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1Shout Outs in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''.
2
3* ''TabletopGame/BasicDungeonsAndDragons''
4** In the introductory adventure included in the Dungeon Master's Rulebook, the [[PlayerCharacter PCs]] can encounter a magical bed that puts anyone who lies on it to sleep. However, if someone puts a pea under the sleeping person they'll wake up, a reference to the Creator/HansChristianAndersen FairyTale ''Literature/ThePrincessAndThePea''.
5** Judges Guild campaign setting ''City State of the World Emperor''. One of the rumors is of a glass mountain with a beautiful princess being held at its top. This is based on the RealLife [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Glass_Mountain_(fairy_tale) fairy tales with those elements]].
6* 1st Edition ''Advanced D&D'':
7** The default orcish pantheon includes deities whose holy symbols were [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings a fiery eye and a white hand]].
8** The displacer beast, a cat-like creature with tentacles coming out of its shoulders, is loosely based on a similar creature called the coeurl from ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle''. The xill, a race of four-armed marauders that lay their eggs in still-living victims, are similarly inspired by the ixtl from the same novel.
9** The derro, a race of degenerate human/dwarf hybrids, are inspired by the Deros, a race of {{Ultraterrestrials}} from the writings of Creator/RichardSharpeShaver.
10** Trolls, with their HealingFactor, are taken from ''Literature/ThreeHeartsAndThreeLions'' by Creator/PoulAnderson.
11** The homunculus, both in appearance and method of construction, comes from ''Film/TheGoldenVoyageOfSinbad''.
12** The roper's look and immunity to electricity are from ''Film/TheGreenSlime''.
13** While the creature has deeper origins in Indian myth and religion, the game's particular depiction of rakshasas comes from ''Series/KolchakTheNightStalker'', where one was a MonsterOfTheWeek.
14** Many classes can be traced to popular fantasy characters--the ranger is based on [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Aragorn]], the thief is [[Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser the Gray Mouser]], the barbarian is [[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian Conan]], the paladin is [[Literature/ThreeHeartsAndThreeLions Holger Carlsen]], and so on.
15** The whole [[VancianMagic "fire and forget" method of spellcasting]] is taken from the works of Creator/JackVance. Other Vancian lifts include the githyanki race (InNameOnly), ''ioun stones'', the ''robe of eyes'', the ''prismatic spray'' spell, and the ''imprisonment'' spell (based on the Spell of Forlorn Encystment).
16** The game's original OrderVersusChaos paradigm borrows heavily from the works of Creator/PoulAnderson's ''Three Hearts and Three Lions'' (the same source as trolls) and Creator/MichaelMoorcock's ''Literature/TheElricSaga'' stories.
17** Though Gary Gygax denied heavy influence from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', the original ''D&D' game borrows a lot of elements all the same: hobbits (later re-named "halflings"), wights, orcs and goblins, mithril (later re-named "mithral"), balrogs (re-named "Type VI demons," then later re-named "balors"), ents (re-named "treants"), and so on.
18** The iconic mind flayer is inspired by the cover of Creator/BrianLumley's novel, ''The Burrowers Beneath''.
19** The first World of Greyhawk boxed set features rules for weather conditions. One of them states that there's a small chance that [=PCs=] sucked up into a tornado will be shunted to [[Film/TheWizardOfOz one of several demi-planes]] within the Ethereal Plane.
20** The Sea Zombie in ''Greyhawk Adventures'' is based on the zombies/ghosts in Creator/JohnCarpenter's film ''Film/TheFog1980''. They travel inland under the cover of fog, and the picture has a Sea Zombie breaking through a door with a boathook, a technique used by the ghost/zombies in the movie.
21** In the ''Player's Handbook'', the description of the ''magic mouth'' spell mentions "groat clusters" (a reference to a MessOnAPlate in a ''{{Radio/Firesign Theatre}}'' skit).
22** One of the characters in a sample encounter in the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' is named Gutboy Barrelhouse; this comes from the Creator/RALafferty story "Nine Hundred Grandmothers".
23** The various giant animals included in the game since its inception just happen to be ''exactly'' the right size to match whatever AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever films or books were best-known at the time, from giant ants straight out of ''Film/{{Them}}'' to giant rats fresh from Creator/JamesHerbert's debut novel, ''Literature/TheRats''.
24** The iconic Umber Hulk was inspired by a bootleg minifigure of the ''Series/UltraMan'' kaiju Antlar.
25* 1st Edition and ''Classic D&D'' adventures:
26** [=DA1=] ''Adventures in Blackmoor'': Moorcok (Creator/MichaelMoorcock) and two horses: Círdan (Círdan the Shipwright) and Bill (the pony), both from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''
27** [=EX1=] ''Dungeonland'', which is based on ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'', has the character Charldos ([=CHARles Lutwidge DOdgSon=], Creator/LewisCarroll's real name).
28** [=GAZ3=] ''The Principalities of Glantri'': "Freeze! Glantri Vice!" (''Series/MiamiVice''), diamond loyalty forehead implant (''Franchise/{{Dune}}'''s Suk Doctor diamond forehead tattoo).
29** H2 ''Mines of Bloodstone'': Ruggedo the Gnome King (from the ''[[Literature/LandOfOz Oz]]'' series).
30** H3 ''Bloodstone Wars'': Adair and Arthur (Norm and Cliff from ''Series/{{Cheers}}'')
31** I3 ''Pharaoh'': "My name is Maniozimus." ("My name is Ozymandias", from the Creator/PercyByssheShelley poem "Ozymandias"),
32** I9 ''Day of Al'Akbar'': baking brownies Kieb-Lar and Kieb-Lor (the Keebler elves)
33** I12 ''Egg of the Phoenix'': Mikael Gorchaboff (Mikhail Gorbachev), Fflanidor Fflem (Fflewddur Fflam in the ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'') and Mersyn Olan (actor Merlin Olsen)
34** I13 ''Adventure Pack I'', adventure "The Weird Woods of Baron Orchid". A sign says "I'd turn back if I were you", a reference to the sign in the woods near the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.
35** [=IM3=] ''The Best of Intentions'': The Warren (''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'''s Alpha Complex) and Yertle the turtle king (from Creator/DrSeuss)
36** L2 ''The Assassin's Knot'': a dwarf named Gilmi (Gimli in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'')
37** N4 ''Treasure Hunt'': the Island of Tetris (from the VideoGame ''Videogame/{{Tetris}}'')
38** [=WG7=] ''Castle Greyhawk'': The Plane of Silly and Unused Monsters (the Island of Misfit Toys from ''WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer''), bats being used to send messages (''WesternAnimation/MadMonsterParty''), the three cooks Larifyne, Mowlenhowad and Kurlenshembes (Film/TheThreeStooges: Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Jerome "Curly" Howard, and Shemp Howard), Poppinfarsh the Dough Golem (Poppin'Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy), [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk The Incredible Bulk]], [[ComicBook/SpiderMan The Amazing Driderman]], [[Series/DoctorWho Professor Why?]], [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Captain Kork, Mees Taspark and "Bones"]], [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk Indiana Gnome]], [[Music/MichaelJackson Captain Cheer Eo]], [[Music/MarvinGaye Marvin Grape]]... the entire thing is one long HurricaneOfPuns. Even Creator/GaryGygax gets one, or more accurately a rather vicious TakeThat, as "EGG", an ovoid man with [[AuthorAppeal a pole-arm fixation]].
39** Module X1 ''The Isle of Dread''. The natives who live in the village of Mantru have a deity named Olorin, Lord of the Skies. This is a reference to Gandalf in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', whose real name was Olórin when he was a Maiar in Valinor. The natives' defenses that keep dinosaurs out of their peninsula are straight out of the original ''Film/KingKong''.
40** Module X2 ''TabletopGame/CastleAmber''
41*** The weird and powerful Amber family members who lived inside the title castle were engaged in constant infighting. They and the castle are inspired by the Amberites and Castle Amber in Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber'' series. In the module, one character uses magical Tarot cards. In Zelazny's ''Amber'' setting, Amberites use the Trump deck for fortune telling as if it were a Tarot deck. The module also introduces Grab Grass, which can grab hold of creatures; in Zelazny's work, the Courts of Chaos have grass that does the same thing. Also, two encounters in the castle were references to Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" and the Norwegian fairy tale ''The Literature/ThreeBillyGoatsGruff''.
42*** The characters and situations that appear in the Averoigne segment of the module are based on the Averoigne stories of Creator/ClarkAshtonSmith.
43** ''Magazine/{{Imagine}}'' magazine #8 adventure "Guardian of the Key of Time": The PlayerCharacters may find an intelligent magical shortsword named Mervyn who has the power to cause insanity. He is always depressed and constantly complaining about his lot in life, just like his inspiration, Marvin the Paranoid Android in Creator/DouglasAdams' ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' stories.
44* Module S2 ''White Plume Mountain'' introduced Blackrazor, [[Literature/TheElricSaga a sentient black sword that consumes souls]].
45* 2nd Edition has a few as well:
46** The Island Giant from the Al-Qadim ''Land of Fate'' boxed set has one eye, a horn on its head, furry legs, and hooves instead of feet. Its picture looks exactly like the cyclops in ''Film/The7thVoyageOfSinbad'', and it was clearly inspired by that creature.
47** ''A Dozen and One Adventures''
48*** The beautiful pahari (mermaid) Salana has red hair and is forbidden to have any contact with surface dwellers because she is too young. She rebels against this order and tries to learn about their ways, including investigating shipwrecks. She doesn't bother to wear clothes when in human form as she is oblivious to the demands of modesty. Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid|1989}}'', anyone?
49*** "Eleven Baneful Gates": In the city of Al-Anwahr there's an inscription on the remains of a statue reading, "I am Azaltin! See my works, ye mighty, and despair!". It's from the Creator/PercyByssheShelley poem "Ozymandias".
50** In the ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' adventure "Neither Man Nor Beast", the ship ''Sunset Empires'' and her crew are a loose homage to ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''.
51** The ''TabletopGame/MasqueOfTheRedDeath'' campaign setting takes its title from the iconic Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's "Literature/TheMasqueOfTheRedDeath". In the adventure "Red Tide", the {{PC}}s can find a statuette of a creature with wings, an obese body and a score of tentacles hanging from its bulbous head. This is a reference to how Cthulhu was portrayed in the ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' game.
52** In the ''TabletopGame/KaraTur'' boxed set, gliders are introduced with the tale of how, while visiting relatives in the countryside, the Shou Lung Emperor saw a young man fly while suspended under a gigantic kite – a story similar to "The Flying Machine" by Creator/RayBradbury. However, [[AvertedTrope instead]] of making [[TheWorldIsNotReady the choice his counterpart did in the story]], he makes the inventor the head of the brand new "Ministry of Glorious Flight" and has him build more and better man-carrying kites (some without strings). He explains to his concerned ministers that if one lone man could build such a device, any of Shou Lung's neighbors could, and so his people had better build the best fliers they can.
53** The ''TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}'' setting has a Wild West-like area called Cirramon County. The ruler is [[Creator/JohnWayne Sir John of the Wayne]]. In the ''Princess Ark'' vignette about the area in ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine, when the crew see the local sheriff draw his repeating pistol crossbow, they note he's almost [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke faster than his own shadow]].
54** ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting ''Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue''.
55*** A "fibrous white crystalline material" can withstand intense heat, but wearing a suit made of it can cause the wearer to die of a hacking cough. This is a clear reference to the real life effects of asbestos.
56*** The Bricksman's Catalogue has tools to help bricklayers, but has a description that sounds like it's about a secret society ("let those who understand be advised", "brethren and sistren", "sharers of the trowel and mallet") and is a reference to Freemasonry.
57*** Elven bread has a great taste and provides double the nutritional value of iron rations at half the weight. It is based on lembas (elven waybread) in the ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' novels, which has the same qualities.
58*** Undermountain Alurlyath is a wine made in the underground area of Undermountain near Waterdeep. In the elvish language, its name means "Best of the Temple". This is a reference to the Promenade of the Dark Maiden, a temple to the drow (elvish) deity Eilistraee in Undermountain, which is the source of the wine.
59** The ''Princess Ark'' series featured in ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine is ''packed'' with Shout Outs, featuring everything from a quartet of [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles chelonian martial artists]] to a flying-ship duel straight out of ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', to a culture based on Ancient Gaul where [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} the king is afraid of nothing except the sky falling on his head, and the bard's songs make it rain]].
60** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #6, "Tortles of the Purple Sage": One of the {{Non Player Character}}s is a man named Robison the Crusader, who wears hand-made leather clothing and carries a leather umbrella. Robison has been befriended by a local native with the SdrawkcabName Yadirf, who is barefoot. Robison and his friend are a reference to ''Literature/RobinsonCrusoe'' and his native companion Friday.
61** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #13:
62*** "Going Once...Going Twice": At an auction, one of the items is a painting called "The Seeker" by Michalardo L'Angelo (Creator/MichelangeloBuonarroti).
63*** "Of Nests And Nations": Several {{Non Player Character}}s are named after fictional characters from RealLife works: Fyodor Karamazov and Grushenka (from ''Literature/TheBrothersKaramazov'') and Gregor Samsa (from ''Literature/TheMetamorphosis'').
64** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #22, "Rank Amateurs":
65*** One of the monsters is an undead humanoid named Shaman Tanc ("Sherman tank").
66*** ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'':\
67At the Sign of the Lost Lunch Inn, one of the songs sung in the taproom is "I'm a Humanoid and I'm Okay (I Raid All Night and I Sleep All Day"). This is a reference to the Lumberjack Song, which has very similar lyrics.\
68PlayerCharacters can buy a guide to speaking the Glantri language in which all of the phrases are wrong, being improperly translated as insulting and disgusting. This refers to the "Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook" sketch.\
69In Shaman Tanc's room is a notice reading "Confessions at 10:00, absolutions at 1:00, inquisitions when no one expects them." This is a reference to the Spanish Inquisition sketch ("No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!").\
70The PlayerCharacters will meet a young man named Will Erd, who has 12 pet giant rats. This is a reference to the title character of the movie ''Film/{{Willard}}'', who kept pet rats.
71*** ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'': One of the sections (in which the PlayerCharacters must flee) is titled "Run Away! Run Away!" This refers to the scene in the movie where King Arthur's knights flee a killer rabbit while shouting "Run away! Run away!"
72** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #26, "Nine-Tenths of the Law": The PlayerCharacters will encounter albino alligators living in a pool full of human waste, like a septic tank. The alligators are unwanted pets who were flushed down a drain. This is a reference to the "alligators living in the sewers" UrbanLegend.
73** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #32
74*** Adventure "Pearlman's Curiosity". One of the random encounters the PlayerCharacters can have in the town of Grinley Crossing is with two carpenters named Oliver and Stanley. While pounding nails, they hit each other's thumbs and start bickering with each other. This is inspired by the comedy team of Creator/LaurelAndHardy (Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy), who often used routines like this in their movies.
75*** Adventure "Is There an Elf in the House?" In the torture room there is a stone table with manacles that can hold a victim securely. Above the table is an iron bar with a large blade at the end of it. The bar is attached to a set of pulleys and gears that can cause it to swing back and forth, lower and lower, until the blade hits the victim. This set-up is from the Creator/EdgarAllanPoe short story "Literature/ThePitAndThePendulum".
76** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #33 adventure "That Island Charm" involves the {{PC}}s being shipwrecked on an island. It includes two references to the TV show ''Series/GilligansIsland'' and one to the Franchise/CthulhuMythos.
77*** One sentence in the adventure includes the phrase "...making the others comfortable in their tropic island nest". The ending theme song of the show includes the phrase "to make the others comfortable in the tropic island nest."
78*** One of the {{Non Player Character}}s on the island is Captain Hale, who is described as being a large friendly man who is a bit of a fool. He deeply mourns his deceased first officer, who he calls "my little buddy". In the show, the Skipper (who has Captain Hale's characteristics) is played by the actor Allan Hale. The Skipper often called Gilligan (his first mate) "little buddy".
79*** The adventure includes a marid (monster) named Al-Azif. According to Creator/HPLovecraft, Al-Azif is the original Arabic name of the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Necronomicon]].
80** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #38, "Horror's Harvest":
81*** The {{PC}}s can find three books, titled ''Lady and the Vamp'' (''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp''), ''101 Damnations'' (''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'') and ''Creeping Beauty'' (''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'').
82*** There is a painting in Rook Hill Manor called ''Bat's Entertainment'' (the 1970's ''That's Entertainment'' films).
83** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #42 adventure "The Price of Revenge". The PlayerCharacters will encounter a raven who says "Nevermore". This is a reference to the Creator/EdgarAllanPoe poem "The Raven", which also has a raven which says "Nevermore" multiple times.
84** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #43 adventure "King Oleg's Dilemma". The evil NonPlayerCharacter Bjorn Harnotha is said to have the motive " All for one, and more for me." This is a reference to the 1993 film ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers1993'', in which the evil Cardinal Richelieu says the line.
85** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #46, adventure "Dovedale". Some goblin graffiti the {{PC}}'s can find says "Elfs taste grate/les filing", a reference to the 1980's Miller Lite beer commercials based on "Tastes great/Less filling".
86** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #47, adventure "Quelkin's Quandry". One of the books in Quelkin's library is ''Macbreath'', "the story of an ambitious red dragon who longs to be king". This is a reference to Creator/WilliamShakespeare's play ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'', which has a similar plot.
87** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #64 adventure "The Mad Chefs of Lac Anchois". A pair of cloud giant chefs are named Pol and Prue Dhomme. This is a reference to the RealLife celebrity chef [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Prudhomme Paul Prudhomme]]. The giants' great aunt is named Ju'li Yachild (chef Creator/JuliaChild). Two food critics are named Yan (Martin Yan, star of the show ''Yan Can Cook'') and Marthala Stu'art (celebrity Martha Stewart).
88** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #67 adventure "Training Ground". One of the dungeon rooms is 80 feet deep and filled with wooden poles one foot wide set in the floor. The PlayerCharacters have to cross the room by jumping from pole to pole, with a chance of falling to the ground below if they fail. This situation is taken from the movie ''Film/TheGoldenChild'', in which the protagonist Chandler Jarrell has to cross such a room to retrieve the Ajanti Dagger.
89** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine #68 adventure "By Merklan's Magic". A dwarf owns a hammer golem (magical construct) named Gort. This is a reference to the alien robot named Gort in the science fiction film ''Film/TheDayTheEarthStoodStill1951''.
90** The set bonus for wielding a ''hammer of thunderbolts'' while wearing ''gauntlets of ogre power'' and a ''girdle of giant strength'' is a reference to the panoply of the Myth/NorseMythology deity Thor.
91** An advertisment showing a badly beaten warrior with an arm and a leg in plaster had various signatures on the casts, mostly plays on the names of {{Barbarian Hero}}es from different sources, including "[[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian Con..]]", "[[ComicBook/RedSonja Sonya]]", "[[Magazine/WhiteDwarf Thrund]]" and "[[Literature/TheIcewindDaleTrilogy Wulf..]]".
92** ''Literature/{{Polyhedron}}'' magazine #143 article "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Dungeon".
93*** The PlayerCharacter party encounters a filed of flowers that give off a mind-altering perfume. This is based on the part of the film ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' where the protagonists are crossing a field of poppies when the Wicked Witch of the West casts a spell that makes the poppies give off a smell that puts the protagonists to sleep.
94*** The PlayerCharacter party finds the body of a man pinned to a tree by an arrow that pierces his head. The man has an apple on his head and there is a note on his head apologizing for the mistake. This is from the legend of Myth/WilliamTell, who was forced to shoot an apple off his son's head.
95*** The PlayerCharacter party comes to a bridge that is guarded by a monster (possibly a troll) that demands that they pay a huge fee to cross. This is inspired by the story of the ''Literature/ThreeBillyGoatsGruff''.
96* 3rd Edition
97** Possibly overlapping with ContinuityNod, the [[http://ia600805.us.archive.org/zipview.php?zip=/25/items/olcovers54/olcovers54-L.zip&file=547531-L.jpg ''Player's Handbook II'']] and [[http://images.trollandtoad.com/products/pictures/128270.jpg ''Dungeon Master's Guide II'']] covers feature artwork that could be called revamps of their [[http://www.wired.com/geekdad/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/PHB-cover.jpg AD&D]] [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jekJFiEaILE/TtZgNQTfZmI/AAAAAAAAAWI/Hk1eAAuknB8/s1600/1E+Dungeon+Masters+Guide.JPG counterparts]].
98** On a similar note, the demonstration scenario used to present how the game is played sends the iconic 3e characters through the ''[[MythologyGag exact same adventure]]'' as was used by the 1st edition DMG for the same purpose. The numbers obtained by each character's and monster's die rolls are the same, although the [=PCs'=] 3e stats and abilities are slightly superior and allow a better end result.
99** The ''Dragon'' magazine article "The Royal Heralds", describing a spy organisation that could fit into any campaign, gives the commander of the group the name Sir Kell Fleming. "Kell" as in Sir Vernon Kell, the first head of [=MI5=], and Fleming as in Creator/IanFleming.
100** The brass golem in ''Monster Manual 2'' is a bull-headed giant made from [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin brass (duh)]] that is very clearly based on the Minaton from {{Creator/Ray Harryhausen}}'s ''Film/SinbadAndTheEyeOfTheTiger''.
101** One piece of artwork in ''The Book of Vile Darkness'' shows two skeletons preparing to attack an adventuring party that looks a lot like [[ComicStrip/{{Nodwick}} Yeagar, Artax and Piffany]].
102* 3.5 supplements:
103** In ''Libris Mortis'', an example offered of a potential [[SoulJar phylactery]] for a [[OurLichesAreDifferent lich]] is [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings a plain gold ring with arcane inscriptions on the inside of the band]].
104** Dungeonscape included a bouncy ball as part of the gear you can buy. Given one of the authors is Rich Burlew, it is clearly a shout out to [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Xykon's]] combination of such an item with a Symbol of Insanity.
105** The Monster Manual's depiction of an Animated Object is [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast a three-branched candelabrum with a face]].
106* {{Prestige Class}}es from 3.5:
107** [[Film/ThePrincessBride Dread Pirate]]
108** Film/DrunkenMaster
109** The Ghost Face Killer originates with the kung fu movie ''Film/TheMysteryOfChessboxing'', filtered through the music of the Music/WuTangClan and the slasher flick ''Film/{{Scream}}''
110** [[Radio/TheShadow Shadowmind]]
111** [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Vigilante]]
112** [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk War Hulk]]
113** The Fochlucan Lyrist from ''Complete Adventurer'' is essentially an updated version of the first edition bard.
114** The Cavalier and Thief-Acrobat are based on the AD&D v1.5 classes of the same name.
115** The 3.5 SourceBook ''Tome of Magic'' introduces the Binder class. The class gets its powers by binding various vestiges with seals. While the source of inspiration is obvious many of the vestiges are taken ''directly'' from the ''Literature/ArsGoetia'', including their appearance, names and seals.
116* 4th Edition:
117** The Player's Handbook II gives warlocks the attack power "All the Sand, All the Stars," which [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy breaks the target's mind by forcing them to comprehend infinity]].
118** The Dungeon Master's Guide has a number of these:
119*** It [[InvokedTrope advises that the DM's job is to be entertaining, not original]]. The very next page shows [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings a blonde elf]] [[ActorAllusion stabbing]] [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd a heart in a chest]].
120*** It points out how jarring it would be for the characters to meet [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Tim the Enchanter]] in most fantasy settings.
121*** The chapter on creating encounters has a party being attacked on a broken bridge by a black dragon, which is the iconic cover of the 3e adventure ''Forge of Fury.''
122** The type of undead known as [[CameBackWrong The Unrisen]] are an obvious shout out to ''Pet Sematery'' and one of their examples of multiclassed characters was a [[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian thief/barbarian hybrid.]]
123* The ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting has its share. Including [[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rl/20040825a this]]:
124---> '''WordOfGod:''' Interestingly, Nimbrese have no word for "Wood" or "Forest," because, despite some open meadows and cleared farmlands, they regard all of Nimbral as a place of trees.\
125So, in essence, "''[[Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin The Word for World Is Forest]]''" (or vice versa), right?
126* 5th Edition:
127** Wild Magic Surge is when a Wild Socerer rolls a d100 for a random magical effect. [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy Roll a 42 and you turn yourself into a potted plant.]]
128** The Elemental Evil trinket table includes a romance novel written in Undercommon titled ''[[Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey Just One Shade of Grey]]''.
129** The 5th level spell ''reincarnate'' allows you to cause a recently dead creature to be revived with all its memories intact, in a new body (not just a copy of the old, since the new body can be of a different race than the original) and with a new personality. In other words, you basically make them [[Series/DoctorWho regenerate Time Lord style]]. At the DM's discretion, you may even be allowed to cast it on yourself just before dying, turning your own character into a Time Lord.
130** Trinket #35 in the ''Player's Handbook'' is [[Music/MichaelJackson "A white, sequined glove sized for a human".]]
131** Trinket #45 in the ''Player's Handbook'' is [[Literature/TheColourOfMagic "A tiny chest carved to look like it has numerous feet on the bottom".]]
132** The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' has a list of [[AdjectiveAnimalAlehouse adjectives and nouns]] to generate a name for a tavern. [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings "The Prancing" and "Pony"]] are listed next to each other, as well as [[Literature/TheHobbit "The Lonely" and "Mountain"]].
133** An illustration in the ''Monster Manual'' page, next to Lycanthropes, clearly shows [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast the Beast and Gaston fighting.]]
134** The Archeologist background in ''TabletopGame/TombOfAnnihilation'' features potential signature objects as a [[Franchise/IndianaJones whip, a hat, and a potential Bond is "That artifact belongs in a museum."]]
135** TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}: Rising from the Last War features a random enounters table with several "oracles" offering answers for [[Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy 42 copper/gold]] and a [[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/steven-crowders-change-my-mind-campus-sign gnome at a table with a sign saying "Breland would have won the Last War. Change my mind."]]
136** Unearthed Arcana: Feats for Races may not be 100% official, but it ''does'' give us the feat Human Determination, the description for which begins with, [[VideoGame/{{Undertale}} "You are filled with a determination"]].
137** One of the magic items featured in ''Tasha's Cauldron of Everything'' is the All-Purpose Tool, which is [[Series/DoctorWho a simple screwdriver that can transform into a variety of tools]] by the [[GadgeteerGenius artificer]] that attunes to it.
138** Also in Tasha's, a warlock with a genie patron has a trinket from their patron (like a ring or lamp), which they can magically hide inside. Once inside, the warlock finds a room shaped like the inside of the trinket, like in [[Series/IDreamOfJeannie]].
139** One of the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' Magic Items, the Cloak of the Bat, makes you better at Stealth, and, in dim light or darkness, allows you to glide. Sufficed to say, the fact that it can turn you into a bat was probably to make the ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' references less blatant.
140** The "space clown" enemies from the 5E ''Spelljammer'' bestiary are essentially [[Film/KillerKlownsFromOuterSpace killer clowns from outer space.]]
141** Aremag from Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons is Film/{{Gamera}} [[SdrawkcabName backwards.]]

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