Four Tanks and a Healer: Episode 2: "Of Men and Noobs"

Episode 2 Synopsis: Malcom and the others quickly learn that having such an unbalanced group is harder than they thought. After being humbled and humiliated in a battle with a giant rat-man, they're forced to concede that being different means playing different. Malcom forms an out-of-the-box gameplan on how to not only outsmart their enemies... but how to outsmart the very game mechanics as well. It all ends in a giant battle with a monster known as a Beholder, but the battle may not be what you think...

"Four Tanks and a Healer" is a funny, two-part series created by filmmaker Larry Longstreth ("The Long, Slow Death of a Twenty-Something", "Batman's Gonna Get Shot in the Face") under the watchful eye of "Lord of the Rings" executive producer, Mark Ordesky. The pilot episodes were created in the hopes that they will one day result in a full-fledged series.

Both Longstreth and Ordesky are nerds at heart - with Mark being a closet tabletop Dungeons and Dragons veteran and Longstreth being a fan of the genre's newer forms: World of Warcraft and Lord of the Rings Online.

"Four Tanks and a Healer" is an Adult Swim-style look at the lives these people live, from the sole perspective of their in-game characters. Taking place entirely inside an online roleplaying video game, the series follows a group of misfit gamers as they venture across fantastic landscapes and epic quests, all from the comfort of their real-life computer chairs.

At times funny and at times just plain pathetic, the show explores the geeky underground culture of fantasy roleplaying - from the amazing displays of imagination and wish fulfillment to the downside of having to play alongside socially-inept elitists and basement-dwelling cretins. The show's protagonists - Malcom the dwarf, Redbeerd the dwarf, Nickelsack the gnome, PlzmePlz the human and LuvPrncess the fairy princess, all serve as funny and insightful glimpses not only into who their real-life counterparts are, but also into who they wish they could be. (For example, the sexy fairy princess of the group, LuvPrncess, is actually a 50 year old man).

Written and directed by Larry Longstreth, produced by Mark Ordesky and Marisa Zakaria, and animated by Jacob Drake, "Four Tanks and a Healer" is at it's heart a satire, but it also pays homage to the fantasy geek culture that many of us know and love. More than anything, though, is how it serves as a funny reminder of those times when we probably take it all a little too far.

Additional info:

Written by: Larry Longstreth

Directed by: Larry Longstreth, Jacob Drake

Starring: Larry Longstreth, Aaron Longstreth, Vince Bruno, Marisa Zakaria, Travis Fritz

Produced by: Mark Ordesky, Marisa Zakaria, Larry Longstreth

Animated by: Jacob Drake

Property of 4Reelz, LLC and Larry Longstreth

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Four Tanks and a Healer
• Episode 2 Of Men and Noobs
• MMO
• MMORPG
• Gaming
• Animation
• Cartoon

[shinigamidad]

So is the runtime of "1337" intentional or just an ironic coincidence? ;)

[MetamorphosisUK]

This series is epic. Please continue it!

[laserblade49]

bet its based on a true story

[LARRYLONGSTRETH]

@plushiplu @Estelnin We want to make a full season but need to get the funding! Trust me, we want to do it and I have an awesome season planned out!

[aw574]

Omg this is so true about RPGS . And this was a nice series. Keep those heals coming lmao

[plushiplu]

ep 3 pl0xxxxxxxxxx

[Estelnin]

*wishes a new episode would come out*..so does my husband

[Eruantano]

@Beaststa197 Apparently it's leet speak for "leet." Don't know why the run time would be anything but a coincedence though.

[Tuberuser187]

I miss MMOs like that, where you could me more creative and pvp to take advantage of situations.

Bring back the sandbox.

[daveharper1uk]

Awesome, looking forward to episode 3 and more..

[BillPlain1]

I have to admit I have loved the first two of these. Kuddos to you folks for coming up with something better than "The Guild". Granted the "guild" players were more often seen in RL settings, but I rather enjoy the perspective of them talking to each other in game. Far more you can do with in-game premises and themes and keep it cost effective and hysterical too boot. Love your peeps stuff and I look forward to many seasons to come.

[plushiplu]

I want more!