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6 months ago ::
Dec 07, 2012 - 11:37AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2010
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A lot of people here know the story of my participation in the creation of the D&D episode of The X-Files. Here's how it ends. In 1997, while I was working for Wizards during the TSR acquisition, I helped write a scene for an episode of The X-Files called "Unusual Suspects." In it, Dean Haglund's character Richard Langly plays Dungeons & Dragons. The scene contains the line "Come on, natural 20! Daddy needs a new sword of wounding!" Which I kind of wrote.
The D&D books and materials in that scenario were contributed by me and Evon, with an assist from Peter Adkison. Particularly notable are my battered 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide, Peter's 2nd edition Player's Handbook*, and Evon's magnificent blue velvet dice bag. There's a set-layout sketch by D&D artist Sam Wood, and a letter of provenance from WotC chief counsel Brian Lewis. The story of this dice bag and its appearance on The X-Files was told in Will Hindmarch's book The Bones.
Fifteen years later, I auctioned the items for Child's Play at the dinner on Thursday night. Child's Play is an amazing charity started by the Penny Arcade guys, and administered by the talented Kristin Lindsay and Jamie Dillon. The charity provides toys and games to children with terminal conditions in hospitals across the country. It's raised over $2 million this year alone.
The complete list of items:
*my 1st edition game-used Dungeon Master's Guide, DM's screen, Player's Handbook (later edition), Dungeon Master's Guide (later edition), Manual of the Planes, Dungeoneer's Survival Guide, Unearthed Arcana, Judge's Guild character sheets, Dragon #145, Polyhedron #42
*Peter's 2nd edition Player's Handbook
*Evon's handmade blue velvet dice bag and dice
*Sam's set layout sketch
*Brian's provenance letter
*my autographed copy of The Bones
Jerry and Mike from Penny Arcade auctioned this lot off onstage at the Child's Play Dinner, raising $2100 for kids in hospitals last night. They're going into PopCap's game collection. Evon and I were very happy. We were surrounded by friends who clapped us about the shoulders and congratulated us.
Anyway, thought you guys would like to know.
Mike Selinker
*The mix of 1st and 2nd edition books reflects the time period of 1989, when not all the 2nd edition books were out yet.
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6 months ago ::
Dec 07, 2012 - 11:45AM
#2
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Anyway, thought you guys would like to know.
Mike Selinker
Thinking often leads to erroneous conclusions. I try to avoid it when possible.
Boraxe wrote: "Knowledge of the rules and creativity are great attributes for a DM, but knowing when to cut loose and when to hold back, when to follow the rules and when to discard them, in order to enhance the enjoyment of the game is the most important DM skill of all."
Keeper of the Sacred Kitty Bowl of the House of Trolls.
Resident Kitteh-napper.
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6 months ago ::
Dec 07, 2012 - 12:25PM
#3
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Indeed. Drinking leads to better conclusions.
République du Plateau, Montréal, Québec
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6 months ago ::
Dec 07, 2012 - 12:54PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Dec 24, 2007
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Yes, conclusions like maybe that girl wasn't a girl ... and that it really doesn't matter all that much.
Resident Prophet of the OTTer.Section Six Soldier Front Door of the House of Trolls If you're terribly afraid of your character dying, it may be best if you roleplayed something other than an adventurer.
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6 months ago ::
Dec 07, 2012 - 12:56PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 17, 2007
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You know the rule, ZB. Pics!
Nut Eating Resident Sociopathic Eye Forker
2346-strong Squirrel leigon of DOOM
Squirrel Overlord of the House of Trolls
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy. ~Ernest Benn
The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it. ~P.J. O'Rourke
"I actually held public office and I left the only way a politician should, in handcuffs." ~ Chael Sonnen
It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it! ~ Upton Sinclair
Kicked Adam and Eve out of Missouri.
Wears flip-flops in church buildings.
Official troller of Kolob.
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6 months ago ::
Dec 07, 2012 - 1:05PM
#6
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Date Joined:
Dec 24, 2007
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Resident Prophet of the OTTer.Section Six Soldier Front Door of the House of Trolls If you're terribly afraid of your character dying, it may be best if you roleplayed something other than an adventurer.
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6 months ago ::
Dec 08, 2012 - 5:43AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jan 18, 2010
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Why should we care about this guys boasting?
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse."- John Stuart Mill
Old Man of the House of Trolls
Resident Hater
God of Anger and Hatred.
Mini Hate Machine
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6 months ago ::
Dec 08, 2012 - 8:23AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Apr 17, 2008
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The money went to charity. I think it's supposed to be a thank you, to everyone that bid on stuff.
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6 months ago ::
Dec 15, 2012 - 2:38PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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As a huge fan of both The X-Files and D&D, I think this is awesome...and Unusual Suspects was a great episode.
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