# D&D: Explain it to me **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573 "2003-06-17T23:22:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/21 "2003-06-19T06:14:01Z")
Hee…I’d strike up a conversation with you at least. A lot of gaming stores have a bulletin board of gamers/groups to allow them to meet up. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/22 "2003-06-19T06:21:04Z")
**Ranchoth** , one way is to see if your comic book shop has a bulletin board. If you can find a game shop, even better: every game shop I’ve ever been in has had a bulletin board to help customers find other gamers. Alternatively, you can buy the books and badger your friends into playing with you. This is how I got into roleplaying. It does put the onus on you for learning how the rules work, which can take a lot of work, especially if you don’t have an experienced gamer to help you out with it. Lastly, a lot of people run games online, through private chat rooms. I’ve never played that way myself, and don’t know the details of how to find/join a game that way, but I imagine it could actually improve the experience. Probably makes it a lot easier to suspend disbelief when you’re not sitting there in person watching “Sheena, Barbarian Queen” picking Dorito crumbs out of his beard. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/23 "2003-06-19T06:46:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > **Lastly, a lot of people run games online, through private chat rooms. I’ve never played that way myself, and don’t know the details of how to find/join a game that way, but I imagine it could actually improve the experience. Probably makes it a lot easier to suspend disbelief when you’re not sitting there in person watching “Sheena, Barbarian Queen” picking Dorito crumbs out of his beard.** I do play that way (got into the primary group through a friend, which is the easiest way), and, yes, it IS easier to suspend disbelief. Hell, when I was playing Kitsune (2’6" tall, 26 pound female Halfling Werefox), I had people convinced I was female - rather than a 6’ tall, 400 pound male… (The fact that my characters in this group are skewed 4/6 female (Kitsune, Jesse, Nyanka & Katherine to Torin and Alferd) probably owes a lot to the fact the group’s not face-to-face…) ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/24 "2003-06-19T11:49:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Faerun is typical High Fantasy Pseudo-Europe. Zakara is Arabian in flavour. Kara-Tur is Asian, and Maztika is a take on pre-Columbian America. FR is the only one of these settings currently supported. I really wish WotC would give some 3e info for the others, particularly Kara-Tur. This is complicated by the fact that faerun also has a slice of Egypt, several other exotic cultures, and parts of Africa. Go fig. Plus, Al-Quadim is sort of redundant because there is a “Arabian” section of Faerun. Its a very cramped continent. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/25 "2003-06-19T15:39:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > \*\*Even the Dreadlords born in the Dread Realms are borrowings from elsewhere in a lot of cases. > \*\* Not sure what you mean here. You mean because they were in other D&D products before the Ravenloft Setting was created? (Like the original Ravenloft modules that inspired the setting.) Or do you mean because they are inspired by other fictional works? (Like Hiregaard/Malken ~= Jeckyl/Hyde.) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > From elsewhere there’s Strahd von Zarovich (not from another setting…from the original Ravenloft module), > \*\* There are actually two orignal modules before the setting was created. Ravenloft and Ravenloft II: The house on gryphon hill. RL1 has the ancenstors of the Dilisnya’s, I think. RL2 gave us Azalin (was was later revealed to have a Greyhawk background) and Lord Godefroy, as well as the ancestors of several other characters (Dominic D’honaire’s father, The Weathmays’s great(?)-grandfather, Someone named Reneir that may be related to Jacqueline Renier…) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > the Red Wizard, > \*\* While the red wizards of Thay are established in FR, I don’t think that this particular wizard ever appeared in an FR product. He was an RL invention, but given an FR background. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > The Dark Night (who I did not know was a DL character…I never liked DL)… > \*\* Ingrained in the birth of the DL setting. A fan-favorite villian, but IMHO better realized in RL than he ever was in DL. Sadly, the DL creators refuse to acknowledge his time in RL at all. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > The Illithid God Brain…and a few I know I’ve forgotten (can you fill in my blanks, gonzo?) > \*\* I don’t believe the Godbrain appeared anywhere else. There are many Illithid _Elder_ brains, but this is the only _God_ brain. For a complete list of Darklords (There are over 80 of them) and everything else in the world of Ravenloft, check out the RL catalogue at [www.kargatane.com](http://www.kargatane.com). (Disclaimer: I am one of the catalogue editors) But only if you’re a DM. Players, please stay away lest the secrets your DM has planned for you be spoiled. There’s also Gondegal (not a darklord) who first appeared in FR products, but moved to RL, and Jander Sunstar (not a darklord) who first appeared in RL products, with a FR background, and was later used in some FR products. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > And Malvolio (I THINK that’s his name…my Ravenloft stuff’s not handy at the moment), a puppet made by a famous toy maker as a surrogate son… \*\* It’s Maligno, but close enough. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/26 "2003-06-20T04:26:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gonzoron \* > **Or do you mean because they are inspired by other fictional works? (Like Hiregaard/Malken ~= Jeckyl/Hyde.)** That’s what I mean, yeah. The ones from other D&D settings are covered. Hiregaard/Malken is Jeckyl/Hyde (Surprised I forgot him (Them?) in my rundown, as he/they is/was one of my favourites), Maligno (thanks for the correction, BTW) is a twisted Pinnochio, Dr Mordenheim and Adam are Frankenstein and his Monster, Strahd and Vlad Drakov both borrow from Dracula (and the real Vlad Tepes)…I’m sure if I thought a bit I could figure out a few more in this vein. (Heh, I’m so witty. ^\_\_~) > [@](#): > > **I don’t believe the Godbrain appeared anywhere else. There are many Illithid Elder brains, but this is the only God brain.** I seem I could have been more clear. I don’t mean that the Red Wizard or the Illithid God Brain (etc) actually appeared in any of the modules/source books/fiction for the setting they’re ‘native’ to, just that their back-history includes other Planes. (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but I assume that the God Brain isn’t native to the Dread Realms, as Illithids aren’t.) Where on kargetane can one find the listing of Darklords? I can find the realms, but not who’s Darklord of each… ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/27 "2003-06-20T07:21:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ranchoth \* > \*\*Well, it’s a stupid question of me to ask, and it might be the wrong thread, but…how does one go about JOINING a D&D group? I’m a lifelong geek, but very shy by nature, and I’ve never played an RPG. But I’ve always wanted to try it out. > > I’m guessing that making a cardboard sign that says “Toril or BUST” and standing outside a comic book shop wouldn’t be the right way to go about it…but still, I could be wrong. \*\* That’s one of the hardest part about this hobby - joining or finding a group. Different groups have different style, and just slotting into an established group is a best way to make you feel like an alien from outer-space. I think someone has mentioned playing online…another way is to convince your friends to try. The local comic shops here allow people do play RPGs there. Maybe just keep hanging there till someone notices you? (Lame idea, yeah, but the idea is to make friends first before plunging in) Sometimes you may need to ask, but observing how a DM runs his game first is extremely important first. No point joining a DM who worships the Book of Vile Darkness while you want to be a hero who saves the world and to whom sparrows and four-legged furry creatures are attracted to. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/28 "2003-06-20T15:38:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > \*\*Strahd and Vlad Drakov both borrow from Dracula (and the real Vlad Tepes)…I’m sure if I thought a bit I could figure out a few more in this vein. (Heh, I’m so witty. ^\_\_~) > \*\* Yeah, there’s more, I could’ve sworn there was a list somewhere online of the inspriations, but I can’t find it now. (Dr. Moreau-\>Markov, Macbeth-\>3Hags of Tepest, Headless horseman-\>Headless Horseman :), Quasimodo-\>Wort, Bluebeard-\>Bluebeard, Hill House-\>House of Lament, Jack the ripper-\> Bloody Jack) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \*\*\* > (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but I assume that the God Brain isn’t native to the Dread Realms, as Illithids aren’t.) > \*\* The background of the God Brain has never been revealed in canon. (numerous non-canon explanations exist). But I think it’s highly unlikely that it’s a native. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \*\*\* > Where on kargetane can one find the listing of Darklords? I can find the realms, but not who’s Darklord of each… \*\* It’s a bit tricky. There’s no central place with a list, but all the info is in the RL Catalogue. Go to the main page: [www.kargatane.com](http://www.kargatane.com) On the left hand side, you’ll see a link that says “RL Catalogue.” Click it, and you’ll get to the searchable database. Search for any domain and the “See Also” notes should link you to the darklord(s). (Email me or one of the other editors if you find a broken link or any other problem.) If you want to see the full list of domains (which is more up to date than the “Weathermay’s Atlas” list), click the “list all entries” link. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573/29 "2003-06-20T15:56:12Z")
[plug] Oh, there’s also the world of [Tanaeum](http://www.tanaeum.com), but that’s not official or anything. 🙂 [/plug] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-explain-it-to-me/182573.md?page=1)