Dungeons and Dragons, Gangsta Edition (You've Got To See This)

We've all got our favored play styles. Some of us love to kick in the door, kill the monsters, and loot the room. Others love our political thrillers, coveting the high-tension of the cloak-and-dagger plots that could save the kingdom, or topple it. And then there are those of us who just can't be serious, and have to have light-hearted games.

All of us, though, can appreciate the amusement of Mann Shorts, and their various takes on our favorite past time. Like the Gangsta Edition, seen below.

That's just one example of this channel's sense of humor. From hipsters to rednecks, and even a straight Game of Thrones take on TPKs, Mann Shorts is mostly a channel for spoofs. You could read into it more if you wanted to, but before you start digging for subtext, first take a moment to enjoy the videos for what they're trying to do. Which is either to make you laugh, or to give you an idea for your next campaign, depending on your personality type.

You've been warned.

Thanks for dropping in on the Monday update! Again, check out Mann Shorts to get a look at all the videos they post. If you'd like to get more of my updates, then follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, or Twitter. If you'd like to get that Christmas-season spirit going early, then you could help support me by becoming a patron over at my Patreon page. Also, if you do that before the end of November, there's free stuff in it for you!

Nobel Prize Winner Peter Higgs Answers Your Dungeons and Dragons Physics Questions

How many times does some smartass at the table decide to try to bring physics into your game? Whether it's arguing that small-sized fighters can't possibly have that kind of damage output, that there's no way anyone is fast enough to dodge lightning, or that the force of gravity would totally kill you after that fall, nothing is more irritating than trying to invalidate game rules with real-world facts. Particularly since these same individuals have no trouble accepting frost giants, half-orcs, and wizards at face value.

Fortunately, Nobel Prize Winner Peter Higgs has fielded all your RPG-related physics questions!

Finally, I can settle this stupid baleful polymorph debate!

Now, some of you likely clicked the link before you read further. For those of you who decided to stay on this page, though, I've got a spoiler warning for you: the link is by McSweeney's Internet Tendency. For those of you who have never visited their site before, they're purveyors of satire, humor, and fine examples of people who re-post without reading the fine print.

The point made repeatedly by the "award-winning" physicist in the article is a good one, though; science doesn't matter in roleplaying games. Neither does the actual forms and skills used in armored combat, the real intricacies of brewing beer, or ethnic makeups in our world's actual history. These worlds are ruled by what the designers have created, and whether those rules jive with the way things work in the real-world doesn't matter. If the book says you can reload a musket in three seconds, you can reload a musket in three seconds.

Period.

As always, thanks for stopping in for my Monday update! Mondays are free to everyone, but if you'd like to help keep me funded, think about stopping by The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to put some bread in my jar. If you join by the end of August, there's even some sweet swag in it for you! Lastly, if you want to catch all my updates, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter as well.