D&D Fans Are Furious Over A Detail In The New Trailer

Nick Davis

In the world of nerd culture, Dungeons & Dragons is thought of as the ultimate king of the geek franchises. Of course, the stereotype of it being a game with a fanbase that exclusively consists of guys who live in their parents’ basements has been broken down a number of times over the decades.

But it’s undoubtedly a game for nerds, and nerds can’t get enough of it. And that undying devotion can lead to some… boisterous opinions being put out into the world when the beloved game is touched by outside forces.

Such is the case with the trailer for the new adaptation Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Overall, the reception to the trailer has been positive. Many have excitement for a film and cast that appears to have a love for D&D like the fans.

But one Owlbear out of place has some D&D diehards up in arms calling inaccuracy. But is it really an inaccuracy?

Druid To Owlbear?

owlbear dungeons and dragons honor among thieves youtube
The owlbear in question who has the D&D world in an uproar

The “inaccuracy” in question is a section in the latter half of the trailer that came out recently on YouTube. It shows the druid character (Sophia Lillis) turning into an Owlbear to inflict some destruction upon her enemies. For avid D&D fans, it’s clear that she’s using the popular Druid class feature “Wild Shape”. A feature that has been a part of the Druid class since the very first edition of the game.

Some are decrying that it’s not possible for a Druid to Wild Shape into an Owlbear, however. For a trailer that attempts to pride itself on being accurate to the game, many are seeing this as a glaring and concerning fault.

However, that concern really only has justification for players who have only ever participated in the 5th edition of the game. It is true that in 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons there is no possible way for a Druid to Wild Shape into an Owlbear.

There are 4 other editions of the game, however (5 if you want to staunchly assert 3.5 as its own edition). And in each and every one of those editions, it is in fact possible for Druids to Wild Shape into Owlbears. YouTube channel The RPG Blender has a great breakdown of the rules in each edition allowing Druids to do this.

So, while the most recent iteration of the popular game does not allow Druids to make this transformation, the movie is under no obligation to abide by the rules of 5th edition. And, really, they’d probably please more fans by sticking to 3.5 rules, anyway.

Dungeons And Dragons Hype

Dungeons & Dragons has always been a popular game since its debut in the 1970s. But the recent decade has seen the game grow to extreme new heights of popularity. Technology and a growing acceptance of all things nerdy has opened up the fanbase to a legion of new players. That gives this film a lot of potential to soar if it truly does feel like a love letter to the game. It also gives the potential for even more people to discover the timeless tabletop game in the near future. Get your d20s ready.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves comes to theaters in March 2023.

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