became suddenly massively popular. It went from there into D&D, not from D&D into the US.
