Questions about in-jokes I don't get

[Herobizkit]

There are two specific (i'm assuming) game references that people seem to continue making references, but I don't get the joke.

One of which is a line that states "You see a gazebo at the top of the hill."

The other is some crazy statue with two giant rubies (?) for eyes. Allegedly it's protected by kobolds... and I've seen reference to it in an old Nodwick comic.

I hate being left out... can anyone fill me in?

 

[Rystil Arden]

gazebo

idol

 

[Aeric]

The gazebo joke comes from a story (an urban legend perhaps) of a game at a con which went humorously awry when the DM described a gazebo and none of the players knew what it was, so they assumed it was some kind of monster. It usually leads to the phrase "you must face the gazebo alone."

The statue comes from an old old printing of the AD&D 1st edition Player's Handbook(?). Not sure where the kobolds come into play, though.

Hope that helps!

 

[Aeric]

gazebo

idol

Dangit!

Your post-fu is quicker than mine!

 

[Lord Pendragon]

There are two specific (i'm assuming) game references that people seem to continue making references, but I don't get the joke.

One of which is a line that states "You see a gazebo at the top of the hill."

There's a story about a group of gamers, I don't recall the origin or exact details. The crux of it is that the DM at one point says "you see a gazebo at the top of the hill," but one of the players doesn't know the word "gazebo." He thinks it's a monster's name, and acts accordingly. The DM, astonished, doesn't inform the player of his mistake right away, but instead adjudicates the PC's actions, which creates a very funny, very silly combat dialogue.

The other is some crazy statue with two giant rubies (?) for eyes. Allegedly it's protected by kobolds... and I've seen reference to it in an old Nodwick comic.

I'm unaware of this in-joke. But I do believe that the original artwork for one of the older D&D books (1e DMG, perhaps?) was of a statue with giant ruby eyes. Perhaps this is the reference? Either that, or I'm as in the dark as you are.

Edit: Wow, folks are fast. On the plus side, it looks like my memory was working properly...on at least one count. Yay, me!

 

[Rystil Arden]

Dangit!

Your post-fu is quicker than mine!

Yep. I almost lost out because it took me three minutes to Google a good image of the Player's Handbook

 

[mythusmage]

The gazebo goes back a long way. Almost to the start of the hobby.

The first mention I saw was in the APA Alarums and Excursions. In one issue a contributor told the story of his group and their encounter with a gazebo. The gazebo in question was in a garden. He expected the players would make note of the gazebo's presence and continue exploring the place. To his surprise the players wanted to know what the gazebo was doing, its armor class, how many attacks it had, and other such stuff. He tried to explain what a gazebo was, and was ignored.

So the gazebo got trashed, and a legend was born.

 

[JediSoth]

You can see a flash-based cartoon of the infamous Gazebo encounter at http://www.hoodyhoo.com/kodt08.htm

It's arguably the most famous version of the story.

JediSoth

 

[fnork de sporg]

So, what exactly is that a statue of?

 

[FireLance]

Speaking of in-jokes, have you heard the story about the Head of Vecna?