When adapting a beloved game, it’s easy to bend or break the rules for movie magic reasons, and when it comes to Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, there are plenty of Dungeons and Dragons errors, but luckily, many of these “mistakes” actually made the movie better. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a feature film based on the popular tabletop role play game, Dungeons and Dragons. The film follows a party of former criminals that gang up once again to save a man’s daughter, and the city of Neverwinter, from impending doom.
While most Dungeons and Dragons fans were likely unhappy with the rules that Honor Among Thieves broke, the end results were mostly worth it. Accuracy is definitely a major aspect of a good movie adaptation, however, exceptions can and should be made when these rule breaks are minor and add to the experience of watching the film. When it comes to Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, this is almost always true. The D&D rules that the movie breaks are often small, and by breaking them, the film became more epic and more entertaining to watch.
10 Time Stop Spells Looked Much Cooler When Slower
One of the earliest rule breaks to appear in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is how time stop spells work. While these enchantments usually freeze all players beside the caster immediately, the film adjusted this rule. Rather than the Honor Among Thieves cast stopping in their tracks, the spell floated over the room like a giant bubble. In fact, some players even had time to run away from the enchantment, which would never occur in the game. Despite this change, the effect was incredibly cool. It allowed for a more visually appealing and dramatic moment, and also, made actions complicated rather than cutting them off completely.
9 Jarnathan Needed To Fly Despite Being Grappled
Another early yet small change in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was the fact that Jarnathan was able to fly while being grappled by Edgin and Holga. In basic Dungeons and Dragons gameplay, a player cannot move when being grappled by another player. There is no work around for that. However, in the movie, Jarnathan is able to fly out of Revel’s End with Edgin and Holga holding onto him, aiding in their escape. Although this isn’t realistic to Dungeons and Dragons, it was a decidedly cool maneuver. Not only did it move the plot along, but it also offered audiences a pretty hilarious and memorable moment.
8 The Party Had To Escape Themberchaud Via Water Protection
A rule break that defies both Dungeons and Dragons and real life logic is the party’s protection from Themberchaud via water. During the party’s battle with the dragon, they find themselves stuck in a cave filled with gas that the dragon intends to set on fire. They find a way to fill the cave with water, and when the explosion goes off, they duck under the surface to protect themselves. While this move isn’t totally sound, it should be given a pass because of its ingenuity and for the simple fact that it saved the party. It wasn’t the perfect move, but it wasn’t completely laughable either.
7 The Sending Stones Working Like Walkie Talkies Was A Fun Addition
One rule break that gets deep into technicalities is the sending stones. When the party is conducting their plan to save Kira, they use the magical devices to stay in contact with each other. In the film, the stones only work for an hour and function like walkie-talkies, but in Dungeons and Dragons, there is no time limit on the stones and the way they work isn’t entirely apparent. Although the film adjusted the sending stone rules, this change is worth it because of the stones’ hilarious similarity to walkie-talkies. Overall, it makes the heist much more fun, and is even a sort of homage to real life.
6 Speak With Dead’s Lack Of Time Duration Added Comedic Effect
Another rule break that offered some comedic effect was the duration of the Speak with Dead spell. When the party is searching for answers about the Helm of Disjunction, they raise the dead, and are able to ask them five questions. In actuality, Dungeons and Dragons dictates that Speak with Dead would only last ten minutes, no matter the amount of questions one asks, however, the movie keeps the dead alive unless five questions are asked. This leads to a pretty funny bit wherein a corpse they raised remains animated, waiting for his last question. Overall, this is an amazing gag that was definitely worth the rule break.
5 Sofina’s Cluelessness Made The Final Scene More Satisfying
Despite breaking a significant technicality, this rule break was worth it for the satisfaction it brings the audience. Near the end of Honor Among Thieves, the party is battling Sofina, and they seem overpowered. However, they show the Red Wizard up when she casts a Time Stop spell that they only pretend works, thus catching her off guard and defeating her. In Dungeons and Dragons, a player always knows if their spell failed, therefore this deception never would have worked. Fortunately though, it makes for a pretty epic moment that will make any viewer cheer for Edgin and the party. It is the perfect solution for this band of underdogs.
4 The Gelatinous Cube Escape Was Awesome Fan Service
This rule break might have seemed convenient, but viewed differently, it was actually great fan service. The party gets stuck competing in the deadly High Sun Games, and at one point, they get stuck in a Gelatinous Cube. Though the Cube should kill them, Doric gets the party out by turning into a snake and slithering away. Although this move wouldn’t actually work, as even snakes are paralyzed in a Gelatinous Cube, the rule break isn’t really about the maneuver. In reality, the entire moment is an awesome bit of fan service, wherein Dungeons and Dragons lovers can experience a Gelatinous Cube on-screen, even if the rules are slightly fuzzy.
3 Edgin’s Lack Of Magic Gave Simon More Importance
A major rule break that disappointed and confused Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves viewers was the fact that Edgin had no magic. As a bard, Edgin should have been able to cast spells, however, the movie never gives him that ability. While this may seem like a wasted opportunity, it actually helps the film in certain ways. For example, Edgin’s lack of magic makes Simon the only member of the party with spellcasting abilities. Therefore, this makes Simon more vital to the team, and emphasizes his journey to gaining more confidence. So, though Edgin lacks some abilities, Simon is lifted up as a result.
2 Simon’s Complicated Attunement Helped His Character Development
Yet another rule break that helped Simon in particular was the attunement to the Helm of Disjunction. In Dungeons and Dragons, it should only take an hour for any spellcaster to attune to a magical item, however in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Simon struggles for at least a day to connect to the Helm. Clearly this is a significant rule break, but it comes at a worthy cost. By having Simon struggle to attune with the Helm, the film makes his character development that much more important. When he does finally attune, it shows that he has grown as a person and undergone an important change.
1 Doric’s Owlbear Was Unrealistic But Way More Epic
The most controversial rule break in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is Doric’s owlbear transformation. While druids are known to have the Wild Shape ability, wherein they can change into various different creatures, Doric was not skilled enough to be able to transform into an owlbear. This misstep angered plenty of audience members, but in the end, the choice was a good one. Adding an owlbear to the movie made it feel more ingrained in Dungeons and Dragons lore, and Doric’s introduction wouldn’t have been nearly as awesome if she had changed into just a normal bear. Overall, for epic fantasy purposes, this rule break was the right decision.
