I Hit It With My Axe: Episode Two: F*ck. A Medusa.

[BlueInkAlchemist]

I think this is my new 'guilty pleasure' on the Escapist.

Maybe it's just because I'm a big tabletop nerd, but I'm enjoying it!

Definitely making me want to play more D&D...

 

[brainfree]

*Bad accent*

... I put my claws around his mouth, to shut him up.

You don't have claws, your a person.

Sorry, but those accents are bad... I would love to hear his impression of Golum from the lord of the rings.

 

[Proteus214]

Gah, the Greek Mythology geek in me is tearing his hair out. There is no such creature as "a Medusa." "Medusa" is the name of a particular Gorgon. /nerdrant

OT: Good stuff lol.

 

[end_boss]

I think the problem is that the players are actually doing too well, and at the same time, not good enough. I think that what people interpret to be amusing is when the subjects are too far out of their element and struggling to adapt, or if they're so good that they start to exist in their own world and show us a side of the culture that we didn't expect. This achieves neither, and merely hopes that the fact that they're adult film stars, etc, is enough to keep people entertained. Again, unfortunately, that's not the case here.

I'll give the series one more try before writing it off.

 

[end_boss]

Gah, the Greek Mythology geek in me is tearing his hair out. There is no such creature as "a Medusa." "Medusa" is the name of a particular Gorgon. /nerdrant

OT: Good stuff lol.

I feel your pain. I've kinda forced myself to care less about it, but it does still bug me a little. On the other hand, games do tend to treat minotaurs like a species when, in fact, it was only one of a kind, too.

Trivia fact: it is also not correct to depict any non-Medusa gorgon as a snake woman that turns people to stone. Gorgons are actually very beautiful nymphs, and Medusa was cursed into her famous form.

 

[Monshroud]

While I'm not sure still if this is something I would enjoy watching weekly, I would like to provide a few things I think would make the show better and possibly entice me to watch more:

1> Lengthen the episodes. While some people previously are saying 20 - 30 mins, I would say 10 - 15 would be a good length.

2> Improve the quality of the video / lighting. I am not sure if it is the camera or the lighting in the room, but everything seems dark. Better lighting may improve this. Now I understand everyone may not want to be under stage lights while playing D&D, maybe moving to a better naturally lit area could help, or a table with an overhead light.

3> The off-game commentary clips I think should either bookend the episode or have some relevance to the next minute or two of footage. The general talk is fine, but I think it could be edited in better to keep the flow of the episode.

I think this has a lot of potential. I know people who listen to D&D podcasts and love to hear the funny little quotes that get said or hear how a group comes up with some weird way of getting into or out of a situation. Welcome to The Escapist and I hope you find a good home here.

 

[Jallis370]

I'm trying to get the story here but the clips keep juming around. It looks like the actual editing is just pressing the record and stop button on the camera and leaving it like that with half of an interesting story and cut-off dialogue.

I think this would be much better as actual reality where we heard all of the dialogue, both the boring and cool stuff. Too much information to cram into 5 mins..

I'll stick with this though. Filming an actual DnD session is too much of a win.
Why do all of you have so weird names?

 

[ProtoChimp]

Wow I actually enjoyed it, I don't know why though.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

Improvement!HAH!!!!!! Good One!

Ya see the problem here is the concept is terrible!The writing is also terrible!The show is TERRIBLE!!!!

There is a reason most porn-stars don't have successful acting careers!!!!

Also... you try understanding when they like kinda like y'know and your all like "Hey man..like what are you like...doing?"and there all like "Dude!!! WTF Are you saying ? [small]like[/small]

You are aware that they are not acting, right? That this is real? There is no writing or scripts or multiple takes. Its just them sitting down, playing DnD, and recording it. I understand what they are trying to accomplish with this. I see it. Its there. They haven't reached it yet, and possibly never will, but I do see it.

Thats probably a flaw in itself! Any DECENT TV show is scripted and acted! Even shows such as Mock the Week ,which boasts its comedians improvisational abilities, are scripted.

It... what? What are you talking about?

This is like a documentary. Or "reality show", though I use that word reluctantly and with utter disgust. They are sitting down to play a game, and they want to film it to share their experiences with the larger public. The "hook" is that the majority of the players are also in the adult entertainment industry in some form or other, but they aren't playing a role. Its just a group of friends enjoying an afternoon game.

You can't honestly tell me you think this is supposed to be scripted or in any way planned out ahead of time?

Just to let you know, ep 1 did nothing for me, just thought I'd nose at the comments at ep 2 to see if there was a change but there isn't. I wont b*tch about the show, I said what I had to say about it last week, just explaining why I'm here looking

I'd like to comment on your reality TV/documentary comment.
A documentary would normally explain the ins n outs of this world to the viewer with a voice over.
A "reality TV" show would be edited to tell a story. Reality TV show does get heavily edited to tell what ever story the producers think will interest the viewer.
So I don't think it falls into either of those categories.
Maybe action futage/game play footage would be a better title

 

[silversun101]

Just to let you know, ep 1 did nothing for me, just thought I'd nose at the comments at ep 2 to see if there was a change but there isn't. I wont b*tch about the show, I said what I had to say about it last week, just explaining why I'm here looking

I'd like to comment on your reality TV/documentary comment.
A documentary would normally explain the ins n outs of this world to the viewer with a voice over.
A "reality TV" show would be edited to tell a story. Reality TV show does get heavily edited to tell what ever story the producers think will interest the viewer.
So I don't think it falls into either of those categories.
Maybe action futage/game play footage would be a better title

Well I never said it was particularly good, just that this is more or less what it is. Or at least intended to be. This is a far cry from a well made production though I still find it interesting nonetheless. The amateur editing job keeps it from being called a proper documentation, and the lack of a cohesive story outside of "these are hot girls playing DnD" makes it not quite a reality show. So... honestly it leans more towards a glorified DnD advertisement. Action/gameplay footage show is a decent compromise.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

Just to let you know, ep 1 did nothing for me, just thought I'd nose at the comments at ep 2 to see if there was a change but there isn't. I wont b*tch about the show, I said what I had to say about it last week, just explaining why I'm here looking

I'd like to comment on your reality TV/documentary comment.
A documentary would normally explain the ins n outs of this world to the viewer with a voice over.
A "reality TV" show would be edited to tell a story. Reality TV show does get heavily edited to tell what ever story the producers think will interest the viewer.
So I don't think it falls into either of those categories.
Maybe action futage/game play footage would be a better title

Well I never said it was particularly good, just that this is more or less what it is. Or at least intended to be. This is a far cry from a well made production though I still find it interesting nonetheless. The amateur editing job keeps it from being called a proper documentation, and the lack of a cohesive story outside of "these are hot girls playing DnD" makes it not quite a reality show. So... honestly it leans more towards a glorified DnD advertisement. Action/gameplay footage show is a decent compromise.

Maybe if i was a D&D player I'd get alot more out of it.
To each there own, atleast some people like it. although the whole pornstar thing doesn't sit right with me, I think it cheapens it all a little, like all us geeks n gamers need is a pornstar to get our interest. I'm sure it's not meant that way though.

I like your avatar btw. who/what is it?

 

[silversun101]

Just to let you know, ep 1 did nothing for me, just thought I'd nose at the comments at ep 2 to see if there was a change but there isn't. I wont b*tch about the show, I said what I had to say about it last week, just explaining why I'm here looking

I'd like to comment on your reality TV/documentary comment.
A documentary would normally explain the ins n outs of this world to the viewer with a voice over.
A "reality TV" show would be edited to tell a story. Reality TV show does get heavily edited to tell what ever story the producers think will interest the viewer.
So I don't think it falls into either of those categories.
Maybe action futage/game play footage would be a better title

Well I never said it was particularly good, just that this is more or less what it is. Or at least intended to be. This is a far cry from a well made production though I still find it interesting nonetheless. The amateur editing job keeps it from being called a proper documentation, and the lack of a cohesive story outside of "these are hot girls playing DnD" makes it not quite a reality show. So... honestly it leans more towards a glorified DnD advertisement. Action/gameplay footage show is a decent compromise.

Maybe if i was a D&D player I'd get alot more out of it.
To each there own, atleast some people like it. although the whole pornstar thing doesn't sit right with me, I think it cheapens it all a little, like all us geeks n gamers need is a pornstar to get our interest. I'm sure it's not meant that way though.

I like your avatar btw. who/what is it?

Yeah, I think the pornstar angle is pretty low-brow. Maybe a bit insulting? I'm not sure if their intention is to show what a wide and varied audience DnD actually has or just trying to get lonely nerds to watch by dangling boobies in from of their faces. As I stated earlier half of my gaming group is female so his angle doesn't have any big WOW factor for me.

Also, that's Nightcrawler.

 

[mechanixis]

I really want to like this, guys, but it's shaping up to be "stupid, unattractive, and fairly self-important women squabble for five minutes, the show."

Unattractive?! The whole point of the series is that they women are aesthetically appealing. I don't think there is any evidence in this video to suggest they are either stupid or self-important. I don't know if they were really squabbling though, I got bored half way through and started gazing out of my window.

The fact is it is a bunch of people playing Dungeons and Dragons. If they were playing an FPS or sports game and were really good at it then it might be worth watching. But then I guess it is a lot harder to find five porn stars who are brilliant at video games, let aloe one particular video game. Plus if it is an engaging game then it is difficult to get a decent conversation going because everyone just wants to watch the game.

I want this concept to work. I really do. I just don't see how it can be made to do so.

Hey, if the partially-shaved heads, black nails and tattoos do it for you, then power to you I suppose. This just isn't as entertaining as, say, those podcasts of the Penny Arcade guys playing D&D. Because half of these girls sound like they don't want to be there, and there's so many of them trying to talk at once it's just a faltering verbal clusterfuck.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

Just to let you know, ep 1 did nothing for me, just thought I'd nose at the comments at ep 2 to see if there was a change but there isn't. I wont b*tch about the show, I said what I had to say about it last week, just explaining why I'm here looking

I'd like to comment on your reality TV/documentary comment.
A documentary would normally explain the ins n outs of this world to the viewer with a voice over.
A "reality TV" show would be edited to tell a story. Reality TV show does get heavily edited to tell what ever story the producers think will interest the viewer.
So I don't think it falls into either of those categories.
Maybe action futage/game play footage would be a better title

Well I never said it was particularly good, just that this is more or less what it is. Or at least intended to be. This is a far cry from a well made production though I still find it interesting nonetheless. The amateur editing job keeps it from being called a proper documentation, and the lack of a cohesive story outside of "these are hot girls playing DnD" makes it not quite a reality show. So... honestly it leans more towards a glorified DnD advertisement. Action/gameplay footage show is a decent compromise.

Maybe if i was a D&D player I'd get alot more out of it.
To each there own, atleast some people like it. although the whole pornstar thing doesn't sit right with me, I think it cheapens it all a little, like all us geeks n gamers need is a pornstar to get our interest. I'm sure it's not meant that way though.

I like your avatar btw. who/what is it?

Yeah, I think the pornstar angle is pretty low-brow. Maybe a bit insulting? I'm not sure if their intention is to show what a wide and varied audience DnD actually has or just trying to get lonely nerds to watch by dangling boobies in from of their faces. As I stated earlier half of my gaming group is female so his angle doesn't have any big WOW factor for me.

Also, that's Nightcrawler.

Female D&D fans? are there many about?

i thought it was. that artworks great, wheres it from?

 

[Tom Selleck's Ghost]

Editing is a choppy and the production values are bad but I'm liking it.

Porn Stars aren't thought as the greatest actresses but I loved the delivery of the "#$&@ a Medusa." They are playing a stupid game but you can tell she was totally into it.

Real RPG sessions are kinda boring to watch. If you played in them this is fun to watch. Target audience seem more of the RPG fans than fans of porn. We're use to seeing these kinda girls all dolled up. Even in most SFW interview type video stuff there is a fake feeling about it. In these two episodes they are the furthest thing from porn stars. They are just girls in the party. Nothing reminds me of their day job. Here they are a bunch of newbies. Like any other girl of that age playing these games.

 

[mechanixis]

I'm not sure what they're going for here. It's not exactly a booming endorsement of D&D. It's a bunch of porn stars and a hairdresser: Just what every parent dreams their kids will be when they grow up.

These episodes don't exactly scream "porn stars are emotionally and mentally mature enough to do anything else," either. I guess you could say the same thing about the majority of celebrities, though.

It was less boring than the first episode, but that's not saying much.

I think that's what bugs me too, the lack of mental/emotional maturity all the players seem to have. Some of them just seem flatly disinterested, while the rest just approach the game with the seriousness and consideration with which one typically approaches Space Invaders. ("Let's charm them and then freeze them and then we'll cut their heads off" has been proposed like five times now as a diplomatic solution.)

 

[Stone Cold Monkey]

I do want to make a huge comment:

Saying that a show will pick up after X episodes is doomed to fail.

You don't see shows on NBC, CBS, FOX or whatever giving the excuse "Well, just wait until the fifth episode." It's a LAME excuse. The first episode should be the draw episode. It's the episode that makes people want to watch the show week after week. It gives the basic premise and gives the opportunity to get into the show, because if you make your show fail right out of the gate, people will ***** about it for 1-2 weeks, and it will get it's initial popularity, but people will not watch the show when it actually gets good.

An even bigger comment:

If you have to make an excuse about why your show isn't good, you're doing it wrong. Yahtzee has made this point many times; one part of a game should not sell another. It's the same with shows.

Damn straight, I also want to make a comment.

Just because a show has a high premier doesn't make it a hit or even something that is going bring in an audience. Last I heard, Comedy Central's most watched premier was, 'The Jeff Dunham Show' with over 5 million viewers. They lost over half that the next show and currently no plans are in place for a second season. Given that the people I know who would watch the Jeff Dunham show would certainly not stick around to watch South Park or the Daily Show. I don't think 'Axe' will increase The Escapist traffic much. However, that show does appear to be cheaper than dirt to make. You know the life blood of Reality TV. So effort compared to benefit may still be there. I for one don't expect a second season. I like many of the other commentators, feel there a was a better show for that slot.

Lastly, for anyone who says read the blog to enrich the video. I ain't doin' no homework to git somethin' out of that moving picture show.

 

[TheMatt]

This show is horrible. Role playing is only fun if you're doing it and even then it helps to be really really stoned.

I think we're all supposed to be impressed cause it's a bunch of porn stars. Sorry, I'm not 15. Porn starts are interesting when they are doing porn... that's about it.

Why the fuck does everyone look so dirty? not as in "ooo she's a dirty girl" I mean actual dirt.