• Re: New DnD products from LEGO and... Converse?

    From Kyonshi@gmkeros@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego on Thu Apr 4 10:15:46 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 3/22/2024 10:36 AM, kyonshi wrote:
    https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/19/24105862/lego-dungeons-and-dragons-pictures-price-release-date

    This one at least comes with it's own playable adventure, so this is actually appropriate for rec.games.frp.dnd.
    Oh, and well, there's the whole "using lego figures as minis" thing that some people do.


    https://www.polygon.com/2024/3/20/24107034/converse-dungeons-dragons-chuck-taylor-fashion-collection-high-tops

    This one is literally just lifestyle branding. And I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I kind of hate the way they are trying to force that sort of bland renfair fantasy on their customers.
    In this case the stuff actually looks quite cool I have to admit though.
    Not that I would buy that one, except for my kids.
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    From: kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com>
    Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego
    Subject: New DnD products from LEGO and... Converse?
    Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:36:22 +0100
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    https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/19/24105862/lego-dungeons-and-dragons-pictures-price-release-date

    This one at least comes with it's own playable adventure, so this is actually appropriate for rec.games.frp.dnd.
    Oh, and well, there's the whole "using lego figures as minis" thing that some people do.


    https://www.polygon.com/2024/3/20/24107034/converse-dungeons-dragons-chuck-taylor-fashion-collection-high-tops

    This one is literally just lifestyle branding. And I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I kind of hate the way they are trying to force that sort of bland renfair fantasy on their customers.
    In this case the stuff actually looks quite cool I have to admit though.
    Not that I would buy that one, except for my kids.


    and some more stuff...
    Clothing https://game-news24.com/2024/04/03/a-blackmilk-clothing-line-is-revealed-by-dungeons-and-dragon/

    Stumble Guys (whatever that is) https://toybook.com/stumble-guys-hasbro-dungeons-and-dragons-news/
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  • From Justisaur@justisaur@yahoo.com to rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego on Fri Apr 5 08:30:59 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/4/2024 1:15 AM, Kyonshi wrote:
    On 3/22/2024 10:36 AM, kyonshi wrote:
    https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/19/24105862/lego-dungeons-and-dragons-pictures-price-release-date

    This one at least comes with it's own playable adventure, so this is
    actually appropriate for rec.games.frp.dnd.
    Oh, and well, there's the whole "using lego figures as minis" thing
    that some people do.


    https://www.polygon.com/2024/3/20/24107034/converse-dungeons-dragons-chuck-taylor-fashion-collection-high-tops

    This one is literally just lifestyle branding. And I don't know if I
    mentioned it before, but I kind of hate the way they are trying to
    force that sort of bland renfair fantasy on their customers.
    In this case the stuff actually looks quite cool I have to admit
    though. Not that I would buy that one, except for my kids.
    X-Hamster-Info: Score=0 ScoreLoad=0 ScoreSave=0 Received=20240329214304
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    From: kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com>
    Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego
    Subject: New DnD products from LEGO and... Converse?
    Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:36:22 +0100
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    https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/19/24105862/lego-dungeons-and-dragons-pictures-price-release-date

    This one at least comes with it's own playable adventure, so this is
    actually appropriate for rec.games.frp.dnd.
    Oh, and well, there's the whole "using lego figures as minis" thing
    that some people do.


    https://www.polygon.com/2024/3/20/24107034/converse-dungeons-dragons-chuck-taylor-fashion-collection-high-tops

    This one is literally just lifestyle branding. And I don't know if I
    mentioned it before, but I kind of hate the way they are trying to
    force that sort of bland renfair fantasy on their customers.
    In this case the stuff actually looks quite cool I have to admit
    though. Not that I would buy that one, except for my kids.


    and some more stuff...
    Clothing https://game-news24.com/2024/04/03/a-blackmilk-clothing-line-is-revealed-by-dungeons-and-dragon/

    Link to the actual clothes:

    https://blog.blackmilkclothing.com/dungeons-and-dragons-lookbook/

    Those look pretty cool, too bad 9/10ths are women's clothes, and the few
    men's look a bit trash other than the dragon sweater. I don't really
    want or need the & on the sleeve and can probably find better dragon
    shirts if I look around though.

    Stumble Guys (whatever that is) https://toybook.com/stumble-guys-hasbro-dungeons-and-dragons-news/

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1677740/Stumble_Guys/

    Battle Royale computer game. I think those are starting to wane in
    popularity and that looks like a cash grab, of course so does all this
    crap that's not D&D itself. I seem to remember TSR doing dumb shit like
    this before both downfalls.
    --
    -Justisaur

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  • From Kyonshi@gmkeros@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego on Sat Apr 6 20:06:19 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 3/22/2024 10:36 AM, kyonshi wrote:
    https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/19/24105862/lego-dungeons-and-dragons-pictures-price-release-date

    This one at least comes with it's own playable adventure, so this is actually appropriate for rec.games.frp.dnd.
    Oh, and well, there's the whole "using lego figures as minis" thing that some people do.


    https://www.polygon.com/2024/3/20/24107034/converse-dungeons-dragons-chuck-taylor-fashion-collection-high-tops

    This one is literally just lifestyle branding. And I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I kind of hate the way they are trying to force that sort of bland renfair fantasy on their customers.
    In this case the stuff actually looks quite cool I have to admit though.
    Not that I would buy that one, except for my kids.


    Just came across this: Dungeons and Dragons Hero's Potion of Power
    (Cherry Lime Flavor) energy drink.
    I'd actually try that at least once.

    https://dice.camp/@monsterfight5e/112225397406824778
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  • From Kyonshi@gmkeros@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego on Sat Apr 6 20:09:31 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/5/2024 5:30 PM, Justisaur wrote:

    Link to the actual clothes:

    https://blog.blackmilkclothing.com/dungeons-and-dragons-lookbook/

    Those look pretty cool, too bad 9/10ths are women's clothes, and the few men's look a bit trash other than the dragon sweater.-a I don't really
    want or need the & on the sleeve and can probably find better dragon
    shirts if I look around though.

    Stumble Guys (whatever that is)
    https://toybook.com/stumble-guys-hasbro-dungeons-and-dragons-news/

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1677740/Stumble_Guys/

    Battle Royale computer game.-a I think those are starting to wane in popularity and that looks like a cash grab, of course so does all this
    crap that's not D&D itself.-a I seem to remember TSR doing dumb shit like this before both downfalls.


    meh, I am interested in neither, but I just find it interesting how WotC/Hasbro right now is trying to push the brand Dungeons and Dragons
    so badly. I think they are just signing up for any licensing deal they
    can find, and most of this stuff is stupid. The main generic fantasy
    aesthetic of DnD is just not interesting enough to really make this a
    viable lifestyle brand.

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  • From Spalls Hurgenson@spallshurgenson@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd on Sat Apr 6 20:38:50 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On Sat, 6 Apr 2024 20:09:31 +0200, Kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com> wrote:

    meh, I am interested in neither, but I just find it interesting how >WotC/Hasbro right now is trying to push the brand Dungeons and Dragons
    so badly. I think they are just signing up for any licensing deal they
    can find, and most of this stuff is stupid. The main generic fantasy >aesthetic of DnD is just not interesting enough to really make this a
    viable lifestyle brand.

    Of course, none of this is really new for D&D. Even back in the TSR
    days, there was a lot of crap that licensed the D&D branding
    (everything from model clay kits to birthday party paper plates). Over
    the years, the selection became a bit more sophisticated but there's
    been D&D t-shirts and jewelry for years (not to mention all the LEGOs,
    toys, comic books, video games, etc.)

    I think Hasbro bet hard that the recently released movie was going to
    be a much larger success than it turned out to be, and - expecting
    that movie to draw in a much more varied crowd - eagerly shared their
    license out to anyone who came asking. They thought "Honor Amongst
    Thieves" was going to be another Star Wars... or at least a "Game of
    Thrones". And had it succeeded, all these licensed products would have
    been snatched up by people who saw the brand as something exciting and
    new.

    But then the movie flopped, and all these licensing deals became
    superfluous, and Hasbro's exuberance seems a bit silly in retrospect.




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  • From Kyonshi@gmkeros@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd on Mon Apr 8 12:51:04 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd


    Of course, none of this is really new for D&D. Even back in the TSR
    days, there was a lot of crap that licensed the D&D branding
    (everything from model clay kits to birthday party paper plates). Over
    the years, the selection became a bit more sophisticated but there's
    been D&D t-shirts and jewelry for years (not to mention all the LEGOs,
    toys, comic books, video games, etc.)

    I think Hasbro bet hard that the recently released movie was going to
    be a much larger success than it turned out to be, and - expecting
    that movie to draw in a much more varied crowd - eagerly shared their
    license out to anyone who came asking. They thought "Honor Amongst
    Thieves" was going to be another Star Wars... or at least a "Game of Thrones". And had it succeeded, all these licensed products would have
    been snatched up by people who saw the brand as something exciting and
    new.

    But then the movie flopped, and all these licensing deals became
    superfluous, and Hasbro's exuberance seems a bit silly in retrospect.


    But these deals are coming a bit late as a cash in for the movie. The
    movie was out a year ago, and all these things just are coming out right
    now.
    I don't think this is the usual licensing mess going on, I think this is
    them desperately trying to milk more money out of the license before
    it's burned out.
    It's the old problem that they really can't make as much money with the
    books and supplements as they could make otherwise. Players don't need
    as many books as DMs. DMs are the ones that buy all the books, and even
    then it's limited.
    TSR and later WOTC tried to alleviate this problem with some
    player-centered supplements. But you can only sell that many character dossiers and player handbooks.
    So now that there was a movie (it wasn't a success, but I think it's
    gaining traction on streaming) and there was a popular new CRPG, and
    Critical Role also still is somewhat there, they are trying to monetize
    the players. With this stuff you can show that you are into DnD.
    And it's not a bad idea as such, except that they never established a
    really good product branding. The art they are using is bog-standard
    fantasy art that could be for everything.

    But there's another important matter with that regard: it likely doesn't
    cost them a penny and increases their mindshare. It's the companies
    licensing the stuff that have to pay, and they decided that there is a
    market for this stuff. for WOTC and Hasbro it's free money, as long as
    they don't oversaturate the market. An altogether they don't throw their license at people as badly as TSR did in some of their worst moments.
    The Converse sneakers are not great, but they are serviceable. The
    blackmilk clothes don't really look like DnD stuff, but they have some
    nods in there.
    And stuff like that Stumble Guys tie in is useful cross promotion. I
    never would have known a game like stumble guys existed, while Stumble
    Guys players might never have known that DnD exists.
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  • From Justisaur@justisaur@yahoo.com to rec.games.frp.dnd on Mon Apr 8 08:08:21 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/8/2024 3:51 AM, Kyonshi wrote:

    Of course, none of this is really new for D&D. Even back in the TSR
    days, there was a lot of crap that licensed the D&D branding
    (everything from model clay kits to birthday party paper plates). Over
    the years, the selection became a bit more sophisticated but there's
    been D&D t-shirts and jewelry for years (not to mention all the LEGOs,
    toys, comic books, video games, etc.)

    I think Hasbro bet hard that the recently released movie was going to
    be a much larger success than it turned out to be, and - expecting
    that movie to draw in a much more varied crowd - eagerly shared their
    license out to anyone who came asking. They thought "Honor Amongst
    Thieves" was going to be another Star Wars... or at least a "Game of
    Thrones". And had it succeeded, all these licensed products would have
    been snatched up by people who saw the brand as something exciting and
    new.

    But then the movie flopped, and all these licensing deals became
    superfluous, and Hasbro's exuberance seems a bit silly in retrospect.


    But these deals are coming a bit late as a cash in for the movie. The
    movie was out a year ago, and all these things just are coming out right now.

    I think it's more the success of BG3. However that's still the D&D
    game. It's obvious the guys running the show are clueless.
    --
    -Justisaur

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  • From Justisaur@justisaur@yahoo.com to rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego on Mon Apr 8 08:10:09 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/6/2024 11:06 AM, Kyonshi wrote:


    Just came across this: Dungeons and Dragons Hero's Potion of Power
    (Cherry Lime Flavor) energy drink.
    I'd actually try that at least once.

    https://dice.camp/@monsterfight5e/112225397406824778

    Interesting they're using the TSR Mentzer Basic D&D art and logo.
    --
    -Justisaur

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  • From Kyonshi@gmkeros@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego on Tue Apr 9 10:00:10 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/8/2024 5:10 PM, Justisaur wrote:
    On 4/6/2024 11:06 AM, Kyonshi wrote:


    Just came across this: Dungeons and Dragons Hero's Potion of Power
    (Cherry Lime Flavor) energy drink.
    I'd actually try that at least once.

    https://dice.camp/@monsterfight5e/112225397406824778

    Interesting they're using the TSR Mentzer Basic D&D art and logo.


    It is rather iconic I think. More iconic that most other DnD art lately.
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  • From Kyonshi@gmkeros@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd on Tue Apr 9 09:59:31 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/8/2024 5:08 PM, Justisaur wrote:


    I think it's more the success of BG3.-a However that's still the D&D
    game.-a It's obvious the guys running the show are clueless.


    Well, that has been evident for a while. I think Hasbro contracted a
    case of executives squeezing out all the money before gutting the
    company. You know, the Sears disease.
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  • From Justisaur@justisaur@yahoo.com to rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.toys.lego on Tue Apr 9 07:46:18 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/9/2024 1:00 AM, Kyonshi wrote:
    On 4/8/2024 5:10 PM, Justisaur wrote:
    On 4/6/2024 11:06 AM, Kyonshi wrote:


    Just came across this: Dungeons and Dragons Hero's Potion of Power
    (Cherry Lime Flavor) energy drink.
    I'd actually try that at least once.

    https://dice.camp/@monsterfight5e/112225397406824778

    Interesting they're using the TSR Mentzer Basic D&D art and logo.


    It is rather iconic I think. More iconic that most other DnD art lately.

    Maybe the demon idol 1e PHB cover is more, but it's questionable. I
    prefer it. While technically the Mentzer Basic cover is better and has
    so much movement, the dragon looks like a doofus with Kewpie doll curl
    single horn, making it a unidragon? dragoncorn? Also only a single PC.
    --
    -Justisaur

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  • From Spalls Hurgenson@spallshurgenson@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd on Tue Apr 9 11:01:14 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On Tue, 9 Apr 2024 10:00:10 +0200, Kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 4/8/2024 5:10 PM, Justisaur wrote:
    On 4/6/2024 11:06 AM, Kyonshi wrote:


    Just came across this: Dungeons and Dragons Hero's Potion of Power
    https://dice.camp/@monsterfight5e/112225397406824778

    Interesting they're using the TSR Mentzer Basic D&D art and logo.

    It is rather iconic I think. More iconic that most other DnD art lately.

    Well, you can't go wrong with classic Elmore art. The new stuff tends
    to be more... cartoony, I suppose. More comic-book. It has softer
    lines and more curves. I preferred the grittier artwork used by
    Elmore, Caldwell, Easley and the rest. They had sharp lines and all
    these little details that made the visuals a delight to stare at as
    you picked out all the tiny particulars.

    That art really helped set the tone for the sort of campaigns I liked
    to play: games which focused on strategy and preparation, where
    details mattered, where not having that ten-foot pole could doom your
    party (and how getting that pole through the dungeon was a real
    concern!). Modern games tend to be more relaxed in terms of
    preparation, more focused on the action and powering up the PCs. You
    know: more comic-book.

    Which is all fine, it's just not the sort of game I enjoy. But it goes
    to show how the artwork can influence the style of the game.


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  • From Justisaur@justisaur@yahoo.com to rec.games.frp.dnd on Tue Apr 9 14:55:05 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/9/2024 8:01 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Tue, 9 Apr 2024 10:00:10 +0200, Kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 4/8/2024 5:10 PM, Justisaur wrote:
    On 4/6/2024 11:06 AM, Kyonshi wrote:


    Just came across this: Dungeons and Dragons Hero's Potion of Power
    https://dice.camp/@monsterfight5e/112225397406824778

    Interesting they're using the TSR Mentzer Basic D&D art and logo.

    It is rather iconic I think. More iconic that most other DnD art lately.

    Well, you can't go wrong with classic Elmore art. The new stuff tends
    to be more... cartoony, I suppose. More comic-book. It has softer
    lines and more curves. I preferred the grittier artwork used by
    Elmore, Caldwell, Easley and the rest. They had sharp lines and all
    these little details that made the visuals a delight to stare at as
    you picked out all the tiny particulars.

    That art really helped set the tone for the sort of campaigns I liked
    to play: games which focused on strategy and preparation, where
    details mattered, where not having that ten-foot pole could doom your
    party (and how getting that pole through the dungeon was a real
    concern!). Modern games tend to be more relaxed in terms of
    preparation, more focused on the action and powering up the PCs. You
    know: more comic-book.

    Which is all fine, it's just not the sort of game I enjoy. But it goes
    to show how the artwork can influence the style of the game.

    That explains why I like 1e art, Trampier and Otis particularly. Some
    of it is humorous, some of it looks thrown together, some like a
    psychedelic trip, much of it weird, but some just has a je ne sais quoi rawness that really grabs me.

    Just how I like to run a game.
    --
    -Justisaur

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  • From Kyonshi@gmkeros@gmail.com to rec.games.frp.dnd on Wed Apr 10 10:24:14 2024
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd

    On 4/9/2024 11:55 PM, Justisaur wrote:


    That explains why I like 1e art, Trampier and Otis particularly.-a Some
    of it is humorous, some of it looks thrown together, some like a
    psychedelic trip, much of it weird, but some just has a je ne sais quoi rawness that really grabs me.

    Just how I like to run a game.


    I have to say a lot of my inspiration comes from British artists,
    especially in the old Fighting Fantasy books (which were much easier to
    get than DnD when I was a kid). Some of that art has that specific
    British fantasy grittiness that for some reason went away after the
    early 90s and only resurfaced a bit when the OSR came around. Russ
    Nicholson especially, and he previously did work on White Dwarf and the
    Fiend Folio.
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