TV is King

ganked from kengr

TV meme
The Time/CNN list of 100 Greatest Television Shows of all time. Post in your LJ with the following legend:
Bold - I watch/used to watch this regularly
Strikethrough -- I wouldn't watch it if you paid me
Question mark -- I never heard of it

Add comments if you like.
( Don't Touch That Dial - Remember when TV sets had dials? )

I got your epic-level fighter right here!

I finished Das Nibelungenlied a week or so back, and have been meaning to post about it.

Anyone even thinking about running a Fantasy RPG needs to read this. Ignore Tolkien, ignore every other modern fantasy writer. This is good stuff from the source!

The story is filled with all the little cultural details that escape modern story-tellers. The emphasis on rich clothing, for example. In an era when owning three tunics was extravagant, hearing about the endless fine, jewel-encrusted, robes shows what wealth was in 1200. Additionally, the battles focus less on body counts, but rather on broken helmets and shields. Partially metaphor, partially economic reality - those things were valuable!

I was greatly amused at the poem's descriptions of Iceland, knowing the historical reality of the settlement. That and the state of the art in foreshadowing in the Middle Ages. Runs sort of like this: "They crossed the river, and which point they were all doomed to die. Not one was coming back. Dead Dead DEAD! and Doomed, really, really doomed. In case you aren't convinced, here are the river sprites to confirm it. Sprites: 'Yup. Hagen, your ass is dead. You and your thousand knights, your king, and your little dog Toto!'"

Magic in the story is subtle. We see a magic cloak that makes its wearer invisible and grants him the strength of 12 men. Siegfried's sword Balmung (also known as Gram or Nothung) cuts steel like butter (and was also broken and reforged - sound familiar?) We have an encounter with river spirits. And of course Brünnhilde has magical strength. Siegfried had bathed in the blood of a dragon, and was invulnerable (except for that one spot on his back where a leaf stuck...)

But onto the epic-level characters. Hagen of Troneg, a half-elf fighter, pretty much kills everything he comes in contact with. During the final siege, he regularly makes circuits of the hall, killing dozens with each turn. Those +20/+15/+10/+5 combat bonuses really help! He also has a zillion hit points, since after helping to slaughter 7000 foes, he's fresh enough to argue who should stand watch with...

Volker the Fiddler, human barbarian/bard. Almost as deadly as Hagen, but with the bonus of being a great improvisational musician. Other sagas suggest that his sword was magical and named Fiddle-Bow, suggesting that his instrument was magical as well. Best known for taking breaks from slaughter to play a little tune.

Then there's poor, dead Siegfried. Slayer of Dragon. Not counting his invulnerable, AC 45 skin, magic sword, and invisibility+strength cloak, he was also beautiful, strong, brilliant, wise.. (let me see those dice, Chuck!) and another Ginsu of Death. Killed only when betrayed by those he trusted.

So, read this. It's a fun romp through the legends of another age.

It's Saturday night.

Why isn't this appearing on my TV screen like I remember?

Yes, I'm an old-school Whovian. The new guys haven't really grown on me. Give me Pertwee and Delgado, or give me Death!