D&D 5E Whimsy in your game?

[mflayermonk]

Thing is, there's all sorts of examples of whimsy characters that are incredibly dark.

Obviously, you have The Joker. That's about as good as it gets right there. The Goblin King from Labyrinth. Doctor Who is rife with fairly silly characters (Daleks anyone) and the Doctor himself is both whimsical and incredibly dark. Torchwood provides lots of examples too. Mort from the Planescape video game - a flying skull that helps you through your adventure. Neil Gaiman would also be a fantastic source - the Sandman stories, American Gods and others. Hellboy would be another good source of inspiration here.

Dark whimsy is hardly a new thing. And, for my money, it's also really, really cool.

Peter Cook in Bedazzled (1967) seems like the ultimate "Dark Whimsy".


Now that I've thought of this-if this mod is going to do Dark Whimsy right its going to need some musical numbers.

 

[Minigiant]

The think is. I really don't care for the Underdark.

The place doesn't make sense. It's a major complaint for the place for many fans. Always backstabbing drow, always grump duergar, always sour svirfneblin, always crazy koa-toa, face eating mind flayers who act human. You can't take the place serious without blinders. I mustn't ask why that city isn't burned to the ground. It's literally too dark without enough reasons to stay that way outside of divine intervention. Then you drop EIGHT DEMON LORDS there. Nope.

So I need a little whismy. It justifies why they have having just fled or offed themselves. They are whimsical and probably a bit insane.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Whimsy

 

[Iosue]

I think people are missing out on the fact that Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass weren't whimsical (in our lay usage) at all. These aren't designs based off the Disney movie. These are designs more accurately taken from things like American McGee's "Alice" and the original concept work. Of course it's fair to say that how we use "whimsical" now is not the complete use of the word. The original works fit the alternate definition of "whimsical" (synonyms: arbitrary, capricious, volatile, mercurial, none of which are positive traits) well and I think that the designs took well from that.

I think what we're seeing is largely a fair take on the original writing, appropriated for a PG-13 audience. It's not as dark as we've seen Alice-inspired work, but it's suitably warped.

Very much this. Alice in Wonderland inspired this. And in my opinion F#-G-F#-G-A-C-D-A is the chord progression of an epic D&D campaign.

 

[Greg K]

So what do you pull D&D out for? For me, I've had a range of campaigns with different themes and tones. It doesn't do gritty realism well, admittedly, but the comedic scale is well accommodated at both ends.

I don't pull it out for things in the preview such as the following:
a) Rumpadump and Stool
b) The Pudding King
c) Sloopidoop

To me the above ares groan worthy like Noober and Minsc in Baldur's Gate.

 

[Cristian Andreu]

I always like a bit of whimsy fun. Nary a game goes into which I don't add at least a little bit of Baron of Münchhausen stuff.

 

[Morrus]

I don't pull it out for things in the preview such as the following:

Ah, I see my question was confusing! You thought I asked "What don't you pull D&D out for?" when, in fact, what I asked was "What do you pull D&D out for?" Y'see, I'd already understood your clear position that you don't pull D&D out for whimsical elements like this. I wasn't seeking a reiteration of the point; rather I was curious about other, related, information.

Ah, hilarious misunderdtandings all around! They'll probably make a comedy of this one day!

So, what do you pull D&D out for?

 

[Greg K]

So, what do you pull D&D out for?

This time without being snarky since I thought you were the first time
I run it for Darksun and Ravenloft (orignal boxed set). I also use it as a compromise system for heroic fantasy/"Paladins and Princesses" in a semi-medieval setting in which heroes explore the setting, rescue the princess, find the magic item, kill the monster, reclaim the kingdom/throne, etc. There are also few to no actual dungeons (definitely, no megadungeons!) and multiple sessions may go by with little to no combat.

As for tone, we play it straight, but with occasional humorous moments resulting out of in-game situations and character interactions. We are not interested in camp. Bad puns and references to Monty Python, Princess Bride, and The Gamers are saved for breaks. Whimsy is rare as the only time it occurred when the party went into my equivalent of the Feywild back during 2e.

 

[Greg K]

The think is. I really don't care for the Underdark.

I don't either. I don't think the addition of whimsy improves it at all, but does the opposite. And, while I like the D&D demon princes and they are one of the few created for D&D monsters that I include in my game, even their presence cannot redeem this for me

 

[Lanefan]

I run it for Darksun and Ravenloft (orignal boxed set).

Neither of which are known for their unicorns and butterflies.

I also use it as a compromise system for heroic fantasy/"Paladins and Princesses" in a semi-medieval setting in which heroes explore the setting, rescue the princess, find the magic item, kill the monster, reclaim the kingdom/throne, etc. There are also few to no actual dungeons (definitely, no megadungeons!) and multiple sessions may go by with little to no combat.

Ah, this is educational.

"Paladins and Princesses" by its very name - and the description given - indicates a game geared toward lawful play by lawful players, probably with a lawful DM, doing heroic deeds.

No wonder we don't see eye to eye, when my games tend more toward chaotic play by largely chaotic players, with a chaotic DM, doing mostly whatever they feel like at the time.

Lan-"the best D&D often goes to 11"-efan