Dungeons & Dragons: The Honor of Thieves is a movie based on the popular tabletop role-playing game (TRPG) Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). TRPGs are games where players create their own characters and participate in collaborative storytelling with a game master who controls the world and the rules. D&D is one of the most famous and influential TRPGs, set in a fantasy world full of magic, monsters and adventure.
However, if you are expecting this movie to faithfully represent the essence of TRPGs or D&D, you might be a little disappointed. The movie barely touches on the aspects that make TRPGs unique and engaging, such as character creation, dice rolling, rule interpretation and improvisation. Instead, it focuses on delivering a fast-paced action-comedy story set in D&D world with spectacular visuals and witty dialogues.
One of the most noticeable differences between this movie and typical TRPG sessions is the absence of metagaming. Metagaming is when players use knowledge or logic that their characters would not have in the game world, such as information from previous sessions, genre conventions or real-world common sense. For example, players might know/deduce something their character would not know, also if you play a in person campaign, players will always knows what other players knowing and doing.
Although TRPGs emphasize role-playing and generally consider metagaming to be unfavorable, it is impossible to completely eliminate it. In fact, due to the limitations of the gaming method (mostly in person and describing by a DM), metagaming is inevitable and even constitutes a significant part of the fun for most players, whether actively or passively. Metagaming can create humorous situations, strategic challenges or dramatic irony that enhance the gaming experience.
However, this movie does not feature any metagaming at all. The characters act as if they are completely unaware that they are in a fantasy world based on a game. They never question the logic or consistency of their surroundings or actions. They never break the fourth wall or acknowledge their audience. They never make references to other works of fiction or pop culture that might influence their decisions. This does not necessarily be a bad thing, even you could consider it's a good decision, but I'm just saying the movie did not present a trpg campaign but a story set in D&D universe.
This approach might make sense from a screenwriter's perspective who wants to create an immersive and coherent story without confusing or alienating general audiences who are not familiar with TRPGs or D&D. However, it also means that the movie loses some of the charm and appeal that TRPGs have for their fans. The movie does not capture the feeling of playing a game with your friends where anything can happen and where you can shape your own destiny.
The movie is essentially a Marvel superhero film set in a fantasy world. It has a similar tone and style to Guardians of the Galaxy: a group of misfits with different personalities and abilities team up to stop an evil force from destroying everything they love. The movie has plenty of humor, action and spectacle that will entertain most viewers who enjoy this genre.
Overall, Dungeons & Dragons: The Honor of Thieves is a good movie that offers an enjoyable ride for anyone who likes fantasy adventure movies with comedy elements. There was a elderly behind me, I asked if they chose to watch this film because they have played/heard of DnD, and they said they never did, but they still enjoy this film very much!
However, if you are expecting this movie to faithfully represent the essence of TRPGs or D&D, you might be a little disappointed. The movie barely touches on the aspects that make TRPGs unique and engaging, such as character creation, dice rolling, rule interpretation and improvisation. Instead, it focuses on delivering a fast-paced action-comedy story set in D&D world with spectacular visuals and witty dialogues.
One of the most noticeable differences between this movie and typical TRPG sessions is the absence of metagaming. Metagaming is when players use knowledge or logic that their characters would not have in the game world, such as information from previous sessions, genre conventions or real-world common sense. For example, players might know/deduce something their character would not know, also if you play a in person campaign, players will always knows what other players knowing and doing.
Although TRPGs emphasize role-playing and generally consider metagaming to be unfavorable, it is impossible to completely eliminate it. In fact, due to the limitations of the gaming method (mostly in person and describing by a DM), metagaming is inevitable and even constitutes a significant part of the fun for most players, whether actively or passively. Metagaming can create humorous situations, strategic challenges or dramatic irony that enhance the gaming experience.
However, this movie does not feature any metagaming at all. The characters act as if they are completely unaware that they are in a fantasy world based on a game. They never question the logic or consistency of their surroundings or actions. They never break the fourth wall or acknowledge their audience. They never make references to other works of fiction or pop culture that might influence their decisions. This does not necessarily be a bad thing, even you could consider it's a good decision, but I'm just saying the movie did not present a trpg campaign but a story set in D&D universe.
This approach might make sense from a screenwriter's perspective who wants to create an immersive and coherent story without confusing or alienating general audiences who are not familiar with TRPGs or D&D. However, it also means that the movie loses some of the charm and appeal that TRPGs have for their fans. The movie does not capture the feeling of playing a game with your friends where anything can happen and where you can shape your own destiny.
The movie is essentially a Marvel superhero film set in a fantasy world. It has a similar tone and style to Guardians of the Galaxy: a group of misfits with different personalities and abilities team up to stop an evil force from destroying everything they love. The movie has plenty of humor, action and spectacle that will entertain most viewers who enjoy this genre.
Overall, Dungeons & Dragons: The Honor of Thieves is a good movie that offers an enjoyable ride for anyone who likes fantasy adventure movies with comedy elements. There was a elderly behind me, I asked if they chose to watch this film because they have played/heard of DnD, and they said they never did, but they still enjoy this film very much!
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