Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ChicagoFreshFilms 07-28-07, 01:57 PM	Hi everyone, Samsung Fresh Films is a program bringing together teenagers across the country to create a short film in just one week. You can learn more about the program here: http://www.fresh-films.com. I am a member of the Chicago film crew, and we are creating a short comedy. The plot synopsis is that the devil's son is summoned by a group of kids playing D&D when one of the kids rolls more than 20 and summons a demon to fight by his side. The Devil's son then gives the kids a quest - to stop people from voting in Popstar USA. It's a little hard to explain, but we would love for all of you to offer your suggestions. We really want to make this film true to the game and one of the most important scenes in the film will actually feature an original D&D gameboard and books. If anyone would like to explain to me the consequencea of rolling more than twenty to me, I would really appreciate it. Our film will soon be completed and up for viewing on fresh-films.com. Voting for the best comedy will take place from August 9th - August 15th and we need all the help we can get. So if you guys are interested in the film, we would really appreciate all votes that we get! Voting is unlimited, so if you really enjoy our film, please feel free to vote as many times as possible! I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions and ideas on how to best incorporate D&D into our film! Thank you, Amber & the Chicago Film Crew
Witch 07-28-07, 02:05 PM	So you're associating D&D with summoning demons again. Wonderful.
jaelis 07-28-07, 02:12 PM	Ah come on... if it's funny there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, the idea that you could summon a devil by rolling dice really is laughable... that's the whole point. To answer the OP's question, in dnd if you roll a 20 you (often) automatically succeed on what you're trying to do. Some people play that if you're fighting and roll three 20's in a row, you automatically kill the monster, but that's not really in the rules. Also, you don't normally roll dice to summon a monster in dnd, but if it works for your plot, don't sweat it.
ChicagoFreshFilms 07-28-07, 03:15 PM	Thank you so much for the the explanation jaelis :) I'm sorry if you are offended Witch, I know that we are stereotyping, but it is a comedy - so I hope that you guys will enjoy it anyway. I'll make sure to post a link to our film when we are done so you can all watch the film if you are interested!
AT-AT Assault 07-28-07, 03:18 PM	Thank you so much for the the explanation jaelis :) I'm sorry if you are offended Witch, I know that we are stereotyping, but it is a comedy - so I hope that you guys will enjoy it anyway. I'll make sure to post a link to our film when we are done so you can all watch the film if you are interested!Witch isn't offended. Witch is commenting on the horrible beating RPGs took in the 80's when "holier-than-thou-I-know-everything-when-I-really-don't" religious zelaots accused accused RPGs of being satan spawn. By making a movie playing into that exact stereotype, Witch fears you may give those people (who are still around) more fuel for their fire.
Jagyr Ebonwood 07-28-07, 03:19 PM	If anyone would like to explain to me the consequences of rolling more than twenty to me, I would really appreciate it. Ummm...there are none. D&D works like this: Roll a twenty sided die. Add the number you rolled to your bonus (or penalty) in the relevant skill (you might have a +5 in Climb, for example). Then, compare the result to a target number (also called a Difficulty Class, or DC). If your number equals or exceeds the number, you succeed. For example, trying to pick a really good lock has a DC of 25. Say you have a +7 in your lock picking skill. If you roll a 15 on the die, you get a total of 22, which doesn't beat a 25, so you fail in picking the lock. It doesn't matter that it was over 20. Now, a better way to do this is to have the die come up greater than 20 (which is, you know, impossible on a twenty-sided die). That way there's obviously something freaky going on. "Okay, roll the twenty-sider for your summoning check." *rolls, everyone leans over the table to see what it is* *die stops tumbling, zoom in to show it reads "21"* "Uhhh..." *demon appears, panic ensues*
Ecalsneerg 07-28-07, 03:22 PM	I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions and ideas on how to best incorporate D&D into our film! Based on your question on basically on of the D&D fundamentals? Actually find somone who can play D&D, and use them as a technical advisor during filming. And I don't man online, learn from a real person (nobody is in fact real on the internet), or even read the books
Jagyr Ebonwood 07-28-07, 03:27 PM	And whatever you do, please try to show D&D in its true light. Don't have them in a dark room (no candles!). Have them around a folding table with bags of Cheetos and liters of Mountain Dew. Don't put them in medieval costume or robes, have them wear shorts and movie/comic book t-shirts. Don't have the wizard player speaking in gibberish/fake Latin as he "casts" a spell. Draw a damn clear line in the sand between "in character" and "out of character", and don't cross it. I suggest you go as far as having a piece of dialog such as: Player: Oh my god! I didn't know playing rpgs could actually summon demons! Demon: Oh, it can't. We just like to pop in on gaming groups often enough to keep the Fundies on their toes.
Witch 07-28-07, 03:41 PM	Witch isn't offended. Witch is commenting on the horrible beating RPGs took in the 80's when "holier-than-thou-I-know-everything-when-I-really-don't" religious zelaots accused accused RPGs of being satan spawn. By making a movie playing into that exact stereotype, Witch fears you may give those people (who are still around) more fuel for their fire. Correct. I'm personally not offended by the idea at all, it's simply that it'll cause even more of an outrage from those bigots.
ChicagoFreshFilms 07-28-07, 04:00 PM	Hmm...where can you get 20-sided dice? I have a source who said that you can play with 6-sided dice as well as long as you play with enough dice, such as 4 or 5. Can you guys let me know if this is true? Jagyr Ebonwood - We are actually showing the kids playing D&D in a church :) Sure, it's unorthodox, but that's part of the fun. I hope that it turns out really great! Thanks for the dice shot suggestion, I think that we'll have a close-up on the dice!! Ecalsneerg - Thanks for the suggestion, we actually do have a guy who play D&D who is helping us with our film. I just thought I'd also ask you guys to help! After all, you guys have the best perspective on the game. I mean, how often do you see films that include D&D? Thanks to everyone so far for your help and ideas. I understand about why you guys wouldn't want me to portray stereotypes in case religious zealots get upset, but I don't think that our film will cause an outrage. This is really just an indie film, and we don't feel that it is that controversial.
Witch 07-28-07, 04:03 PM	You can't play current edition D&D with only six-sided dice. You can make up some own rules or use some alternative rules to do so, but I've never seen it done. 20-sided dice should be buyable in any decent games shop, normally.
ADHadh 07-28-07, 04:38 PM	I think it would be better to buy a whole set of dice or two and leave them lying on the table. D&D is the only game I know that uses even the d12, so there have to be at least a d4 and a d8 as well as the d20.
Ecalsneerg 07-28-07, 06:13 PM	I also recommend filming in the style of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright. We need crash-zooms! How old are the kids in the film, BTW?
Edymnion 07-28-07, 09:11 PM	I will say I'm a little offended by this. I mean, for the love of Mike, its taken us 20 :censored:ing years to get away from the "D&D teachs you real devil magic!" stigma. The last thing this hobby needs is another Jack Chick wannabe making movies about that. Honestly, if somebody started a petition for this film to never be seen by anyone, I'd sign it. You want to make fun of the hobby, then make fun of the hobby. Show geeky scrawny guys pretending to be big buff fighters whoring out on the wenches. Last thing we need is more "D&D is demonic" spotlight, if its done tongue in cheek or not.I mean, how often do you see films that include D&D?That show it in anything but a close minded, derogatory light? None, including this one, apparently. Movies that show it as some devil worshipping cult thing, yeah, I can think of a couple. Try starting out with Mazes and Monsters. Thanks to everyone so far for your help and ideas. I understand about why you guys wouldn't want me to portray stereotypes in case religious zealots get upset, but I don't think that our film will cause an outrage. This is really just an indie film, and we don't feel that it is that controversial.Heh, well at least as an independant film, it'll only get seen by a very small minority anyway, so it can't do that much damage. But seriously, I would walk out on any movie that did this, and demand my money back.
CryoSilver 07-28-07, 09:52 PM	I have yet to see a movie wherein D&D is depeicted as played by anyone who isn't a total loser or psychopath. This movie would appear to be no exception.
WizO_Cat 07-28-07, 10:47 PM	Sorry but advertising is against the Code of Conduct. If you want to put it in your signature, that is fine - but posting a thread to redirect people to a site is not.