#Xenk’s fight scene

[xenksfightscene]

Xenk Yendar’s Fight Scene set to:

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - ABBA

(YouTube link)

[murderousphoenix]

i think my fav part of the new d&d movie was looking at edgin and xenk n going ‘i want them to kiss’

[bakageyama-s]

Doric and Xenk best characters

[possumkingluca]

my propaganda spreading has been successful : )

[jay-wasstuff]

Behind the scenes footage of Xenk's fighting choreography

[comicaurora]

Hey red, what's your opinion on some modern writing that's very lamp shady? And do you have any advice on how to avoid "Well that just happened" dialogue?

It's an interesting question!

The thing is, lampshading exists for a reason, but it's not the reason it gets used a lot of the time. Writers might lampshade a narrative choice they're insecure about, while characters lampshade because the things they go through in a typical story are kind of bonkers, and we might expect them to notice. If a character signs on for a simple mercenary expedition and ends up discovering they're the long-lost prince of a kingdom they've never heard of, that's weird and they probably feel weird about it. If an ally is determined to 1v1 their super overpowered nemesis with no help from their friends, those friends might have opinions about how dumb that is.

This is a form of lampshading that doesn't break immersion because it's entirely in-character and doesn't lean on the fourth wall. There's a difference between a character noticing how weird their life is and a character pointing out how cliched a recent experience was. In the latter case, the character is treating their life like a story, and while it IS a story, they shouldn't know that.

There's a spectrum here, with "complete sincerity and taking every turn of the plot at face value" defining the 0-point and "complete self-aware uninvestment" at the far end, but healthy levels of lampshading live somewhere in the middle. Characters at the 0-point accepting everything that happens without question can feel just as weird as characters that won't stop pointing out the TVTropes entry they're currently living. It's about what it makes sense for the character to find disruptive or noteworthy. A hardened badass probably won't see the need to point out how bonkers a recent fight scene was, but a newcomer to the Cool Bombastic Adventure scene might be really excited when they pull off a cool special move and want to point it out.

I think this is why the recent D&D movie worked for a lot of people, because while the main characters all lampshade their lives to varying degrees, the way they do so makes sense for all of them. Edgin is a bard and storyteller so he has a slightly meta perspective on a lot of things, purposefully avoids playing along with certain narrative conventions and sometimes responds to other people's dialogue by critiquing their dialogue instead of just responding normally; Holga doesn't really care to understand how the world works and so keeps pointing out that they should just use magic to solve their problems, which is probably the most popular lampshade in the whole genre; Doric and Simon don't get a ton of time to shine character-wise, but they'll both occasionally poke holes in the pretense of the story they're in. The thing that makes this all work is Xenk, who plays absolutely every moment completely 100% straight and is entirely immersed in the objectively ridiculous setting of D&D. Same goes for most of the villains, except for Forge, who's probably the wackiest and most self-aware character in the entire movie, but in a way that makes him feel callous and disregarding of the people around him, like he's uninvested in the world not because he knows he's a fictional character but because he has too much money and power to care about anything. The ways each character does or does not lampshade their surroundings make sense for who they are as people and reinforce their characterization and place in the world instead of undermining it.

I recently watched a couple episodes of Stargate Atlantis and noticed something similar - the main character and, to a lesser extent, the rest of his associates from Earth have a tendency to make wry observations about his objectively bizarre life and the eccentricities of the people around him, which helps contrast against the extremely serious and businesslike Cool Space Warriors they keep accumulating, which helps make them feel (a) distinct from each other and (b) relatable considering all the weird stuff that happens. And the protagonist switches off the quips as soon as things start looking perilous for his team, so you never get the impression that they aren't invested in the story they're living, and as a result the various quips and lampshades come across more as a habit or a coping mechanism than a disruption to the narrative itself.

So basically I think you can get away with a lot of lampshades as long as the character doesn't feel like they know they're in a story.

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Sword gays showdown, round 1, bracket three

Propaganda:

For Nandor:

He's hilarious, pathetic, awful and used to be a great warrior. He's even pansexual.

Fucking guy

For Xenk:

His sword isn't just a sword, it's a daggersword. He can use it as a sword, a dagger, or a shortsword AND he can use it as a projectile and still have some sword left over. As for the queer side of the tournament: dude literally gave the smuggest smirk ever in response to a guy saying "I hate you" to him (image the submitter linked). WHOSE RESPONSE TO "I HATE YOU" IS A SMUG SMIRK LIKE THAT.

He gets a scene where he fights a bunch of bad guys while the rest of the party watches his skills in awe. Also the way he acts just gives off gay vibes.

[aspiringwarriorlibrarian]

While I understand the appeal of Xenk as the DMPC here to babysit the group through their mission I assumed that Xenk was like, someone’s kid who wanted to join up for his first session and that’s why the whole party goes along with how awesome he is

“He made a whole tragic backstory for him, isn’t that amazing?”

“Oh let’s give him a fight scene all to himself so he gets a grip on combat!”

“Maybe a little character conflict? Like, nothing overwhelming but just to get him used to the idea that even if someone’s character doesn’t like your character that doesn’t mean that person doesn’t like you.”

Everyone else is pretty straightforward but Xenk is the Platonic Idea of what this kid wants him to be. This is their imagination and Xenk’s player is dreaming big.

[bugbbear]

i tracked every spell cast in the dnd movie

(yes i am autistic how could you tell)

so first off let's get this straight: i am by no means an expert. i did, however, spend like four hours combing through spells to see which ones fit. these are the best fits i could find.

why did i do this? well because screenrant did and they did a shitty fucking job. they cited spells that dont fucking exist! shame on you! do your fucking homework! also, see previously mentioned autism.

ANYWAY! spell list (in order of appearance) under the cut!

ENCHANTMENTS: (magic items, artifacts, etc)

greater invisibility (kira's amulet)

true resurrection (tablet of awakening)

speak with dead (simon's cleric token)

dimension door (hither thither staff)

antimagic field (helm of disjunction)

SPELLS: (cast by a character)

fog cloud (simon)

chain lightning (sofina)

time stop (sofina)

counterspell (simon)

prestidigitation (sofina)

mold earth (sofina)

prestidigitation [x2] (simon)

blur (simon)

telekinesis (simon)

reverse gravity [x2] (simon)

polymorph (doric)

witch bolt (sofina)

fire bolt [a couple times] (sofina)

misty step (sofina)

fire bolt [a couple more times] (sofina)

green-flame blade (dralas)

command (xenk)

green-flame blade (dralas)

holy weapon (xenk)

prestidigitation (simon)

major image (simon)

evard's black tentacles (sofina)

tidal wave (simon)

meteor swarm (sofina)

shield (simon)

polymorph (doric)

animate objects (sofina)

misty step (sofina)

magic missile (simon)

misty step (sofina)

resilient sphere (sofina)

arcane hand (sofina)

maximilian's earthen grasp (simon)

ill be real. the fight scene that starts at 1:57:22 is fuckin hard. i cannot tell a lot of what sofina casts, i have no idea what spell she uses to disarm holga or what she does to push edgin away (twice). here is what i do know:

SIMON: magic missile, shocking grasp, scorching ray (edited)

SOFINA: gust (getting back up), shield, the spell to push edgin back twice (red curtin like thing), the spell to disarm holga

anyway back to your regularly scheduled program

gust of wind (sofina)

time stop (sofina)

counterspell (simon)

polymorph (doric)

REASONINGS / THINGS I WAS IFFY ABT:

druids can only wildshape twice per short rest. im choosing to believe that doric is just Like That, maybe she's 20th level or something

IN ADDITION, druids can only wildshape into beasts. an owlbear is a monstrosity, hence why i marked that she uses polymorph to be an owlbear.

sorcerers dont get produce flame, so im choosing to believe that when he does the finger flame thing its just prestidigitation

when xenk pulls the cat outta the fish, he could be using dominate beast if he was oath of conquest. since we dont know his subclass imma just say its command and he speaks this fish's language

FINAL THOUGHTS: completely inaccurate. no one used fireball. /j

[rizukitikastuff]

I probably late but I just watch dnd: hat and boy it's sooo great 😭 not to mention finally there's ship that making kicking my feet again

so there's few things I wanna address here which probably already stated by someone else but eh I'll just gonna write it anyway: (watching this completely making me confused all the time but it's in a good way)

Jarnathan actually just random judge they utilize to escape?? ha, I thought it was someone Edgin knows personally

Also the bit where the dragon (?) judge saying they actually accept their plead and the woman screaming jarnathan's name really got me

The dramatic thing where Edgin suddenly throw everything because of his wife's death (it can count as streotypical but idk why I found it interesting how he gonna turns out)

The way Holga helped widowed father with his baby and they practically became siblings and raised Kira with love but of course people still wondering what's their status because they're man and woman

When Forge got escaped and Edgin asked him to take care of his daughter i already suspicious, then Edgin and Holga meet him again later on I thought he was gonna immediately be crazy mf but he act nicely to Kira then he got worse as Forge also manipulating Edgin's daughter to hate his father

When the team got dead end because Simon can't get the helmet to work, I can really feel the desperation (the writing is good)

The way Edgin saying he was Champion of Failure really hurts me oh my god

Oh, I liked how Holga fight scene where she fight without only using her weapon but also other thing surrounds her

Where Simon actually beat himself when about to use the magic helmet again, I didn't expect that actually thinking it was his actual great great grandfather, I also give this one thumbs up for the symbolism and the immediate Edgin gives him proud remarks

When Doric make plans to get into slime cub, I really praise her for that quick thinking by inserting finger out and turning herself into snake to make them escaped

When Holga died and Kira really cried her eyes out and there's flashback where Holga literally raised Kira since she was a little, and she is practically her mother, I'm crying so hard on this. And Edgin finally realized that the mother Kira wants is not Edgin's wife but Holga

Edgin and Holga didn't have romance despite raising child together (good!)

When Holga bite her lips to the little guy who give her medal, i crack up so bad.. she really into that type huh

 I actually glad that Doric take Simon into consideration and not sudden romantic things

Overall, like this movie really consistent about the each characters personality I love that

Oh I will make comment about Xenk in other post (also include xedgin)

[xenksfightscene]

Rasputin

Xenk Yendar's fight scene set to:

Rasputin by Boney M

(Requested by @tardisman14)

YouTube link

[sparrowsarus]

I'm sorry, but I have to ask about Abhorsen!Ed because I could just talk to you about this idea for ages. 😄 What part are you most excited to write? and 🃏 Wildcard, dealer’s choice: share a snippet, a thought, a concern, a feeling, anything you like!

Never be sorry. You and I are probably the only audience for this AU (which I intend to focus more fully on after The Blue Knight). Talk to me about it when and whatever.

I am most excited to write about the binding of Szass Tam! I have a few ideas about the situation.

Also: Ed asking Xenk for sword practice, because it's been a while and Holga's fighting style is just too different from his. It just looks so cool in my head!!

Here are the bellwielders:

Kira: Ranna is the Sleeper, the smallest bell, with a sweet and low sound, which brings sleep to those who hear it.

Simon: Mosrael is the Waker, a harsh and rowdy bell, which brings dead bodies to life as the wielder falls into Death in a see-saw effect.

Holga: Kibeth is the Walker, a difficult and contrary bell of several sounds, which can make others go where you wish.

Doric: Belgaer is the Thinker, a tricksome bell that seeks to ring of its own accord, which allows independent thought for the Dead, or erases memories.

Ed: Dyrim is the Speaker, a musical bell with a clear and pretty tone, which allows speech or makes things mute, and can silence someone if their tongue moves too freely.

Xenk: Saraneth is the Binder, the deepest, lowest bell, which forces the listener to obey the wielder's will.

Zia: Astarael is the Weeper, the largest bell, which throws all who hear it, including the wielder, deep into Death. (hundred hundred heartbeats)

I am concerned about actually...writing it. It may end up a series of disconnected scenes, a blend of the movie and Abhorsen, otherwise I can see it breaking down very fast.

[ansu-gurleht]

a couple weeks ago @lanaevyss showed me that dungeons and dragons movie from last year and holy shit xenk is SO FUCKING COOL in that movie, especially that fight scene with those assassins????? the fucking like. ejectable-blade dagger thing? the holy enchantment he puts on it during the fight with the leader? just how SEXILY COMPETENT he is???????

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Like all of you, I have been starving for a good high fantasy epic that was fun, feels fresh and tangible. I too was there for the opening night of what would go down in history as one of the worst representations of a beloved fantasy game. The 2000 version of Dungeons & Dragons was........well, garbage. I had fun with certain aspects of that film as a kid, but even I didn't know what the film was trying to accomplish. Fast forward 23 years later and the titular game has reached a new height in popularity. I myself have never played but thanks to shows like Critical Role, Stranger Things, and my entry point The Legend of Vox Machina, I have become a little more versed in the terminology, creatures, classes and rules. I learned that anything goes as you the player are thrust into a new world that the dungeon master has crafted and how the roll of the dice determines your fate and the fate of your fellow party members. That's exactly the feeling I got from this film and I was happy to see that the filmmakers did their homework and made a fun experience of a film. Did it always hit its mark as an engaging and compelling story though? Not really. Yeah there is alot of cheesy storytelling and dialogue in the film that I felt could've flowed better. The film had hilarious moments of comedy and joy, but lacked the necessary depth that could've been mined from such a rich set up. The story was incredibly predictable and there was so much happening at times that it was dizzying. It couldn't truly hone in on what tone they were going for. A number of characters were very surface level and a particular characters' story payoff wasn't earned at all and rushed.

Chris Pine was fun and charming as the bumbling bard Edgin Darvis. I loved his sense of humor along the adventure and how he played an unconventional type of hero which was that was refreshing. Chloe Coleman is always a joy to see on screen and as his daughter Kira, she was good. Their chemistry was good in the film as we get to see their strained relationship play out. Michelle Rodriguez was really fun as the barbarian Holga Kilgore. She's gets the majority of the action sequences in the film and she handles them as great as you'd expect. Her friendship with Edgin was the soul of the film and her motherly bond with Kira was great. Justice Smith was good as the half-elf sorcerer Simon Aumar. I liked his mixture of using practical items and actual magic. He struggle to become self-confident was interesting to watch, but it felt extremely rushed as he reaches a resolution that didn't feel earned. Sophia Lillis was decent as the tiefling druid Doric. I thought her escape sequence was amazingly shot and the variety of animals she changes into was well executed, but she was a very one note character. Her backstory gives the reason for constant stoic nature, but doesn't really give her much to do outside of that. Hugh Grant was mostly playing himself as the rogue con man Forge Fitzwilliam. He was good, but he felt more like a greedy game show host that kept his word, but in a round about way. Regé-Jean Page was perfect as the paladin, Xenk Yendar. He truly had fun being the stereotypical pure hearted hero to the point where it is almost comical how straight and narrow the character was. He had an awesome fight scene in the second act of the film and it was wonderfully shot. Daisy Head was very much the antagonist of the film Sofina, a Red Wizard of Thay. She had one mode in the film and that was be creepy while rarely blinking. She nailed it and she felt like the mid level boss in a video game that has some challenge, but is easily defeated once you see the pattern.

The score by Lorne Balfe was epic and fun in the best way. There were moments where the score overpowered the sound in the film that it almost drowned out the dialogue. Visually the film is stunning and the effects were excellent. The dragon sequence and final battle of the film were a visual spectacle. What I truly loved was the practical creatures in the film and how gorgeous they looked. The opening scene blew me away with the use of more practical locals and creatures. The sound design in the film was good, but unbalanced when it came to dialogue and the surrounding thunderous sounds made it hard to understand what was said. As I said before, the character growth was truly rushed and the tone was a bit all over the place. The extremely predictable plot and weak villains made for an almost inconsequential finale. So the real questions need to be asked. Was it better than the 2000 film? Alot better. Was it the best high fantasy storytelling I've seen a long time? Nope. Was it enjoyable? Yeah, in that streaming on Netflix type of way. To me this was good matinee film that plays it safe and doesn't leave you with anything that’s particularly memorable. I would like to see a sequel or another film under the D&D brand, but this time more focused and a little bit more serious. I liked the fun aspect of it, but there were times where it seriously needed to grow up. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

[puffin-smoke]

Yooo, I just saw the new dnd movie! I'll try and be as spoiler free in this review as I can but, be warned, I am an idiot.

It was pretty good, very clearly made by people who genuinely love the game and the world it inhabits. All the actors were great (I'm living for Xenk's entire being, you have no idea), they all were great in their roles and really encapsulated the general rag tag vibe of a dnd party!

Although some of the CGI could be off putting at times, it for the most part looked really good, especially when it was used in less intense manners. There was some really good directing aswell, some cool instances where they play with sizes and all of the fight and chase scenes were great, although some felt slightly heavy on the shakey camera.

All in all, a great movie, I'd reccomend it! Just a fun time, sort of reminded me of Guardians of the Galaxy in a way.

[space-mouse]

anyway good movie. clearly so full of love for ttrpg's. they went so ham on the fight scenes and the landscapes and i respect it tremendously. i do need to go back and pause the movie and stare at the rocks. also xenk walking in a straight line for like. multiple minutes. is SO funny