History Webcomic / DMOfTheRings

->LordOfTheRings ''is more or less the foundation of modern ''D&D''. The latter rose from the former, although the two are now so estranged that to reunite them would be an act of savage madness. Imagine a gaggle of modern hack-n-slash roleplayers who had somehow never been exposed to the original {{Tolkien}} mythos, and then imagine taking those players and trying to introduce them to Tolkien via a ''D&D'' campaign.''

* FollowTheLeader: ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'', ''FanFic/BendersAndBrawlers'', ''Webcomic/OnePieceGrandLine3Point5''.

-->'''DM:''' ''[[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1203 The walls crack open,]] and [[NothingButSkulls thousands of skulls]] are unleashed!''\\

'''Gimli:''' I'll bet this was a [[DeadpanSnarker robust culture]]. Imagine their funerals... [...]\\

'''Aragorn:''' It doesn't matter. I'll just roll my saving throw versus ridiculous contrivances.

-->'''Gimli:''' That's not a backpack, that's an [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=984 invisible leather]] [[Series/DoctorWho TARDIS]]!!

-->'''Gimli:''' I'm Gimli, son of Groin.

-->'''Aragorn:''' Hail to the king baby! Aragorn, son of Anduril, is back!\\

-->'''Gimli:''' Greetings King Theogan. I am Gimli and these are my companions Aragorn and Legolas.\\

'''Gimli:''' And Gandalf.

'''''[[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=612 DM of the Rings]]'''''. According to this comic, ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' wouldn't make a good ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[TabletopGames campaign]].

''DM of the Rings'' uses screen captures of the films and places them in the format of a comic book. The comic never shows the faces of the players (although the short-lived original follow up, ''[[http://www.shawntionary.com/chainmailbikini/ Chainmail Bikini]]'' did). Instead, we see shots of the films as actions the players are taking.

->''LordOfTheRings is more or less the foundation of modern D&D. The latter rose from the former, although the two are now so estranged that to reunite them would be an act of savage madness. Imagine a gaggle of modern hack-n-slash roleplayers who had somehow never been exposed to the original {{Tolkien}} mythos, and then imagine taking those players and trying to introduce them to Tolkien via a D&D campaign.''

[[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=612 First strip here.]]

According to this comic, ''LordOfTheRings'' wouldn't make a good ''DungeonsAndDragons'' [[TabletopGames campaign]].

''DM of the Rings'' uses screen captures of the films and places them in the format of a comic book. The comic never shows the faces of the players (although the short lived original follow up, ''[[http://www.shawntionary.com/chainmailbikini/ Chainmail Bikini]]'' did). Instead, we see shots of the films as actions the players are taking.

The comic doesn't really satirize ''TheLordOfTheRings'' as much as it makes fun of the the way [[TabletopGames roleplaying]] sessions tend to go, especially the struggle between the GameMaster and players. It's been described as an overall example of how ''not'' to conduct a campaign in general.

!!Provides examples of:
* AggressiveNegotiations: The unnamed DM becomes rather upset at the heroes for [[spoiler: killing Saruman, Grima, and the Mouth of Sauron in parley.]]
-->'''Aragorn:''' ''Yeah, let's speed this up.'' *Kills the MouthOfSauron*
-->'''DM:''' ''What? You attack him? During parlay? What is wrong with you guys? This is the third time you've killed someone during negotiations!''
-->'''Legolas:''' ''And yet they keep falling for it! It's hilarious!''
-->'''DM:''' ''You're supposed to be a king! Can't you at least '''pretend''' to be one for a few seconds?''
-->'''Aragorn:''' ''If I hadn't shot him Legolas would have.''
-->'''Legolas:''' ''He's right, too. I was just about to announce my attack.''

** A point made when he gets laid with Eowyn at Rohan, which is played by the DM. [[spoiler:He gets an STD as a result.]]

* ClicheStorm: InUniverse. Even the tropes that weren't [[TropeMaker made by the books]] become {{RPG}} cliches in the hands of the DM.
* CriticalFailure: When they first meet the riders of Rohan, Gimli rolls a 1 on diplomacy and addresses them with "tell me your name, [[CurseCutShort horse f--" "GIMLI!"]].
** What makes it even funnier is that Gimli's player said that on his own accord. He was [[TheRoleplayer role-playing]] his own critical failure.
** Then there's the time Aragorn rolls a 1 on ''falling off a Warg'', even though he was ''trying'' to.
*** Although that was just the DM trying to kill him off after he was particularly annoying.

* CuttingTheKnot: The players come up with increasingly ludicrous (and hilarious) ways to do this to the entrance of the Mines Of Moria rather than come up with the password (which the DM ends up screaming at them in frustration).

* DidNotDoTheResearch: [[invoked]]The dungeon master is convinced that corsairs means sailing ship when it actually means pirate or privateer "[[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1207 here]]

-->"My own suggestion for the 4.0 edition rules: Anyone who quotes ''[[MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Holy Grail]]'' during a session should be made to eat their own character sheet."
* DudeLooksLikeALady: [[strike:Leggo Lass]] [[strike:Leggo o'My Ass]] Legolas gets this a lot from [[strike:Aragorn]] ''everyone''.

-->"Remember, nothing will spice up your campaign quicker than long descriptions of [=NPCs=] doing spectacular stuff while the players sit around and watch."
-->"The best way to keep players on the [[{{Railroading}} railroads]] is to place large obvious landmines on either side of the tracks."

* GameBreaker: Gandalf. So much so, the first idea the party has when first meeting the Balrog is leave him behind to fight it alone. And he ''survives''! [invoked]

* {{GMPC}}: Gandalf.

--> '''Aragorn:''' Good one, Gimli. Nice to get a fair ruling once in a while.
--> '''Gimli:''' Fair? Ha! Back when I was a DM I never would have let my players get away with something like this.

* IfYouDieICallYourStuff: Discussed when Gimli is searching the dead orcs for loot:
--> '''Gimli''': Because our little halfling buddies are in here somewhere, and I ''know'' they had some good stuff.
--> '''Legolas''': Dibs on their cloaks!
** Author's comment for the same strip provides one of the page's quotes, even.
* ImagineSpot: Legolas [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1235 killing the Mumak]] is presented entirely as a player suggestion for fighting, which is immediately shot down.
-->[[[BeatPanel beat]]] '''Aragorn:''' "That's the [=~stupidest thing I've ever heard~=]."

* {{Munchkin}}: Legolas.
--> Side? Man, I'll follow whoever can score us some loot and a fair fight.
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: Gimli's introduction of the party to Theoden has this.
-->"Greetings King Theogan. I am Gimli and these are my companions Aragorn and Legolas." "And Gandalf" "And Gandalf."
** This is as much because Gimli just doesn't care enough to remember Gandalf (as he is an NPC).

-->"I'm Gimli, son of Groin."
** Done on purpose when they first meet [[strike:Legolass]] [[strike:Leggo of my ass]] Legolas.
--->"He should have been named Leggo of my ass, because you're going to be saying that a lot."
*** And then getting the names ''right'', but ''referring'' to them wrong.
---> Aragorn: Hail to the king baby! Aragorn, son of Anduril, is back!
---> DM: Anduril is the name of your ''sword'', '''''dumbass'''''.

--> '''DM:''' ''[[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1203 The walls crack open,]] and [[NothingButSkulls thousands of skulls]] are unleashed!''
--> '''Aragorn:''' Skulls? Like, ''only'' skulls?
--> '''DM:''' ''Yeah.''
--> '''Aragorn:''' But that makes no sense! [...]
--> '''Gimli:''' I'll bet this was a [[DeadpanSnarker robust culture]]. Imagine their funerals... [...]
--> '''DM:''' ''The skulls continue to pour in, filling the room and threatening to crush your nitpicking, over-analyzing characters.''
--> '''Aragorn:''' It doesn't matter. I'll just roll my saving throw versus ridiculous contrivances.
* OffTheRails: Brutally [[DefiedTrope defied by the DM]] most of the time, save for when the players get the drop on him.
** Like when [[spoiler:Legolas gets a critical/max damage and ends up [[OneHitKO OHKO]]-ing Gollum.]]

--> '''Legolas:''' How's the looting going?
--> '''Gimli:''' I've searched all the bodies, and we got just enough gold to buy an ale.
--> ''[beat]''
--> '''Legolas:''' You mean one for each of--
--> '''Gimli:''' To share.

* RadialAssKicking: The tactical...originality of this manouver in RealLife is lampshaded.

** [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=937 One of the most obvious examples]]. The DM clearly has a big conversation planned between [[{{NPC}} Gandalf]] and [[{{NPC}} Wormtongue]]. After Wormtongue's first line, Gimli's player steps forward, interrupts Gandalf's response, and introduces the party. The DM ''repeats Wormtongue's line'' and continues with Gandalf's response as if that simply didn't happen.
-->'''Legolas:''' "Oh no. It looks like we've entered a non-interactive cutscene."\\
'''Aragon:''' "Entered? We've been in one since Rivendell."

* RulesLawyer: Happens a ''lot''. The DM will do it [[{{Railroading}} to keep everyone]] [[strike:bound and gagged]] [[ButThouMust buckled up in the campaign]] and the players to either annoy the DM (such as an instance Gimli argued against disturbing the army of the dead because [[LawfulGood it was against his and Legolas's in-character morals]]), or to cheat like a bandit (such as Aragorn convincing the DM that they took their horses through the caves, onto a boat and throughout Gondor, despite never using or riding them the entire way from there to Gondor).

*** The hobbits eventually return late in the game, but this time, they are [=NPCs=].

-->'''Aragorn:''' Know what I'm thinking?
-->'''Boromir:''' [[KillItWithFire Only you can promote forest fires?]]
-->'''Aragorn:''' Exactly.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: [[invoked]]In regards to ''Lord of the Rings'' influencing ''D & D'', as Aragorn comments that the party has been fighting nothing but orcs (also, the blind pond squid being called Watcher):
--> Whoever wrote this story has no imagination at all!

* ShoutOut: Monty Python on various occasions.

** Mario [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1140 here]].
** [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=984 Doctor Who]].
** A movie tie-in one to PiratesOfTheCaribbean [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1183 here]].
** Starcraft [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1207 here]]
** StarWars [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1249 here]].
*** Legolas [[DontExplainTheJoke pointed it out]].

** [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=922 One of the strips]] is titled [[Webcomic/TheOrderoftheStick Disorder of the Stick.]]

* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Brutally subverted by Legolas, who manages to kill Wormtongue and Saruman while the latter was trying to make a speech.

* ThisIsSPARTA: Done with a rather deadpan sense of hatred [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1098 here]].

* UnusualEuphemism: ''"Conan's Codpiece!"''

-->'''Frodo''': Please, please don't say we meet in a tavern.
-->'''DM''': In a tavern called the Prancing Pony, an age-old meeting place...
-->'''Frodo''': Arg!

--> '''Gimli:''' I'll bet this was a [[DeadpanSnarker robust culture]]. Imagine their funerals...

* IDieFree: Boromir, who refuses to roll a new character on the grounds that he's finally not being railroaded any more.

** '''Players Gone''': [[spoiler:Boromir ('cause he's dead and wants to stay that way; see IDieFree), Frodo ('cause Dave wanted to play a Star Wars campaign, with him DM'ing), Sam, Merry, and Pippin (who went with Dave).]]

-->[[[BeatPanel beat]]] "That's the [=~stupidest thing I've ever heard~=]."

** [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=922 One of the strips]] is titled [[Webcomic/OrderoftheStick Disorder of the Stick.]]

* FollowTheLeader: ''DarthsAndDroids'', ''FanFic/BendersAndBrawlers'', ''FanFic/OnePieceGrandLine3Point5''.
* GameBreaker: Gandalf. So much so, the first idea the party has when first meeting the Balrog is leave him behind to fight it alone. And he ''survives''!

-->'''Legolas:''' ''And they keep falling for it! It's hilarious!''

-->'''DM:''' ''What? You attack him? During parley? This is the third time you've killed someone during negotiations!''

-->'''DM:''' ''You're supposed to be a king! Can't you at least pretend to be one for a few seconds?''

** '''Players Gone''': [[spoiler:Boromir ('cause he's dead), Frodo ('cause Dave wanted to play a Star Wars campaign, with him DM'ing), Sam, Merry, and Pippin (who went with Dave).]]

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: In regards to ''Lord of the Rings'' influencing ''D & D'', as Aragorn comments that the party has been fighting nothing but orcs (also, the blind pond squid being called Watcher):

-->"That's not a backpack, that's an [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=984 invisible leather]] [[Series/DoctorWho TARDIS]]!!"

** A point made when he gets laid with a girl at Rohan, which is played by the DM. [[spoiler:He gets an STD as a result.]]

-->"That's not a backpack that's an [[http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=984 invisible leather]] [[Series/DoctorWho Tardis]]!!"

** '''Players Gone''': [[spoiler:Boromir, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin.]]

* ShaggyDogStory: After everything the players have gone through, nothing they do in the end matters and the story is determined by Frodo (who at that point is an {{NPC}}) succeeding at a will save. The players are not amused.