Johnny Saturn

Epic Fail is a young webcomic, only twenty-two episodes old at this point, but it’s an interesting take on playing Dungeons & Dragons, or some similar tabletop role-playing game.  Dwarves, elves, gnomes, kings, treasure, you get the picture.

I know a bit about table-top role-playing games.  I began playing Dungeons & Dragons in earnest in 1977, and continued playing (along with my wife Benita) till about 2003.  Maybe we would have continued beyond that point, but it had just gotten too difficult to get our friends together-we all had busy lives, after all.  Still, in those twenty-six years of avid playing, we had a great time, made lifelong friends, and met many styles of players.

Which brings me to Amuletts, the focal character of Epic Fail.  Amuletts wears her heart on her sleeve, cares more about money than ethics, and brings chaos to almost any situation.  I know this type of player, and one of my best friends who gamed with us for about twenty-three of those twenty-six years was just like that.  There was never a solemn occasion he could stand to pass uninterrupted, never a block of exposition that he could let stand unbroken, never a plot line that he couldnÆt wander far afield from.  In other words, if you prepared an adventure, he would find alternate ways to enjoy it, ways that had nothing to do with what you prepared for.

Amuletts is the same.  She can be rude, conniving, and set your beard on fire; or she can be very affectionate.  Amuletts, when affectionate, doesnÆt recognize any personal boundaries or ideas of personal dignity the other character may harbor.

In terms of art, Epic Fail is outsider art, plus a high level artistic anarchy thrown in for good measure.  It is a full page comic that updates weekly, and while there is an ongoing story each episode usually includes a gag.

Scott.