Advanced Toys & Trinkets
I have written much on the topic of Dungeons & Dragons as a role-play game but here I will turn to some toys of the same name. Once more I ruminate on the concept of a 'modest yet well-rounded toy collection' (as I did here and here).
In the 80s there was a toyline by LJN that was given the branding of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) and I cannot fathom why. The simpler parallel game name of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) seems like better branding for kids. A charming cartoon (starring mundane world kids turned into fantasy world adventurers) bore that simpler name. Some of the AD&D toyline characters had cameos in the D&D cartoon. Furthermore, those AD&D toyline characters were also presented in the D&D booklet The Shady Dragon Inn as important non-player characters. And yet in colouring books of those same characters, the tag of AD&D was once more employed. I lack the obsessiveness to find the answer to this puzzling corporate vagary. The toys themselves are more interesting.
I had or still have a few of them but mine hardly constitute a collection. Some of them are miniature scale moulded plastic figurines but I'm more interested in the larger toys of the same brand. They had some articulation, weapons and cloth outer garments. Most were 3-3/4-inch scale while a few were 5-inch. In other toy lines these would just be different options for the consumer but in this line they were presented as intentionally different sizes - only some creatures were given the larger size. That alone shows some sort of dediction to the story behind the product. But what do I think would constitute a decent collection? Try this...
The Heroes: Strongheart, Ringlerun, Mercion,
Peralay, Elkhorn, Young Titan, Destrier
Strongheart the Paladin would be nominal leader of the good characters. Alongside him would be Ringlerun the Wizard and Mercion the Cleric. What makes that third character interesting is that she is presented as a cleric at all. In the 80s the depiction of religion in gaming was a controversial one. Nobody was ever a cleric in the D&D cartoon and yet here we have one in the AD&D toyline. Admittedly she looks rather wholesome.
Then there would be Peralay the Elf and Elkhorn the Dwarf. The fact they are only designated that way suggests that they belong in the non-advanced D&D of 'race as class' characters. One thing I like with these two is they boldly demonstrate size differences. Both dwarves and elves are smaller than humans here.
Rounding off the good forces would be the Young Titan (a 5-inch figure) and Destrier (a mount for Strongheart) maybe only needed for some quests.
The Villains: Warduke, Kelek, Skylla,
Zarak, Zorgar, Ogre King, Nightmare
Warduke the Warrior would be nominal leader of the evil characters. I imagine they all bicker and scheme but his shadow-shrouded face with glowing red eyes suggests someone they would all be cowed by. Allied with him would be Kelek the Sorcerer to which I would add Skylla. She is also a magic-user but was only made in the miniatures scale. More recently the adult collector company Neca has ported her into the larger line so I'm hardly the only one who thinks this is a worthwhile thing to do.
Zarak the Half-Orc Assassin (possessing both 'race and class') is a distinctly AD&D concept. And if I'm surprised by the inclusion of a cleric in this line I'm personally shocked at having a professional murderer presented too. Still it is just imaginary and once more I like the implication that orcs are somewhat shorter than humans. I imagine Zarak always tricking Zorgar the Barbarian into taking on the most dirty jobs for the gang.
Rounding off the evil forces would be Orge King (a 5-inch figure) and the Nightmare (a mount for Warduke) maybe only needed for some quests.
The Hazards: Dragonne, Hooked Horror,
and the Fortress Of Fangs Playset
Every adventure needs its hazards that may befall both protagonists and antagonists. The Dragonne (which I would rather call something plainer like 'Leodrake') is a draconic lion and a very impressive looking toy. The Hookled Horror is a distinctively odd monster from the game and looks just lethal. In another mood I would even re-cast the Titan and Ogre into this category. Finally there would be the truly wild and wacky Fortress Of Fangs playset to round off the best of this toyline from days of yore.
Seems fun even if role-playing itself is more fun.
In the 80s there was a toyline by LJN that was given the branding of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) and I cannot fathom why. The simpler parallel game name of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) seems like better branding for kids. A charming cartoon (starring mundane world kids turned into fantasy world adventurers) bore that simpler name. Some of the AD&D toyline characters had cameos in the D&D cartoon. Furthermore, those AD&D toyline characters were also presented in the D&D booklet The Shady Dragon Inn as important non-player characters. And yet in colouring books of those same characters, the tag of AD&D was once more employed. I lack the obsessiveness to find the answer to this puzzling corporate vagary. The toys themselves are more interesting.
I had or still have a few of them but mine hardly constitute a collection. Some of them are miniature scale moulded plastic figurines but I'm more interested in the larger toys of the same brand. They had some articulation, weapons and cloth outer garments. Most were 3-3/4-inch scale while a few were 5-inch. In other toy lines these would just be different options for the consumer but in this line they were presented as intentionally different sizes - only some creatures were given the larger size. That alone shows some sort of dediction to the story behind the product. But what do I think would constitute a decent collection? Try this...
The Heroes: Strongheart, Ringlerun, Mercion,
Peralay, Elkhorn, Young Titan, Destrier
Strongheart the Paladin would be nominal leader of the good characters. Alongside him would be Ringlerun the Wizard and Mercion the Cleric. What makes that third character interesting is that she is presented as a cleric at all. In the 80s the depiction of religion in gaming was a controversial one. Nobody was ever a cleric in the D&D cartoon and yet here we have one in the AD&D toyline. Admittedly she looks rather wholesome.
Then there would be Peralay the Elf and Elkhorn the Dwarf. The fact they are only designated that way suggests that they belong in the non-advanced D&D of 'race as class' characters. One thing I like with these two is they boldly demonstrate size differences. Both dwarves and elves are smaller than humans here.
Rounding off the good forces would be the Young Titan (a 5-inch figure) and Destrier (a mount for Strongheart) maybe only needed for some quests.
The Villains: Warduke, Kelek, Skylla,
Zarak, Zorgar, Ogre King, Nightmare
Warduke the Warrior would be nominal leader of the evil characters. I imagine they all bicker and scheme but his shadow-shrouded face with glowing red eyes suggests someone they would all be cowed by. Allied with him would be Kelek the Sorcerer to which I would add Skylla. She is also a magic-user but was only made in the miniatures scale. More recently the adult collector company Neca has ported her into the larger line so I'm hardly the only one who thinks this is a worthwhile thing to do.
Zarak the Half-Orc Assassin (possessing both 'race and class') is a distinctly AD&D concept. And if I'm surprised by the inclusion of a cleric in this line I'm personally shocked at having a professional murderer presented too. Still it is just imaginary and once more I like the implication that orcs are somewhat shorter than humans. I imagine Zarak always tricking Zorgar the Barbarian into taking on the most dirty jobs for the gang.
Rounding off the evil forces would be Orge King (a 5-inch figure) and the Nightmare (a mount for Warduke) maybe only needed for some quests.
The Hazards: Dragonne, Hooked Horror,
and the Fortress Of Fangs Playset
Every adventure needs its hazards that may befall both protagonists and antagonists. The Dragonne (which I would rather call something plainer like 'Leodrake') is a draconic lion and a very impressive looking toy. The Hookled Horror is a distinctively odd monster from the game and looks just lethal. In another mood I would even re-cast the Titan and Ogre into this category. Finally there would be the truly wild and wacky Fortress Of Fangs playset to round off the best of this toyline from days of yore.
Seems fun even if role-playing itself is more fun.
Labels: Nostalgia And Reminiscences
posted by Dan at
18.8.24
|
0 Comments
