Happy 40th Dungeons and Dragons, Labyrinth Lord. Knight Chills, and the Gamers triology
Happy 40th Dungeons and Dragons, Labyrinth Lord. Knight Chills, and the Gamers triology
2014 is the forty year anniversary of the iconic table top role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. Originally created as a role playing supplement to his miniature war campaign game, Gygax's creation would become a juggernaut that would become a part of the pop culture. Dungeons and Dragons complex rules of combat and role playing also became a lightning rod for people convinced that the game was occult in origin and was satanic. It also paved the way for computer games, and eventually was influential in other areas...roleplaying is now a well known tool for character reaction from the corporate to the scientific to possible intelligence operations.
The game system has gone through several reboots, which eventually paved the way for a desire for the old game systems with retro clones of modules. Pretty much new supplements for open source game systems that is old school D&D without any trademarks of the D&D which points out to the staying power of table top games in general.
For more info on Labyrinth Lord click here - Goblinoid Games
Dungeons and Dragons was a popular saturday morning cartoon, and recently was the backdrop to Futurama's Bender's Game. The game also influenced endless sword and sorcery films at the box office as well as setting the stage for the return of fantasy films like the Lord of the Rings. Direct films with the Dungeons and Dragons name in the title are unfortunately a mixed bag, and it could be argued that its influence is more indirect. I'll focus on two independent films with a grounding in Dungeons and Dragons type of role play gaming...one is the horror film Knightchills and the other is the comedy 'Dorkness Rising' I would include Mazes and Monsters which captured the paranoia of Dungeons and Dragons...but it was more of anti drug film with D&D being the drug, still it had Tom Hanks!
Knight Chills
A revenge horror film uses a roleplaying group as the impetus for horror is the subject of Katherine Hicks's film 'Knight Chills'. John is a troubled member of a role playing group expresses his feelings for Brooke, but her rebuff leads to the gamer's despondency and suicide. He returns as a black knight who is now killing off the game group one by one. Playing off of the D&D is a gateway for occult activity hysteria, Knight Chills has some solid performances from DJ Perry, Laura Tidwell, and Laura Alexander.
Worth a look for spandex and monster fans and for fans of roleplaying and horror films. Actor/producer/knightchills co writer DJ Perry has expressed interest in another Knight Chills, so let him know (via the link below) that you would want another round with the Black knight.
DJ Perry (actor/writer/producer of Knight Chils)
the trailer for 'Knight Chills'
The Gamers trilogy
(The Gamers, Dorkness Rising, and the Hands of Fate)
The Gamers
The lines between an adventure party and the roleplayers blur in this comedy trilogy. The first film called 'The Gamers' is about a group of roleplayers and their adventures in the game world crosscut with the real world for comedic effect. Produced by the film company Dead Gentlemen with a non existent budget and SCA costumes, the gamers gained a cult following in gamer circles which eventually paved for the second film called Dorkness Rising.
Check out the trailer for 'The Gamers'
Dorkness Rising
In this film, we have a new gaming group. Our lead is the dungeon master who is trying to make an adventure module, but is having a case of writers block. One of the main players brings his ex girlfriend to pad out the adventure party, and its this character that helps the dungeon master with his adventure. This is a comedy from role players to role players with many in jokes as well as broad comedy as well. Worth a look for spandex and monster fans.
Check out the trailer for 'Dorkness Rising'
The Hands of Fate
The third film of the trilogy is called 'The Hands of Fate' I haven't seen it yet, but it promises to be more fun, and revisits the gaming group from Dorkness Rising.
The main link for 'The Hands of Fate'
Here is a teaser trailer for 'The Hands of Fate'
Happy birthday Dungeons and Dragons!
 |
| David A. Trampier's iconic artwork for the first AD&D players handbook |
2014 is the forty year anniversary of the iconic table top role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. Originally created as a role playing supplement to his miniature war campaign game, Gygax's creation would become a juggernaut that would become a part of the pop culture. Dungeons and Dragons complex rules of combat and role playing also became a lightning rod for people convinced that the game was occult in origin and was satanic. It also paved the way for computer games, and eventually was influential in other areas...roleplaying is now a well known tool for character reaction from the corporate to the scientific to possible intelligence operations.
 |
| the medieval miniature game that would eventually morph into dungeons and dragons |
 |
| Gary Gygax had several cameos on the animated show Futurama |
The game system has gone through several reboots, which eventually paved the way for a desire for the old game systems with retro clones of modules. Pretty much new supplements for open source game systems that is old school D&D without any trademarks of the D&D which points out to the staying power of table top games in general.
 |
| Labyrinth lord, one of the new popular games harkening back to D&D's original glory days |
Dungeons and Dragons was a popular saturday morning cartoon, and recently was the backdrop to Futurama's Bender's Game. The game also influenced endless sword and sorcery films at the box office as well as setting the stage for the return of fantasy films like the Lord of the Rings. Direct films with the Dungeons and Dragons name in the title are unfortunately a mixed bag, and it could be argued that its influence is more indirect. I'll focus on two independent films with a grounding in Dungeons and Dragons type of role play gaming...one is the horror film Knightchills and the other is the comedy 'Dorkness Rising' I would include Mazes and Monsters which captured the paranoia of Dungeons and Dragons...but it was more of anti drug film with D&D being the drug, still it had Tom Hanks!
Knight Chills
A revenge horror film uses a roleplaying group as the impetus for horror is the subject of Katherine Hicks's film 'Knight Chills'. John is a troubled member of a role playing group expresses his feelings for Brooke, but her rebuff leads to the gamer's despondency and suicide. He returns as a black knight who is now killing off the game group one by one. Playing off of the D&D is a gateway for occult activity hysteria, Knight Chills has some solid performances from DJ Perry, Laura Tidwell, and Laura Alexander.
 |
| DJ Perry who starred and cowrote Knight chills |
 |
| Laura Tidwell as Brooke |
Worth a look for spandex and monster fans and for fans of roleplaying and horror films. Actor/producer/knightchills co writer DJ Perry has expressed interest in another Knight Chills, so let him know (via the link below) that you would want another round with the Black knight.
DJ Perry (actor/writer/producer of Knight Chils)
the trailer for 'Knight Chills'
The Gamers trilogy
(The Gamers, Dorkness Rising, and the Hands of Fate)
The Gamers
The lines between an adventure party and the roleplayers blur in this comedy trilogy. The first film called 'The Gamers' is about a group of roleplayers and their adventures in the game world crosscut with the real world for comedic effect. Produced by the film company Dead Gentlemen with a non existent budget and SCA costumes, the gamers gained a cult following in gamer circles which eventually paved for the second film called Dorkness Rising.
 |
| The original film 'The Gamers' which set up the film series |
Dorkness Rising
In this film, we have a new gaming group. Our lead is the dungeon master who is trying to make an adventure module, but is having a case of writers block. One of the main players brings his ex girlfriend to pad out the adventure party, and its this character that helps the dungeon master with his adventure. This is a comedy from role players to role players with many in jokes as well as broad comedy as well. Worth a look for spandex and monster fans.
 |
| A new gaming group in 'Dorkness Rising' |
 |
| "You can't use a lightsaber in sword combat!" one of the funny sequences in the gaming world |
Check out the trailer for 'Dorkness Rising'
The Hands of Fate
The third film of the trilogy is called 'The Hands of Fate' I haven't seen it yet, but it promises to be more fun, and revisits the gaming group from Dorkness Rising.
The main link for 'The Hands of Fate'
Here is a teaser trailer for 'The Hands of Fate'
Happy birthday Dungeons and Dragons!
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