David J Ritchie

[havard]

Who is David L Ricthie, the man who wrote the DA series? What impact did he have on the Blackmoor setting and where is he now?

From statements by Dave (Arneson) it seems like Ritchie never contacted Arneson when writing the series, yet Ritchie draws heavily upon the FFC and the Temple of the Frog. I am wondering if he could have had access to other notes as well, since he seems to have a very good insight into the setting beyond what can be derived from just reading the FFC and Supplement II.

Does anyone know more?

Havard

[Finarvyn]

Jun 17, 2008 4:35:55 GMT -6 havard said:

Who is David L Ricthie, the man who wrote the DA series? What impact did he have on the Blackmoor setting and where is he now?

You had the name spelled right in the subject but wrong in the text. That might have messed up your google search, I don't know. I know very little about him, but apparently he's done a lot in the gaming world.

The RPGNet game index lists a whole bunch of credits for David J. Ritchie.
AD&D
OA2: Night of the Seven Swords = TSR: AD&D 1 (1986)
Boot Hill
BH3: Ballots & Bullets; TSR: Boot Hill 2 (1982)
Arena of Death
SPI: DragonQuest 1 (1980 Box)
DragonQuest
SPI: DragonQuest 1 (1980 Box)
SPI: DragonQuest 2 (1982)
SPI: DragonQuest 2 (1982 Box)
TSR: DragonQuest 3 (1989)
Gamma World
TSR: Gamma World 1 (1978)
TSR: Gamma World 2 (1983 Box)
TSR: Gamma World 3 (1986 Box)
TSR: Gamma World 4 (1992)
GangBusters
TSR: GangBusters 1 (1982 Box)

I also found something in an index of Ares magazine, by SPI back in the 1980’s. I loved this particular game!
Ares #11
Albion: Land of Faerie by David J. Ritchie, Redmond A. Simonsen and Nick Karp. Two player strategy game set in ancient Britain
History of the Third Formorian War article

[havard]

Thanks Fin!

I keep mixing up David L Arneson and David J Ritchie. Anyway, I think my searches were correct. Also, with the help of Frank Mentzer, I think I have found the right David Ritchie. Hopefully my next attempt to contact him will be more successful than when I tried a few years ago.

Havard

[darneson]

He had copies of my books, with some notes. And we did talk a couple of times.

Dave Arneson
"Dark Lord of Gaming"