Open casting call for iconics- Q&A with our adoring fans

[Jack Haggerty]

As his blasphemous words slide out of his snake-like mouth, a hush falls over the assembly as Alhandra stands behind Jack, her arms crossed in front of her.
The crowd parts, as Jack blathers on and completes his slanderous innuendo before realizing everyone's looking at him, then behind him to try and get him to shut up, for god's sake, man!

As he turns to see the reason why everyone's on pins and needles, the glint off Alhandra's armor momentarily makes him cringe like the worm that he feels like.

Alhandra doesn't say a thing.

She doesn't have to.
Her glare of disapproval is all that is required to have the appropriate effect.

Mometarily startled by the Paladin that snuck up behind him, Jack recomposes himself...

So, I assume you deny these allegations?

No really... Is that a legitimate photo, or did that lousy Kobold goomba from the Daily Herald sell us a chop job?

 

[Desdichado]

*A hand from the back*

Which characters are being recast? And what happened to the original actors? Is there any truth to accusations of black-balling due to political leanings amongst actors?

*nudges DM with a vengeance*

Remember that guy in the Dragon Magazine add: play 'till it hurts? The one with the pillow on his butt? He got the shaft.

 

[Mialee]

What's it like working with people with 6 Charisma, does it get annoying dealing with their lack of social graces and tendency to pick their teeth with large edged weapons?

It is a bit trying at times. One must remind herself at these times that there's a paycheck to sticking with it.

Most of the Iconics are gems, and I love working with them.

Also, what about those rumors that Soveliss and Devis 'got the shaft'. How and where did they get shafted, and by who? What the hell is 'the shaft' anyway?

"The shaft" is geek for "Not easily exploited, so therefore not worth playing".

excuse me, miss mialee. conditioner. what have you got against it? was your family victims of horrible conditioner attacks and now you are too terrified to condition or even run a brush through your thick, tangled mass of hair?

I beg your pardon. I have a full head of thick, lustrous hair. Perhaps you've never seen hair with body like this.

Still, just try to find a decent hair treatment while on day six of your expedition into the Forge of Fury. I'd like to see how wonderful you look.

Which characters are being recast? And what happened to the original actors? Is there any truth to accusations of black-balling due to political leanings amongst actors?

I am unsure, I am unsure, and no.

pauses

I'm sorry, but I really don't see where you get off insulting my hair! I have this professionally styled when not dungeoneering, I'll have you know. I...

silences

jerk.

 

[Piratecat]

A voice rises from the end of the table. A short gnome wearing red robes climbs on to his chair, takes a few deep breaths, and hoists himself on to the table. He beams.

Ah, yes! We're working on casting right now. Our concept artists are slaving away this very minute, trying to capture the essence of the iconic heroes. The old ones looked too much like Hank, Bobby and Venger for my personal taste.

We're going to wait to see how many active iconics we have, though, before adding more; my *cough* vacation was partially prompted by Actor's Union pressure for close to a twenty-person ensemble cast. A negotiated contract, and new budgetary restrictions that coincided with the glut of d20 releases, require us to be careful before flooding the dungeon with new heroes. He shoots a gimlet eye over towards Regdar's publicity photo. The catering and escort expenses alone almost shut us down last time. I do know that a... he checks a clipboard Mr. Haggerty is being called back for second auditions, though.

Still, I don't want to steal the heroines' show. Take it away, girls! And just so you know... he winks fondly I'm proud of you.

The gnome jumps backwards, and disappears behind the table.

 

[Desdichado]

A little outside the thread here, perhaps, but who are all the iconic characters? It seems just about everyone illustrated in a core book is one. Are there OA iconics? Or Planar iconics?

 

[Sia-Lan Wezz]

Sia-Lan enters the room talking excitedly into her comm-link, seemingly unaware that she's being overheard

"...tell them I won't do it without Lucas' permission... Maxim? hmm..."

Suddenly realizing there are a lot of people in the room she finishes her call and turns to face the podium

"Hi!" She shoots a smile at Mialee, "am I in the right room?"

 

[Mialee]

Dungeonmaster, wait!

Mialee runs around the other side of the table to find... nothing.

He's gone!

confused look melts away into pleasant business face

Ahh, well, at any rate... thank you Piratecat.

Mr. Haggerty, I wish you the best of luck in your casting. I mean that. I'd like for you to see what it's like on THIS side of the PHB... predatory paparazzi, damaging rumors... welcome to the thirty-six chambers of death, kid.

A little outside the thread here, perhaps, but who are all the iconic characters? It seems just about everyone illustrated in a core book is one. Are there OA iconics? Or Planar iconics?

The Iconics are illustrated in core books, yes, but also given names in the text beneath the illustrations. We're used in combat examples, we're first in the miniatures production line. We're the spokespeople.

We at Wizards feel that Iconics give us that extra edge against competing systems like Hackmaster, which only has that one big-nosed bespectacled Iconic knight.

There are supplementary Iconics... Ma'Varkith, here, is one. She's from the Psionics handbook and has rapidly climbed the ranks. She's among the top-level Iconics now. I am unaware of any OA or Planar Iconics.

Here's one now! This is Sia-Lan Wezz, one of our special Star Wars Iconics. Join us up here at the table, hon. Sia-Lan has the distinctive honor of being the lead Iconic for her game, as well as having been illustrated by Adam Hughes. She gets to use a light saber.

Mialee pouts

I don't.

 

[Sia-Lan Wezz]

Oh, Mialee... you know as well as I do that you've got the goods. No one fawns over me, just look at my hair!

Sia-Lan flips her padawan braid behind her shoulder and assumes a seat behind the podium.

 

[Deranged Youth]

Is there anyone currently coveting Eberk? I've got the time and roleplaying skill to make him come alive, get drunk, and make badly veiled sexual jokes.
Yay for dwarves!
The Deranged Youth looks around expectantly, idily fingering an ale mug, hoping it will come into use.
Oh, yes. Tordek is fine too. Heck, I'll be anyone. I'm not desparate; I just have a wide range of skills. But dwarves are on my list first.

 

[birdboy2000]

I'll play any character who fits the following requirements
Race:Elf, Halfling, or Half-elf
Class:Wizard, Sorcerer, Rogue, Paladin, or Druid
Dexterity:12 or higher