When compared to Dungeons and Dragons films of the past, there's no doubt that Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a major win for fans of the game, however, where the game got some rules of the tabletop RPG correct, others were shaky or simply inaccurate. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a fantasy adventure film based on the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. The film follows a group of estranged thieves who reunite for one last adventure that inevitably expands into a much bigger and more dangerous mission.
When it comes to films based on other pieces of content, accuracy is of the utmost importance. With Dungeons and Dragons in particular, it's important that the movie evoke the same mechanics, lore, and feelings as a typical game would. In the case of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the majority of the story is well-aligned with the game, not only in of setting and plot but also Dungeons and Dragons easter eggs and references. Unfortunately though, movie magic doesn't always parallel the particulars of a game setting, and therefore, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves had plenty of broken rules to go with the ones they honored.
10 Honored: Simon Had To Attune To The Helm Of Disjunction
In Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, it's accurate that Simon had to attune to D&D's Helm of Disjunction before using it. In the film, the party retrieves the helm from the Underdark, hoping to use it to break into Forge's vault and steal the Tablet of Reawakening. After nearly dying at the hands of Themberchaud, it's disheartening when the party realizes that Simon can't use the helm immediately, and instead, must attune to it. Though the procedure only lasts an hour in the game, and Simon struggles to attune due to his self-confidence, this scenario is a real D&D situation that adds a flair of accuracy.
9 Broke: Jarnathan Shouldn't Have Been Able To Fly While Grappled
Though this rule is a subtle one, it's a very common and major issue when in battle in Dungeons and Dragons. At the start of the film, Edgin and Holga are pleading their case to be released from prison, and in a sudden turn, decide to escape on an unwitting Jarnathan. As fun and interesting as this Honor Among Thieves Jarnathan gag is, it wouldn't really work in D&D. Edgin and Holga technically have Jarnathan in a grappled position, which means his ability to move or fly would be wiped out entirely. Therefore, in of Dungeons and Dragons mechanics, this plan wouldn't have worked so well.
8 Honored: Honor Among Thieves Includes Arbitrary Spell Limits
Included in the unique lore of Dungeons and Dragons are rules that are seemingly silly and nonsensical, such as spell limits, and luckily, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves takes advantage of these details for comedic effect. When the party is questioning the dead using "Speak With Dead," they only get five questions per corpse. This leads to a funny bit where the party runs out of questions after making small talk or leaves their interviewees waiting for that fifth and final question. The number five seems arbitrary but is actually a hallmark of D&D and makes the film more accurate.
7 Broke: Sending Stones Have More Rules In Dungeons and Dragons
As a general rule, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves tended to give their magical items a bit more power than is normal in the tabletop game, and the sending stones are one prime example of that. Edgin and the party use the sending stones to communicate during their heist at Forge's castle, and on-screen, they're depicted as being akin to a walkie-talkie that lasts for up to an hour. However, in Dungeons and Dragons, sending stones are not limited by time, but by message. Therefore, if used accurately, the party only would have been able to send one message per day.
6 Honored: Simon's Wild Magic Was Dungeons And Dragons Accurate
Despite being a sorcerer, Simon has trouble with his magic throughout Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and at times, his struggles are actually perfectly accurate to the game. In particular, the mechanic wild magic means that a sorcerer can become overwhelmed with their magic and have unplanned outbursts that they have to roll for. In the case of Simon, when he accidentally casts a spell of antigravity during his magic show, this is a great depiction of a wild magic outburst. Rather than just being out of control, Simon's powers align with D&D mechanics.
5 Broke: Sofina Likely Would've Known That Her Time Stop Spell Failed
Near the end of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the party is attempting to defeat the Red Witch Sofina. One of her tell-tale spells is "Time Stop" which she seemingly casts on the party, however, it turns out that Simon used a Counterspell, and the party only pretended to be frozen to trick her. While this is a fun gag, it most likely wouldn't work in a tabletop game. In order for the character to be deceived, all of the party would have to roll a successful deception check, and if even one person failed, Sofina would immediately know that her spell had failed.
4 Honored: Character Personalities Follow Dungeons And Dragons Classes
A major aspect of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves that felt particularly accurate to the game is how each character's personality aligns with their Dungeons and Dragons class. For example, Xenk is a paladin, and to a comedic degree, he follows the classic Lawful Good alignment of that class by being a morally upstanding and rule-following person. Additionally, Dungeons and Dragons classes come with preexisting states such as barbarians having weaker intelligence or sorcerers lacking charisma, and these tropes also appear in the film in the form of Holga and Simon. In this way, the film accurately depicts well-known Dungeons and Dragons classes.
3 Broke: Doric Misuses Wild Shape In Honor Among Thieves
Although Doric's use of Wild Shape is an impressive mechanic in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, her use of it far exceeds the actual limitations of the game. Throughout the film, Doric seems to use Wild Shape at her leisure, and in one sequence, switches from animal to animal in quick succession. She even shifts into an Owlbear. In reality, Dungeons and Dragons allows a character to use Wild Shape twice before needing a rest and only a very powerful Druid could manage the Owlbear shape if at all. This Honor Among Thieves Owlbear controversy is a significant departure from the game.
2 Honored: Honor Among Thieves Adapts D&D Dice Roll Unpredictability
Something that was especially enjoyable about Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was how it integrated the unpredictability of rolling dice into a movie format. In Dungeons and Dragons, almost every decision is controlled by a dice roll, and while some rolls may be critical hits, natural ones are commonplace. Throughout the film, this disparity is very clear as the party fails miserably just as often as they complete a seemingly impossible task. By doing this, the movie evokes the mystery of Dungeons and Dragons and follows the rules of the dice, showing that failure is most definitely an option in Dungeons and Dragons.
1 Broke: Edgin and Doric Should Have Had Magic In Honor Among Thieves
Likely the most controversial rule-break Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves had was leaving Edgin and Doric without magic. Throughout the film, the party relies heavily on Simon for magic, however, this wouldn't be true in a tabletop setting. As a bard and a druid respectively, Edgin and Doric definitely would have had magic abilities that allowed them to cast spells. Typically, bards cast magic through music while druids have a talent for nature and animals. Either of these characters could have used their magic to the party's benefit, but the film decided to negate this rule entirely.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves may break some big and small Dungeons and Dragons rules, but as of now, it is likely the best adaptation of the game to grace the big screen. By recreating the magic and thrill of Dungeons and Dragons, the film not only gives fans more content to consume but also spreads Dungeons and Dragons to audiences who may know nothing about it. In this way, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an important and groundbreaking film for the Dungeons and Dragons community.
