D&D General When We Were Wizards: Review of the Completed Podcast!

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I do agree that the evolution and history of Dungeons & Dragons itself is rather neglected in the podcast. Whither Gen Con? Whither the coming and going of the Gygax-penned classic adventures, and the rise of the other authors who took up the creative reins? The transition from sandboxes and funhouses to narrative adventures? The novels, Deagonlance, and Ravenloft?

I finally finished this and am going back through the thread in more detail.

I kept expecting a Citizen Kane moment with "Dragonlance" -- which is literally the name of the mansion that Gary bought his family when his ship came in.

To not connect the dots of which came first, the modules or the mansion, or even to acknowledge they have the same name was extremely weird. It feels like the podcast needed one more person to listen to it before it was finalized in this case.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Also, the underlying misogyny of TSR really cost them. Most shocking to me was the complete lack of respect shown to Rose Estes, even after she basically single-handedly created the immensely profitable Endless Quest line. She was way more loyal than TSR deserved, and they basically shoved her out the door.

The way Rose Estes is treated by everyone was appalling. And even after she, in the 21st century, is confronted with how little they liked and respected her, she still has their back. She was a better friend to them than any of them deserved.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Also, Frank Miller playing D&D with Gary Gygax in Los Angeles along with another pre-celebrity geek icon whose name is slipping my mind at the moment feels like a great topic for a future interview. We now know lots of D&D-friendly nerd celebrities nowadays, but a pre-stardom Frank Miller hanging out with EGG is a new one on me.

 

[Mannahnin]

I finally finished this and am going back through the thread in more detail.

I kept expecting a Citizen Kane moment with "Dragonlance" -- which is literally the name of the mansion that Gary bought his family when his ship came in.

To not connect the dots of which came first, the modules or the mansion, or even to acknowledge they have the same name was extremely weird. It feels like the podcast needed one more person to listen to it before it was finalized in this case.

You misheard. Though they do sound quite similar.

The colonial mansion was called "Dragonlands".

This is probably another issue of them having originally planned for this to include video, not just be an audio podcast.

 

[TiQuinn]

I think a lot of them are genuinely liberal-minded (in the classic, not political, sense). Heck, we know that Rob is, at his core. Remember his response to Ernie's nonsense in that interview for nuTSR?

But I worry that Rob may be degenerating, and being enmeshed in reactionary culture because those are the people who are also angry with WotC.

Yep, when the people who keep showing you the most attention, inviting you to their conventions, wanting you to talk about the old days, and maybe throw a little money your way are reactionary, then it’s a good chance that you’re going to go down that road unless you are really actively aware that’s what’s happening. Unfortunately, Rob Kuntz is nearly 70, he’s never been known for creating something new, or engaging outside of that circle, and so it’s not surprising to me that this is where he’s ended up.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, that's a relief. I kept waiting for the Gygax actor to announce that Rosebud was his sled.

 

[Riley]

So: Was “Dragonlance” inspired by a mishearing of “Dragonlands”?

 

[Mannahnin]

So: Was “Dragonlance” inspired by a mishearing of “Dragonlands”?

What would make you think that?

The only time I've ever heard those two things associated was in this thread, because Whizbang misheard the latter word as sounding like the former, because this is an audio-only podcast (though it was originally planned to be videos).

Gary and Mary-Jo bought and moved into the mansion and named it Dragonlands in 1979. The Dragonlance concept started development in 1982, and involves magic items literally called "Dragonlances", which are used by riders on dragons to fight other dragons.

 

[billd91]

What would make you think that?

The only time I've ever heard those two things associated was in this thread, because Whizbang misheard the latter word as sounding like the former, because this is an audio-only podcast (though it was originally planned to be videos).

Gary and Mary-Jo bought and moved into the mansion and named it Dragonlands in 1979. The Dragonlance concept started development in 1982, and involves magic items literally called "Dragonlances", which are used by riders on dragons to fight other dragons.

It certainly seems unlikely, considering Tracy and Laura Hickman came up with the concept while on the way to Lake Geneva for the job interview. I think it highly improbable they knew the name of the Gygax estate at that point.

However, it may be remotely possible that their "dragon project" might not have had an official title or even a fully fleshed out idea of the magic weapon technology central to the conflict and hearing the term Dragonlands around the offices might have jogged the idea of compounding dragon and lance together. I do think that's a bit less likely though given how central the dragonlances are to the stories.

 

[Mort]

Late to the game but,

I FINALLY made it through the whole podcast!

I pretty much new all of the highlights and beats - but the details and the presentation were great!

I knew Lorain Williams wasn't the villain she has often been presented as, but as the OP stated, after listening to the whole story (which was very well presented) she comes off even better.