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Dungeons & Dragons: Part 2/2 - AD&D Vintage Toy Review LJN 1983
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- Опубликовано: 22 янв 2016
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RetroBlasting's feature on Dungeons & Dragons concludes with Part 2: World Without Heroes, a vintage toy review and retrospective on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons AD&D toys from LJN in 1983 and 1984.
#RetroBlasting #Dungeons&Dragons
I find it hilarious how Retroblasting gives Strongheart no love. He gets killed by every single trap in the fortress of fangs to illustrate its play value, grabbed by Tiamat, and made a mockery of in the intro.
I don’t blame them, his name sounds like a Care Bear.
For me, these figures hit at exactly the right time. I was old enough to be getting into D&D/AD&D, though not playing it properly yet, and was still young enough to be really into action figures. Also, the fact that they were tied to a game that carried over into my adulthood, and hit towards the end of my childhood, meant that I kept most of them in really good shape and still have a number of my original figures to this day. If only I had kept my Fortress of Fangs. :(
I am disappointed there was no mention of the Dragonne or the Hook Horror though. They were two real standouts in this line.
Character classes Acrobat, Barbarian, Cavalier were introduced in Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Unearthed Arcana.
Those classes do NOT appear in basic.
Warduke and Tiamat were two of my favorite toys growing up!
I knew that Wilhelm scream was coming after the first one. Classic.
I never had the toys but I do remember having a set of "Colorforms" featuring these characters likenesses. Anyone remember Colorforms?
Yes!!!! I had totally forgotten about Colorforms, thanks for reminding me!
Alain Abeyta yeah I just left a comment about this very thing maybe I'll do color form reviews some time seeing how I don't think any other RUclipsrs are doing that
I had so many Colorform sets but my favorite was my KISS Colorforms set.
🙋
Oh WOW, I have been checking my sub box every day since the first part, eagerly waiting for this!!! RetroBlasting, you have such a huge fan in me from little old England. Thanks for what you do!!!!!
+Matt Leuty You're welcome! I'm a *huge* fan of "little old England!"
Well I live next to Issaac Newtons house so if your ever this way and fancy an apple, I can jump over the hedge and grab you one!! Thanks so much for the reply guys!
Great show! I loved Dungeons & Dragons! I remembered them as a kid in the 80's and have seen a few episodes on RUclips. This show totally holds up. I wish someone would remake this show.
Retro,
Just wanted to say how much I absolutely love this channel. Each episode is like a relaxing vacation through all the cool stuff from your past. Funny you did an episode on the DnD figures since your channel made me nostalgic and I was poking around for some info a few weeks ago. Have you ever heard of Snake Cave for this line? The play set that never was but should have been. I defer to your expertise on this. Again, top shelf channel you guys! Keep up the good work!
+Chris Smith Thanks so much! I recall something about a "lost playset" for Warduke or something that was a smaller cave type thing.
I'm so glad they're doing figures of the cartoon now!!
Love the Warduke skit at the beginning. I have 2 Strongheart figures but alas I keep getting outbid for Warduke.
I just love this channel! Michael and Melinda y'all are awesome! Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Please keep up the good work.
+JTR1974 Thanks JTR!
I've never even heard of these figures. I even played Advanced D&D with my kids and thier friends. Never even seen the cartoon either. Wow. And we watched everything together.
I had completely forgotten about this Gem of a toy series. what an amazing toy set and between my brother and I we all if the characters and set in the series. what a shame i no longer have these in my life. Love the intro and the video and although I only recently found your channel im a huge fan of what you are doing! Thank you for the flash back and the nostalgia of seeing the amazing toys of the 80's! by far the best toys made in history. cheers!
+Mr ComTruise Thanks so much! We appreciate you being on this crazy ride with us!
Preferred these to the cartoon. Lot's of memories. Thanks for this.
They make those animated D&D figs now, baby! Go grab em
6:28 - Man-Thing must be pretty busy being in both Marvel and D&D.
I had no idea they had toys of D&D! Got me wanting to play a Dungeons and Dragons game on the xbox! Another great video guys :)
Your shows are always excellent. I've been anticipating this episode since watching part 1 however long ago it was you released part 1. Even if you can only release new episodes once a month or even two months, don't stop!
+Tim Hammack Thanks Tim, and don't worry. We're not stopping. We were held up by the holidays and a funeral and took the time to creatively recharge. I'm already working on a new Star Wars Follies to be posted in the next week or so.
Awesome! I had so many of these including the play set
I just discovered your channel a few hours b4 & I'm ALREADY bingeing!!
Thanks! Hope you enjoy!
@@retroblasting I'm getting my LIFE skipping down "Memory Lane 🛣️"!!
It's so good to have some new content to watch, you guys do the best toy review videos. Keep up the great work.
+darkocean Thanks man!
This video was my first experience hearing a voice assigned to Elkhorn. I’ve since fallen into the NECA dnD line and every time I look at Elkhorn, I hear this voice. I will ALWAYS hear this voice.
Cool video! Never knew, about these toys. It's alwaysgood to learn new figures stuff thanks to you guys. Shared!
+Saverio Scialfa (Galaxychild81) Appreciate that very much!
Awesome awesome video. Just found some of these figures at a thrift store and didn't know what they were. Tried researching didn't find much online. This video answered all my questions. Thanks!
you're welcome, Jessica! Thanks!
I finally have Strongheart and Warduke to battle each other.
Finally! I was wondering when you were going to get to the D&D toy line! I remember getting the Fortress of Fangs for Christmas 1983. Thanks for the vid. Brought back memories.
+Eric Parsons You're welcome!
Another great video, especially the opening segment!
+sgzartan Thanks man!
Pedant warming - Mystara was the setting for basic-expert D&D. At the time Greyhawk was the default AD&D setting. Meanwhile, the cartoon-specific setting simply called The Realm. It was sort of a flotsam-and-jetsom world. In the unmade finale we discover that it has so many sentient races in it because they all got stuck there from other worlds, which is a pretty cool concept.
Welcome back ! Great video. A friend of mine had the Fortress of Fangs and quite a few of the D&D figures. I liked them so much I bought a Warduke and the Lion looking dragon (Dragonne). It still bums me out that they never made action figures of the TV cartoon characters.
+sonic360 thanks
It took a Brazilian car commercial to finally finish the series and send the kids home. It was awesome.
Awsome you guys are back thought u took off to 1985 for a while welcome back and happy new year
+shigeolincolntaco Happy new year!
Bar none my fave Christmas morning was a HUGE box of these actions figures, mounts, monsters and the Fortress of Fangs! This even eclipsed my Star Wars year.
Toys having dialogues in the beginning really makes me miss the '80s,I do the same thing way back then when playing with my own toys...these were all gone now because of the storm that passed and such a tragedy for me.
This is one of my favorite episodes of Retroblasting.
Wow thank you that was great!!! I had forgotten about some of those figures. That was really cool thanks again!!!
Hasbro should remake these figures including the cartoon version with better detail & articulation along with all of the castles, battlefields with cannons, different colored horses with generic armor, and all of the lairs, that where never released in the original toy line.
Besides, it worked for the GI Joe toy line.
NECA has announced that they would make brand new 7-inch scale Warduke and Grimsword figures.
Hi, I'm from Brazil, and you mentioned the show figures from South America and it's quite understanable. Here the show is a complete hit, I mean, at least it was. My father loved it. And all the other kids back then did.
I have got to stop watching retro toy videos while drinking. They have me itching to head to ebay.
Welcome back M & M. Sorry about the trials and tribulations that have be fallen the both you, but you still have kept up to the high standards that you have set for yourselves. Thanks for letting us, your followers enjoy this ride of success. HUZZAH!!!
+derrick hollis Always glad to see you here Derrick!
Retro gaming hippie approves! I live my 80’s toys! Your videos are absolutely wonderful.
There was also a release of a few of the first series figures as hard plastic with stands. For tabletop gaming I believe. Think there was a figure in that series that was not released in any other as well.
I adore this toy line, my absolute favorite figures.
I would love to see you review the new D&D toys based on the cartoon.
My god how did I not collect these fantastic toys! What an awesome line!
Really fantastic! I'm so glad you guys made this. There needed to be more acknowledgment of this toy line and the game. I finally picked up the last figure that I needed from the line. Unfortunately I cannot find the Mercion mini figure. At least now I can begin reviewing the figures.
+Count Stankus I take it you have the Skyla mini-figure?
+RetroBlasting Yep! I've been combing the Internet and I have friends in other states trying to locate the Mercion figure! Once I have her the circle will be complete!
+RetroBlasting Are you going to do a review for the force awakens its been out for a while since its came out.
+teenage mutant ninja turtles star wars Why would we review The Force Awakens? What does that have to do with the 1980s?
Fortress of Fang is soooooo epic. Good job ! Thanks to put so much in your videos !
+tlaloc92 You're welcome!
Watching this again after whoknows how long; still a wonderful trip down memory lane. You're 100% right about this line being all over the place in target ages. We all lived the line, but the diehard D&D/AD&D gamers at best got one or two action figures as a keepsake, though more often it was one of the PVC figures as a display piece. Lead and pewter figures were their thing for gaming (even that). Cartoon fans would usually buy Warduke, maybe the evil wizard and maybe even one other, before realize there were none of the cartoon's heroes. The only ones who really tried for them all were usually not interested in the show or game and still went with either static, bendy, plastic models/"army men" bags based on the theme, or the action figures. What a shame so many well made Dungeons & Dragon things came out at the same time only to have no true connection. They could have scored a real homerun right across the board.
Not a toy collector but love this stuff! Wow the memories of this toy flooding back all the figures and the giants 👍🏼
Awesome video. I wondered why i could not find the Heroes of the cartoon when i was a kid.
I had Strongheart and Zorgar with battle-matic action and Young Male Titan and Ogre King. I think the Titan figure was my favourite childhood action figure, it encouraged an interest in Greek Mythology.
I had Warduke and Strongheart.
I didn't know what D&D was but I remember getting Warduke as a prize at some kids birthday party, pretty badass looking figure.
AD&D is such a cool looking 1980's toy line for the fact it was disconnected to the cartoon. Where the cartoon failed to last one more episode, the toy line expanded in 1984 and 1985, with my favourite figure, WarDuke and that super cool looking Evil Knight! I'm surprised it lasted another two years but it's no surprise as the Fortress Of Fangs totally made the toy line a must have! Anyways great review on this classic toy line!
Welcome back guys! Another great episode to cap off the weekend. =) It's a shame that LJN who generally made so-so toys poured exceptional effort on these figures but then lost the opportunity to become really successful by not tying them to the cartoon.
I am also amazed at the playset. For such a relatively small size compared to other playsets, its crammed with features and gimmicks. I've seen a lot of retro channels make a list of best playsets and the Fang Fortress is hardly included. Is it rare and expensive?
+Wilson Tortosa I lucked out on this playset from a friend who gave me the playset 95% complete for a great price of $50, but that was a few years ago and now I understand they go for more money. One of the few times I've gotten a deal...
There is also a Tie-in module called 'Quest for the Heartstone' that basically calls for you to use the figures in place of miniatures. it was designed for the Expert-boxed set and is features some adapted versions of the AD&D line (which also appear in the Shady Dragon Inn accessory, despite some of the classes and races not being native to Mystara. ) some of the encounters specify which creatures and characters to use, and the proper amounts (like one encounter calls for 6 or 8 of the skeletons, which meant you had to purchase three or four of the two pack army builders to play out the encounter.
Despite being a huge D&D/WEG Star Wars nerd the LJN line, seemed like a meager cash grab and as you stated, many players would have been purchasing Mini's and whatnot for playing the game with, so the figures just seemed to be the odd man out. outside of the Tiamat and Nightmare figures, i have found little to no interest as an older collectorand there have been numerous mini's which represent the character better. (the recent Wizkids minis for both Attack Wing, and the minis lines, and several of the individual sculpts for the WOTC mini's line)
Good stuff! My parents would often buy toys they thought I'd like and not so much toys from things I was actively interested in. This usually meant that I had no idea that many of those toys came from shows or movies. I am now aware that my Warduke figure was from the D&D line.
+Jeremy Hernandez cool stuff!
+Jeremy Hernandez This was a very similar experience for my childhood too! I knew Warduke was D&D but the others like the little Dwarf and Assassin ork, I loved to bits, but did not think of them as D&D at the time. Like Mike said, the cartoon had very little to do with the toys, so I was confused and had no idea!!
THEY'RE BACK!!!
Wow I had them figures, I wish I still did as I do my Space 1999 figures and eagles. Watching these is like bitter sweet haha
Great review Michael. I can't believe they haven't made cartoon action figures. I wish a company would make them. Seems like a strange thing to leave out.
+P Ferreira Yeah, weird right?
***** I think any 80s cartoons that didn't get action figures should get some, maybe in limited quantities based on the demand.
Warduke is one of the coolest figures i ever had as a kid....omg i wish i still had these
been waiting for this...awesome guys
+Ryan Younie thanks Ryan
Textbook deployment of the Wilhelm Scream there. Nice!
that's like trying to find anything relating to the cartoon Dinosaucers. Mostly everything I have found is either bootlegged copies or VHS tapes that I can't even play anymore. I so miss Dungeons and Dragons. that show deserved better than what it got.
i remember having a few of these figures as a kid and wondering why they didn't have any from the cartoon. it was really annoying. great video btw. love this channel!
First! :-)
I knew plenty of guys that were into AD&D, but I really don't remember seeing any of these toys at all in the stores when I was a kid. Maybe it was a regional thing or else I just didn't look all that hard back then. But after 30 years or so, my memory is a bit fuzzy.
Either way, welcome back guys! Missed seeing ya around RUclips. The Wilhelm Scream was a nice touch :-)
+Roger Clarke We weren't ever gone, my friend. We just had a series of unfortunate events. Holidays plus a funeral plus work plus a need for a creative recharge. Thanks for sticking with us! - Michael
+RetroBlasting Wow, I thought it was just the holidays. Really sorry for your loss, Michael. But no worries. Your fans will always be here! :-)
I wonder how the Fortress of Fangs set would look if done in Lego form?
Cool video, plus i grew up watching the D&D cartoon. Never knew about the toy line till some years later, would not mind finding some to add to my collection.
I love the beginning skit.
Thanks RB, another great video :) The Fortress of Fangs was my favourite childhood toy. I can't believe that I'd forgot about some of the features like the catapult floorboard and the chute into lava, so it was nice to see those again. It makes you wonder what surprises the unproduced Snake Cave playset might have held. I loved the Warduke figure as well but I never knew anything about the character so for me he had that kind of enigmatic, Boba Fett-like quality about him. Hook Horror really let that toyline down though!
+Captain Glam You're welcome!
Fantastic work, I need to track down the Fortress of Fangs.
Yet again. Another great production. I look forward to the next one :-) Have you done a piece on the Super Heroes line? The one that has the Joker with a massive Mallet.
+scottcongdon Thanks Scott. We're working on a Super Powers video. All in its time here at RB. We'll never show you a video that's half-baked, but it takes time to make sure everything is just right.
When I was 12 I had most of these figures and the set. I watched the show, but I liked that the toy line had original characters.
It was just that one year where I still liked the toys, but realized that most cartoons of the time were just commercials.
I also started playing AD&D that year. I guess that made me their target audience.
I had Strongheart, War Duke and the Fortress of Fangs as a kid. The Fortress indeed was one of my favorite playsets. For the life of me I don't remember mine having the Bat Monster though. Was there ever a time when it didn't come with the playset? Maybe I just immediately lost it but I really don't remember having ever played with it while I have many memories of the Fortress itself.
I had these figures but not the playset or the dragon. They unfortunately did not survive lol. I recently bought the new Hasbro Figures based on the cartoon and the Neca ultimate WarDuke figure. They are all amazing figs and highly recommend them! Great video as always, Michael! I agree this playset would fit right in with Indiana Jones!
A good toy review, I wish that there was another playset in the line, maybe a tavern for the heroes to gather at, after a quest, or a castle for the heroes use as either a base, or another setting for an adventure, while thinking about doing a review on the toyline, I wondered why the figures were used as heroes in the cartoon instead of the kids, or maybe have the kids turn into the heroes via a stock footage transformation, but that's just me, and the cartoon, is totally fine the way it is, just looking back at the two lines sometimes makes you wonder...
Spot on with the comment about the best figure: the cool helmet and armored arm bad ass-looking warrior dude. That figure still rules.
Great show! LJN also had several teased, but unreleased figures, including an evil witch or evil cleric that they produced as only a 2 inch PVC figure. I was really ga-ga for the first year of those figures, before the battle-magic actions (and I was still a kid, maybe 11 years old, so this is a kid, not an adult collector, not liking the battle-magic). I liked the cloth capes and tunics, and believe that this series was a rare example of fabric that worked for action figures. I paired these with the (brand unknown) plastic horses that used to be common at Kmart, and with Mom's help created saddle blankets and saddle bags for their kit. I gave the Bronze Dragon mount to Mercion. The Nightmare's small hooves were acceptable--the Nightmare was a flying demonic beast, whereas Strongheart's Destrier was a warhorse a la medieval style. Due to there being so few figures released in the first wave, I grew to like the rubber LJN figures (available at KB Toys & Hobby). But, I mixed the action figures with the solid figures interchangeably. I never had Tiamat and didn't know she existed until I was researching the line recently. Did have Fortress of Fangs and loved it, but it has since disappeared. :( Ogre King may have been my favorite figure due to his helmet and other accessories. Young Titan was another one--a "juvenile titan" (or cloud giant?) in nearly perfect Spartan replica armor... (helmet, spear, removable girdle, and Greek style sword).
+Tim Hammack thanks Tim
Always love a well-placed Wilhelm Scream 😂
This is a cool toy series. Never seen them before.
Also, I remember having a few of the D&D figures shown with my brother having the fantastic Warduke and Nightmare. The evil tall, green figure with the shield that fires a projectile whose name escapes me, was a toy I had that I didn't remember as being from D&D!! Maybe as the size was different, I some how forgot that he was part of that line. I always liked my half ork assassin though!!!!
in 83 i was 11and i actually use to game with my father and his adult friends, i am certain i was VERY annoying to them. the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon was one of my two favorite shows of the 80s and i loved the LJN figures. i didnt then and i dont now give the slightest crap about the shield shooter gimmick but i did buy the second series Ogre King because he was my favorite figure and he actually had a full repaint unlike the others, the two Ogre Kings together were always the ultimate boss fight when i played.
I absolutely loved those AD&D figures. I had a bunch of them, and they were probably my second favorite toy line after Star Wars. I didn't care that the cartoon characters weren't in the line either.
The only thing I got from the cartoon was the cereal box! Larry you might remember the box....sold in the UK when I was 6? (I am 41 now). Wish they made the toys....always wanted Hank and Presto!
Great video as always! What are your thoughts on the new Hasbro 6 inch line of figures? I would love to hear your thoughts
Great channel. I had warduke
These action figures are Really cool. Now I have to buy a few
I was lucky enough to get a prototype of Valkeer just a fee year's back..fantastic figure
The only D&D things I remember from childhood outside of the cartoon is the unidentifiably shaped gummy candy and the Atari video game.
Great figures, had several but remember being disappointed by Tiamat. I had 2 not shown here- think one was called Drax with spikes on his shield and a large one on his helmet and Titan which was a large size figure with a yellow tunic and a removable Greek style helmet (similar to Perseus' in Clash of the Titans), and a long spear and I think a sword. I also had Warduke and Knightmare which was great. Happy Days
We're always defeat the newest enemy and learn from each other, no matter the Dungeon Master frustration and Venger nastiness. Stay safe and keep it up!
I remember seeing these on shelves a lot,i did get the strongheart and warduke since they appeared in the cartoon,but of course was really disappointed that the main characters from the show were not made. If there was one group of figures i would have loved that weren't done,this would be it.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for finally giving us some Fortress of Fangs playset love. I never had that as i was only allowed one large piece and that was Castle Grayskull. I do have tons of the pvc and bendy toys. So thank goodness for that at least.
+Charlou27 You're welcome!
Its weird. I don't remember these being around much especially in that second Blue 1984 packaging. Was still heavy into Star Wars at that time, but watching the show every week. If I knew a Tiamat was out there I know I would have looked for it. Excellent video! Thanks Michael and Melinda so much. Any opinion on if the hero characters would ever be made? perhaps as Reaction figures? (those may be good or disappointing like some are great, some not so much).
+Dan Geister Yeah, it would ideally be by a company that conforms them to the scale and design of the LJN line.
Warlike is possibly my favorite action figure if all time! I have both different hip joint figures.
Warduke was reminiscent of the Death Dealer from that famous Frank Frazetta painting, that always stood out to me as a youngling, was there a connection I wondered. Maybe just inspiration.
Great video.
+pop culture palace thanks!
Great video! I wonder how the NECA versions will compare...
Never new of the DD game loved the cartoon and those figures
i had that dragon and war duke as a kid i didn't know the board game contact but these where cool id love to find some of this carded i bet carded war dukes go for a pretty penny
I put my Hasbro Temple of Doom figures with the Akator Temple playset, as Mola Ram needs a temple to preside over. He sacrifices people in the quick sand feature rather than the lava pit. I think that's worse than lava as it's slower, you would feel that going into your lungs whereas lava would be instantaneous.
Some nice detailed toys for the time, you don't see much multi-height variation in most lines, especially overly tall ones. I don't think I had any of these but I do have a vague memory of the packaging with that AD&D brand from toy store visits. It is strange they didn't just make figures for the cartoon but I guess the short run put the kibosh on that.
Lol! I had the Warduke set. I was swept into feverish imagination of armed , mystic combat with that toy.