On October 27 the second season of the hit Netflix show Stranger Things was released; 9 episodes of more horror and 80’s homage. For most part it was a worthy sequel even though it does include some side plots and sets up a few characters that probably will be more central in the upcoming seasons*. Last year I did a post about the D&D references in the first season, and while it might seem D&D takes a little less prominent role this time around, the last episodes again bring the D&D references to the forefront. In this post I take a look at the kids, their perceived roles in a RPG Party, but also how such a framework work for us the viewers.
Beware, this post will contain spoilers.
*The creators, the Duffer brothers, have hinted of a total of 4 seasons of Stranger Things.
The Party
A party is the common term used on player characters (PCs) travelling together and facing foes in any roleplaying game and the party structure play a vital role in the Stranger Things show, with the various main characters in the show taking on typical RPG roles. This of course isn’t something that is relatable just as a TV show but also how the kids themselves identify each other inside the fictional world.
When we first encountered the kids in season 1 they obviously were friends playing D&D so that they identify as various classes based on their character traits is not hard to understand. This concept is several times referenced in the new season by the characters themselves, especially noteworthy is Mike’s rant to Max where he in detail assigning roles to his friends. Dustin also embraces this concept whole when he convinces Steve to help the other kids in the final episode;
“A party member requires assistance and it is our duty to provide that assistance.”
As mentioned Mike explains to Max that the party doesn’t need her as a new member and does it by assigning classes to himself and his friends. We’re never quite sure if the rest of the group necessary agree with Mike’s labelling (Lucas and Mike’s argument about Wilson and Venkeman can be seen as foreshadowing of things not always is the way Mike thinks). But let’s take a closer look at Mike’s description and in what way it fits the character.
Mike the paladin
Mike names himself as the party’s paladin. Paladin is one of the standard D&D classes, appearing back in the original Greyhawk supplement. They are basically holy knights, crusading in the name of good and order. Due to their moral, many requirements and often high charisma they often take the role of leader of an adventure party (as they often couldn’t break their code/beliefs).
Mike is indeed often at the centre of the groups adventures. As the DM the D&D sessions are held in his basement and his home is seen by the other parents as the gang’s usual hangout place. He also is portrayed as very kind, always wanting to help his friends and not afraid when faced with danger.
Dustin the Bard
Mike names Dustin as the party’s bard. A bard was a special class unavailable for beginning characters in the old AD&D game. In many ways it was a sort of forerunner of the concept of Prestige classes in D&D. Bards in general are known to both be very knowledgeable and likeable, the older version being able to charm creature that hears their music. The first bards where more of a druidic loremaster (with song and poetic powers) than wandering minstrel/entertainer they become in later editions.
Dustin does indeed possess rather specialized knowledge on a wide range of subjects. He is also able to lift the others spirits and provide humour (both for the other kids and for the audience), things typical of a more modern version of the bard class. The older bard’s ability to charm creatures is also depicted when he befriends “Dart”.
Lucas the Ranger
Lucas was described as the party’s ranger. Ranger is one the standard character classes in AD&D. Basically a subtype of the Fighter class, Rangers had extensive tracking abilities and the whole air of outdoor lifestyle about them. With their D8 hit die (instead of the fighters D10) they also tended to go for bows and other ranged weapons.
Lucas as a ranger is also a good fit. He brings along binoculars and seems the most adapt at tracking and hiding. He also gets nicknamed “Stalker” by Max. He also arms himself with a slingshot so most of Lucas’s traits are mirrored well in the ranger class.
Will the Cleric
Mike names Will as the party’s Cleric. Cleric as a class appeared all the way back in the original D&D from 1974 where they were described as a mix of Fighting-men and Magic-users. Cleric was one of the five core classes in the original Players Handbook for AD&D. In many ways clerics were closely aligned to the Paladin sharing many of the same traits and requirements.
It’s a bit more difficult to see why Mike think of Will as the cleric, basically as in the first season he’s mostly missing (the whole season is about finding him) and in the second season he again suffers from his ordeal the past year and has problem to fit into his usual place in the group. He is obviously close to Mike and is neither very outspoken (Dustin) a strong fighter nor more of an athletic and outdoor-type (Lucas). Cleric is maybe fitting on how Mike sees Will, but what we see of the character in the two seasons, there is perhaps another class more suitable?
Will the Thief
Thief was one of the five core classes in AD&D. They specialize in stealth and subterfuge (with skills like Open Locks and Move Silently). Why is that maybe for fitting for the Will character? In the first season I basically survived thanks to his ability to mostly stay hidden. In this season he gets possessed and even one episode is named The Spy because of the role he takes in deceive those around him. But even before he gets possess, he isn’t truly open about what he experiences (his vomiting at the end of season 1 comes back to bit the heroes backs in this season).
Eleven the Mage
Maybe the most obvious choice for Mike is to designate the Mage role to Eleven (Jane), and as Max correctly deduce because she could do “magic tricks”. As a power psychic her abilities clearly set her apart from the rest of the party and her role as a mage, a person in control of something utterly different and potentially a lot more powerful than the rest of the group.
A bit curious is of course that Mage as a class didn’t really exist in AD&D 1st edition. When Mike and the group are playing D&D, this class went by the duller name of magic-user and was one of the five core classes. It wasn’t before the second edition was published they discarded the term magic-user in favour of mage.
Max the Barbarian
As Mike thinks Max doesn’t belong in the group she of course doesn’t get labelled a specific class. She jokingly refer to herself as a “zoomer” but this is no D&D class and more high-light she hasn’t got the same reference frame as the rest of the kids.
Max is slightly underdeveloped as a character; mostly functioning as the love interest to spike some rivalry between Lucas and Dustin. She gets told the truth by Lucas and tags along to witness the demodogs (thank you Dustin for the term) attack the bus alongside Lucas, Dustin and Steve. For most part she stays in the background, slowly taking in the horror she is experiencing. It only in the last episode she shows a bit of what class she can be described as when she takes as stand against her step-brother Billy and wields the spiked baseball to great effect. I’m of course talking of the Barbarian class, a thing also hinted at with her arcade high score name “Madmax” (barbarians are ferocious and now to go into rage-mode when fighting).
Barbarians where introduced in a Dragon number back in 1982, appearing in the Unearthed Arcana manual in 1985. There are a few things from the D&D barbarian class besides her threatening rage against Billy, she is adapt at noticing being watched and also the tradition barbarian aversion for magic is maybe one reason Eleven seems to ignore Max when first introduced.
Steve the Fighter
Steve was portrayed as a rather typical arrogant high school bully in season 1, and while he redeemed himself at the end of the season in season 2 he really gets to shine and develop as character. Especially his bromance with Dustin is well developed, Steve growing into sort of a mentor to Dustin and showing some real depth and real emotion. He is basically incorporated into the party so it only fitting he also gets a party role.
Fighter was one of the core classes in AD&D, but was also one of the three original classes to D&D, then known simply as “Fighting man”. Fighters are rather simple characters, focusing on combat and often just wading into the melee, finding safety in many hits points. Compared to the rest of the party Steve is obviously the person most able to dish out damage. He also depicted as a bit slow/uneducated, fitting the standard fighter stereotype. He is very brave, not hesitating to step in front off demodogs to protect the kids. While he gets his ass kicked by Billy, he does show he’s able to take a serious beating and get up again to continue to do his “duty”. Steve is the kind of fighter any adventure party would find helpful.
In the next post about Stranger Things 2 I take a look at this season’s monster and it’s D&D analogy and the possible future references in upcoming seasons.
Tabletop Cave 