If there were a Stater Set

[joseph]

Greetings everyone,
I have never played in the Blackmoor sandbox, but have considered delving into it as an alternative setting. Aside from Supplement II, what campaign material would you suggest as starting materials. I'm not interested in mechanics, just setting information.

I am interested in hearing of any published books, as well as nicely done unofficial downloads.

What would you put in your starter set?

[cadriel]

The First Fantasy Campaign from Judges Guild (1977) gives Dave's notes from the original campaign, as well as maps and a very basic key to 10 levels of the Blackmoor dungeon as he ran it in conventions in 1975 and 1976. It's very scattered but it is the prime source for Arneson's own ideas.

[Zenopus]

What if Holmes had also edited First Fantasy Campaign to include in the Basic Set?

See Blackmoor & the Blue Book

[kesher]

There was also a 4th ed sourcebook published that has some interesting stuff in it. You can often find it used for as little as $5.

[Falconer]

Since reading The First Fantasy Campaign (OD&D—1977), it is really the only version of Blackmoor that rings true, IMO. Later versions were very heavily adapted to the norms of the eras in which they were published, and were padded out by info that I’m suspicious was not from Arneson at all. Adventures in Blackmoor (BECMI—1986) is very railroady and high fantasy; Dave Arneson's Blackmoor Campaign Setting (3e—2004) and Dave Arneson's Blackmoor: The First Campaign (4e—2009) are predictably very dry and serious with a major focus on crunch (feats/skills/prestige classes). If you really want to get a feel for Blackmoor, go for the original.

[Red Baron]

A lot of Supplement II: Blackmoor is crap that has nothing to do with Blackmoor. Only Assassins, the ToTF, and Sages are Blackmoor.

Also, take a look around at The Comeback Inn

[joseph]

Thanks for the info guys. I will be on the watch for the 4E supplement and the FFC. Has the FFC been released in pdf? It seems rare and pricey in original hard copy.

[Falconer]

Jun 16, 2014 14:51:39 GMT -6 joseph said:

Has the FFC been released in pdf?

Not officially. Doubt it ever will be, because of complicated rights issues (Judges Guild, WotC, Arneson Estate, not to mention the Tolkien content — Hobbits/Balrogs, etc.).

Jun 16, 2014 14:51:39 GMT -6 joseph said:

It seems rare and pricey in original hard copy.

Probably. In about 2001 I picked up two copies for a song, because nobody had heard of it back then (same with OD&D sets…)!

[havard]

Jun 16, 2014 13:06:37 GMT -6 Falconer said:

Adventures in Blackmoor (BECMI—1986) is very railroady and high fantasy;

Yes and no. These "DA modules" each included a main plotline that I will agree is quite railroady. OTOH, the modules also contain tons of additional information that has little relevance for the main plot. These things are ideal for further adventures in Blackmoor to be designed by the DM. Also, many of the details given in the NPC and history sections (of DA1 in particular) are so curious that I can only suspect they came from Arneson himself.

Dave Arneson's Blackmoor Campaign Setting (3e—2004) and Dave Arneson's Blackmoor: The First Campaign (4e—2009) are predictably very dry and serious with a major focus on crunch (feats/skills/prestige classes).

Out of these, I recommend getting the 3E Dave Arneson's Blackmoor Softcover edition. Although I agree with Falconer that the special FFC magic is missing here, the strength of this sourcebook is the well structured overview of the setting, which is harder to gain from previous products. Also, get the softcover rather than the hardcover because it comes with a really pretty full color pull out map.

-Havard

[Falconer]

I used to have the hardcover, plus the color map that came out around the same time that was in an ad or a magazine or something. (The hardcover didn’t survive a recent round of purges.)

[joseph]

Thanks form the recommendations Havard. The DA modules sound interesting but I have found that the 3E book you mention seems to be the most readily available. I'll probably pick that one up first.

[Falconer]

havard, since you are the ultimate Blackmoor fan, I’m curious, what do your actual campaigns look like (past, present, or future)? What rules do you use; what era is the present; what published products are your base; and what are the most useful additions? Is there a “classic campaign” or ultimate “path” of Blackmoor adventures, and can you break that down for us?

[joseph]

Excellent question.

I just found a lot of three of the DA modules on ebay and bid on them. Wish me luck.

[havard]

Jun 23, 2014 11:52:28 GMT -6 Falconer said:

havard, since you are the ultimate Blackmoor fan, I’m curious, what do your actual campaigns look like (past, present, or future)? What rules do you use; what era is the present; what published products are your base; and what are the most useful additions? Is there a “classic campaign” or ultimate “path” of Blackmoor adventures, and can you break that down for us?

Hi Michael,
Thanks for asking about these things. I have posted some details about my various Blackmoor Campaigns in this Piazza thread. As to rules, I have experimented with various systems including Saga 5th Age and Savage Worlds. These days I am back with Classic D&D (BECMI) though.

If we are talking about the three categories of Blackmoor products (1970s, DA modules and ZGG books), then there are things I like from all three, but I like to pick and choose from them. I suppose I mainly stick with Blackmoor as presented in the DA modules (DA1 especially), but I use the Pantheon from the ZGG books and also how the Wizards Cabal was presented from those later sources. With the FFC I mainly look for things that were never covered in later sources, but also it is a great resource for the unique Blackmoor flavour. In my PbP campaign I get to use the FFC even more since that campaign is set in the same era as the FFC.

Joseph: Good luck with getting the modules!

-Havard