#d&d 50th anniversary

[snowfolly]

I got a random USPS magazine in the mail today and I SCREAMED

I’m gonna buy so many stamps

[aboleth-eye]

D&D 50th Anniversary - Ask a DM!

Hey there friends! If you didn't know, Dungeons & Dragons came out in 1974, exactly 50 years ago this year! I for one am excited to make this a year celebrating my love of D&D and other tabletop roleplaying games!

(despite what stunts certain companies try to pull)

SO! To celebrate I (Aboleth Eye) wanted to hear from you wonderful ttrpg enthusiasts! I've been regularly playing and hosting Dungeons & Dragons since 2012 (starting and sticking with 3.5 edition), as well as a bevvy of other tabletop roleplaying games! Anything you've always wanted to know about running or playing Dungeons & Dragons? Got a story you wanna share from your own tables? How about sharing how you yourself got into the hobby (e.g. Critical Role, Stranger Things, Dimension Twenty, etc)?

Ask or Share Anything you like! DM me here at @aboleth-eye , @aboleth-workshop or tag me on Twitter!

I eagerly want to share experiences, lessons learned and recommendations with those of you who are amazing fans of ttrpgs! And while drama in the ttrpg community often brings us down, I know we're all going to be playing D&D and other games for ANOTHER 50 YEARS!

See y'all at the 100th Anniversary in 2084!

(I'm gonna be eighty and still hosting should my brain not be mush haha).

With love, Aboleth Eye

[geekcavepodcast]

Dark Horse Teams Up With Wizards of the Coast

Dark Horse Comics and Wizards of the Coast have teamed up for a new publishing line of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering comics and graphic novels. The line will published original stories based on the franchises beginning in 2025, just in time for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons.

(Dark Horse, Dungeons& Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering Logos via Dark Horse)

[puckpocketed]

carbery i’m bewitched by the way this is phrased .their d are all long. big boy bants…

[disarmluna]

[chibimats]

Heidi Klum

SI Swimsuit book 1998 50th Anniversary

[the-barrel-man]

Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill Hiphop 50th anniversary edition Burgundy Vinyl Limited Edition 2023 original release 1986

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

As it happens, the plot of ‘.world’ bears a very strong resemblance to the Small Beginnings 50th-anniversary audio play ‘Mumbleworld’, released 10 years ago.

Contrary to what the show runner said about having come up with the idea nine years before writing the script for this episode.

[rabbitcruiser]

Freedom Day

Freedom Day in Portugal takes place on April 25 to commemorate the Carnation Revolution that took place in the country. The day marks the beginning of a bloodless coup that ended the dictatorship in the country and honors the establishment of democracy in Portugal. It is a public holiday and a day of great celebration in the country. Portuguese nationalists fill the streets with the colors of Portugal’s flag, and educational demonstrations are planned across the country to educate the younger generations about the history of Portugal’s struggle for independence.

HISTORY OF FREEDOM DAY (PORTUGAL)

Portugal commemorates the anniversary of its independence on April 25. The day is marked with parades, demonstrations, and nationalistic celebrations across the nation. After decades of brutal dictatorship that brought about censorship, discrimination, and suppression, the Portuguese army joined hands with rebel groups and overthrew the government.

Portugal’s struggle for independence commenced in the mid-1900s. Numerous issues encumbered the citizens of Portugal in the late 1960s. Portugal’s military expansion required soldiers, which resulted in the mass illegal migration of young men from the country. The revolution gained steam after citizens were informed of the bloated military budget. Subsequently, there rose an intense desire to end Portugal’s expansion and colonial projects that were draining the country’s resources. The joint chiefs of the army decided to overthrow the government. The coup began on April 24, 1974 with the primetime playing of the Portuguese song ‘E depois do adeus’ sung by Paulo de Carvalho, which alerted the rebels to begin the coup. This was followed by a broadcast of ‘Grandola vila morena,’ a song banned by the radio at the time. In a surprising turn of events, the official guards of the presidential palace dropped their weapons and joined hands with the rebel groups.

Nearly five decades of dictatorship came to an end in 1974. Although civilians were instructed to stay put at home, thousands of proud Portuguese flooded the streets to support the military insurgency. People gathering outside the presidential palace placed carnations from the local market into gun muzzles, which is why the day is also remembered as the Carnation Revolution.

FREEDOM DAY (PORTUGAL) TIMELINE

1940

Becoming an Allied Country

Portugal sides with the Allies in the Second World War and becomes a founding member of NATO.

1970

The Death of a Dictator

Portuguese Dictator António de Oliveira Salazar dies and is replaced by Marcelo Caetano.

1974

The Peaceful Coup

The Caetano government is overthrown by rebels, and General António Ribeiro de Spinola assumes the presidency.

1982

The Beginning of a Republic

The Military Council of Revolution declares the end of insurgency, and the civilian government resumes operation.

FREEDOM DAY (PORTUGAL) FAQS

What is Portuguese Freedom Day?

Freedom Day, natively known as ‘Dia da Liberdade,’ commemorates the overthrow of the dictatorship in Portugal in favor of a democratic system of governance.

Is April 25 a public holiday in Portugal?

April 25 is celebrated as Freedom Day in Portugal to commemorate the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution.

What is the Carnation Revolution?

The Carnation Revolution refers to the celebration that ensued in the streets of Portugal after a military coup that successfully ended the decades-long dictatorship in the country.

HOW TO OBSERVE FREEDOM DAY (PORTUGAL)

Plant carnations in your backyard: The carnations are delightful bright pink flowers that make for a charming celebratory bouquet. They also have an important place in Portugal’s history. Mark the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution by making carnations a part of your garden.

Learn the ‘fado’: ‘Fado’ is a genre of Portuguese music that emphasizes the idea one cannot escape their fate. ‘Fado’ songs have melancholic tunes and lyrics that evoke resignation and loss. Learn a couple of ‘fado’ tunes to get the gist of this genre of Portuguese music.

Feast on conventual sweets: In Portugal, monks and nuns make traditional sweets such as ‘pasteis de nata,’ ‘papu-de-anjo,’ ‘pasteis de Belém,’ and ‘ovos moles.’ No celebration or mourning is complete without a serving of these. Some of them may not be easy to bake, but they bring delight in every bite — the perfect way to celebrate Portugal’s Freedom Day.

5 ENCHANTING FACTS ABOUT THE PORTUGUESE

The Portuguese love football: The Portuguese love football, and their best import is superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

An old city with a young soul: Lisbon has been inhabited for nearly 3,000 years, preceding the establishment of the national borders of Portugal.

The longest dictatorship in Europe: The Portuguese endured the longest authoritarian regime in Europe, which lasted for almost six decades.

Port wine and coffee: The Portuguese lead the world in the export of port wine and the consumption of bite-sized expressos.

It’s a great place for a holiday: Portugal is one of the most sought-after places for a vacation, ranking in the 20 most-visited countries in the world.

WHY FREEDOM DAY (PORTUGAL) IS IMPORTANT

It’s a crucial day in Portugal's history: Although centuries of documented history precede the glorious Carnation Revolution, it was on April 25, 1974 that the countrymen swarmed the streets to celebrate the end of 800 years of authoritarianism. What started in the year 1143 with the establishment of King Afonso I’s regime ended with the exchange of pink carnations between civilians and the military.

It celebrates the Portuguese spirit: Europe’s history is filled with uncountable bloody wars. Portugal’s struggle for freedom stands out because of the non-violent coup led by the elite military members who switched sides in the favor of the nation. The Carnation Revolution is a testament to the Portuguese spirit and a constant inspiration to rebels worldwide.

Portugal is a work in progress: Being one of the last countries in Europe to gain full autonomy, Portugal continues to battle with novel challenges that are unknown to its neighbors. Nevertheless, the Portuguese have proved their valor and their support for a fair and democratic system of governance that values religious liberty and freedom of expression.

Source

[punkbarbarian]

for folks who don’t follow them on instagram— ally beardsley wrote part of an op-ed in the washington post for the 50th dnd anniversary about a moment playing dnd that really stuck with them and i wanted to share it here!

“a character’s journey — and my own”

I was an aspiring comedian in Los Angeles and had just landed a salaried job at the comedy website CollegeHumor. My co-worker and friend Brennan Lee Mulligan was looking for six comedians to create a show that would be like an at-home game of D&D. Why not? “Dimension 20” became a weird punctuation to my day.

I remember there being too many rules to remember. I kept turning to my friend, Brian Murphy, to ask which dice I should be rolling. I wasn’t paid overtime, but I loved the group and was having a lot of fun.

For the second season, I had my sea legs. I created a character for the campaign who was transgender. I had started going by the gender neutral they/them pronouns at work and among friends, but sourcing hormones or getting surgery seemed equal parts expensive and invasive. A fun thing about fantasy is stripping away the crunchy, real-world limitations and asking yourself: “What would I do if I could do anything?”

That season’s arc for my character, Pete, was extremely euphoric for me. I had described him as a trans cowboy you might see at Burning Man, and the artist drew him dressed as a freaky Hunter S. Thompson in an open shirt to show his top surgery scars. He has wild magic — uncontrollable and dangerous in the game mechanics — which we used to explore the painful chaos of leaving a family that doesn’t accept you.

Since then, I’ve started testosterone HRT and had top surgery. It’s funny to listen back to myself playing a character who had transitioned in ways I hadn’t. It’s full of inaccuracies that make me smile. Pete takes a testosterone pill every day; I now know it’s a weekly injection or a topical gel. I see my face, one wrapped up in playing something so new but instantly right. It was like an oracle. A near-future me who has health insurance! Who’s talked to their mom about being trans and even spent a week post-top surgery on that mom’s couch in Temecula, Calif!

As I started transitioning my appearance, seeing that in front of the camera felt raw. I was starting hormones, and my voice was cracking. Realizing it was all being recorded felt naked at times, but it has been really nice to talk to fans and friends about how important it is to see someone that looks like you taking a big risk on themself.

With Pete, it was really important to me to tell a story other than the dramatic lead-up to a medical transition. So we started with him having just gotten out of surgery, but that’s all you see of that process. Part of his backstory is that he doesn’t have a relationship with his transphobic parents, and before shooting the first episode, I felt sick to my stomach. I’ve been on a journey with my parents, and our starting place didn’t have much common ground. When my character meets with his father, it felt as though I was actually running into my own on the street.

Brennan could sense that discomfort, and as my character’s dad was about to call Pete by his deadname, Brennan shut the interaction down, surrounding his dad with bubbles that carried him into the sky. Magic is the power and freedom to manipulate your reality, and you can banish the awful voices in your life — let them swirl away into the air.

[knitmeapony]

Hey folks! My post about the D&D stamps went nuts when they were first announced in December, so I thought y'all might want to know that they are officially being released at GenCon Indy -- August 1-4, 2024 -- so you should be able to get them at your own post office not long after that, and on USPS.com as well!

Other cool nerdy stamps you can get right now:

Regular letters:

Alex Trebek: https://store.usps.com/store/product/alex-trebek-stamps-S_485304

Carnival Nights: https://store.usps.com/store/product/carnival-nights-stamps-S_485104

Life Magnified: https://store.usps.com/store/product/life-magnified-stamps-S_484004

Women Cryptologists of WWII: https://store.usps.com/store/product/women-cryptologists-of-wwii-stamps-S_482204

Priority mail:

Pillars of Creation: https://store.usps.com/store/product/pillars-of-creation-stamps-S_122804

[another-rpg-sideblog]

Elon Musk, the owner of the app formerly known as Twitter, is calling on Wizards of the Coast and its parent company Hasbro to "burn in hell" for the publication of Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons. On November 21st, former gaming executive turned culture warrior Mark Hern posted several passages from Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons on Twitter, criticizing the book for providing context about some of the misogyny and cultural insensitivity found in early rulebooks. These passages were pulled from the foreword written by Jon Peterson, one of the foremost historians about Dungeons & Dragons and who also collaborated with Wizards of the Coast on the book. Hern stated that these passages, along with the release of the new 2024 Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide for D&D's "40th anniversary" (it is actually D&D's 50th anniversary) both "erased and slandered" Gary Gygax and other creators of Dungeons & Dragons. In response, Musk wrote "Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to trash E. Gary Gygax and the geniuses who created Dungeons & Dragons. What the [naughty word] is wrong with Hasbro and WoTC?? May they burn in hell." Musk had played Dungeons & Dragons at some point in his youth, but it's unclear when the last time he ever played the game. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to trash E. Gary Gygax and the geniuses who created Dungeons & Dragons. What the [xxxx] is wrong with Hasbro and WoTC?? May they burn in hell. - Elon Musk​ Notably, Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons contains countless correspondences and letters written by both Gygax and Dave Arneson, including annotated copies of early D&D rulesets. Most early D&D rules supplements as well as early Dragon magazines are also found in the book. It seems odd to contain one of the most extensive compliations of Gygax's work an "erasure," but it's unclear whether Hern or Musk actually read the book given the incorrect information about the anniversary. Additionally, Gygax and Arneson are both credited in the 2024 Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide. The exact credit reads: "Building on the original game created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and then developed by many others over the past 50 years." Wizards of the Coast also regularly collaborates with Gygax's youngest son Luke and is a participant at Gary Con, a convention held in Gygax's honor. The opening paragraph of the 2024 Player's Handbook is written by Jeremy Crawford and specifically lauds both Gygax and Arneson for making Dungeons & Dragons and contains an anecdote about Crawford meeting Gygax. Musk has increasingly leaned into culture war controversies in recent years, usually amplifying misinformation to suit his own political agenda.

[extensive thread on EN World]

[twixto]

Don’t dream it, be it. ❤️💋

The outfit was referenced/inspired by a 50th anniversary rocky horror show I went to a few months ago! :D @thebandghostofficial

[cobragardens]

Aziraphale's Ring Is a Queer Symbol

In a previous post I hold forth about the symbolism of the lion rampant on the escutcheon of Aziraphale's signet ring. The upshot is that the golden lion is used by Heaven as a symbol of its threat and its merciless, murderous corporate culture, and I argue that in S3 Aziraphale must subvert this stamp of Heavenly ownership and symbolically redefine the golden lion by summoning the courage to be soft.

Now I've learned some new stuff about how signet rings are worn. Come, sistren, and get nerdy with me.

Aziraphale's ring is one of several we see angels wearing in Good Omens. Here in an indispensably useful post, @indigovigilance lists the known rings of Show Omens angels and those rings' qualities and placement. Note how of the angels who have rings, everyone except Saraqael and Aziraphale wear their rings on their LEFT pinky fingers. There's a reason for this.

Since the medieval period in Britain and Germany, and from there in the U.S., signet rings have been bestowed by professional associations as a sign of membership, particularly at the upper end of society: trade guilds, colleges, hospitals, the Church(es), noble families, and societies like the Freemasons all issue(d) signet rings to some of their members. The traditional placement for signet rings of show professional affiliation is the left pinky finger.

In fact, as it was not socially acceptable in or past the Victorian era for men to wear rings on more than one finger, men who wore signet rings and wedding rings both would have their wedding rings sized to fit the pinky finger below the signet. If a ring had to be moved to preserve masculinity, it wasn't the pinky ring that was going anywhere. Family signets can be worn on any of a number of fingers, but since the Victorian period the men of the British Royal Family (who are from Germany) have been especial sticklers about wearing their signets on their left pinky fingers as well.

So. If you're British and you have a signet ring that's meant to indicate professional affiliation, you wear it on your left pinky.

But Aziraphale wears his signet ring on his RIGHT hand.

Before I offer my opinion on what that means, here's some more fun background on the history and significance of pinky rings in Anglo-American culture:

The Victorian period was when pinky rings started to become associated with queerness.

As fellow members of the Hundred Guineas Club, Oscar Wilde and Aziraphale would likely have been acquaintances.

According to Wikipedia (ibid.):

"During the Victorian era, both single men and women uninterested in pursuing marriage could wear a ring on the little finger of their left hand."

This quickly expanded to a pinky ring on either hand. Here's Wikipedia's picture of farmer and philanthropist Caroline Rose Foster in 1917, the Edwardian era, wearing a pinky ring on her right hand:

Do you smell a euphemism in "uninterested in pursuing marriage"? I do!

By midcentury--so only 30 years after Ms Foster up there--American and British queers, both men and women, were using signet pinky rings specifically to signal queerness to each other.

"For gay men in the 1950’s and 60’s, a way of signaling to others was through the wearing of a signet ring on the pinkie finger."

"During the 1950’s and 60’s signet rings were worn to signify membership of the gay community; both lesbians and homosexual men wore such rings."

The pinky rings @indigovigilance points out Maggie wears may mean she's an angel; they also match her midcentury lesbian style. Devious of the costumers to give her pinky rings on both hands rather than commit to one or the other.

Screenshot by @indigovigilance

To review, there are three reasons a person in Anglo-American culture might wear a pinky ring:

They just feel like it--This can be any kind of ring and can be worn on either hand or both

Professional affiliation--This is a signet ring worn on the left pinky finger

To signal queerness--This is a signet ring and can be worn on either pinky finger

Aziraphale has worn a signet ring on his RIGHT pinky finger at least since he repaired the Eastern "Gate" in the Wall of Eden, so I'm not suggesting that he adopted the 20th-century pinky signet trend to signal his queerness (although as a clockably 'gay' 'man,' Soho fixture, and member of the Hundred Guineas Club, he may well have started it). What I am suggesting is that Aziraphale has been given a ring by Heaven that Heaven intends him to use to show his professional affiliation, but as with the flaming sword he gives away, Aziraphale doesn't use the ring for its intended purpose. By wearing the ring on his right hand, Aziraphale removes the option of interpreting it as a symbol of his professional affiliation with Heaven and renders it strictly a personal ornament. He subverts a symbol of Heavenly menace into an object of beauty and queerness.

I mean queerness in both senses. If a human takes any symbolic notice of his ring, they'll note the signet is on his right hand and conclude Aziraphale is gay. If another angel takes any notice of it, they'll conclude Aziraphale is a bit odd--that he doesn't pay attention to the finer points of how to fit in with the archangels, doesn't do things like other angels do.

In conclusion, pinky signet rings as a queer signal are just the fucking coolest and I vote we bring them back immediately.

[transradar]

OK long ass post!!! Here’s the whole slideshow I made. The format for each of the characters is their canon characterization, how boomers interpret them, how mashblr interprets them (i.e. the correct way), and a little fun fact :) also our powerpoint night was on the 50th anniversary so that was very fun we all said happy birthday to mash :D

[frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe]

EVERYONE STOP AND LOOK AT THE D&D STAMPS USPS IS RELEASING FOR THE 50th ANNIVERSARY!!!

you can pre-order them here; they are releasing August 1st!