tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post3575962250138849765..comments2024-03-28T03:39:41.417-07:00Comments on Beyond the Black Gate: Gygax on Basic and AD&DAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682401446176099294noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-38019133926596720732019-10-04T01:40:16.557-07:002019-10-04T01:40:16.557-07:00Being a vampire is not what it seems like. It’s a ...Being a vampire is not what it seems like. It’s a life full of good, and amazing things. We are as human as you are.. It’s not what you are that counts, but how you choose to be. Do you want a life full of interesting things? Do you want to have power and influence over others? To be charming and desirable? To have wealth, health, and longevity? contact the vampires creed today via email: Richvampirekindom@gmail.comJerome Samsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00886505335771600600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-30878084601103956222010-02-16T06:04:18.626-08:002010-02-16T06:04:18.626-08:00This is very, very much EGG in TSR Gary mode, ain&...This is very, very much EGG in TSR Gary mode, ain't it? I recognize exactly that "speaking <i>ex cathedra</i>" tone from the forewords to the AD&D books.<br /><br />Hard to believe it's the same man (Gamer Gary) who only a few years earlier asked why we should have the writers [of OD&D] do any more of our imagining for us.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072272223837426211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-29568842093646087262010-02-16T05:42:00.596-08:002010-02-16T05:42:00.596-08:00How big was RPGA in terms of the hobby overall? I&...How big was RPGA in terms of the hobby overall? I've just googled it (being a Brit, it was never really on my radar) and it seems to have been always tied to TSR and WotC thereafter. And the quote from Gygax more or less coincides with the formation of RPGA (IIRC). I'm intrigued to know how well this took off with the gaming community at large.<br /><br />Also, I seem to get the impression that the 'living systems' came on the scene long after GG had left TSR/WotC.Daddy Grognardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05559857164172090739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-24053515935588000622010-02-15T17:21:26.101-08:002010-02-15T17:21:26.101-08:00> However, given that this never really happene...> However, given that this never really happened, with the exception of tournament games at the conventions,<br /><br />And RPGA and other "living" systems.Norman J. Harman Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01319655075997712313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-83851668271299721072010-02-15T14:19:50.277-08:002010-02-15T14:19:50.277-08:00I understand his rationale as regards to OD&D ...I understand his rationale as regards to OD&D from a business standpoint- but that is precisely why I LOVE those LBBs, and even more-so the Moldvay/Cook/Marsh re-vamp. I prefer that wild & wooly, less structured "world system", and always will.<br /><br />And though it may sound crazy to many of the OSR BLOGgers and readesd- this is precisely why I prefer 4th edition over 3.x, 2E & AD&D as well. I've really come to loathe the structure & constraints built into the "world system" since AD&D took off. While 4E certainly has plenty of structure around the actual mechanics for skills/combat/powers-all the creative bits are largely unstructured and left to the DM to come up with (or not). Combined with the ability to easily "re-skin" the powers, monsters,magic items, etc., all the more better for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-55223139754226486052010-02-15T14:13:34.526-08:002010-02-15T14:13:34.526-08:00The only problem for OD&D was the organization...The only problem for OD&D was the organization of the rules and not all explantions complete, which led to some confusion. It did give you various options for the rules. So not everyone was playing the same set of rules. I think that was the main factor for AD&D, a better organized book for people to use. The Holmes set could lead you to either OD&D or AD&D, it's basically just an organized version of OD&D but limited to 3rd level.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18319134195190984813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-70821799062814301542010-02-15T13:34:36.969-08:002010-02-15T13:34:36.969-08:00"The booklets were hastily put together in la..."The booklets were hastily put together in late-night and spare-time hours, by and large, with little or no editing."<br /><br />While OD&D is a fun GAME, that's it. It has all sorts of problems, which shouldn't surprise us since a bunch of 20- and 30-somethings tossed the books out in their spare time. They are not Art. They are not Masterpieces. They are not Holy Writ. OD&D is a great and imaginative game. That is not a little thing, but neither is it a huge thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-63116839085453657612010-02-15T09:50:56.546-08:002010-02-15T09:50:56.546-08:00Speaking with Rob Kuntz recently, I think it impor...Speaking with Rob Kuntz recently, I think it important to point out that there is a distinction between Gary-the-businessman, and Gary-the-gamer.<br />--Rob makes it clear that they continued to play OD&D long after AD&D came out and that when Gary would run tourney games, he ran as he saw fit, not By-the-Books.Timeshadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09952601433965644275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-44537195687340001922010-02-15T08:30:10.702-08:002010-02-15T08:30:10.702-08:00@Atom Kid: Yes I blogged about this quote once, he...@Atom Kid: Yes I blogged about this quote once, here: http://uhluhtcawakens.blogspot.com/2008/10/original-dungeons-dragons-was-rush-job.html<br /><br />I think people have sometimes, to one degree or another, imposed their own wishes or ideas on the original creators. This may not, actually doesn't seem to be, their original intent. Not all (maybe most) vagaries in OD&D were not intentional.Dan of Earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04957424338566461756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-17904237075700766782010-02-15T08:19:59.455-08:002010-02-15T08:19:59.455-08:00Interesting post. The quote "D&D was too...Interesting post. The quote "D&D was too flexible and unlimited, in my opinion. The game was actually unrecognizable as played from group to group in the same locale, let alone different regions of the country!", is somewhat disconcerting. I thought that was what the free form play was about. <br /><br />I still like AD&D, but I think as far as getting the rules in a concise and well ordered package, the Holmes edition was the best.Chad Thorsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15084711824869449643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094937232522894470.post-79121230125945559512010-02-15T08:19:19.306-08:002010-02-15T08:19:19.306-08:00"D&D was too flexible and unlimited, in m..."D&D was too flexible and unlimited, in my opinion. The game was actually unrecognizable as played from group to group in the same locale, let alone different regions of the country!"<br /><br />Interesting quote, that. Given that we know Gygax had intended that D&D should ultimately be able to be played anywhere across the country, presumably in the same way that football is, it makes sense FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE ONLY that the rules systems should be homogenised. However, given that this never really happened, with the exception of tournament games at the conventions, and even AD&D has been house-ruled light years away from homogeneity, does this mean that in essence, Gygax didn't trust the players of his game to remain true to his vision of what he wanted it to be? Shades of an early WotC attitude - "Hey, guys, stop adapting the game, otherwise we can't sell you all these bolt-ons"<br /><br />It's also interesting that the very looseness and flexibility that is so lauded by the OSR was viewed as a Bad Thing by the guy who invented the game in the first place.Daddy Grognardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05559857164172090739noreply@blogger.com