TSR Correspondence Ebay

[sennahoi]

Thought I'd bring attention to this ebay listing, if it hasn't been brought up already: www.ebay.com/itm/325829145840?_trksid=p2471758.m4704

Most interesting to me is the inclusion of correspondence with TSR itself with rules clarifications. I've never seen anything like that for sale before.

[Zenopus]

Wow! Thanks for sharing. There have been many reports that TSR/Gygax was inundated with requests for rules clarifications in the early years, so it's amazing to see an actual example of one!

A few notes:

---The letter writer is named Wayne Patton. There is an author of the same name in Judges Guild Journal #3 (Installment N), Aug/Sep 77, who contributes a single new monster: Gremlins. Notably, the OD&D set up for auction also includes some Judges Guild tables.
The author's hometown, Iowa City, is about 3 hours driving southwest of Lake Geneva, and 4 hours northwest of Decatur, IL, where JG was located, so they were part of the mid-west gaming milieu.

---The letter is dated 9/9/1976. This is after all of the supplements for D&D were released, with the last two (GD&H and S&S) having been released in July, per the Acaeum. The writer mentions thieves & gelatinous cubes, which both appeared in the Greyhawk supplement.

---I wonder if we could figure out who answered the letter based on the handwriting? The mix of upper and lower case does remind me of some of Gygax's writing that I've seen.

---As to the clarifications themselves, they are a mixed bag, but interesting.

Question 1: The writer seems to be asking about the ability of characters to read & write, but the answerer seemingly misunderstands and just replies with a reference to the rules for thieves being able to read languages & magic at certain levels.

Question 2: The writer is asking for alternate rules for damage by fire, including for susceptible creatures (referencing mummies and gelatinous cubes). The answerer focuses only the susceptible creatures, providing a system for those to take extra damage (+1 per die; sort of the opposite effect of Resist Fire).

Question 3: This is a good example of a DM back-in-the-day wondering about the oft-questioned armor/weapon restrictions in Men & Magic. The answerer gives a quick and emphatic clarification that the restrictions for magic armor/weapons are intended to apply to the normal versions as well.

Question 4: The answerer provides a useful clarification that a dwarf can detect traps while walking along, as long as they are not otherwise engaged.

[sennahoi]

Wow, thanks for the added context, Zenopus! It's very interesting to see what kinds of clarifications were asked, and the curt manner of response.



"A dwarf is walking with a party mapping or something else. OOPS! He doesn't notice traps now!!"

[Zenopus]

Another possibility for the answerer is Arneson, who was at TSR until November 1976, per Game Wizards.

Any thoughts increment or stormberg?

[Starbeard]

Considering how often something along the lines of Question #3 comes up whenever players try dissecting the wording of OD&D rules, that letter should be on a sticky note somewhere.

[grodog]

Sept 28, 2023 7:01:17 GMT -6 Zenopus said:

---I wonder if we could figure out who answered the letter based on the handwriting? The mix of upper and lower case does remind me of some of Gygax's writing

That was my vibe too, Zach—that it was Gary’s or Rob’s handwriting (based on similarities to their notes on Castle Greyhawk level maps).

Allan.

[grodog]

Sept 28, 2023 7:01:17 GMT -6 Zenopus said:

---I wonder if we could figure out who answered the letter based on the handwriting? The mix of upper and lower case does remind me of some of Gygax's writing

Bill Meinhardt also apparently thought it looked like Gary’s handwriting: www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=367610&c=1#p367610

Allan.

[Malchor]

Sept 28, 2023 10:18:49 GMT -6 Zenopus said:

Another possibility for the answerer is Arneson, who was at TSR until November 1976, per Game Wizards.

Any thoughts increment or stormberg ?

That is not Arneson's handwriting. Arneson uses a large and rather neat cursive mostly.

Gary or Rob are possible. Is Kask another possibility?