History WMG / DungeonsAndDragons

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[[folder: The game]]

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[[folder: The animated series]]
[[WMG:Tiamat is Venger's mother.]]

She's the only thing in the entire Realm he's scared of, including other dragons and Dungeon Master. And Venger clearly didn't get his looks from his dad. If [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Skitty and Wailord]] is possible...
* But we already know from several episodes that Venger is Dungeon Master's son. How can that pairing work?
** Dungeon Master ''is not'' human.
** Many ''D&D'' dragons can shape-shift. Perhaps Tiamat was hanging around in humanoid form, and she and Dungeon Master fell in love.
** According to the game, Tiamat's human form looks like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tiamat.jpg this]].
*** That's Takhisis, a goddess from ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' who also takes the 5-headed dragon form. She may or may not be Tiamat; sourcebooks differ on that.
*** The latest edition (from, admittedly, well after the show ended) basically states several times in Draconomicon that Takhisis and Tiamat are one and the same.
** Alternatively, Dungeon Master is the one who shape-shifted.
*** Or he actually ''is'' a dragon, who always shape-shifts into AFormYouAreComfortableWith to speak to the kids.
*** Wait Dungeon Master...'''is Bahamut?''' The father of all good dragons? So his antithesis and opposite is Tiamat, the Chromatic Dragon and Queen of Evil Dragons, as well as the mother and deity of all evil dragons.
* Venger is a dragon-half. He has dragon wings, black in color, but look identical to Tiamat's wings.
** In Babylonian mythology, Tiamat gave birth to all monsters and ''hybrids''.
* Its curious that Tiamat, being an indestructible primordial goddess of chaos, can easily find and crush Venger at any moment, but never does.
* She's ''angrily disappointed'' that Venger choose to follow the Nameless One, upsetting the Realm's chaotic balance, by defecting to a lawful evil alignment. The reason she once helped the kids nearly kill Venger was because she considers her son may be better off dead, than the ''walking abomination'' he's become.

[[WMG: Dungeon Master is a god -- specifically, Bahamut.]]
That would explain a lot about Venger.
* Its quite common for the dragon deity to take on the form of an old man or hermit.

[[WMG: ''Dungeon Master was the previous Venger'']]
He assumed his current appearance after the previous Dungeon Master died, perhaps by his hand.
* It is {{canon}} that Eric was briefly a DM. If that can happen, then this can happen.

[[WMG: ''Venger'' killed a previous Venger]]
Or some other EvilOverlord or Archmage.

"The Dragon's Graveyard" contains evidence. Look at Dungeon Master's trepidation ("So, it has come to this...") when the kids decide to kill Venger, and his reaction to their [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim sparing him]]. They narrowly avoided a road that Dungeon Master's last pupil went down.

[[WMG: [[YouKnowTheOne The Nameless One]] is [[GodOfEvil Asmodeus]].]]
Given that he's the ruler of the Nine Hells in the [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons tabletop game]] and described as the UltimateEvil by the Dungeon Master, it would make sense that he's [[GreaterScopeVillain Venger's master]].

[[WMG: The kids are dead and in Hell]]
Think about it. You don't go to some magical other-world when the Roller Coaster you're on crashes unless you die.

Why hell? They're constantly being jerked around by the Dungeon Master. They lack adequate means to protect themselves. And they're constantly teased with the prospect of going home, but never make it -- the curse of Tantalus.
* Discredited by WordOfGod.

[[WMG: The kids can't return because they belong to the Realm.]]
Earth was just a place to protect them until they were old enough to put up a fight, or a place where they went by accident. They won't return because they are needed in the Realm. Yeah, it's like the whole ''LightNovel/TheTwelveKingdoms'' storyline; but hey, there's a probability!
* At the end of the [[http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm unaired Grand Finale,]] the kids are offered a chance to return home. Whether this discredits the WMG depends on how sincere you think the offer was.

[[WMG: Eric is the only one who's not aware that they're in a cartoon.]]
Or at least in some kind of fictional work.

The other kids, DM, and probably Vengar are aware that they're in a fictional TV show; hence, they are particularly brave, given their situation. For example, the kids know they can't die because they're ''kids''.

Vengar is pissed off all the time because he knows he can't win and because the RuleOfDrama means he can't die until the show is over.

Eric is the only one who isn't in on the joke, hence his cowardly behavior. Since he doesn't know that the kids can't be in any real danger, he's scared out of his mind and can't understand why the others aren't feeling the same way.

[[WMG: Eric is gay.]]
Think about it. He's a teenager, but he's never shown genuine interest in a female character. The one time he's shown really liking someone, it's another boy who's just as snarky as he is.

Chances are, he's got a crush on Hank. He touches Hank a LOT, far more than he does any other character. Unfortunately for him, Hank is straight.

Eric's general unlikable attitude could be a defensive reflex to keep the others from getting too close and figuring out his secret. After all, in TheEighties, tolerance for known gays outside their subculture was even less likely than tolerance for complete jerks.

The only female character he's shown getting along with is Diana, who is also a snarker and who has no interest in him.
* When he gets a marriage proposal from an attractive queen, he shows great interest...in her ''money''.
* Assume Hank and Sheila are meant to be/become an item. Presto meets Varla in the Realm, Diana meets Kosar, and Bobby meets Terry. Who does Eric meet? ''Lorne.''

* Eric is 14, by show canon. Not every boy starts pursuing girls in their early teens, especially ones who have confidence issues (which Eric obviously overcompensates for). But he does have some gay tendencies. I'd say its a case of could-be-true-but-never-confirmed.

[[WMG: PureIsNotGood is in effect.]]
Okay, so all the kids are good. And it is stated in canon that all the kids are pure of heart. But they can't all be ''pure good,'' or there would be considerably less dissension.

[[WMG: Presto can't get the Hat to work properly because he isn't giving it what it considers proper respect.]]
It will not work consistently for him until he quits the silly cantrips for good.

[[WMG: Eric is braver than he looks.]]
Not that that would be hard... But seriously, one common interpretation of his experience in the Celestial Tower is that he was most afraid of being humiliated, ridiculed, and/or outcast. But his place in the CastSpeciation and [[TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong less-than-trustworthy instincts]] meant that he went through that sort of thing ''all the time.'' His fight-or-flight was always on.

[[WMG: Hank was going to hit a HeroicBSOD near when the series ended.]]
His greatest fear is failure as a leader. His mission is to get everyone home, doing good deeds on the way. FailureIsTheOnlyOption for the main objective, home. The math is clear.

This could've happened after the broadcast finale or during "The Winds of Darkness."

[[WMG:Presto's hat is the Dungeon Master.]]
DM has shown himself to be a borderline TricksterMentor at times; being the hat and screwing around is how he gets his kicks off-duty.

[[WMG: Presto's hat is ''a'' Dungeon Master.]]
That's a title, not a name, and we have seen "DM" and the hat at the same time. But the hat has the same great power and the same stubborn refusal to help in a straightforward manner.]]

[[WMG: Weapons of Power draw energy from their users.]]
This is how a weapon that is not permanently bonded to its owner can still be an EmpathicWeapon. Hank's bow is definitely empathic -- there is no other way to get energy arrows to do so much. Presto's Hat is empathic if it isn't sentient, but Presto tends to put more thought into how he wants to word a spell than what he wants it to do.

It also explains why Eric's shield doesn't consistently just dissipate magical/energy attacks, but sometimes transmits ''physical'' force ''towards'' him when doing so. It's user weakness or user error -- maybe he wanted force feedback to be sure the thing was working.

[[WMG: If Eric stays an adventurer in the Realm long enough, then he'll become a Paladin.]]
This one is popular with FanFic writers. Exactly how he will meet the alignment or religious requirements is left to the guesser.
* He seems to believe in a universe with rules, taking care of the Lawful part, and all the protagonists are supposed to be good, squeaking Eric into Lawful Good. As for a deity, Eric likely wouldn't object to sending a few prayers in the way of anything offering him extra powers to help him get out of the Realms.

[[WMG: Presto will be the next Dungeon Master.]]
He loves magic just that much.

Hopefully, he will be ''competent'' before he takes the position.

[[WMG: Presto will someday be able to do real magic ''without'' the Hat.]]
Perhaps the Hat is an AmplifierArtifact. Perhaps it isn't, but he still has natural abilities that he isn't yet tapping. Either way, the potential might be there.

This is automatically true if "Presto will be DM" is.
* Note: this is canon unless DM lied to Presto during "The Last Illusion."

[[WMG: Hank's energy bow is literally made of gold.]]
This idea is popular in fanfics (there may a WordOfDante about it somewhere). It is made possible because this cartoon was made in UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation.

Reasons:
# The bow is ''colored'' gold. Both it and Presto's eyes were probably supposed to be a light brown, but that color shifted into gold in practice.
# Unlike ordinary bows, the energy bow does not ''flex.'' It does not ''work'' like a normal bow. But it's a magical energy bow that shoots ''flexible HardLight!'' (And yes, it can do MoreDakka.) Having it made of metal would both explain why the "bow" is rigid and improve its true functioning. Wood is an insulator, but metal is a conductor -- and it would be easier to make that energy cord with a conductor. Gold is not only the right color but also an ''excellent'' conductor.

[[WMG: Zandora (of the box) is/was Dungeon Master's wife.]]
She is the only other being we've seen who appears to be of his species.

She might be Venger's stepmom. Or his real mom, since pure Evil is known to disfigure people.

[[WMG: Venger can open portals almost at will.]]
This is another one from {{fanfic}}. There were times when he could do it canonically, but we are speculating here that he could do it even outside those times.

DM may or may not know this.

Venger doesn't destroy the Earth (yet) because he has to take over the Realm first and because opening portals and leaving them not-quite-unattended is a good way to keep tabs on our heroes and their Weapons.

[[WMG: Bobby is related to Hank.]]
The coloration is similar.

Generally, when this is presumed true, Bobby and Sheila are at most half-siblings.

Hank is unaware of the relation, natch.

** [[WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill I imagine Propane and Propane Accessories fit into this somehow...]]

[[WMG: The Shield is parasitic or symbiotic.]]
And it's a considerably stronger bond than other Weapons have. When it isn't being actively used, it stores the bulk of its magic in its bearer. It draws it back out when it ''is'' being used.

Eric has survived a few situations unscathed with an "inactive" shield that mere armor could not have protected him from, including a close brush with a fireball of Venger's in a situation when magic in items was dead but magic in creatures was not. Eric and Venger both became aware of the nature of the bond then.

It would explain why Venger didn't just wait for the kids to go home in "Day of the Dungeonmaster," and why Eric didn't ''want'' the power of being a DM. His first thought on becoming DM was panicking about losing the Shield.

If this is true, then it could mean trouble for Eric if he ever does make it home for good. If not before.

[[WMG: Diana does not need the Javelin for acrobatics. At all.]]
The Weapon is still useful -- its magic is concentrated enough to bat away other magic -- but its primary power is basically to allow itself to be stowed in her fur bikini between uses. If she was carrying a normal pole, it would work just as well for most purposes.

[[WMG: Bobby and Terri are connected by a RedStringOfFate.]]
They will become a couple after he gets home. Never mind that he was no more than ten when he met her -- it was meant to be.

[[WMG: Bobby's ninth birthday party in the Realm was not the first.]]
He turned nine on Earth on the day everyone got trapped in the Realm. The misadventure disrupted the party. Once everyone got the hang of survival and Venger-dodging, and once it became clear they wouldn't get home fast, Hank and Sheila arranged another party.

[[WMG: "The Time Lost" had Venger playing GambitRoulette with [[ButterflyOfDoom Butterflies of Doom]]]]
There were permanent changes made to the timeline -- people Venger removed who didn't get put back.

We can safely presume that no changes were made that would significantly change the view from the portal, excepting ones wiping out the physical damage from "Zandora's Box." But it is quite possible that Venger was using the threat of a major change (that is, Nazi + jet plane) to get that crystal destroyed so that there would be no way to fix the ''minor'' changes done in the meantime. It's a late episode -- there's plenty of time to act on that tendency of the Six to break magical artifacts, especially ones that can be used as portals, even if SanDimasTime was in effect.

These minor changes would have the same general purpose as the major one. While Venger would likely get a kick out of wiping out America, his main priority is those pesky kids with the weapons. It would be much more fun for one or more of them to go home and then find there wasn't a home to go to.

[[WMG: The kids have lost their souls to DM.]]
A natural extension to "The Realm Is Hell."

By accepting and using the weapons, the Six are beholden to DM. That they probably couldn't have escaped Tiamat without at least some of those weapons doesn't help.

[[WMG: Presto has made a [[DealWithTheDevil Deal with His Hat.]]]]
Since 99% of his magic relies on it alone.

You think it works bad for him now? It would've been even more recalcitrant if he hadn't made the deal, and he isn't dextrous enough for normal creative spellcasting. At least as things stand, the Hat has MundaneUtility as often as not; and at least as it stands, it rarely is a complete dud.

[[WMG: Eric really does have a little brother Michael]]

[[WMG: Eric ''used to have'' a little brother Michael]]
It was before the others knew Eric. Eric was present when Michael died, and is too humiliated or ashamed of the circumstances for his brother to be one of his topics of conversation. It was an unnatural, violent death.

This is, naturally, a FanFic theory.

[[WMG: Hank is from a broken home]]
* I disagree with this one. I think Hank came from a good home, he's the archetypal "Boy Scout" type who is brave yet compassionate, and puts the needs of others before his own. He would have far more angst, as well as trust and temper issues if he was from a broken home.

[[WMG: Allowing Eric to carry the Shield is violating one or more laws of magic]]

The Weapons of Power are supposed to be carried by those pure in heart. But, for various reasons, and especially early on, he's rarely been better than an AntiHero as far as his behavior is concerned.

Nevertheless, the Shield still works for him. True, he didn't keep it at the factory setting, but it works efficiently most of the time.

Therefore, an exemption must have been made for him. Not all from Earth get Weapons of Power -- Terri brought her necklace with her.

Perhaps it was BecauseDestinySaysSo -- that might be canon. Perhaps the rest of the gang talked DM into it, directly or accidentally....

It is left as an exercise for the Wild Mass Guesser whether the Shield would have to be retrofitted by someone other than him.

[[WMG: Presto carrying the Hat violates one or more laws of magic]]
On theory that the magic that gave the weapons traveled in a straight line, and that Presto was not the original target. Since the original target was p0robably Eric if it wasn't Presto, this was allowed to stand.

[[WMG: Hank's Bow is using his spirit for ammo]]
Because ammo for bows is normally isn't built into the weapon, and because he can practically think his energy bolts into existence.

He can think them out of existence -- that is, make them disappear without firing them; presumably they go back into the spiritual quiver then.

This would explain why Hank appears to have some slight [[CharacterDevelopment character disintegration]] over the course of the series: the very purity of heart that granted him this weapon is what he must sacrifice to use it, and he doesn't always retrieve his arrows. If he were not so pure when he started out, things would have gone much worse by the end of season 2.

[[WMG: At the time of "The Dragon's Graveyard," Hank is ''almost'' as bad as Venger.]]

Because the decision to shoot the restraints instead of Venger came almost at the last minute.

Also, Hank was having something of a perverse streak, for him, around that time. He had betrayed his own heart during "The Traitor," three episodes prior. He would try to abdicate responsibility for Eric's continued existence ''and'' try to kill Venger again around "The Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn."

It was a depressing time to be DM.

[[WMG: At the time of "The Dragon's Graveyard," Presto is as bad as Venger.]]
This was hidden by incompetence, natch.

Presto restrained Venger. He did it in such a way that, if Hank had done ''nothing,'' Venger would have died. So if killing Venger makes you as bad as Venger, Presto would be there.

He had also walked out on his soulmate not long before. Yes, StatusQuoIsGod, but ouch!

[[WMG: Eric often ''tries'' to get humiliated.]]
Why, you may ask, when he seems to hate or fear humiliation? Simple: feeling fear and anger is better than feeling ''nothing'' when trapped in a crazy world.

Those rare occasions when he has been most calm (as opposed to happy) are ones where he has appeared to abandon his survival instinct. The Shield needs that instinct to function. It clearly does not work on conscious will alone -- magic energy works too fast. And it won't work on automatic unless he feels in danger -- else, there wouldn't have been shapeshifting incidents.

If he has a secret altruistic instinct, then -- well, he's not going to be happy in this crazy world under ''any'' normal circumstance, especially if he might have depression. He might as well keep everyone else's negative emotions aimed at him when the forces of Evil aren't active.

This would definitely have been WildMassGuessing during the original run of the series. There are signs that some Big Name Fans of this millenium believe variations on it.

[[WMG: Eric is secretly a Bogbeast.]]

Okay. At the end of "Beauty and the Bogbeast," Eric changes back into human form. The accepted explanation then is that The Realm is what Eric hates most.

Later that year, at the end of "The Box," he returns to the Realm more-or-less voluntarily (and almost misses the connection). There are several plausible reasons for this (which probably will be added to this list later), but let's throw this one in anyway...

Eric was restored to human form with a magic necklace after he decided he could not stay on earth as a bogbeast. This item was shown to be used by one other creature -- to make an '''illusionary''' form. (You think Kawamauga wanted to change back?)

If that change was an illusion, then Eric missed his window for a true change back -- DM made it clear there was a short deadline. Still, the nice thing about personal illusions is that you can hide what is causing the personal illusion if you like. We never see that necklace again, and neither does anyone else; Eric is passing for human.

Some kinds of magic lasted longer than others on Earth in "The Box." The Weapons stopped working promptly, but Venger's spells still worked fine. Hank decided to return to the Realm because he was, um, concerned that Venger's magic would never wear off at all; Diana, Sheila, Bobby, and Presto were supporting their leader. We will presume that, for Eric, at least one of the illusion necklace or the biology hidden under it fell somewhere in between. We will also presume that he realized this about the same way [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Wile E. Coyote]] realizes he's standing on mid-air. Eric was not trying to rejoin his friends simply because he gave into ThePowerOfFriendship, which was both generally assumed and nobler. Bogbeasts, like unicorns, do not belong to this world. Either Eric's vanity or his survival overruled his staying "home."

This also explains why Eric as DM made it clear that he would not be taking that portal he created and why he couldn't give a reason the others accepted. He was unable to let knowledge be his Shield (book-burning doesn't count); he meant to die with this secret, and do it in the Realm so no one back home would learn it from the body.

[[WMG: Sheila killed Venger for real.]]

At the end of "Citadel of Shadow," Sheila throws the Ring of the Heart and the Ring of the Mind at Venger. He disappears -- and is never seen again.

Note: this necessarily means "Requiem" doesn't happen.

[[WMG: Eric is secretly a Phantom Stalker.]]
In this case, it would probably be a secret from him as well.

These beings were seen in "The Garden of Zinn." They are "hard shadow" that can convincingly shapeshift. And they are nigh-indestructible.

Eric places himself under the custody of Queen Zinn during this episode. He does ''not'' want to keep traveling. Queen Zinn is capable of creating and/or summoning these beings.

Why make a copy of Eric as Cavalier? Two reasons:
* Someone realizes that, if the others survive the Phantom Stalker attack, the gang might go back to rescue him, even if Sir Lawrence doesn't recover his humanity. (Yes, this is Wild Mass Guessing.) A Phantom Stalker is made and impressed so that Zinn will still have the original when the copy becomes the Cavalier.
* The original got lost or secretly executed while trying to hide from the responsibilities of kingship. Zinn does not want to lose face, and so makes a copy from the spirit traces in the remnants of the original. Most of the impressing happens after the gang "recovers" him.

This is not an EvilTwin in the usual sense, so a [[CharacterizationTags Phantom!Eric]] could still be using the real Shield. Or it could be a Phantom Shield.

[[WMG: The Bow lost its purity when Hank lost his]]
He betrayed his own heart during "The Traitor." If the Bow had remained pure, he would not have been able to use his bow between then and his, um, change of mind.

[[WMG: Venger is a Tiefling.]]
Makes sense. Horns, teeth, eyes. And it is canon in the TabletopGame/{{Dungeons and Dragons}} lore.

That is why DM can say Venger was his mistake. Remember, folks, when sleeping with a succubus, use a condom!

[[WMG: Eric is already RetGone in his original homeworld.]]

The event that drives Eric to leave Earth again st the end of "The Box" is Venger threatening to destroy ''everything'' he has there. A couple of years later, we learn that Venger had the means to do this in the form of the Crystal of Chronos. And Venger is usually a villain of his word.

Eric still exists in the Realm, and will continue as long as he stays there. He has been aware of the situation since his stint as DM.

This likely took the old copies of Presto and Diana as well. Presto doesn't know. Diana learned while she was channeling Starfall.

[[WMG: If Kosar had been killed outright instead of wounded, then the others would have taken that portal Diana made.]]
She was Hank's right-hand gal, after all. They rarely worried about her, and she rarely gave them reason to.

Then they would wonder why she didn't follow them.

[[WMG: The party changes items periodically.]]

In the comic ''Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour'', the party appears to have different totems when they are adults than what they have in the series. The ''Animated Series Handbook'' also gives different names for the totems with different abilities than in the series. It is likely, throughout their adventures, the party has been changing equipment just as a game character would throughout multiple adventures. Besides, who wants to wear the same clothes for so many years.

[[WMG: The Realm is a realm in The Realms.]]
The Realm is a secluded, out of the way place on Faerûn, known as a valley that was attacked and threatened by Tiamat. Few know of how a group of heroes appeared from nowhere and had a series of adventures, some not recorded at all, thus, they faded into obscurity, until being acknowledged by historians in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII''.

[[WMG: The Realm is its own setting.]]
The Realm refers specifically to the animated series setting and is not on the same planet as the Forgotten Realms, but it may be accessed via dimension travel.

[[WMG: The heroes survived their battle with Tiamat.]]
While ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' would suggest the heroes were eaten by Tiamat, the description says they were presumably eaten, casting their fate unto doubt and speculation rather than fact. It is possible they survived, and then died of old age due to the excessively lengthy timeline.

[[WMG: The Dungeon Master is part of the same roleplaying group from Earth.]]
The heroes are roleplaying buddies from Earth and are familiar with the tabletop game. They have been transported to The Realm and are having adventures as heroes in that world. The Dungeon Master was part of the same group of friends, but could not appear as a an all powerful abstract concept, and was instead given the opportunity to appear as a powerful character.

[[WMG: Eric's true name? Eric Mantle]]
I think that Eric is actually from Riverdale. He's the son of Reggie Mantle and Veronica Lodge from the Archie comics.
Consider: 1. Eric looks a lot like Reggie. 2. Eric comes from a very wealthy family. 3. Eric has intimated a few times that his father is a jerk who is never there for him. Reggie is incredibly self-centered and inconsiderate to the needs of others, and so is Veronica (to a much lesser degree, though). How Eric carries on is very reminiscent of how Reggie would act in all incarnations of Archie.
Finally, the ages would fit. If Reggie was (give or take) 17 in 1960, that would make him 30 in 1973, which would be right about the time Eric would be born.

[[WMG: Presto's true name]]
This is a theory I read somewhere but I can't find backed up in any canon sources. Presto's real name is Albert Preston. His penchant for magic tricks got him the nickname "Presto Preston," which eventually became Presto.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Live-Action Film Trilogy]]
[[WMG: Dammodar's infamous blue lips are a result of the drug Sannish.]]
Sannish stains the lips blue. In the sequel he mentions problems with controlling his urges, at the time a reference to his undead form of sustenance but possibly also a problem that he's been having since he was alive. This would also explain how Profion controlled him, since it's made by distilling wolf's milk, something Profion could harvest via summon monster spells. Sannish itself is essentially magical opium, making you immune to pain but causing wisdom damage, meaning that the fighter Damodar would become more easily addicted since his will save is already so low and could only get lower from there. In ''Film/DungeonsAndDragonsWrathOfTheDragonGod'' his lips are normal, since he was undead, which are immune to negative drug effects.

[[WMG: The Film is literally adapted from the game that the cast played before shooting.]]
Think about it. What would you do if you had to write the script for a film based on the world's most famous role-playing game? No matter what you write, it will end up being vastly different to at least somebody's idea of the typical campaign, so what do you include and what can you leave out? At the same time, you have a group of people who are about to try acting in this film, who need to know what their characters are like so that they can act their parts convincingly. What better way to help them '''play''' their '''role''' than with a '''role''' '''playing''' game that their characters are in? And if you're going to play a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign before filming anyway, coming up with all that plot, why not use it?

[[WMG: The film isn't ''really'' happening.]]
It's just a group of friends actually playing D&D. The discrepancies between the events and the source material can be explained as the group altering the game to suit their interests [[Blog/ThingsMrWelchIsNoLongerAllowedToDoInAnRPG or to keep certain member from exploiting its flaws and breaking the game]] or they might instead [[OffTheRails be doing JUST that to screw with]] [[KillerGameMaster a particularly antagonistic Dungeon Master]]). The characters are actually being played by a group of friends. Snails seems dumb and out-of-place because it's his first time and really doesn't how to play. Profion is so deliciously hammy because that's how the DM portrays him. The characters seemingly dissolving into light/teleporting at the end is just them getting up from the table after finishing the game or just taking a short break.

[[WMG: The Film is an artistic documentation of the most expensive LARP in human history.]]
* SECOND most expensive LARP in history - beat out by North Korea's house rules game of Paranoia, which has been going on since the 1950s...

[[WMG: ''The Book of Vile Darkness'' is actually a prequel to ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and ''Wrath of the Dragon God'']]

[[WMG: The Beholder is a special type of Beholder native to Izmer]]
The Izmer Beholder acts differently than the standard Beholder, favoring brief cameos rather than combat.

[[WMG:Elwood is projecting his own disdain of horses.]]
When Elwood states dwarves do not like riding horses, he is not speaking for all dwarves. He is applying his own personal dislike of horses to all dwarves.

[[WMG: Izmer is based on Mystara's Alphatia Empire]]
The political situation in Izmer is based on the Alphatia Empire in Mystara.

[[WMG: "Bar Fight!" is a custom for helping adventurers escape tavern ambushes]]
Everyone does seem to quickly get into it without any real motivation. It could just be a customary thing to [[FlashMob create a distraction on demand]] for their fellow patrons trying to get out of a tight fix by forcing their pursuers to do a MobstacleCourse to chase after their target. Presumably they go along with it because they might need the same favor later. It wouldn't even need ''everyone'' to be in on the idea for it to work. With enough critical mass of active participants, bystanders would add to the confusion by fighting back or trying to get out of the way.
[[/folder]]

[[WMG: The Beholder is a special type of Beholder native to Izmir]]
The Izmir Beholder acts differently than the standard Beholder, favoring brief cameos rather than combat.

[[WMG: Izmir/Izmer is based on Mystara's Alphatia Empire]]
The political situation in Izmir or Izmer is based on the Alphatia Empire in Mystara.

[[WMG: The movies take place in the unpublished Izmir campaign setting.]]
Just like the ''Animated Series Handbook'', an official Izmir campaign source book serves as the guide to the land of the movie series. But it will not be published due to a perceived lack of interest and a hefty licensing cost.
** Wizards has published tie-in adventures for the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' compatible with ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' Third Edition: "The Antius Thieves’ Guild," "Damodar’s Refuge," and "Savrille’s Crypt," with character sheets for Marina, Elwood, Ridley, and Snails, and a set of maps.
** Dave Arneson's [[http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=movie/mx20001215b On Location: Society of Sumdall and Izmer]] adapts some of the social classes into game terms.
** There was going to be a tabletop game module tie-in, with Izmir/Izmer located west of Blackmoor in Mystara.
** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine published a few adventures in the Izmer setting.
** The website [[http://pandius.com/alph.html Vaults of Pandius]] is dedicated to projects based on the Empire of Alphatia from ''TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}'', and has a custom setting for Izmer based on details from Alphatia, including [[http://pandius.com/izmrcamp.html Alphatia: The Izmer Campaign]], [[http://pandius.com/izmer.html The Empire of Izmer]], [[http://pandius.com/ridley_f.html Ridley Freeborn, Knight of Izmer]], and [[http://pandius.com/marinaop.html Marina of Pretensa, Royal Wizard of Sumdall, Head Mistress of the Magic School of Izmer]].

** There was going to be a tabletop game tie-in, with Izmir/Izmer located west of Blackmoor in Mystara.

** [[http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/ThievesGuild.pdf The Antius Theives' Guild]] is an official ''Dungeons & Dragons: The Movie'' adventure for the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game''. It is not out of the question for a DM to create an entire custom campaign setting based around the plot, lore, themes, characters, and artistic elements from the film.

** The website [[http://pandius.com/alph.html Vaults of Pandius]] is dedicated to projects based on the Empire of Alphatia from ''TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}'', and has made a custom setting for Izmir, here called Izmer, based on details from Alphatia, including [[http://pandius.com/izmrcamp.html Alphatia: The Izmer Campaign]], [[http://pandius.com/izmer.html The Empire of Izmer]], [[http://pandius.com/ridley_f.html Ridley Freeborn, Knight of Izmer]], and [[http://pandius.com/marinaop.html Marina of Pretensa, Royal Wizard of Sumdall, Head Mistress of the Magic School of Izmer]].

** The Izmir setting of the movie is based on the director's campaign in the Alphatia Empire of ''TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}''. The website [[http://pandius.com/alph.html Vaults of Pandius]] is dedicated to projects based on the Empire of Alphatia, and has made a custom setting for Izmir, here called Izmer, based on details from Alphatia, including [[http://pandius.com/izmrcamp.html Alphatia: The Izmer Campaign]], [[http://pandius.com/izmer.html The Empire of Izmer]], [[http://pandius.com/ridley_f.html Ridley Freeborn, Knight of Izmer]], and [[http://pandius.com/marinaop.html Marina of Pretensa, Royal Wizard of Sumdall, Head Mistress of the Magic School of Izmer]].

* [[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20041203a Was Zarus.]] The sympathetic potrayal of him is primarily from the Codex of Betrayal, a work written by his last mortal follower — not exactly an unbais source. This ties Asmodeus' origins in line with real world myths regarding Satan, that his fall was due to his refusal to bow before man. Or in this case, his fall was related to his refusal to go out of his way to avoid killing man as he waged war.

[[WMG: Some outside force is keeping humans weak]]
* In the distant past some powerful force saw what humanity could do to the world and decided to use its power to weaken them, shorter life spans, no magical or physical prowess. They though this would be enough, they were wrong. Even in their weakened state humanity has proven a force to reckon with, many have began unlocking their hidden power, becoming adventures. Breeding with other races also reduces the effect of this weakening magic. The most terrifying possibility is that one day this weakening magic will fail, and on that day you better pray that the humans call you 'friend'.

[[WMG: Mayaheine is supposed to literally be JoanOfArc.]]

** Nah, it just [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks didn't like the new cosmology]] and bailed early. It's hanging around with [[{{Exalted}} Autochthon]] these days.

** They made a reference to Mechanus, though more as a legendary lost plane. I was entertaining notions that it might be [[{{Exalted}} Autochton]]

Earth was just a place to protect them until they were old enough to put up a fight, or a place where they went by accident. They won't return because they are needed in the Realm. Yeah, it's like the whole TheTwelveKingdoms storyline; but hey, there's a probability!

*** Unless it ''does'' follow the RuleOfThree, thereby following the rules of the universe, thus breaking its own rules and thereby conserving its rule of breaking rules by simultaneously breaking and not breaking rules and [[LogicBomb Oh no,]] [[AustinPowers I've gone cross-eyed.]]

** The Far Realm is a sort of Anti-Reality. [[MageTheAwakening The Abyss]] is best described as an anti-reality. Therefore the Far Realm is the Abyss, and the World of Darkness is the third realm.

[[WMG: DragonLance is getting a Fourth Edition book]]

*** That's Takhisis, a goddess from ''Main/{{Dragonlance}}'' who also takes the 5-headed dragon form. She may or may not be Tiamat; sourcebooks differ on that.