R.A. Salvatore on Combat and Dungeons & Dragons

[@twinblade63]

Salvatore is the reason why i got into reading and writing. i owe this guy a serious debt of gratitude

[@jclefbouncyrock]

Favorite writer for the D&D franchise - his fight scenes are the best! Don't stop, Bob - we're still enjoying the books!! :)

[@jeremygriffin620]

Hearing the guy who wrote Drizzt and other characters say, "Maaashal aarts..." in that deep north-east accent like something out of a Lovecraft, made me grin.

[@cjchillax1771]

Love this guy

[@josephcusumano2885]

Thats a Boston/ Massachusetts accent.

[@TheCharlesFr]

I love how he is so genuinely still having fun with Drizzt and how he views writing as "exploring" new places and spaces!

[@JacksonBockus]

CURVED. SWORDS.

[@yarp1246]

You see those warriors from the Underdark? They've got curved swords. Curved. Swords.

[@Smirk75]

I'd love to see a modern day hero who uses two ice hockey sticks dual wielded as weapons!

[@TonyPizzaPie]

Closest to that is Casey from TMNT

[@Smirk75]

@@TonyPizzaPie I was thinking of him too, but he uses just one. In the anime Paranoia Agents too.

[@ILoveGrilledCheese]

600 lbs of muscled cat

[@Grimscribe732]

In my head, Drizzt will never have the same voice again. This is him now.

[@Recardoguy007]

jamako it’s funny you say that. After thinking about it now when Chris Perkins introduced Drizzt to the waffle crew after they first got out of Berovia, Chris was giving Drizzt that accent.

[@josephcusumano2885]

🤣

[@StevenLandesVO]

I love Salvatore, and somehow it's viscerally satisfying to me to know that he writes the combat scenes as furiously as I read them.

[@MrCefus]

One of the best writers in the D&D world, his books were a perfect follow up back in the day to the Dragonlance books I'd loved so much. That and I needed something to read as the other books were being created.

[@slafleche]

Love the pizza reference In truth, I don't think D&D ever left, if anything it just took different forms and editions. If anything, were just seeing more and more people join, because of the perception on "geeks" and because people who try the game just realize who awesome table-top RPGs in comparison to just video games.

[@AKNeal81]

I think that those of us growing up in the 80s and 90s were the next generation of DnD players but we were also borderline forced into collegiate life therefore delaying our return to the game. We were bound to come back but needed to be able to afford the time to play that our parents were covering in the early years lol

[@thomasedgington6223]

Been playing DND my whole life 35 plus years, it never left

[@Acekhan201]

It didn't leave. It got attacked my certain authorities and went underground. More some places than others. The state I live in is the last one you associate with D&D, but it's got more players per capita than almost any other. It's sort of like a de-centralized secret society - you gotta make a joke only a D&D player would get and see if anyone gets it. Later, they slip you the time and place of their game on a card like a street dealer. It's getting better as my generation becomes too important economically to piss off anymore, but it's still wild. You really don't want to talk about it in the wrong places.

[@MrJerOrt72]

Keep having fun Bob... we will always want to read it!

[@AnEvolvingApe]

I played hockey most of my life as well... feeling a bit miffed that my experience didn't translate into an amazing writing career too.

[@versioncity1]

Same for most people; I worked on the ships but I didn't turn out to be Joseph Conrad. I've plenty of stories but it's having the skill to write them down, well that's the trick..... (or hard-work learning it) .....

[@tokenpoptart3750]

@@versioncity1 or glen cook from warhammer, he was in the navy,

[@VolatileSupernova]

Love Salvatore and love his books, we will always keep reading man, you just keep writing as long as that's what you wanna do!

[@Thundah_Dome]

I just started reading the Drizzt saga, and I have to say, I'm loving it.

[@totallyundetermined4625]

Try it dnt knock

[@TopcatsLair]

So true. Poker night analogy. I never had the night with drinks and gaming with the guys until d&d 5e... which branched into night with the guys and gals.

[@RadtechCustoms175]

When I started reading drizzt, the combat got me hooked. I read Gauntlgrym first, then started from the beginning, now I’m on timeless and the second book of canticle. Sometimes I reread some of the fight scenes and visualize the movements and analyze the movements and doing some of the basic ones myself (sword play) no jumping and flipping lol, helps me appreciate mainly drizzt and entreri’s abilities.

[@onixmortes]

I've read every work produced by this man. Amazing, keep it up. And thank you for all the memories and stories.

[@Postmann88]

If I could like this twice I would! I actually just started listening to one of my old Salvatore books this week because I wanted to spice up my combat descriptions when running my game. Obviously you go back to the king of the fight scene, Savatore!

[@AMaupin2]

I just discovered the Drizzt books last month--on book 3 now.

[@foxunix101]

Andrea_M you are in for a treat!!! Have fun

[@wilykat]

Wait until you see how Drizzt handles his first encounter with a Red Dragon named Hephestus. As the previous commentor said,You are in for a real treat.

[@jaymosisjones]

Drizzt & the rest of the Companions are my favorite literary characters of ALL TIME! I'm over 30 yrs old & they've been getting me through hard times & good times alike for a huge portion of that & I just very much appreciate Bob's work with every ounce of my being! THANK YOU!!

[@MrJamocity]

I absolutely love how he relates his style to sports and so many things seemingly NOT associated with fantasy and the demographic that tends to love fantasy genre.

[@MrDoncarnage]

I bow to you Sir. I was reading czech translation of The Icewind Dale Trilogy in mid 90s as 14 yo kid, later sold them in a secondhand book store. Oh boy what an impact it had on me. It was the time Dragonlance novels were appearing on shelf in my country, so I was "eating" them all. Started to play AD&D 2nd edition too. The best gaming and entertaining years of my life. Actually D&D helped me to learn english faster a lot, compared to school lessons which were giving me nothing. Later I discovered that trilogy I loved so much had prequels and many sequels...I now have Legend of Drizzt novels from Sojourn to The Ghost King, so 22 books. It was a blast, loved it in english way more. I love original Witcher novels. But your Legend of Drizzt was epic and I thank you for it, it certainly has an impact on the life of a person for the rest of his days. I gave Neverwinter Saga a try, but it didnt work for me. Somehow, the epic climax of Companions being dead ended it for me and the restart of it is not the same. Still, its the biggest epic story of deep fantasy one can read to this day. I am sure I will read it all again from book 1 to 22 when Ill be old, to live this enormous adventure all over again. The one thing would be awesome, if it could be made into a TV series by Netflix or some other company, BUT not the way Witcher was butchered and deviated so much from the original source. Wishing you all the best

[@Paradox-qw9wy]

Man these books are something else! I started reading these books as a young teenager. I was reading my mom's Steven King books and she wasn't having that. She took me to a Barnes and Nobles and discovered Drizzt and the Crystal Shard! I've been enjoying them ever since! Keep it up, Bob!

[@MrChupacabra555]

I remember an old advertisement in the pages of "Dragon" magazine: On one side, you had a person sitting alone in a dark room looking at his monitor screen. On the other, you had a group of people sitting around a table, smiling and laughing, with those silly dice, graph paper, and a DM screen visible. I can't remember the text exactly, but it said something like "Which person(s) would you rather be", or something like that. To think that after all these years DnD would be seen as the social game it was ^_^

[@sesimie]

Bob is the man who kept me so interested in D&D and fantasy since the 80's.

[@lancebalthis9190]

he is such a badass author..own almost all of his books..

[@charlesstevenson2033]

I want to meet this man so badly!!

[@igotsmeakabob]

This was great! I read a bunch of his books as a teenager until there weren't any more to read, I loved them. He gave me a more 'real' view into a D&D world, vs. the nights I played in my friends' games, trying to survive and thwart a jerk from becoming a god.

[@Blandco]

I think most people just didn't have an understanding what D&D was. Now with podcasts and streaming people are starting to catch on.

[@mi.Dalton]

Its so strange I always forget one of my first forays into Fantasy. I got a birthday gift when I was...maybe 13? A signed book from R.A. Salvatore..

[@austinzohner4220]

Beautifully said, human contact.

[@Hon_cb1kr]

Living legend

[@Tenraiden]

LOVE Drizzt and the Companions and Jarlaxle and Entreri and all the others and specially the ones who have fallen 😔. I’m still only on the Neverwinter book so far and I hope the series never stops.

[@shinon748]

Power through the Neverwinter Saga is probably the low point of the series. Once you get into the Sundering Book and the 5e ones it'll pick back up.

[@Tenraiden]

Syris Yeah the Books have been kinda meh since Ghost King and up to Neverwinter, but most of that is the fault of Wizards and not Salvatore, because of the 4E Spellplague crap they forced down everyone’s throats.

[@ATG913]

Loved the Dark Elf Trilogy and the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Mahtial ahts.

[@trequor]

I feel like this guy is about to give me advice on fighting land wars in Asia and going in against Sicilians

[@thegingergod3122]

Very nice Princess Bride reference

[@josephcerasuolo3563]

See, you can go in against Sicilians, but not when death is on the line. Never do that.

[@irondude71]

After listening to the first 14 books in the Legend of Drizzt series narated by victor bevine, this is not at all what I would have expected Salvatore look or sound like.

[@jjss4280]

Lol ikr! That narrator is amazing though! People should check out the audio books.

[@Tenraiden]

For the love of Lloth, Wizards, how about a Drizzt movie or TV series already?? Look at the success and hype of GoT and Marvel/DC. D&D itself is at an all-time high. When are you going to make some good live-action adaptions of the books? Hell an anime would be awesome too! P.S. I prefer writing Lloth but saying Lolth

[@geoffreynuttall4383]

netflix mini sereies per book

[@adriangoodman8901]

Watch overlord anime.

[@GrimmerPl]

It would cost *a lot*

[@karenlee1741]

@@GrimmerPl it might cost a lot but it would be worth it a movie would be definitely worth it

[@jayjaydeth]

Drizzt: Omae wa mou shindeiru... Goblin: Nani?!

[@TonyPizzaPie]

Imagine Drizzt talking with italian accent. "Drizzt, we're going to Mithral Hall", said Bruenor. Drizzt put his fingers together and replied: "Hey, whoo daaid and made you de boss??"

[@jarlock2969]

Please don't die Bob, your awesome.

[@dirtyhenry917]

i love the storys, dont stop ^^

[@lesliesauceman8093]

I love his books! Drizzt is my guy from grade school and as a grown up.

[@tehjamerz]

Did someone say [Drizzt, Blessed Bladeholder of the Windseeker] ? Wait is that right?

[@Wayne_C_Kelly_II]

He's In A Wonderful Position

[@johnharrison2086]

Time to write the story for Kingdoms of Amalur 2 now that someone bought the rights!

[@dehro]

I bet he's actually done that, throwing pizza at his computer

[@wraithkind]

He hits it right on the head: it's the human connection.

[@Smirk75]

As cheesy as some of it is, I love Salvatore's Drizzt books, especially the world building of Menzoberranzan. His other books, a little less. He does write great combat scenes and I take great inspiration from them. Good to hear his take on things and I agree with why D&D is making a resurgence and why it is so much better than computer games (as much as I love them too). P.S. Loved Kingdoms of Amalur. Shame it wasn't that popular.

[@adriangoodman8901]

The legend himself!

[@yager6627]

Wulfgar!!!!! When can we get more of Wulfgar???

[@cerberouse1]

why the heck did i expect this guy to look like M. Night Shamalan? o,e

[@sichuevos]

Right, and turns out he's a badass. Lol. Nice.

[@wilykat]

Still hoping for the day when D&D/Forgotton Realms do a crossover with Ravenloft. Picture Drizzt vs Lord Strahd Von Zarovich or Drizzt vs Lord Soth the Death Knight...

[@MrRourk]

Why am I picturing a certain Drow Character eating pizza and watching hockey.

[@Rusty_Raven_]

His star wars are underrated

[@rich1202]

YAY!!!!!!! This was so awesome !

[@RobertMorrisjrBog]

Amazing! Don't stop! Evil never will we need you! ;)

[@Krom1hell]

Yeah, we have a 20 bunch group :))....Can't play D&D all at the time, but god damn it :P it's fun

[@mariodennis630]

D&D!!!!

[@sirpodge]

what an interesting dude.

[@refinedbrass]

hey dnd beyond whats up with no magic items to set your cha/wisdom/dex to 19 like Gauntlet of Ogre Power/Headband of Intellect/Amulet of Health i really want a non homebrewed 19 to wisdom magic item so i can make a very mad pala11/sorc3/ranger3/warlock 3 oath of conquest/shadow magic/gloomstalker /hexblade trying to go for a grim reaper goblin type with ultra intimidation the you cant see me but i can see you in the dark kinda dude with his pact blade battle axe shaped like a scythe i might have to drop couple levels of paladin or gloom stalker to get cloak of flies and One with Shadows or try and get 2 in fighter just for the dead helm item and action surge

[@Simi822]

if the Elves are the Vipers...then which race is the Long-eared hedgehogs???

[@foxunix101]

Good lord please never stop making Drizzt books. Please.....

[@Translucent73]

People love Drow Elves and discriptive writing. And yes, there was a reaction to staring at a computer monitor most of ones waking hours.

[@kanatatsul8399]

You gotta know mahshal ahhts to get thru tha ahmaaaah!

[@ShellySummers]

Listening to the book. Also I thought demon wars ended years ago

[@Viper3220]

If you keep writing Drizzt I'll keep reading

[@gabrielshervo678]

Let the dark elf go. More monk characters, we didnt get enough from just Danica.

[@InvasorJim101]

Then maybe you should read the last two... And the ones to come. No need to let any elf go ;D

[@x64600]

More Monk characters? Funny you should say that because, --- --- *Spoilers* --- --- --- --- - Drizzt pulls off some monk moves in the book, He's taken a few levels in monk in his recent training. Drizzt is multiclassing like crazy,

[@wilykat]

Gabriel Shervo Did you read the Canticle Quintet series starring Priest Cadderly and Danica as the main characters?

[@zachariaravenheart]

He writes fight scenes like I do. I never read any of his books, but I might when I get time

[@АлевтинВикторианский]

gigachad holy

[@wickedpissa25]

I love Mr. Salvatore. I love his books. I love his gift for imagery. I have been a huge fan of his for decades. But... Is he an alcoholic? Seriously. Honest question. His greenish-yellow skin tone, his slurred speech, he's sweating while sitting down... I don't mean any offense by this, but I am genuinely concerned for his health. Is he an alcoholic?

[@benfield4523]

Wow I’m early.... better leave a D&D!!!

[@ThePopeSquad]

Hello

[@danieldejesusfigueredoorop1428]

BOB!

[@PalleRasmussen]

As someone who has fought with medieval weapons since 1993, I can say; Salvatore's descriptions of fights suck. I am sorry, but they do. Most fights are a blur, where it is core reflex routines that keeps you alive, not what he describes. Jordan is actually better, with his very loose description and (no surprise) Tolkien is best with his non-descriptions. Go watch some HEMA fights here on KZbin, or videos from Moesgaard and Wolin, and you will see what I mean.

[@ZombieSpliffs]

positioning > attack speed ಠ_ಠ Dantrag

[@vadermardark]

i would kill for R.A. to dm for me

[@drsch]

I find it hilarious that the writer they chose to interview about combat is a writer who's weakest aspect of his story telling is his unrealistic and asinine combat scenes. The vast majority of his combat scenes make no sense whatsoever and often contain so many unrealistic aspects of combat in how the weapons are used, the reactions of the combatants and the onlookers.

[@quintinsteevessenior5568]

awesome

[@christianrivera1708]

DND is coming back because of things like Critical Role..and Stranger things..most people haven't heard of DND before watching those things..

[@mattbrown5872]

Don’t forget about wow and Adventure Zone

[@elecblush]

Absolutely, but I think there is more to it then that. I think beyond the exposure through streams and other media, the 5e system is very accessible, so its great for new players, and lastly i think the human interaction -factor that Salvatore mentions is a part of it. Its why it has such great appeal to people; its different then playing video games or passively consuming other media.

[@Eunostos]

Your assertion is odd and hyperbolic. D&D has been a pop culture staple even through the period where the sales were down - though often in the same way people will still talk about 'nintendoes' when talking about computer games :p

[@christianrivera1708]

Electric Blush well ya I agree that's what makes people stay... although books and thing are very expensive...but as for advertising..and exposure..alot of people first see it from something else.. BUT..I think if the books are just a TAD cheaper...DnD would BLOW up...he's right about the interaction part...but for someone who just starts... without watching crit role..or some other exposure to DnD...it is kinda intimidating even if it is really easy to learn...

[@christianrivera1708]

Ben Richards sure, but most people in this generation have never even heard of it...even if they have..it usually doesn't have a good reputation if they don't k ow anything about it...but shows like Stranger things and crit role make it seems very fun...and 5e is very easy to learn...so thats why I believe DnD is making a resurgence in this generation

[@williamdegrey]

Only that Liam Neeson doesn't have a Claymore.. He has a Basket hilted Broadsword.. 😎 Claymore is two handed, Broadsword is not.

[@RottenRogerDM]

buzz. No. "Claymore" has been used to describe both a two weapon sword, and basket hilted sword. Also sword classification has been all over the map.

[@WilliamRampart]

Wow lol paying college with just a bouncer position. I can't imagine what that luxury must be like, to have it so easy. To be a baby boomer, damn.

[@adamakoy319]

He was working multiple positions in college, meaning he had multiple jobs at one time as a bouncer.

[@christianrivera1708]

Adam Akoy that literally doesn't matter...you can't work at 2 bars at at the same time..that's like working at 2 Burking Kings at the same time..you only get paid when you work at one...he literally got through college as a bouncer

[@probationbird9786]

He worked at a plastic factory for several hours a day AND then went to work as a bouncer in the evenings. Don't think it was any easier then than now, any of us who went to college in the 80's and 90's didn't have all the entitlements and grants and loans that college students have available today, it was just as difficult--if not moreso--as the grind that you feel today.

[@lukewoodge]

D&D!!!!

[@Ferrin55]

D&D!!!