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Ayrik
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Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 24 Jun 2012 :  19:37:03  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
The Orc and the Pie Adventure (2001)
The Orc and the Pie Web Enhancement (2002)

Apparently a "much talked-about, well-known, and overstated trope" dating back to early D&D 3E. Written by Monte Cook, obviously as a parody, not to be taken seriously. But apparently it was taken seriously, and was much discussed and analyzed ... well, I was busy enjoying AD&D 2E at the time and missed all the flaming brouhaha ... so what's this trope about?

[/Ayrik]

Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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USA
36891 Posts

Posted - 24 Jun 2012 :  22:14:38  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Not familiar with this one, but I'm guessing it draws from something stereotypical to many adventures, both official and homebrew: the intelligent being who inexplicably opts to sit in one small room doing nothing other than guarding some treasure -- often one they could use themselves or at least take elsewhere.

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Kentinal
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4694 Posts

Posted - 24 Jun 2012 :  22:33:18  Show Profile Send Kentinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
*Sighs* IMO it was silly then and there is not much to be able to make it less silly.
Wooly, it stems from an attack on a gazebo, because players thought it was a monster. That tale was reported from 2nd Edition.

"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon
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Ayrik
Great Reader

Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 24 Jun 2012 :  23:52:20  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Ah, The Tale of Eric and the Dread Gazebo is something even I've heard about in my grognard cave. I was kinda hoping this Orc and the Pie thing was more.

[/Ayrik]
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Kentinal
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4694 Posts

Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  00:01:35  Show Profile Send Kentinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
You have to watch out from those Gazebos.
The orc in a room with a pie never came close to that unless player did not know what a pie was.

"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon
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Ayrik
Great Reader

Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  00:17:56  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Yeah, never turn your back on a Gazebo. I confess that "Bus station-flavored" pie is something I don't think I really want to understand.

Quite excellent fanmade details for "Further Adventures" can be found here.

[/Ayrik]

Edited by - Ayrik on 25 Jun 2012 00:22:05
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  04:55:15  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

*Sighs* IMO it was silly then and there is not much to be able to make it less silly.
Wooly, it stems from an attack on a gazebo, because players thought it was a monster. That tale was reported from 2nd Edition.



I'm familiar with that tale... And I'm not seeing the connection.

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Kentinal
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4694 Posts

Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  17:01:37  Show Profile Send Kentinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

*Sighs* IMO it was silly then and there is not much to be able to make it less silly.
Wooly, it stems from an attack on a gazebo, because players thought it was a monster. That tale was reported from 2nd Edition.



I'm familiar with that tale... And I'm not seeing the connection.



Oh when orc was promoted, it was claimed to be the 3rd Edition equivalent of the 2nd Edition story. I did not agree then and still do not agree.

"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36891 Posts

Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  17:19:08  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

*Sighs* IMO it was silly then and there is not much to be able to make it less silly.
Wooly, it stems from an attack on a gazebo, because players thought it was a monster. That tale was reported from 2nd Edition.



I'm familiar with that tale... And I'm not seeing the connection.



Oh when orc was promoted, it was claimed to be the 3rd Edition equivalent of the 2nd Edition story. I did not agree then and still do not agree.



Wait, what? Where is there an orc being promoted?

I don't see any relation between this and any specific edition of any fantasy RPG -- the common mob in a 10' by 10' room is a standard trope. And I don't see any connection to the gazebo tale, or the "I fire my magic missiles at the darkness!" story, or any other tale of RPG-based goofiness.

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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 25 Jun 2012 17:20:13
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Ayrik
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Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  17:48:25  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote
"Promoted" - I think that word says it all. Assuming the "promoters" are the people selling the games.

[/Ayrik]
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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36891 Posts

Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  18:15:31  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik

"Promoted" - I think that word says it all. Assuming the "promoters" are the people selling the games.



So someone came up with this orc and pie thing, and claimed it was an update to something it was entirely unrelated to?

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Ayrik
Great Reader

Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 25 Jun 2012 :  18:47:28  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote
No, what I was trying to say was that some things - like the Dread Gazebo or "I attack the darkness!" - are the stuff of roleplaying legend. They're natural, genuine, cool, or just so ridiculously dumb and incompetent that they're cool, just part of the background lore within the gamer subculture. Every RPGer intuitively understands and appreciates the humour and philosophy in this sort of stuff on many levels beyond mere mortal comprehensions.

But "promoted" - to my mind - sounds like an artificial thing stamped with a brand and used as product placement. Maybe it started off as a little joke the RPGers started to find funny ... but ruined the moment it gained a big push of corporate momentum. I can't blame Monte Cook or WotC from capitalizing on trends and free advertising, not at all, but it doesn't change the perception that WotC only becomes "involved" when they sniff possible revenue.

Not trying to turn this scroll into yet another Wizbro-bash. That's not what it's about. But I am automatically cynical whenever I hear euphemistic terms like "promoted", you asked, I answered.

[/Ayrik]
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