D&D murder

[Mark Asher]

Don't know if this was already posted:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ct/20061025/cr_ct/dungeonsdragonsplayertriedformurderafterkillingcow orkerwithhomemadesword

"On Oct. 27, 2004, James Flemons walked into work with a homemade samurai sword and slashed his co-worker to death.

"Prosecutors say Flemons, then 30, was angry because of constant bullying by the victim, Anthony Williams, and other co-workers at Peerless Metal Powders & Abrasive.

"But Flemons' lawyer says he is schizophrenic with a psychotic obsession with fantasy role-playing games, including Dungeons & Dragons."

This was actually the guy's second assault with a sword. He got two years probation for the first one because he didn't kill anyone. Tom Hanks is probably too old to play him in the movie version, Monsters and Mazes and Murderers. Oh well.

[MatthewF]

I'm going to go with "psycho" as the reason, not "D&D."

[Dirt]

I vaguely remember this. I don't remember that D&D was involved.

[Mark Asher]

I vaguely remember this. I don't remember that D&D was involved.

"In a voluntary statement to police, Flemons admitted attacking Williams in response to constant bullying about his fantasy game obsession."

[Brian Rucker]

There are several cases like this. Compared to the number of people who blame their actions on God, the Devil or whathaveyou they're statistically insignificant but, at least back in the day, they made great fodder for the BADD crowd.

[Mark Asher]

I think the sword adds the interest. If it was just a routine workplace shooting with just one victim, it probably never would have been picked up. We just don't get too many sword killings these days.

[Gary Whitta]

"In a voluntary statement to police, Flemons admitted attacking Williams in response to constant bullying about his fantasy game obsession."
So bullying was the cause, not D&D.

[ElGuapo]

I don't remember this from D&D:

Witnesses told police that, after the killing, Flemons bought a beer and cigar at a nearby convenience store. He then returned to the scene and positioned Williams' body as if on a cross. Then he opened the beer and lit the cigar as he waited for the police to arrive, his colleagues said.

The medical examiner ruled that Williams died as a result of "multiple chop wounds to the neck."

In other news, a medical examiner in southeast D.C. declared a victim died from "Multiple caps in his ass".

[Mark Asher]

You never played D&D and popped open a can of something and lit up something? You were playing in the wrong basements and garages then.

[Bill Dungsroman]

Columbine from playing Doom and now this. GET SOME RELEVANCE YOU CRAZIES.

[Coca Cola Zero]

I hope he let the guy make a saving throw before he slashed him.

[ElGuapo]

You never played D&D and popped open a can of something and lit up something? You were playing in the wrong basements and garages then.

I was refering more to, you know . . . TEH CRUCIFIXION.

[Gordon Cameron]

D&D murder... man, it's like it's 1981 all over again.

[Mark Asher]

D&D murder... man, it's like it's 1981 all over again.

We need a Jack "Tom" Chick comic strip about this incident!

[Balasarius]

I hope he let the guy make a saving throw before he slashed him.
There's no saving throw for a normal attack.

Now, the victim probably fled, which provoked an AOO. See, that's just dumb. 5' step at best and then go into fighting defensively while you wait for help to arrive.

[Unicorn McGriddle]

I hope he let the guy make a saving throw before he slashed him.

A saving throw against what? It wouldn't be applicable. You roll to-hit against his armor class, and if you hit, you fucking hit him (barring certain special powers and effects). Then you roll damage against any applicable resistances, and if you do enough damage to bring his hitpoints to zero or below, he's incapacitated (and will die soon if not aided).

Everyone should know this shit. Don't make me cut you.

[roguefrog]

I'm guessing the the guy was caught flatfooted so his dex bonus wasn't factored into his AC.

[Balasarius]

He lost the initiative.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/roll_wall_small.jpg

[Old Man Gravy]

I'm looking forward to Matt Peckham's review of this murder.

[Mattbear]

"In a voluntary statement to police, Flemons admitted attacking Williams in response to constant bullying about his fantasy game obsession."

Gives a whole new meaning to "Revenge of the Nerds".

[Kunikos]

"In a voluntary statement to police, Flemons admitted attacking Williams in response to constant bullying about his Madonna obsession."

fixed.

[magnet]

D&D doesn't kill people. +5 swords kill people.

[Damien Falgoust]

D&D murder... man, it's like it's 1981 all over again.
http://www.filmbesprechungen.de/cover/B00006FD8H.jpghttp://static.stormpay.com/auctions/items/132986612c1.jpg

[RichVR]

A "homemade" sword. Now THAT is cool.

[Robert Sharp]

Penny Arcade is a bunch of nerds. Unless they changed the rules, you roll a D10 for initiative, not a D20!

[AlanT]

Nerd yourself. Didn't they change it to a d20 with the third ed?

[hong]

Penny Arcade is a bunch of nerds. Unless they changed the rules, you roll a D10 for initiative, not a D20!
They changed the rules, d00d. (http://www.d20srd.org)

[Cosmic Hippo]

Wait, a homemade Samurai Sword? How do they know it was a samurai sword? Was he really such a great blacksmith that everyone looked at it and said, "yep, that's one badass katana!" or something? Or was he wearing samurai robes when he was arrested? The people want to know!

[Bill Dungsroman]

Wait, a homemade Samurai Sword? How do they know it was a samurai sword? Was he really such a great blacksmith that everyone looked at it and said, "yep, that's one badass katana!" or something? Or was he wearing samurai robes when he was arrested? The people want to know!
No, he wrote "Sammoorie Sord" on the side with a Sharpie.

[Robert Sharp]

Nerd yourself. Didn't they change it to a d20 with the third ed?

WotC is a bunch of nerds then!