I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time on this blog analyzing a rules peculiarity out of Dungeons & Dragons that affects my favorite fantasy race, Elves. The reason I have put so much time and energy into this is that a novelist needs to understand his characters so that their interactions make sense within the fictional universe he has created.
Here are the story elements underlying the rules that have been perplexing gamers since their debut.
The ghoul in D&D is actually a Draugr from Norse myth, the inspiration behind Tolkien’s Barrow-Wight and Nazgul. It’s the claws that have been throwing me off. Replace them with the Draugr’s traditional head slap and the rules finally make sense! It becomes a powerful stunning blow that Tolkien pastiche Elves shake off because of their superior fitness and unique healing abilities. Every author has a unique vision, but it’s nice to finally have the rationale!
There you have it! Happy Halloween!
Regards,
John
Here are the story elements underlying the rules that have been perplexing gamers since their debut.
The ghoul in D&D is actually a Draugr from Norse myth, the inspiration behind Tolkien’s Barrow-Wight and Nazgul. It’s the claws that have been throwing me off. Replace them with the Draugr’s traditional head slap and the rules finally make sense! It becomes a powerful stunning blow that Tolkien pastiche Elves shake off because of their superior fitness and unique healing abilities. Every author has a unique vision, but it’s nice to finally have the rationale!
There you have it! Happy Halloween!
Regards,
John
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