Post/Author/DateTime	Post
babysamurai 08-15-06, 07:05 AM	I’m not saying these shows are bad, but I can’t seem to get into programs like Hercules/Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Xena/Charmed etc. I like my comedy comedic, ala Bill Hicks/Monty Python/Richard Pryor/The Mighty Boosh/Jack Black/George Carlin/Lenny Bruce/Kids in the Hall etc. And I like my fantasy fantastical, ala Elric/LotR/Conan/Heroes of the Lance etc. How do you feel?
Seeker95 08-15-06, 09:11 AM	How do you feel?I feel this would be a lot better discussion if it were about D&D. :P
babysamurai 08-15-06, 09:18 AM	I feel this would be a lot better discussion if it were about D&D. :P Not everything in the "General" forum needs to be directly tied to D&D, just fantasy in "general".
Sarella Starshine 08-15-06, 10:23 AM	i don't mind my fantasy to have comedic parts (ala princess bride). the shows you have mentioned (hurcules, xena, etc) were not ment to fantasy comedy. while i don't mind reading fantasy that has 0 comedy in it, i much prefer one where there is a chuckle or two to relive the unlrenting epic-ness of it other wise, it gets prone very easily to pretensionness (way misspelled) (for example, while i think david gemmell is a good writer and i enjoyed his books, i much prefer reading david (and leigh) eddings)
aotrscommander 08-15-06, 10:41 AM	I think humour is a critical element in any setting, and everything is enlivened and improved by its presence, provided that it is the correct form for the genera and is in an appropriate amount. I thought that the Lord of the Rings movies, for example, were all the better for having some humour within them (despite being my favourite book of all time, LotR can be a little dry). It provides a bigger contrast to more seroius events. This is one of the reasons in my opinion, Stargate is better than Star Trek overall (but not by that much!); the wittisms have me in stiches, while not (often) being over-the-top enough to be detracting. One of the points I liked most about Herucles and Xena was the fact they didn't always take themselves seriously, and Buffy, at it's best, had a superb mix of comedy and drama, which made the funny bits funnier and the drama more dramatic. I have read the Thomas Covenent trilogy, for example (both of them in ther past), but found it too dark and humourless for my taste (the same with the only David Gemmel book I have read); David/Leigh Eddings (at least the earlier works) were much more upbeat. However, I have resigned myself to the fact, that, given my players, it is utterly impossible for me to run a totally serious campaign even if I wanted to!
babysamurai 08-15-06, 10:52 AM	I think humour is a critical element in any setting, and everything is enlivened and improved by its presence, provided that it is the correct form for the genera and is in an appropriate amount. I thought that the Lord of the Rings movies, for example, were all the better for having some humour within them (despite being my favourite book of all time, LotR can be a little dry). It provides a bigger contrast to more seroius events. This is one of the reasons in my opinion, Stargate is better than Star Trek overall (but not by that much!); the wittisms have me in stiches, while not (often) being over-the-top enough to be detracting. One of the points I liked most about Herucles and Xena was the fact they didn't always take themselves seriously, and Buffy, at it's best, had a superb mix of comedy and drama, which made the funny bits funnier and the drama more dramatic. I have read the Thomas Covenent trilogy, for example (both of them in ther past), but found it too dark and humourless for my taste (the same with the only David Gemmel book I have read); David/Leigh Eddings (at least the earlier works) were much more upbeat. However, I have resigned myself to the fact, that, given my players, it is utterly impossible for me to run a totally serious campaign even if I wanted to! Now don’t get me wrong – of course every campaign should have some humour. Just like real life. And I also love the Princess Bride/Holy Grail etc. I just think these shows are un-funny tongue in cheek. To me they are neither good comedy or good fantasy, or even good action. I just realized I also don’t like shows like Stargate/Babylon 5 etc either. Original Star Trek is about all I can handle. …But that’s just me.
renren 08-15-06, 10:56 AM	Charmed was one my favorite shows, but I like alot of supernatural-themed shows, so... And I LOVE Monty Python!!!! :D
Sapp 08-15-06, 11:06 AM	I think it can be helpful to have comedy or elements of fashion, society, culture, drama, history... in a fantasy genre. It helps one immerse in the setting, you know? Otherwise, we feel a bit distanced from the setting. "oooh, fantasy! Pretty dragons!" I don't know about you guys, but I think it would be interesting to see a bit of practical fashion and culture in fantasy, besides loincloth fashion and dragon-slaying and god-slaying culture. Honestly, without those peripheral elements, commoners really are pointless, dragons really are just bags of XP, gods really are just very powerful mortals. All the stereotypical elements of fantasy surface.