For those of you who might not be aware, a few years ago there was a Kickstarter to make documentary about Dave Arneson and his contributions to the origins of D&D (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/secretsofblackmoor/secrets-of-blackmoor-the-true-history-of-dungeons/description). The documentary has been done for a while know and if you're interested you can check it out here.
However, one of the additional perks of the KS was an original module (a megadungeon, I think) based on the notes from a game that Dave Arneson's group played in Minnesota, before D&D was finalized. It took a while, but the book is finally here and it looks fantastic... so I wanted to share it with you. I'm not sure when or if this will be available for sale to non-KS backers, but if it is, it is worth checking out.
Some pics:
https://imgur.com/a/ONncUAW
The books seems really well done and feels very much like an old school product. The art is scarce, and frankly not that impressive, but it has that DYI feel of the amateur gaming clubs in the 60s and early 70s. In addition to the dungeon itself, there is a historical chapter as well as a simplified version of the original rules. All in all it seems like an excellent product.
PS: I'm in no way affiliated with this project. Just an enthusiastic fan.
For Dave Arneson Day, I created my first post on a new blog, Chance & Circumstance, a list of the games Dave worked on. I quickly realized this deserved to be more than simply a list of titles, roles and dates.
It is still a work in progress to add more details. In the meantime, here is a link to the live work in progress: https://chanceand.com/2021/10/01/dave-arneson-ludography/
Just a reminder that Oct 1 is Dave Arneson Day.
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Anyone knows what were the systems that Dave Arneson used on early Blackmoor (pre-ODnD) campaign? What was his plot? There were characters? How were them?
What was the original intended usage of the 3LBB?
First off, I realize this is probably an impossible question to answer, but I'm hoping some fine people who are good on dnd history or have personal ties to the very beginning of things might have some insight.
But I've come to suspect more and more that the vagueness and ambiguity of the rules was very very intentional. Considering the Free Kriegespiel kinds of games a lot of the original role-players sometimes use, I think that possibly the rules were only meant as a suggested toolbox of mechanics.
For example, I think it would be totally reasonable to use several different combat systems in a single situation, using whichever set of rules "felt right" in each instance. For example, you might use the alternate rules when only a few combatants are involved, chainmail rules when many combatants are involved, and free-kriegespiel style "roll versus, the winner determines what happens" rules to determine the fine grained details of what happens in a 1-on-1 duel.
Similarly, I see the grappling rule not as a rule for only grappling, but a suggested novel mechanic that the referee can use "whenever it feels right." Probably in any situation where it's many vs one.
I've begun to question if even the 6 stats weren't just a suggestion. Mr. Gygax and Mr. Arneson's way of saying "these are what feel right to us right now, but we (or you) may use something different at any point."
Given that rpgs where an entirely novel concept, and one they themselves where working out, it feels like the 3LBB where just meant to inspire others to try out fine grained small scale style of play, without necessarupy depending on using this or that mechanic.
All of that is entirely conjecture though and I'm hoping there might be be some rough documented evidence that gives an indication.
http://movie.secretsofblackmoor.com/
Disclaimer: I'm in no way affiliated with the documentary or with the people who made it. I just backed the Kickstarter and have been satisfied with what I've seen so far (reportedly, there's a volume 2 coming out). So I thought I'd share it here.
I think the documentary does a really good job at summarizing Arneson's contributions to D&D and the creation of his Blackmoor fantasy campaign. However, what I enjoyed the most is how well the film delineates the transition from "wargaming" to "roleplaying" that happened in the late 60s early 70s. That part is actually far more interesting than the D&D specific material, which is frankly minimal in the documentary.
Today is Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Dave Arneson's birthday. He would have been 72. In honor of Dave Arneson day, Greg Svenson and the Comeback Inn forum published some new Blackmoor content, the Noble House of Zvenzen Sourcebook, a guide to the noble house established by Svenson's Blackmoor character the Great Svenny. Svenny was the sole survivor of the very first dungeon crawl ever played.
You can download the new sourcebook, along with Svenson's other Blackmoor supplements, from the Comeback Inn, but apparently you'll need to register.
With the publication of the Secrets of Blackmoor documentary there has been quite some chatter about that first ever fantasy campaign. Among other things it's rules have been discussed, and examples of character sheets given.
Now however mysterious blackmoor might be, from those blog posts, and also from actual play reports found elsewhere it's obvious, that blackmoor used a 2d6 mechanic with stats usually in the 2 - 12 range, and 2d6 roll under stat checks.
Sounds familiar? I think it does, and this lets me wonder:
How is Traveller linked to the Blackmoor Campaign? Are there original Blackmoor genes in Traveller? Is Traveller a direct descendent of Chainmails Man-to-Man Combat?
Not saying anything to incite controversy with Gygax Day, but knowing more of the story about DnD's creation now than ever, I wonder why a day for Dave Arneson hasn't been brought up? I say he deserves just as much credit, seeing as he fostered the roleplaying spirit in ways that truely took the game to where it's at. Then again, I may not know as much as I think I do, so what are your guys' opinions?
FYI this is super hot off the press... giving certain folks and forums an advance link I suppose :) I won't even promote it in general until tomorrow. Really good stuff in here if you're into D&D / RPG / table top gaming history
https://shaneplays.com/secrets-of-blackmoor-the-true-history-of-dungeons-and-dragons/
Accidental gaming historian M. Griffith ("Griff") discusses the Secrets of Blackmoor documentary, a five year project involving 10 cities, 200 hours of interviews, and 20,000 photos and documents. Dungeons & Dragons was famously co-created by Dave Arneson & Gary Gygax, but what part did Arneson and his gaming group play in the creation of tabletop role playing itself? There's more to the story than you know!
TOPICS COVERED include but are not limited to:
-Doc is NOT Dave Arneson vs. Gary Gygax. Itβs the story of what happened before they met with Arneson and his gaming group.
-The vital role of Dave Arneson (and his gaming group) in the creation of D&D / fantasy roleplaying
-Preconceptions, misconceptions and headcanon
-Is it Gee-gax or Gy-gax?
-Difference in difficulty / sense of accomplishment between old school and new school tabletop RPGs
-The βStrategos Connectionβ: Strategos military training wargame book from 1880 and its connection to Dave Arnesonβs gaming group
-David Wesleyβs Braunstein style miniatures wargaming (pre-Blackmoor proto fantasy roleplaying)
-How direct is the connection between Chainmail and Dungeons & Dragons?
-Is a sapper tunnel a proto-dungeon?
-David McGaryβs Dungeon! Boardgame
Tonisborg, the oldest still existing dungeon map set (publicly known, anyway)
-Griffβs desired death rate percentage per session as DM
-Is it possible to define what a roleplaying game is?
-Hipster D&D
-Where did the Tolkien influence on Dungeons & Dragons come from?
-Would RPGs have exploded into pop culture without Gary Gygax / TSR?
-What types of cons do Shane and Griff prefer?
What was the biggest game design takeaway from Mr. Arneson?
What is the something Dave told you that you still use?
Did Dave tall any stories about the birth of RPGs, Blackmoor or D&D?
I read a write up on Kotaku that was primarily concerned with differing points of view on the credit of Dungeons & Dragons, and it briefly mentioned that Dave Arneson had taken an interest in MUDs, though not which one(s) specifically.
Was wondering if any oldbies still around could possibly enlighten us on that?
I try to tell my coworkers that I took a game theory class taught by Mr. Dave (One of the co-creators of the dnd), they think I'm crazy. Are there any other fullsail grads here that had his class?
I would love to hear how they ran their games, from describing the scene to reacting to player desicions. Tried searching YouTube but only found one clip of Gygax but there wasn't much actual gameplay in it.
Happy birthday to one of the original grognards:
http://www.ultanya.com/2015/10/remembering-dave-arneson.html
I just want to say that I was lucky enough to go to college where one of the Game Design teachers was the one and only Dave Arneson. It was a pleasure to meet him, to know him. I wasn't BFFs with him but he was a really nice guy. Without people like him I doubt we'd have RPGs as common as they are today.
For Dave Arneson Day, I created my first post on a new blog, Chance & Circumstance, a list of the games Dave worked on. I quickly realized this deserved to be more than simply a list of titles, roles and dates.
It is still a work in progress to add more details. In the meantime, here is a link to the live work in progress: https://chanceand.com/2021/10/01/dave-arneson-ludography/
For Dave Arneson Day, I created my first post on a new blog, Chance & Circumstance, a list of the games Dave worked on. I quickly realized this deserved to be more than simply a list of titles, roles and dates.
It is still a work in progress to add more details. In the meantime, here is a link to the live work in progress: https://chanceand.com/2021/10/01/dave-arneson-ludography/
