I found this amusing.....so this is what the 80s were like?

[newbDM]

I was going through an old issue of Dragon I bought at a local store for $2, and I came across this page:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e189/Celestialdragon100/Untitled-1copy.png


I am not sure why, but I just found this funny.

I also got a good chuckle out of things like a Waldenbooks add for selling D&D books saying "Look in the Yellow Pages for a Waldenbooks near you!".

I envy those of you who enjoyed the 80s D&D scene, since fantasy from that area just seems better; however, besides that I can't imagine how you guys got by...


(p.s. I love the sweaters. :D)

[kjones]

Wow, I think I may have played that game...

(Also, could you put the image in spoiler tags?)

[oxybe]

is it just me or does it seem like the kid on the left is looking at the guy in white and going "he's dreamy!", the guy in white is all like "aw yeah" and the 3rd guy is all "heh heh heh...(mental note: Aaaawkwarrrd)"

[mikej]

... the jokes are soo bad, not in a bad way just very very lame.

I'd imagine this would be what a late 80's acid trip would look it.

[Starscream]

So...are we supposed to imagine that the dragon is really there or not? Because the kids don't seem to notice it.

At least John Stamos and Anthony Michael Hall don't. Scott Baio looks like he might be closing his eyes with fear.

[Hat-Trick]

I've played that game. It's pretty cool, like speed HacknSlash DnD.

[hamishspence]

I have, a few monsters missing in my second hand copy, but the game itself was fun. Names seem to derive a bit from Faerun, especially novel Azure Bonds: Monsters like "Evil Sorceress Cassana of Westgate", weapons like "Hillcleaver, +2 sword"

[Zherog]

That game was totally rad, man!

[Matthew]

Ha, if you think that was bad:


http://14.media.tumblr.com/b9vfl4b63j86hl4cVCiTgDn2o1_500.jpg


It is like no period of the 80s I remember, but then I wasn't even a teenager back then, and maybe it was exactly like that across the pond...

[arguskos]

Ha, if you think that was bad:


http://14.media.tumblr.com/b9vfl4b63j86hl4cVCiTgDn2o1_500.jpg
It is like no period of the 80s I remember, but then I wasn't even a teenager back then, and maybe it was exactly like that across the pond...
ARGH!!! THE EYEBLEACH!! I NEEDS SOME!

Really, was it like that in the 80s? If so, thank GOD I was born in '88 and don't remember squat.

Also: fixed your formatting a touch. 'Twas a bit jacked up. :smallwink: Nvm, it appears you've noticed. :smallbiggrin:

[Matthew]

Yes, indeed. Of course, the 90s were no picnic either... especially if you weren't prepared for a Dragon Strike! (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1672151377841913082)

I am sure the period 2000-2010 will look equally ludicrous to us in ten or twenty years time, but still...

[Thane of Fife]

I love that movie so much.

I think my favorite scene is the bit with the owlbear. It was made all the better because the game had no owlbears in it, causing one to question why they didn't use a troll, or bugbear, or something.

On Dungeon, though, that's a pretty cool game - there was nothing quite like bursting into a room to see a Dracolich.

[Magentawolf]

I still miss Hero Quest... used to play that all the time. Never could find any of the expansion packs, though.

[BSW]

Not only have I played that game... I still have that game. I even have all the pieces.

[FoE]

The problem with Hero Quest was that, much like Epic levels in 3.5E, you reached a point where the monsters simply couldn't challenge the Heroes anymore, not unless you were really stingy with loot. Still, I played all 12 Quests, the Return of the Witch King and Kellar's Keep, so I got a lot of fun out of the game.

Oh, I used to play Dungeon with my friends too. We had that goddamn game down to a science, to the point where we had memorized how many of a certain treasure and which monsters could be found in which level. Sort of takes the guesswork out of playing one of the Wizards.

[BlueWizard]

Had a couple things with that add. Yes, yes I was there.

And I love Krull.

[Neithan]

It is like no period of the 80s I remember, but then I wasn't even a teenager back then, and maybe it was exactly like that across the pond...

Let us be thankful, that we were born not even a year earlier. :smallwink:

Anyone remember this game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sorcerer%27s_Cave)? :smallbiggrin:
http://giochinscatola.it/catalog/images/SorcerersCave_box.jpg
Interestingly, this was my parents game and they played it with me, when I was very young. True, it's not D&D, but my mother introduced me to dungeon crawling. :smallbiggrin:

[krossbow]

Ah, how i loved the 80s.




You think thats bad, go watch the dungeons and dragons cartoon. Seriously, the villian's a cross eyed idiot with a horrid overbite.

[Ravens_cry]

I like parts of the 80's. For example, Ghostbusters, early video and computer games, and of course, D&D. The clothes and fashion I have a real love/hate relationship with.On one hand I find them atrociously ugly. On the other hand, they are so out there, so bombastic and colourful, I can't help but love them.

[Starscream]

If there's one good thing that can be said for the 80s it is this: it wasn't the 70s.

With that offhanded dismissal of everything that happened before I was born (I challenge anyone to prove that the universe did not begin in 1984) out of the way, I can at least say this for the decade:

*The cartoons were pretty sweet.
*The toys, too.
*Some of the music was okay

I would make a statement regarding the politics, business, and overall culture of the decade, but I was under three feet tall throughout, so what I mostly remember is the cartoons, toys and music.

[Ethdred]

Of course, if you think the people in those ads look bad, you have to remember that all advertising presents aspirational images to its target market. So yeah, there really were kids in the 80s who would have looked at those ads and thought 'hey, if I buy this game maybe I'll be that cool'. Not that I was one of them, of course....

Then again, I don't think I've seen any ads for D&D recently, so maybe they're still trying to appeal to the same demographic.

[DeathQuaker]

I grew up through the 80s. That ain't bad at all. I seriously don't get what the hullaballoo is aboutl. I don't see any scary shoulder pads, giant hair, or triple layered socks. Just three sweater preppies playing a board game. :smalltongue: :smallbiggrin:

Also, playing D&D in the 80s was srs bsns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbcWKWp2UE4 (WARNING: Contains extreme 80s nerdery)

Also, it could suck you into an alternate universe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-sCXV58Q8U (Also, did you know you could flee Tiamat with a simple rope trick)?

[Bryn]

Anyone remember this game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sorcerer%27s_Cave)? :smallbiggrin:
Yes! I do!

...I can't remember how I old I was, but I had loads of fun with that game (which was certainly made before I was born). Quite possibly helped lead to my interest in RPGs, along with Wizardry 8 and possibly other things I can't remember.

[Tyrmatt]

Ha, if you think that was bad:


http://14.media.tumblr.com/b9vfl4b63j86hl4cVCiTgDn2o1_500.jpg


It is like no period of the 80s I remember, but then I wasn't even a teenager back then, and maybe it was exactly like that across the pond...

Jesus...even I would beat that kid up. And I was cast from the most cliched geek mold ever made.

[chiasaur11]

If there's one good thing that can be said for the 80s it is this: it wasn't the 70s.

With that offhanded dismissal of everything that happened before I was born (I challenge anyone to prove that the universe did not begin in 1984) out of the way, I can at least say this for the decade:

*The cartoons were pretty sweet.
*The toys, too.
*Some of the music was okay

I would make a statement regarding the politics, business, and overall culture of the decade, but I was under three feet tall throughout, so what I mostly remember is the cartoons, toys and music.
Don't forget the video games.

[golentan]

Yep, that's pretty much what the 80s were like. There were more hair bands, and the sexual revolution was happening at the beginning, and people kept talking about communist conspiracies even though things like Perestroika were happening, but that's unrelated.

Let's see: Decades I liked. 1990s, 1960s (1970s ruined a good thing with watergate and disco), 1950s, 1940s (War is horrible, but winning THAT war felt good), 1920s, The Oughts, 1890s, and then we have to jump back all the way to 1650s. I don't actually remember the 1650s that clearly, but I had fun. There was alcohol involved, and a few heists/assassinations, and I wound up getting banished from france.

Decades I am ambivalent about: Oughts MK II, 1970s, 1930s, 1880s. Then pretty much 1760s-1860s.

Decades I disliked: 1980s, 1910s, 1870, and pretty much everything not mentioned between 1760 and the dawn of mankind. Though... I think on the modern calendar it was around 120 ad? Rome was decent. Some of the posher neighborhoods even DIDN'T have fecal matter running in the streets.

If anyone ever asks you the greatest invention of humanity, the answer is indoor plumbing. The second greatest is toilet paper.

[Starscream]

Don't forget the video games.

I mentally filed them under "toys". Definitely don't want to forget the many many hours and braincells I wasted in front of Mario, Megaman and Link.

I have a Nintendo Wii now. It's great and I've had lots of fun with it even with the few games I currently own. But when I play it I'm still very aware that I'm a guy in his twenties waving a magic wand at a televised plumber.

But every now and then I'll dust off my old NES carts, blow into the console until my face is blue and then watch as the hours just disappear while I play Mike Tyson's Punch-Out.

I've defeated you before, Iron Mike, and I know I will again. Oh yes.

[BlueWizard]

Yep, that's pretty much what the 80s were like. There were more hair bands, and the sexual revolution was happening at the beginning, and people kept talking about communist conspiracies even though things like Perestroika were happening, but that's unrelated.

Let's see: Decades I liked. 1990s, 1960s (1970s ruined a good thing with watergate and disco), 1950s, 1940s (War is horrible, but winning THAT war felt good), 1920s, The Oughts, 1890s, and then we have to jump back all the way to 1650s. I don't actually remember the 1650s that clearly, but I had fun. There was alcohol involved, and a few heists/assassinations, and I wound up getting banished from france.

Decades I am ambivalent about: Oughts MK II, 1970s, 1930s, 1880s. Then pretty much 1760s-1860s.

Decades I disliked: 1980s, 1910s, 1870, and pretty much everything not mentioned between 1760 and the dawn of mankind. Though... I think on the modern calendar it was around 120 ad? Rome was decent. Some of the posher neighborhoods even DIDN'T have fecal matter running in the streets.

If anyone ever asks you the greatest invention of humanity, the answer is indoor plumbing. The second greatest is toilet paper.

Wow. Wow..........

[hamishspence]

hee hee. :smallsmile: "Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name..."

(kidding)

[Tengu_temp]

Anyone remember this game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sorcerer%27s_Cave)? :smallbiggrin:
http://giochinscatola.it/catalog/images/SorcerersCave_box.jpg
Interestingly, this was my parents game and they played it with me, when I was very young. True, it's not D&D, but my mother introduced me to dungeon crawling. :smallbiggrin:

Unfortunately not, but I remember the many, many hours spent playing this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/TalismanInPlay.jpg

[golentan]

hee hee. :smallsmile: "Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name..."

(kidding)

AHAHAHAHA!!!!!

For the record, I am reformed and happily retired. And it's nowhere near accurate.

(Hehehe. I'll be laughing about this for weeks. Thank you.)

[bosssmiley]

You think that's bad, go watch the dungeons and dragons cartoon. Seriously, the villain's a cross eyed idiot with a horrid overbite.

Sorry, what? Venger can't hear you over the sound of how awesome he is. (pic very related)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4OYGjUrdllo/SbKyi8gOM7I/AAAAAAAAR0M/rE5g1NLtIio/s1600/apummarunz.JPG

source (http://www.boskoestoys.com/DNDV2.html) - and yes, they are for sale...

@Tengu-temp: You do know "Talisman" has been re-released, doncher?

@OP: Laugh all you like. Then stop and think on just how absurdly dated your current favourites will look in a decade.

"It's the nature of fashion to be invisible [...] Fashion is mistaken for good design..."
-- Paul Graham (http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html)

[Starscream]

Sorry, what? Venger can't hear you over the sound of how awesome he is. (pic very related)

I always liked Venger. He ranks just above Mumm-Ra and Gargamel and below Skeletor and Cobra Commander in my book.

But no one will ever top Megatron. Something about Frank Welker's voice.

[newbDM]

Sorry, what? Venger can't hear you over the sound of how awesome he is. (pic very related)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4OYGjUrdllo/SbKyi8gOM7I/AAAAAAAAR0M/rE5g1NLtIio/s1600/apummarunz.JPG

source (http://www.boskoestoys.com/DNDV2.html) - and yes, they are for sale...

Wait, WUT!!!

Are these legal/legit/authorized figures?

If so, I know where I will be blowing my expendable income for a while.

[Matthew]

Sorry, what? Venger can't hear you over the sound of how awesome he is. (pic very related)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4OYGjUrdllo/SbKyi8gOM7I/AAAAAAAAR0M/rE5g1NLtIio/s1600/apummarunz.JPG

source (http://www.boskoestoys.com/DNDV2.html) - and yes, they are for sale...


What the frick? "Dark Eric"? I am so confused.

[Tengu_temp]

@Tengu-temp: You do know "Talisman" has been re-released, doncher?


Yes, Wikipedia told me yesterday. Needless to say, I was very happy to hear that - so many nostalgic memories...

[Surfing HalfOrc]

I wish I could find this one ad from "Back in the Day." It was after they introduced Basic and Expert D&D (the Erol Otis covers), and were making an effort to reach the "Family Game Night" crowd.

Mom, Dad, Jr, and Sis were all gathered in the den set up to play. Mom was DMing, and the rest were playing. (At least that's how I remember it. Did a Google search, but gave up after 10 minutes)

I have that set, but somehow I never got the "whole family" involved. My little sister did play a couple of times, but getting mom and dad to sit around and pretend they were elves and dwarves and all that? Not happening. :smallbiggrin:

[SlyGuyMcFly]

Unfortunately not, but I remember the many, many hours spent playing this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/TalismanInPlay.jpg

Heh. I´ve spent many, many hours playing that, and I was born in 87. Hell, I last played about 6 months ago. Good fun, even if the version my family plays combines the old board with the newer cards and a plethora of house-rules. Most of them to address the percieved imbalance between casters and non-casters, something I find amusing to no end.

More on topic, I was born in 87, so I never knew what the 80s where like, (something that I think I am thankful for) except for some of the cartoons which where pretty nifty.

[horseboy]

What, no one is going to bring up Mazes & Monsters (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084314/)? Oh how we loved that movie because it acknowledged us. I swear it's why Tom Hanks was so big in the 90's.
If you guys think the adds were bad, you should have been there for the sessions. Two DM's meeting at a Waldenbooks would spend HOURS detailing the horrible atrocities they'd visited upon players. Things we now would refer to a Schrodinger's Monsters (http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7931/redwidow.jpg) dominated anything close to a "social encounter". Cursed items horrid and juvenile plagued players to the point that just leaving a sword at a cross road was the entire session for the night as their paranoia and greed fought within. Yeah, I'll take the hackney writing and contrived plot prevelent of the modern era over having to worry about dying from food poisoning any day.

[Starbuck_II]

What the frick? "Dark Eric"? I am so confused.

Click the Geotic Sceptre (it is a sequel to the show). It is an artifact that turns Erik evil. Apparently, it was cursed.

So Erik joins the evil side (I haven't watched so I can only assume till they save him).

Could be good.