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Post by tgamemaster1975 on Sept 4, 2007 20:17:12 GMT -6
What Dave Arneson resources do you have? Do you have First Fantasy Campaign or Adventures in Fantasy or do you have something else. Please post and tell us.
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Post by tgamemaster1975 on Sept 4, 2007 20:18:50 GMT -6
A have a copy of both First Fantasy Campaign and Adventures in Fantasy. I have found them to be good resources even though they are quite rough around the edges.
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Post by philotomy on Sept 4, 2007 22:24:26 GMT -6
Neither, in my case. Heck, I only acquired the OD&D three little books within the past year or so.  |
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Post by coffee on Sept 5, 2007 2:39:00 GMT -6
I have Dave's "Dungeonmaster's Index," which is an index he compiled of the entire D&D system, including the supplements and the Strategic Review.
(Not sure if that's what you're looking for, but I still have it.)
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Post by crimhthanthegreat on Sept 5, 2007 6:11:57 GMT -6
I have both and I wish I had the Index, that is also an important resource.
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Post by Finarvyn on Sept 5, 2007 7:27:40 GMT -6
I have both FFC and AIF.
Adventures in Fantasy is sort of strange. I want to like it but when I read it I just can't get into the system. Everything is percentile based, there are some complex equations to derive some of the needed numbers for the game, and it simply isn't as "smooth" to me as OD&D. I dig it out occasionally to read it over because I always felt that this is more similar to original Blackmoor than OD&D is.
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WSmith
Level 4 Theurgist
Where is the Great Svenny when we need him?
Posts: 138
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Post by WSmith on Sept 5, 2007 7:36:33 GMT -6
FFC on PDF.
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jrients
Level 6 Magician
Posts: 411
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Post by jrients on Sept 5, 2007 8:46:07 GMT -6
I have AiF but I'm not fond of it aside from the random dragon tables. FFC I find much more charming.
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Post by ffilz on Sept 5, 2007 10:40:18 GMT -6
First Fantasy Campaign is definitely one of my favorite products of all time. It's an enjoyable read (if tough to follow everything sometimes), and a cool fun world.
Adventures in Fantasy is definitely an oddity. I don't think I ever really used it, but it was an interesting read. The rainbow books and printing are annoying though.
Frank
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Post by crimhthanthegreat on Sept 5, 2007 20:01:21 GMT -6
I have a strong suspicion that AiF does not resemble the actual Blackmoor game as far as the rules/mechanics because of having to make sure it was a lot different than OD&D instead of just a bit of a different flavor. FFC did not suffer from the problem of having to be a lot different and just was what it was. It is really a shame that the other planned books for AiF were not published, although I have heard that some of the notes for them may still exist.
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Post by Falconer on Sept 5, 2007 21:25:53 GMT -6
I also suspected that AiF isn't really Arneson's original rules. Similar to all the stuff that Gygax added in Greyhawk/Eldritch Wizardry/AD&D/UA that he didn't use--or did use, but not originally, and not anymore when he goes back to 3-booklets-only OD&D. Likewise, Arneson did all those hit location rules for Blackmoor and AiF, but did he use them originally, and does he use them nowadays when he goes back to Arneson-OD&D?
But AiF may still be helpful in clarifying some vagaries if anyone was trying to reconstruct a Chainmail+FFC RPG campaign. Regards.
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Post by crimhthanthegreat on Sept 6, 2007 5:25:13 GMT -6
I also think it is useful; however, if you were trying to recreate the Arnesonian game you would have to pick and choose what you use. I suspect that most of those percentages started out as 1d6, 2d6 and 3d6 most likely.
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jrients
Level 6 Magician
Posts: 411
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Post by jrients on Sept 21, 2007 5:09:39 GMT -6
WOuld it be out of line for me to mention here that I just put my copy of Adventures in Fantasy up on eBay? |
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Post by Pierce Inverarity on Sept 21, 2007 14:59:56 GMT -6
I remember reading Arneson saying that with AiF the ambition was to include every single rule he could think of. EGG stated the same for Dangerous Journeys. And I don't know if Richard Snider did state it, but he certainly seems to have implemented it in Powers & Perils.
I wonder what the deal is here. It's often said that the rules-heavy games of the early 80s were heavy for sake of "realism." This may be true for Harnmaster and Rolemaster, but is it for the above games. I think EGG also said he threw all these rules in there so that people might then use just the ones they like.
Hm. The rules toolbox? Great idea, misguided execution?
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Post by Rhuvein on Sept 21, 2007 19:07:00 GMT -6
WOuld it be out of line for me to mention here that I just put my copy of Adventures in Fantasy up on eBay? Well howdy neighbor. I see you live about an hour or so south of me ~ Frankfort, IL Heh, I spent a couple of years in Champaign/Urbana going to college. The box looks good, I may throw a bid in. Regards, Rhu. ;D |
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Post by Rhuvein on Sept 21, 2007 19:08:02 GMT -6
Oh, and for the poll, I have neither.  |
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Post by calithena on Sept 21, 2007 20:26:21 GMT -6
I had a chance to pick up AIF for $5 and passed on it, within the last three years. I read through it in amazement that I had found such a great old thing, and what I read failed to impress.
Some of Dave's dungeons (Garbage Pits of Despair, his contributions to the DA series) are pretty good.
FFC is a classic, I love it, still not sure why I sold my copy to the Egg of Coot.
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Post by Falconer on Sept 21, 2007 22:28:15 GMT -6
As I understand it, the only one of the DA series with new material from Arneson is DA3, City of the Gods. Ritchie wrote DA1 and DA2 from FFC and Supplement II, respectively, so all material from DA1/DA2 that isn't in FFC/SupII is suspect (and pretty d**ned unplayable, to boot). DA4 is entirely suspect since Ritchie wrote it from scratch.
I also understand that the more recent Dungeons of Castle Blackmoor are also based on FFC, with no new Arneson material there. There's also yet another Temple of the Frog rehash.
For heaven's sake, when will they ever publish City of Blackmoor? Assuming, as Arneson claims, that it's been written all these years, and hoping that it's not just another section of FFC filled in by other writers!
Frustrated fan,
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Post by foster1941 on Sept 23, 2007 10:53:57 GMT -6
For heaven's sake, when will they ever publish City of Blackmoor? Assuming, as Arneson claims, that it's been written all these years, and hoping that it's not just another section of FFC filled in by other writers!I have no doubt that's exactly what it will be -- "it's been written all these years" = map and notes from FFC, to be expanded/fleshed out by other writers. |
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Post by Finarvyn on Sept 23, 2007 13:26:27 GMT -6
Yeah. While I love the FFC, I'm a little lukewarm on the d20 Blackmoor products. They just seem too slick and modern, whereas FFC is just typewritten notes and such. They don't have that "old school" feel.  |
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Post by Dwayanu on Sept 23, 2007 16:00:15 GMT -6
I had both once (AIF an autographed set), but that was long ago. Gave 'em away, as I had (as I have perennially) too much stuff and they didn't seem likely to get much use.
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Post by Falconer on Sept 28, 2007 16:11:29 GMT -6
I have no doubt that's exactly what it will be -- "it's been written all these years" = map and notes from FFC, to be expanded/fleshed out by other writers. This realization really bummed me out at first. On the other hand, it's nice to know that, with FFC in hand, I have just about everything worthwhile the man wrote that's fit to print. A jumbled mess of notes and maps from a master judge of the real old school--what more could I want? There's more usable content in FFC than, like, any single other product? I'm seriously staring at my RPG collection and scratching my head. FFC is THE greatest D&D supplement/module of all time? |
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Post by foster1941 on Sept 28, 2007 21:40:33 GMT -6
There's more usable content in FFC than, like, any single other product? I'm seriously staring at my RPG collection and scratching my head. FFC is THE greatest D&D supplement/module of all time? I think so. There are 4 D&D supplements that I consider really indispensable -- Greyhawk, FFC, JG's Ready Ref Sheets, and Best of The Dragon vol. I -- and of them all FFC easily is the most loaded with content, the most inspirational, and the one I'd be least willing to give up. Yeah it's a mess and a lot of the stuff in it is lacking sufficient context to really make sense of, but it's all glorious, and trying to fill in the blanks and connect the dots with your own imagination is a big part of the appeal (as the various mediocre "cleaned up" rehashings -- for Classic D&D in the 80s and d20 in the 00s -- have shown; the slicker, more professional and more conventional Blackmoor is made, the less intriguing it becomes). |
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Post by coffee on Nov 3, 2007 22:26:52 GMT -6
I still haven't got the FFC (although I'm attempting to stalk it on eBay), but I now have autographed Dave Arneson resources (specifically, my Blackmoor supplement and Dungeon Master's Index.)
Dave was one of the guests of honor at my local game store's Worldwide D&D Day today.
Sadly, he didn't run a game at all, but he was there making all the 'infants' from WOTC or wherever look like a bunch of kids.
I thought it was great to be able to meet him, but I couldn't think of a single thing to ask him.
So, I feel good, but I also feel a bit like a moron. Just wanted to share that with the list.
Oh, and I also told him about this list. He had no idea. Maybe he'll find it and come join us!
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Post by tgamemaster1975 on Nov 8, 2007 22:09:30 GMT -6
Coffee, can you share some of the details of the Dungeon Master Index. A little about how it is setup and organized for instance. Perhaps a jpg of one page of it. Inquiring minds want to know!  |
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Post by tgamemaster1975 on Nov 8, 2007 22:10:51 GMT -6
I still haven't got the FFC (although I'm attempting to stalk it on eBay), but I now have autographed Dave Arneson resources (specifically, my Blackmoor supplement and Dungeon Master's Index.) Dave was one of the guests of honor at my local game store's Worldwide D&D Day today. Sadly, he didn't run a game at all, but he was there making all the 'infants' from WOTC or wherever look like a bunch of kids. I thought it was great to be able to meet him, but I couldn't think of a single thing to ask him. So, I feel good, but I also feel a bit like a moron. Just wanted to share that with the list. Oh, and I also told him about this list. He had no idea. Maybe he'll find it and come join us! hey at least you got him to autograph you DA items. |
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Post by stonetoflesh on Nov 9, 2007 11:06:20 GMT -6
I don't have either of the Arneson resources listed here-- I have the Blackmoor Supplement and the DA1+2 modules-- but reading this thread makes me want to track down a copy of the First Fantasy Campaign...
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Post by coffee on Nov 9, 2007 11:20:21 GMT -6
Coffee, can you share some of the details of the Dungeon Master Index. A little about how it is setup and organized for instance. Perhaps a jpg of one page of it. Inquiring minds want to know! Sure, I can do that -- but not until tonight when I get home (I don't take such a valuable item to work, y'know!) |
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Post by dwayanu on Nov 9, 2007 21:34:48 GMT -6
I once upon a time had both, but found neither much engaging. I gave my (autographed) AIF to a kid, and lost FFC along with a heap of other gaming stuff in a storage-shed disaster.
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Post by coffee on Nov 10, 2007 0:23:10 GMT -6
Coffee, can you share some of the details of the Dungeon Master Index. A little about how it is setup and organized for instance. Perhaps a jpg of one page of it. Inquiring minds want to know! Okay, here's the deal on the Dungeonmaster's Index. It's a 38 page book, 8" x 10". Color front cover, b&w interior. (I wanted to include a picture of the cover, but I don't know what I'm doing. So follow this link: www.waynesbooks.com/DungeonsDragons.html Scroll down about 1/3 of the page and there it is.) Anyway, the book is divided into the following parts: Part I Men and Monsters pp1-13 Part II Spells pp14-23 Part III Magic Items pp24-36 Part IV Tables pp37-38 Here are a some sample entries: From part I Men and Magic: Air Elementals, CM-31, EW-57 (See also Elementals) Alchemists, Vol. III-22 From part II, Spells: Aerial Servant (C-7th Level); GH-21, 31, 32, EW-57, SS-15 Animal Growth, (D-5th Level); EW-13, 24 From Part III Magic Items: Amulet vs. Crystal Ball & E.S.P.; Vol. II-25, 36, GH-43 Amulet of Inescapable Location; GH-43, 49 From Part IV Tables: Alignment Charts; CM-39, Vol. 1-9, GH-6, EW-2 As you can see, it's just an index. But it covers everything from Chainmail through the Strategic Review #7. Hope that clears things up a bit. I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have. |
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