DM of the Rings: Difference between revisions

[[File:dmoftheringssucketh.jpg|frame]]

 

 

 

Think about it. Loads of [[Backstory]], few [[Hack and Slash|battles]], limited treasure (even if you aren't expecting a [[Monty Haul]] campaign), and lots and lots of talking (since many events are told to others after the fact).

This would make for a frustrating game. But it makes a great comic.

 

 

The comic doesn't really satirize ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' as much as it makes fun of the the way [[Tabletop Games|roleplaying]] sessions tend to go, especially the struggle between the [[Game Master]] and players. It's been described as an overall example of how ''not'' to conduct a campaign in general.

 

 

This comic has inspired a few [[Follow the Leader]] comics applying the formula to other works, notably [[TV Tropes]] semi-favorite ''[[Darths and Droids]]''.

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{{tropelist}}

{{quote|'''Aragorn:''' Yeah, let's speed this up. ''(kills the [[Mouth of Sauron]])''

'''DM:''' What? You attack him? During parlay? What is wrong with you guys? This is the third time you've killed someone during negotiations!

* [[Cutscene]]: This is basically how the DM wanted to run the game, and actually did it in a couple scenes, like when Gandalf freed Theoden.

* [[Cutting the Knot]]: The players come up with increasingly ludicrous (and hilarious) ways to do this to the entrance of the Mines Of Moria rather than come up with the password (which the DM ends up screaming at them in frustration).

* [[Deep-Immersion Gaming]]

* [[Did Not Do the Research]]: The dungeon master is convinced that corsairs means sailing ship when it actually means pirate or privateer --- [http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1207 here].

* [[Dude Looks Like a Lady]]: Legolas gets this a lot from Aragorn... make that ''everyone''.

* [[Even Nerds Have Standards]]

''The best way to keep players on the [[Railroading|railroads]] is to place large obvious landmines on either side of the tracks.'' }}

* [[Fire-Forged Friends]]: Not the characters, but the players. Legolas hates Aragorn for constantly hitting on him, Aragorn hates Gimli for being a filthy roleplayer, Gimli hates the other two for being disrespectful young punks. By the time they've gone through all the various crap leading up to Rohan, they've all banded together in friendship... or, at the least, united disdain for the DM and his crappy campaign.

* [[Genre Savvy]]: Well... kind of the whole point really. For extra comedy, the characters get occasional [[Wrong Genre Savvy]] moments.

* [[GMPC]]: Gandalf

'''DM:''' And Gandalf.

'''Gimli:''' Right. And Gandalf. }}

{{quote|'''Gimli:''' My name is Gimli, son of Groin.}}

** Done on purpose when they first meet Legolass.. Leggo of my ass... Legolas.

** The DM rambling on while the players talk amongst themselves.

* [[Rules Lawyer]]: Happens a ''lot''. The DM will do it [[Railroading|to keep everyone]] [[But Thou Must!|buckled up in the campaign]] and the players to either annoy the DM (such as an instance Gimli argued against disturbing the army of the dead because [[Lawful Good|it was against his and Legolas's in-character morals]]), or to cheat like a bandit (such as Aragorn convincing the DM that they took their horses through the caves, onto a boat and throughout Gondor, despite never using or riding them the entire way from there to Gondor).

* [[Screw This, I'm Outta Here]]: The game has eight players at one point, and by the end only three remain.

** The comic was originally supposed to end with all but one player leaving the campaign, [[Brick Joke|so he then goes off to play]] ''[[Mechwarrior]]''.

** ''[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=984 Doctor Who]''.

** A movie tie-in one to ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' [http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1183 here].

** ''[[Star Wars]]'' [http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1249 here]. Legolas [[Don't Explain the Joke|pointed it out]].

** [http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=759 A brief one] to [[The Spock|Spock]].

** [http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=922 One of the strips] is titled "[[The Order of the Stick|Disorder of the Stick]]".

* [[Stupid Sexy Flanders]]: Aragorn thinks all elf chicks are hot. Even when he knows [[Dude Looks Like a Lady|they're male]].

* [[Take Your Time]]: Three days after the armies left Minas Tirith for Mordor, the DM reminds Aragorn that he forgot to heal Eowyn and the hobbits that were wounded in the previous battle. So, instead of leaving them to their fate, he decides to go all the way back, heal them and come back, leaving the army waiting on the road for six in-game days without any consequences.

[[Category:Fantasy Webcomics]]

[[Category:DM Of The Rings]]