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From Dungeon Master to Empire Builder: The Dwarvenaut

By Lori Marie Blair
September 19, 2016
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Welcome to a storytelling world where you can become a heroic or villainous version of yourself or someone entirely new and otherworldly. In Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the Dungeon Master (DM) builds an imaginary environment and guides players through adventures within it. But even experienced DMs need help from time to time. When they need guidance they look to source books and scenario modules. Miniatures of their characters are purchased to help bring even more life to their games. And when they have fallen in love with their world and want to expand their experience, they will find Dwarven Forge, a company owned by sculpture artist and painter Stefan Pokorny, that builds top level, impossibly-beautiful terrain for D&D.

The Dwarvenaut, directed by Josh Bishop, is a fascinating documentary loosely organized around the funding of Dwarven Forge's third Kickstarter, "City of Valoria". In this venture, Dwarven Forge moves beyond dungeon and castle terrain and into creating deluxe, hand-crafted, modular sculptures of a medieval city. Players can use the sculptures to re-create the setting they have imagined in their mind's eye. The documentary also acts as a biography of Pokorny, a Brooklyn-based entrepreneur. It's clear from the opening scenes of Pokorny leading a D&D game, he possesses Graughlothor force of creativity.

"I'm going to convince them there are adventures in the city," said Pokorny. He was explaining that traditionally D&D characters meet up in a city, often a tavern, and then go off to conquer antagonists. With this Kickstarter, he created a city in which players will want to have their characters hang around. One of Pokorny's gifts is his ability to attract people to his work. Once seen, anyone who can afford the elite, top of the line pieces will buy in to his dream. Then they will take inspiration from his foundation and make worlds of their own. This collaborative effort started within D&D. Players always have been encouraged to take what they will from source books then use their imaginations to create something of their own. It is one of the aspects of D&D Pokorny admires most. He's taken care to give that element to his designs. His dungeon sets work with his castle sets and both work with City of Valoria. He ensures this by keeping the sets in the same scale with complementary colour palettes.

Another aspect of D&D Pokorny admires and has supported within his life's work is community and friendship building. He speaks about getting people together around a table and talking again. In this age of being plugged-in, society needs to get back to face to face relationships. D&D campaigns last for many hours, even weeks, sometimes months, and gaming groups often stay together for years. Going through adventures together as a team creates bonds just like ones you will find within sports, armed forces, and summer camps.

He said, "It's a game that will bring out the good or the bad in you because when you sit around that table with six or eight people and you go through these scenarios you really get to see who is who." As a long-time role-player, I found this statement interesting as players often create characters who aren't like themselves and make decisions based not upon what they themselves would do but upon how their individual character would act. Since after making contact on Facebook, Pokorny graciously offered to answer any questions I might have, I lobbed it over to him.

"Yes, it's true that players are supposed to role play other characters, but it's my experience that, in the beginning at least, they tend to see their avatars as extensions of themselves or even what they wish they would be." He added, "D&D tends to bring your true tendencies out during really engrossed play." His point is solid. The Dwarvenaut shows Pokorny as both fearless in his theatrical approach to D&D, as well as, his grounded, logical thought processes.

It is within the Kickstarter scenes that we are treated to glimpses of Pokorny's business acumen. He explains how expensive it is to produce quality products. He comments on the importance of conquering fear. "If I worried too much about the future I wouldn't have started the company," he said.

We are shown the importance of quality videos to stimulate sales. The video work focusing on City of Valoria pieces was extraordinary. Upon viewing the buildings, there was nothing I wanted more than to move my mini thief down the streets and alley-ways to explore and take advantage of its dark corners. I was delighted by the maps and plans, and wanted to be a part of the stories. Just looking at Dwarven Forge products brought me joy. They're the most elaborate and beautiful miniatures I've seen. The city is a refreshing, new setting that instantly got my creativity percolating. That's another one of the things Pokorny does best- inspire others.

The tension in the film is maintained by the Kickstarter campaign. Will it fund like the two previous or will it fall short? Dwarven Forge needed two million dollars to break even. The Kickstarter has a very strong initial few days then slows down. In the meanwhile, Bishop turns his camera on Pokorny and we learn what led the artist to this point.

These are the best scenes in the film. Candid and honest, among other revelations, Pokorny shares he was adopted. Though his family was loving, supportive, and gave him many advantages, a feeling of abandonment persists within the man. An active child, he was given art materials as a way to calm and focus his attention. It worked. He loved to draw. At one point he confesses vulnerability. As a child he felt, "I'd better get good at this drawing stuff or I'd be given away again."

At first, I wasn't 100% convinced of Bishop's choice to have Pokorny narrate the entire film. It comes across a bit egotistical. However, I came to understand the decision because Pokorny is enthusiastic and infectious. He won me over. His child-like wonder in his surroundings was charming to witness. I particularly enjoyed when, during a trip to Gary Con in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Pokorny was delighted by the sounds of the trees near his room. Gary Con was named after Gary Gygax, who co-created D&D with Dave Arneson. Bishop's quiet scene of Pokorny viewing Gygax's former home made it clear the reverence one artist can hold for another.

At Gary Con, we get to see Pokorny in his natural element. Having a rollicking good time with friends he clearly adores, we see him at his sociable and comic best. They have some drinks and get down to a fantastical evening of D&D. Among those Pokorny DM'd for are notable gaming personalities Luke Gygax, one of Gary's sons and owner of Gary Con, and Peter Adkison, owner of Gen Con and a former CEO of Wizards of the Coast, known for Magic: The Gathering. Prestigious company, indeed.

Throughout the film, we are treated to Pokorny's artistic process and given insight into how he grew as an artist from 2D painter to a 3D sculptor. He didn't come in to his own academically until he attended High School of Art and Design in New York City. In particular, he was mentored by Mr. Irwin Greenberg. "You have talent; don't waste your life," Pokorny remembers Greenberg saying. Pokorny took this assessment to heart.

This is a good place to mention a weakness in the documentary. There are very few titles printed on screen. There are times when I felt lost, unsure of who or what I was viewing. This came to a head when I wanted to highlight Greenberg's quote. I needed to take several steps and put on my internet detective hat in order to get what I needed. A few more printed titles within the documentary wouldn't be amiss.

In a male dominated arena, any effort to show women also participating is appreciated. Women are present in gaming but are usually sorely under-represented media-wise. In The Dwarvenaut, there are women in the Dungeons & Dragons game sessions. They are active and having fun. At least one woman is shown working at Dwarven Forge. During several scenes at Gary Con women were shown moving about in the background, purchasing items and enjoying themselves. I have heard Pokorny himself speak about the inclusion of women. That's why it was an oversight to introduce Pokorny's girlfriend, Lu Lu, and then have the only subsequent mention of her occurring as Pokorny's leaving for Gary Con. He's grateful she did his laundry. Was it necessary to degrade Lu Lu's appearance to that of a supporting role to her man? Doing laundry while he jets off to pursue his dreams? I have no idea why the small laundry scene was left in the film but it was an unflattering editorial decision.

One of Bishop's best decisions was the continual focus on Pokorny's artistic process. Pokorny takes from everything he sees and experiences then combines it with bits and pieces that have lingered in his mind to create a whole new concept. One beautifully filmed night scene was Pokorny standing in near bliss in front of a magnificently lighted carousel. Pokorny was in awe of what it took to create something of such magnitude. The camera lingered and I was also spell-bound. Pokorny appreciates art as magical. Because he has been so affected, he understands a creator's immortality. He said, "A piece of you lives on inspiring people forever." This is certainly true of a dream-builder like Pokorny, his pieces will be handed down as heirlooms for future gaming generations to enjoy.

A must-see film for anyone interested in chimerical artists, Dungeons & Dragons, and gaming in general.



The Dwarvenaut — Official Website


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