A Veteran Game Master’s Review of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”

Last weekend I was fortunate to be able to attend an early showing of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves which releases in theaters March 31st. Before we get into any spoilers–and there will be spoilers!--I want to say that I really enjoyed the movie. However, I cannot recommend it for small children due to some scary scenes, language, and violence. 

Here be Spoilers! Ye Be Warned

The Summary

Overall, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an action-filled adventure/comedy set in the world of Faerun. At its heart, the film is a heist movie where the main two characters Edgin (Bard) and Holga (Barbarian) escape from prison and set out on a quest to reunite Edgin with his daughter and resurrect his wife using a powerful magic relic. They discover that their friend and former party member betrayed them and caused their capture. They set off to put together a party of specialists including Simon (Sorcerer) and Doric (Druid). Along the way they encounter Xenk (Paladin) who ventures with them to find a powerful relic they will need for their heist. Ultimately everything and nothing goes to plan and the party has to improvise as they stumble upon a conspiracy that threatens the city of Neverwinter and beyond. 

The Tropes

The movie opens with Edgin and Holga in prison where they are up for parole after serving two years in Revel’s End. While he is pleading his case to the council, Edgin goes into a long monologue where he explains his backstory. He was once a Harper and raised a family, but his actions while a part of the Harpers led to his wife’s death. One of the tropes in D&D is characters with so-called “edgy backstories” and this movie is full of them. In fact, each character has their own edgy backstory. Holga was banished from her people for marrying an outsider. Simon is a half-elf sorcerer who is descendant from Elminster Aumar the legendary mage of Shadowdale; however, Simon’s lack of confidence prevents him from living up to his heritage and attuning to items. Doric is a tiefling (Demon-kin) born to human parents who abandoned her when she was very young but she found a home among the elves and druids of the Emerald enclave. Even Xenk has a dark past and was present when Szass Tam seized control of Thay and turned its citizens into undead horrors. It was really great to see the trope of a band of outcasts joining together to form a party. 

It was also great to see one of my favorite tropes in regards to what it takes to be a hero. Heroes are defined by their willingness to get back up after each defeat and continue to push on. Heroes can come from unexpected places, have edgy backstories, and even make us laugh

But they inspire us and each other to something greater. To never give up and to hold true to our beliefs even in the face of defeat. 

The Party

One of my favorite things about role-playing games, as a Game Master, are the interesting solutions that the players come up with to solve the unique situations their characters find themselves in. In all my years of running games, I have seen spells and abilities used in very unique and unexpected ways. Sometimes nothing goes to plan and the party has to improvise and change things off the cuff. This can be as true for a Game Master as for a player. In the film, Edgin–who acts as the group’s mastermind–comes up with plan after plan as the group encounters roadblocks to their quest. The hilarious part of this is that ultimately the party ends up executing all of the plans at the same time. Chaos and hilarity ensue and the party who are now separated are easily captured. This exemplifies one of the core tenants of D&D, never split the party! It isn't until the party is reunited that they are able to use their combined strengths to escape the maze and save the day. Ultimately role-playing games are cooperative experiences and the party is always at its strongest when its members rally and band together.

The Lore

The film also shows several iconic locations including Neverwinter, Icewind Dale, and even flashback scenes of Thay. I also appreciated how the Highsun Games, a deadly maze of monsters, traps, treasures, and mimics, referenced early Dungeons & Dragons. It was also really cool to see several of my favorite monsters including a Displacer Beast, a Mimic, Red and Black Dragons, a Gelatinous cube, and of course an Owlbear. [Most low level parties have tangled with (and rightly fear) the Owlbear.] 

The Review

The characters were great, the pacing was good, the story was solid and had great action sequences. It was enjoyable for those unfamiliar with the world of Faerun and its people but still left plenty of easter eggs for the loremasters. It doesn’t beat the viewers over the head with lore or bog down with slow details but it still delivers on all of its promises. I highly recommend the movie and think that everyone should go see it as it is the best D&D movie we have had to date. Also, somewhat selfishly, because I want to see them create more movies in the Forgotten Realms. . .but that's just me. 

Take Heart!

Karington Hess

Game Master and Founder of Open Heart Games