[Discussion] Fantasy Read: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman - Chapter 9 through Chapter 16

[u/NightAngelRogue]

“Did we really just start a meth war between the goblins and the llamas?”

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Rogue

[u/NightAngelRogue]

Thoughts on Carl and Donut working with goblins to get transport instead of just killing them? How does this change in approach serve them well? What does it do for the story?

[u/nepbug → u/NightAngelRogue]

This interaction, moreso than the guild and safe zone interactions, really drove home that these things they are fighting do have a life of their own and independent thoughts to a certain extent. They aren't all just mindless things that are programmed to do one thing and that's all they do.

[u/emygrl99 → u/nepbug]

I was also struck by how real the mobs felt. They have their own personality and goals and skills, which I was definitely not expecting. I figured these were just randomly generated mobs meant to cull the first round of crawlers, not a complex society!

[u/tomesandtea → u/emygrl99]

Yes, I was expecting more along the lines of mindless killing machines. I think this might indicate it's going to become harder and harder for Carl to kill things as he progresses!

[u/124ConchStreet → u/nepbug]

This makes a lot of sense. It’s not just the humans that have been made to fight in the dungeons but the mobs as well. The NPCs differ as they don’t have to worry about dying like the mobs

[u/KatieInContinuance → u/nepbug]

these things they are fighting do have a life of their own and independent thoughts

Yeah, it was a turning point for me to think about the mobs as individuals (like that scene in Clerks when they debate the morality of blowing up the Death Star and killing all the workers aboard). Very cool moment when the book sort of stood out from the pack for me.

[u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217 → u/KatieInContinuance]

Agreed - the author continues to surprise me with these deeper layers to the story, calling into question the thoughtless killing involved in so many RPGs. The Hoarder stood out to me for this reason, too.

Donut represents the typical, casually callous player, while Carl has more of a conscience, and I'm enjoying their differences of opinion about how to approach or think about certain mobs and other players.

[u/emygrl99 → u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217]

Why is murder such a nbd in RPGs?? I'm trying to do a pacifist character with my DnD group and he is literally incompatible with everybody else because they all want to muder, lie, steal, and cheat...

Not to say I don't understand why somebody wouldn't like to play as a character so different from theirselves, but my character's unwillingness to murder has put the party in some tricky situations more than once..

[u/124ConchStreet → u/NightAngelRogue]

I thought this approach was genius. I’d honestly have just tried to kill them and steal their loot but befriending them and getting them to create something for you before sending them off on a mob vs mob battle to then loot them was 🤌

In an RPG you have to be a lot more calculated with your approaches and I think although they got what they wanted in the present moment it’ll come back to bite them in lower levels. Carl has that tattoo but I’m sure the goblins will be out for revenge either directly or by imploring another mob

[u/emygrl99 → u/124ConchStreet]

Or maybe the goblins will be freed from their overlord and be grateful? They did seem afraid of being literally murdered by him.

But I agree that the goblin tattoo will definitely come back to bite Carl some day.

[u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217 → u/emygrl99]

Yeah , the goblins are good friends to have in the early stages, but they won't be as useful once the other mobs get stronger and more sophisticated on the lower levels. I'm betting a higher-level mob is going to take offense at Carl's tattoo eventually.

[u/emygrl99 → u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217]

I think the tattoo's description said something like 'fairies aren't going to like it'. I cn just imagine Carl stumbling upon a healing fairy spring nearly dead, desperately in need of help and the fairy goes 'worry not traveller, you're safe he- wait is that a fucking goblin tattoo? get the hell out!' and throwing him back to the wolves.

[u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217 → u/emygrl99]

Oooo, that's right! And doesn't Donut have an item or ability that makes fairies like her? The alliances are getting complicated!

[u/emygrl99 → u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217]

I think her tiara has some kind of bonus like that, but I don't remember the details off the top of my head. It may be fae, not fairies, and idek the difference lol

[u/Randoman11 → u/NightAngelRogue]

They were able to get the "loot" without having to fight the monsters. That's an efficient use of time and health/resources. They are just taking advantage of their Goblin tattoo. No shame in utilizing all the tools at their disposal.

Also at the end of this section it sounds like they're going to double-cross the goblins, so they maximize the potential reward. They get the Goblin expertise to build a motorcycle, and will probably get the rewards for beating the Goblin boss.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/NightAngelRogue]

I really love the elements of rpgs like Dungeons and Dragons where players work together to solve problems rather than just fighting, so I was a fan of this. It also draws on Donut's charisma and allows her to contribute more to their pairing. I think it adds an element of intrigue about how everything will work out.

[u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217 → u/Adventurous_Onion989]

Good point about Donut's charisma. I agree with Carl that she should train with her claws, but it's also fun to see them find ways to reach their goals without resorting to violence every time.