Attacking the Darkness... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attacking the Darkness... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
skio
04-03-07, 08:03 AM Quick question: No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the origins of this infamous joke. Could anyone guide me to the truth?

Thanks
Cartigan
04-03-07, 08:06 AM Wikipedia is your friend.
Seeker95
04-03-07, 08:40 AM And your wiki link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dungeons_&_Dragons_popular_culture_references)
Zersch
04-03-07, 08:59 AM If you do a search for "Dungeons & Dragons 8-bit theatre" (possibly theater), you should a little animation that someone put together. In the skii, a character named "Black Mage" says, "I cast a magic missle at the darkness". There's more to it, and you should watch, it's funny.
skio
04-03-07, 09:22 AM Wikipedia does not tell about the ORIGINS of the joke. And what about the video? It has a reference, ok, but about the origins?
okaynowa
04-03-07, 09:28 AM The line hails from a recorded sketch by comedy troupe The Dead Alewives, from their album "Take Down the Grand Master." The most recognizable performer among the Alewives is arguably Rob Schrab, the writer/artist behind Scud: The Disposable Assassin and the short film "Robot Bastard."

The dialogue from the Alewives' "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch has been slapped on top of various fan animations here and there, but try to find the original album. You'll want it for the "Mama Rap."
Zersch
04-03-07, 09:29 AM That was pretty much it. The video, to the best of my knowledge is the origins of the phrase. I could write it out, but it is much better of you watch it.
Seeker95
04-03-07, 11:52 AM Wikipedia does not tell about the ORIGINS of the joke. And what about the video? It has a reference, ok, but about the origins?You don't consider:The "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch by the Dead Alewives Society from a Doctor Demento album includes the infamous "I attack the darkness" joke, as well as references to Mountain Dew and other classic lines. Several fan-made videos have been made using the audio of this piece. This has also been included as a secret FMV at the end of the video game "summoner".to be telling of the origins of the joke?

The origin: The "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch by the Dead Alewives Society from a Doctor Demento album includes the infamous "I attack the darkness" joke.
OmNefarious
04-03-07, 12:06 PM Go to youtube and type in 8-bit D&D. It should bring it up. Also as a side note check out the 8-bit site www.nuklearpower.com
_Jayne_Cobb_
04-03-07, 12:10 PM That was pretty much it. The video, to the best of my knowledge is the origins of the phrase. I could write it out, but it is much better of you watch it.

Nope. The video - several, in fact - was made afterwards. The Dead Alewives audio skit came first.
Zersch
04-03-07, 12:11 PM Jayne, yeah I saw that right after I made the post. Appreciate the clarification though.
Bruunwald
04-03-07, 12:24 PM It's worth noting that it works as a joke because it is either similar or identical to the personal experience of most of us.

I actually had a guy say to me once, "Well, can't I fire my magic missile at the darkness, then?" since he knew somebody was in there. I'm pretty sure others here have heard something like that, too.

(Just one alternate interpretation of the nerfy funness out of many.)
skio
04-03-07, 02:30 PM You don't consider:to be telling of the origins of the joke?

The origin: The "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch by the Dead Alewives Society from a Doctor Demento album includes the infamous "I attack the darkness" joke.

'Inludes' doesn't nessecarily means THEY created it.
Tichondrus
04-03-07, 02:36 PM "Atacking the darkness" comes from 2E.
There was a really overused joke on magic missile since the spell's description read:
"You must be able to see your foe when the spell is cast. You have to target it, but you cannot target something abstract, for example, if there was a way to know who was the general of an army, you could atack, but otherwise you could not simply say 'I atack the general of the army'"
OR something along those lines.

Simultane intiative, in 2E was an everyday concept since init was rolle with 1d10, no modifiers except those of the weapon or spell, so when someone became invisible/casted darkness 30' around or made his enemy blind at the same time that his enemy casted a magic missile, the question was:
"What in earth happens?"

Therefore the pun of:
DM: Ok, what do you cast the missile on?
Player: I'll cast it on the enemy mage.
*rolls are made, everyone laughs a bit*
DM: Ok, you are blind, now, WHAT do you atack? Remember that it's simultaneous
Player: Oh shucks.. I ATACK THE DARKNESS!
_Jayne_Cobb_
04-03-07, 02:55 PM 'Inludes' doesn't nessecarily means THEY created it.

Actually, "inludes" doesn't mean anything at all. ;)

The line comes from a sketch created, written and performed by the Dead Alewives. Subsequently, several animated fan-films have been created which use the original Dead Alewives skit as the soundtrack.

Is that specific enough?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
skio 04-03-07, 08:03 AM	Quick question: No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the origins of this infamous joke. Could anyone guide me to the truth? Thanks
Cartigan 04-03-07, 08:06 AM	Wikipedia is your friend.
Seeker95 04-03-07, 08:40 AM	And your wiki link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dungeons_&_Dragons_popular_culture_references)
Zersch 04-03-07, 08:59 AM	If you do a search for "Dungeons & Dragons 8-bit theatre" (possibly theater), you should a little animation that someone put together. In the skii, a character named "Black Mage" says, "I cast a magic missle at the darkness". There's more to it, and you should watch, it's funny.
skio 04-03-07, 09:22 AM	Wikipedia does not tell about the ORIGINS of the joke. And what about the video? It has a reference, ok, but about the origins?
okaynowa 04-03-07, 09:28 AM	The line hails from a recorded sketch by comedy troupe The Dead Alewives, from their album "Take Down the Grand Master." The most recognizable performer among the Alewives is arguably Rob Schrab, the writer/artist behind Scud: The Disposable Assassin and the short film "Robot Bastard." The dialogue from the Alewives' "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch has been slapped on top of various fan animations here and there, but try to find the original album. You'll want it for the "Mama Rap."
Zersch 04-03-07, 09:29 AM	That was pretty much it. The video, to the best of my knowledge is the origins of the phrase. I could write it out, but it is much better of you watch it.
Seeker95 04-03-07, 11:52 AM	Wikipedia does not tell about the ORIGINS of the joke. And what about the video? It has a reference, ok, but about the origins?You don't consider:The "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch by the Dead Alewives Society from a Doctor Demento album includes the infamous "I attack the darkness" joke, as well as references to Mountain Dew and other classic lines. Several fan-made videos have been made using the audio of this piece. This has also been included as a secret FMV at the end of the video game "summoner".to be telling of the origins of the joke? The origin: The "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch by the Dead Alewives Society from a Doctor Demento album includes the infamous "I attack the darkness" joke.
OmNefarious 04-03-07, 12:06 PM	Go to youtube and type in 8-bit D&D. It should bring it up. Also as a side note check out the 8-bit site www.nuklearpower.com
_Jayne_Cobb_ 04-03-07, 12:10 PM	That was pretty much it. The video, to the best of my knowledge is the origins of the phrase. I could write it out, but it is much better of you watch it. Nope. The video - several, in fact - was made afterwards. The Dead Alewives audio skit came first.
Zersch 04-03-07, 12:11 PM	Jayne, yeah I saw that right after I made the post. Appreciate the clarification though.
Bruunwald 04-03-07, 12:24 PM	It's worth noting that it works as a joke because it is either similar or identical to the personal experience of most of us. I actually had a guy say to me once, "Well, can't I fire my magic missile at the darkness, then?" since he knew somebody was in there. I'm pretty sure others here have heard something like that, too. (Just one alternate interpretation of the nerfy funness out of many.)
skio 04-03-07, 02:30 PM	You don't consider:to be telling of the origins of the joke? The origin: The "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch by the Dead Alewives Society from a Doctor Demento album includes the infamous "I attack the darkness" joke. 'Inludes' doesn't nessecarily means THEY created it.
Tichondrus 04-03-07, 02:36 PM	"Atacking the darkness" comes from 2E. There was a really overused joke on magic missile since the spell's description read: "You must be able to see your foe when the spell is cast. You have to target it, but you cannot target something abstract, for example, if there was a way to know who was the general of an army, you could atack, but otherwise you could not simply say 'I atack the general of the army'" OR something along those lines. Simultane intiative, in 2E was an everyday concept since init was rolle with 1d10, no modifiers except those of the weapon or spell, so when someone became invisible/casted darkness 30' around or made his enemy blind at the same time that his enemy casted a magic missile, the question was: "What in earth happens?" Therefore the pun of: DM: Ok, what do you cast the missile on? Player: I'll cast it on the enemy mage. rolls are made, everyone laughs a bit DM: Ok, you are blind, now, WHAT do you atack? Remember that it's simultaneous Player: Oh shucks.. I ATACK THE DARKNESS!
_Jayne_Cobb_ 04-03-07, 02:55 PM	'Inludes' doesn't nessecarily means THEY created it. Actually, "inludes" doesn't mean anything at all. ;) The line comes from a sketch created, written and performed by the Dead Alewives. Subsequently, several animated fan-films have been created which use the original Dead Alewives skit as the soundtrack. Is that specific enough?