Interesting mass media D&D mention by the last person you'd expect...

[Kid Charlemagne]

In an interview in the Chicago Trib yesterday, Uma Thurman described her character in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film this way (paraphrasing as I don't have the article in front of me):

"In Dungeons & Dragons terms, she's un-lawful neutral."

I have no idea what she meant by the "un-lawful neutral" part, but what I found interesting was the totally off-handed way she referred to D&D. No mention of playing, no explanation of why she made teh connection. Said in a way that sort of implied that the interviewer (and hence the reader) would know what she was talking about.

Even the mention of an alignment gave the impression that the average reader should have a sense of a game mechanic within the system, not merely a knowledge of the existence of D&D.

Another data point in the D&D march towards the mainstream.

 

[Khan the Warlord]

I knew I loved that woman for more than just her looks.

Um, I mean, GO D&D! YAY!

 

[CrazyMage]

Interesting. Maybe there's a secret Hollywood sub-culture out there of D&D players...

*dons conspiracy hat*

 

[Eridanis]

It wouldn't surprise me if Ethan Hawke was a gamer - if so, then she might have picked up terms from him. On the other hand, she might be a gamer herself, in which case, where was she when I was in high school playing in my after-school group?

 

[Thorntangle]

Right now I'd have to say Robin Williams is Hollywood's Alpha Gaming Geek. He's primarily into and most vocal about computer gaming but he's also been known to play 40k and CCGs with his kids. There's gotta be some RPGs in there somewhere.

Here's an article about his online computer gaming addiction:
http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---13446,00.html

 

[Frosty]

Perhaps she said a lawful neutral and then the reporter messed it up?

Surely Quentin Tarantino must be familiar with D&D? Perhaps it was his words.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

A friend of mine knows Tarantino. More accurately, she knows his Mom who used to live in the Washington, DC area. Tarantino is apparently a big nerd. He's very much into comic books. I wouldn't be surprised if Thurman was reapeating something she overheard Tarantino say.

Well, that and Uma games in our group Tuesdays. Really its no big thing. The little bint keeps stealing our freaking dice and I'm not even going to talk about the time she spilled Moutain Dew all over my PHB (Uma, if you're reading this, you still owe me $20 for a new PHB).

 

[Kilmore]

Gods, we're getting trendy...

The cynical side of me suggests that Hasbro or WotC is paying for celebrity endorsements, though the rational side suggests that is unlikely.

If it's a main character in a Tarantino flick, I'd think it would be un-lawful. I think we pretty much agree that Uma Thurman would be a main character.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Uma! If you're reading this, send me e-mail! I'd gladly kick people out of my game to make room for you!