Warduke is coming to Dungeon #105

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Scarbonac!

Upper_Krust: Yeah, Warduke had a souped-up frostbrand that was powerful enough to freeze Dungeon Master into a cube of ice.

Did it get destroyed in the cartoon or just knocked out of his hand? I can't remember. I wonder do I still have that episode somewhere?

 

[Mouseferatu]

Hi Scarbonac!



Did it get destroyed in the cartoon or just knocked out of his hand? I can't remember. I wonder do I still have that episode somewhere?

I do have the episode; broke it out of mothballs when I first saw the Paizo cover.

(For the record, you can't go home again. I just can't ignore the flaws in the cartoon the way I could as a child. But that's a different issue.)

Sword was knocked out of his hand by a shot from Hank's bow, but not destroyed. He has it again later, right before he and his bullywugs (really, what self-respecting warlord uses bullywugs?) are chased away by a DM-caused volcanic explosion.

 

[Scarbonac]

I do have the episode; broke it out of mothballs when I first saw the Paizo cover. [/i]

I too, am eagerly anticipating the Return Of Warduke.

(For the record, you can't go home again. I just can't ignore the flaws in the cartoon the way I could as a child. But that's a different issue.)

Some of the episodes annoy me, but I still easily enjoy a good half of them (I finally got them all; hoo-ray Intarweb!); I think that most of the show's problems arose from:

1) S&P not allowing them to perform more "realistic" levels of violence and interpersonal relations...I'd have preferred teens who acted more like teens...but the series still has some excellent writing and characterizations, particularly for the 80s.

2) The focus in the series on the continual failure of the Young Ones to get home, rather than upon the good works that they did in The Realm.

3) I have nothing against an animal companion character, even an inordinately intelligent one, but...Uni was way too cartoony; this shows especially in The Valley Of The Unicorns, where her plushie-style design contrasts starkly with the more realistic representation of the other unicorns.

4) It could have been more "DnD-y", IYKWIM.


5) The over-emphasis of the "Eric comeuppance as the episode ends" aspect; OK, he was a jerk, I could accept that (but he grew somewhat during the series) but did they have to utterly humiliate the guy nearly every episode?

Sword was knocked out of his hand by a shot from Hank's bow, but not destroyed. He has it again later, right before he and his bullywugs (really, what self-respecting warlord uses bullywugs?) are chased away by a DM-caused volcanic explosion.

Bullywugs... ...might as well use bog-beasts or insurance-salesmen...

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Mouseferatu mate!

I do have the episode; broke it out of mothballs when I first saw the Paizo cover.

You know there was a guy on one of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon websites that was selling all the episodes copied onto VCDs. Though I think I have most of them still on video tape if someone is interested in his website I'll see if I can find the url, I swopped a few emails with the guy about a year ago I think.

(For the record, you can't go home again. I just can't ignore the flaws in the cartoon the way I could as a child. But that's a different issue.)

You have to remember that I had the Warduke figure before I saw the cartoon (and before I started playing D&D) so here was me seeing one of my favourite characters on the small screen. One of my favourite episodes.

Hey Paizo Publishing. How about a CD with a future issue of Dragon with the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon soundtrack on it!? It would be great if the DM could switch on various tracks to get the heart pumping at critical moments.

Sword was knocked out of his hand by a shot from Hank's bow, but not destroyed.

The Krust shoots...and scores!

He has it again later, right before he and his bullywugs (really, what self-respecting warlord uses bullywugs?) are chased away by a DM-caused volcanic explosion.

I think the idea with the Bullywugs is to lull the enemy into a false sense of security.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Scarbonac!

I too, am eagerly anticipating the Return Of Warduke.

Count me in.

Some of the episodes annoy me,

At this point I must add that I love that show unconditionally.

but I still easily enjoy a good half of them (I finally got them all; hoo-ray Intarweb!);

I want to buy them on DVD; c'mon Wizards, pull your finger out. I want full commentary by Gary Gygax and documentaries and stuff. Interviews with the original voice cast would be fantastic. Also an interview with Gary on where he saw the series going (well documented) and also the full lost script (thats also been posted on the internet). A seven or eight disc set should do it. You should have brought this out in conjunction with the D&D Movie release...at least then we would have had something to be happy about at the time.

I think that most of the show's problems arose from:

Problems!? What problems!?

1) S&P not allowing them to perform more "realistic" levels of violence and interpersonal relations...I'd have preferred teens who acted more like teens...but the series still has some excellent writing and characterizations, particularly for the 80s.

I thought that was how American teens did behave, circa early 1980's?

2) The focus in the series on the continual failure of the Young Ones to get home, rather than upon the good works that they did in The Realm.

They start out like that but I think the final run of episodes really does concentrate on their heroism rather than any desire to return home.

3) I have nothing against an animal companion character, even an inordinately intelligent one, but...Uni was way too cartoony; this shows especially in The Valley Of The Unicorns, where her plushie-style design contrasts starkly with the more realistic representation of the other unicorns.

You loved Uni...admit it.

4) It could have been more "DnD-y", IYKWIM.

Well remember it was D&D meets real world characters (obviously in an attempt to give people who knew nothing of D&D something to empathise with). So it wasn't 100% D&D.

5) The over-emphasis of the "Eric comeuppance as the episode ends" aspect; OK, he was a jerk, I could accept that (but he grew somewhat during the series) but did they have to utterly humiliate the guy nearly every episode?

Eric the Cavalier personified one of the greatest archetypal dichotomies ever, the cowardly hero. See also the Lion from the Wizard of Oz; Rimmer from Red Dwarf; Xander from Buffy etc.

Bullywugs... ...might as well use bog-beasts or insurance-salesmen...

But the Bullywug chief had a magical golden helmet...well it might have been magical.

 

[Bloodstone Press]

Warduke

Wow! That pic does look really good! I can't wait to see his write-up. He was always my favorite. Every time we played Quest for the Heartstone I would play him and get killed!

Those were the days!

 

[CrusaderX]

Wow. That really is an incredible cover.

The Warduke action figure sitting on my desk approves.

But Strongheart wants his turn next!