It’s no secret that the writers/producers of futurama in the first season were pretty into DND. In one of the anthology of interests where Fry asks what would happen if he was never frozen Gary Gygax shows up. There was a movie episode called Bender’s Game where Fry and the others get sucked into a DND world.
Now I’ve been playing Baldur’s Gate and I’m wondering if the brains, Nibbler’s mortal enemy, are actually intillect devourers from DND and the large brain Fry talks to is an Elder Brain. What do you all think?
After reading over https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Intellect_devourer I think you very well could be onto something.
Highlights from that site that follow this notion:
They were capable of magically consuming a humanoid creature’s mind and memories from a distance of up to 10 feet (3 meters), provided that creature had a brain and succumbed to its psychic assault. If so, the victim’s mentality was deteriorated. In the worst case, the victim’s intellectual capacity was completely erased, leaving them dazed or stunned and ultimately incapacitated.
To aid in hunting, an intellect devourer could detect the minds of sentient creatures up to a distance of 300 feet (91 meters), determining both presence and position. -In the infosphere they were not able to detect Fry’s brainwaves due to his “nasty in the past-y” affecting his brain.
Despite their exposed brains, an intellect devourer was protected by a crusty covering or clear membrane and was resistant to physical harm.
While they are supposed to have legs and claws, there is a illithid talent that they could fly.
Otherwise, the rest of the lore seems exclusive from the Futurama brains.
Knowing the intellect and geekiness of the writers, I agree that there is possible connection between the two. For the sake of creative licencing, I am sure if it was their intention to make them intellect devourers, they made the changes they did for the show. Thanks for sharing 😊.