Mearls talks about his inspiration for the 4e classes

[catsclaw227]

... Which, interestingly enough, means I probably read it around the same time that I was working my way through all of Asimov's stories.

I was gobbling up Asimov (well, the Foundation series, at least) right around 9th - 10th grade, with my Moorcock and Leiber.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

Well I can sing many songs, but I wouldn't call it 'performing'...

....in fact most people would call it torture!

Ah, but you are not a Tolkenian hero, are you?

All joking aside, I am going to make a recommendation for [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Wish-Andrzej-Sapkowski/dp/0316029181/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247443915&sr=1-2"]The Witcher[/ame] books by polish author Andrzej Sapkowski

They are just beggining to be published in English, and I haven't yet read that edition, but the Spanish translation is just wonderful... Snarky, grey-and-grey morality D&D-style fantasy with great characters and story

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Ah, but you are not a Tolkenian hero, are you?

All joking aside, I am going to make a recommendation for The Witcher books by polish author Andrzej Sapkowski

They are just beggining to be published in English, and I haven't yet read that edition, but the Spanish translation is just wonderful... Snarky, grey-and-grey morality D&D-style fantasy with great characters and story

There is also a computer RPG out for it. It was pretty good.

 

[Hussar]

Count me in with the crowd that loves Lloyd Alexander. And, TwinB, yeah, totally with you on the bridge between Narnia and Middle Earth. Very much. Excellent series. I tried to add Cauldron Born to every campaign I ran. Statted up the Hunt any number of times. And the ape thing - Gigly, Gilli - what the heck was its name? Loved that. And the pteradactyl critters too.

But, it was a really smart series as well. Well worth the read.

 

[chintznibbles]

Hmm, this makes me want to go back and try the New Sun books again. I started reading the first and got a little squicked out by the, uh, degloving (or de-booting or whatever the foot equivalent is) scenes and kind of drifted enough to leave it buried in the everpresent stack on my nightstand.

I will bring a dose of squick-resistance elixir (aka. Maker's Mark) with me this time.

And, come to think of it, maybe I ought to go dig out the Prydain books from the dusty recesses of my bookshelves...

 

[Baron Opal]

Gene Wolfe is a tough read. I've found that you have to be in the right frame of mind. When I started reading Severain's story with focus rather than as a light read I could get into the story better. You also need a good dictionary. Being able to have the different beasties in mind, and knowing that Gene didn't make up any of the words out of whole cloth helps.

And the ape thing - Gigly, Gilli - what the heck was its name?

"Ah, poor Gurgi, he has not the intellect of man or the wisdom of the animals."

 

[wedgeski]

"Ah, poor Gurgi, he has not the intellect of man or the wisdom of the animals."

My sister, whom I love dearly, sparked my love of all things literary by reading novels to me when I was a nipper, usually just before bed. Susan Cooper and Lloyd Alexander were among the stories she narrated, so I'll always have a fondness for them.

 

[Dausuul]

There is probably some very brutal truth to that, but there are some fantasy wizards that D&D could draw from just fine.

Sure, the D&D model for the Wizard was never anything like the way Gandalf or his fellow "wizards" rolled in The Lord of the Rings. Heck, they called them "Magic-users" back in the day - not Wizards. They drew much more from some romantic notions of Merlin the Magician, Rasputin, and even some implications from C.S. Lewis. The notion was of an Arcane Academic who, though years of study of arcane formula and forbidden secrets could manipulate the fabric of the universe for good or for ill. Thanks to Dragonlance, Raistlin Majere became the signature character for the Magic-user.

Which leads us back to the "angry, book-loving nerd that really wishes he could kill you with his brain." Because that's exactly what Raistlin Majere is.

 

[Scribble]

Which leads us back to the "angry, book-loving nerd that really wishes he could kill you with his brain." Because that's exactly what Raistlin Majere is.

Interesting way to look at it... Never really thought about that one.

 

[Herschel]

Awgh, don't do that! You brought back memories I tried to forget.

Quick, imagine Zoe McClellan naked!