Gary Gygax Q&A: Part XIII

Col_Pladoh · 10th April 2007, 10:02 PM

A brand new addition to the series, done so that following it will be easier.

Cheerio,
Gary

**Henry** · 10th April 2007, 10:20 PM

Part 12 has been archived; take 'er away, Gary and gents!

MrFilthyIke · 10th April 2007, 10:20 PM

Lucky 13.

Col_Pladoh · 10th April 2007, 10:24 PM

Off to a rousing start

mordelack · 10th April 2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col_Pladoh

Originally Posted by mordelack
...

...

Perhaps Gord vs. Drizzt in Act I, Gord vs. Raistlin in Act II, and Gord vs. Elminster in Act III?
Just kidding! Seriously, just kidding. No really, I mean it, it was only a joke, no such book will come to light.

K.R.Bourgoine

*******************

Anyone care to step up and take Bourgine's place as my co-author?

Gary

If it counts for anything, I did just get a message from a Gord fan saying this:

"Elminster vs. Gord. How could that possibly go wrong?

C’mon…you don’t think Gord vs. early-career-Conan wouldn’t work better?"

K.R.Bourgoine

Col_Pladoh · 10th April 2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mordelack

If it counts for anything, I did just get a message from a Gord fan saying this:

"Elminster vs. Gord. How could that possibly go wrong?

C’mon…you don’t think Gord vs. early-career-Conan wouldn’t work better?"

K.R.Bourgoine

How absolutely dreadful!

Gary

mordelack · 10th April 2007, 11:31 PM

Joking aside, I agree with your suggestion that a young Gord (late teens/early 20s) would probably be the best way to go for a new full length tale.
He's not overly powerful and still has alot to learn.

But then again in a post-destruction epic there would be the tension that he could die.

K.R.Bourgoine

JohnRTroy · 11th April 2007, 02:57 AM

Well, you could always try to do an arc for one of the current fantasy series, maybe with the current licensor's of Conan or Red Sonja.

Personally, I'd love to see Gord take on Kulan Gath. If Conan had to team up with Elric to work against him... hmm... another incarnation of the Eternal Champion.

Speaking of more adventures in novel format--one thing I'd love to see would be some tales of Gord as "Cap'n Gord", with that ol' Crew he had between Sea of Death and Come Endless Darkness. There's a lot that could be done there, and there's a whole group of adventurers under him that could be fleshed out and expanded upon.

thedungeondelver · 11th April 2007, 03:37 AM

OK Gary, it isn't like I yammer at you enough already but -

What's the worst "gotcha" your players have gotten you with when you're running the game?

For me, I had a wonderful/horrible scene where two spectres were unleashed on an unsuspecting party with a 5th level cleric, one at a time (to prevent a blanket turning of both of them). First round of combat: party wins initiative, first spectre TURNED.

Second round of combat, in comes the next spectre: TURNED! The &^%$!ing guy playing the cleric rolled a 19 in the first instance and a bloody 20 in the second!

Gary, no lie, I have had near-TPKs done with giant ticks on that same group. I've seen them wander dumbly into deadfall traps, sucked to near lifelessness by a group of shadows that they couldn't turn but NO. NO. THEY WALKED ALL OVER THE SPECTRES LIKE THEY WEREN'T THERE.

So. What's your "I can't believe they got away that easily" story?

ColonelHardisson · 11th April 2007, 04:36 AM

Gary, I had mentioned your list of "recommended reading" in the 1e DMG on the previous Q&A thread. That list still gets discussed a lot, as it consists of a lot of the great fantasy and scifi authors and books of the first half of the twentieth century. I was wondering if you'd be inclined to share with us the books you'd include on an updated list? I know I'd be very interested in seeing what you thought were some of the most inspirational, in a D&D sense, books that you've read since the original list was composed.

BOZ · 11th April 2007, 12:19 PM

Gary, you should have waited until Friday to start thread #13!

Col_Pladoh · 11th April 2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedungeondelver

OK Gary, it isn't like I yammer at you enough already but -

What's the worst "gotcha" your players have gotten you with when you're running the game?

There have been a few. In AD&D play I'll never forget how Jim Ward's mid-level PC fought a vampire, and forced it to dust-mote without ever being hit. When we were play-testing the Hall of Many Panes module John Siebel's PC reacted instantly to an NPC threat that should have slain several of the party so that the adversary was killed, the team unscathed.

Perhaos the funniest of recent times was the play in the LA game Dance of the Fairy Ring module. Alex's Avatar, Xagnar, was quite tough, had gotten a pair of "Duck's Wings" as a magic item. The team was at a slime pool after what treasure might be hidden there, not the slime drake that lurked therein guarding it. Xagnar went in; the drake pinned him down to the bottom with one foot. At the same time a Necrourge named Dirah played by Dennis Harsh, saw the drake's head emerge, leaped in and attacked with a long dagger. In three strikes, all of which bypassed protection, two inflicting 20 harm and gaining additional bonus damage as well, the drake was toast! Because the drake was distracted fighting for its life, Xagnar managed to take out his Duck's Wings, flap one in each hand, and thus escape the pinning claw. My only consolation was remarking on how silly Alex's Avatar looked when using those feathery objects.

Cheers,
Gary

Col_Pladoh · 11th April 2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColonelHardisson

Gary, I had mentioned your list of "recommended reading" in the 1e DMG on the previous Q&A thread. That list still gets discussed a lot, as it consists of a lot of the great fantasy and scifi authors and books of the first half of the twentieth century. I was wondering if you'd be inclined to share with us the books you'd include on an updated list? I know I'd be very interested in seeing what you thought were some of the most inspirational, in a D&D sense, books that you've read since the original list was composed.

Howdy Colonel,

Short answer:

Frankly, I find very few new fantasy books in the general S&S vein worth reading. I do enjoy the "Diskworld" series, and Glen Cook's "Black Company" novels are appealing to me. Those are about all that spring to mind. The fiction I have been reading these days is mostly murder mystery (I loved the "Judge Dee" series), historical (such as Cornwell's various series), alternate history, and some re-reading of old fantasy & SF books.

Cheers,
Gary

Col_Pladoh · 11th April 2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOZ

Gary, you should have waited until Friday to start thread #13!

Blast!

Why didn't I think of that? :\

Gary

BOZ · 11th April 2007, 07:43 PM

quite all right.

DreadArchon · 11th April 2007, 07:46 PM

You could start a new thread Friday and secretly get rid of this one.

Edit: Woot! First page!

thedungeondelver · 11th April 2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col_Pladoh

Blast!

Why didn't I think of that? :\

Gary

The Thirteenth Thread on the Thirteenth day of the Thirteenth month* -

First post: how do we use those misprinted TSR calenders from 1983?

*Lousy Smarch weather!

Col_Pladoh · 11th April 2007, 10:28 PM

Wonderful weather considering global warming...

This has been the coldest April in a long time here in Wisconsin. We have about fourinches of snow, and the power was out for nearly an hour early this afternoon

Cheers,
Gary

thedungeondelver · 11th April 2007, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col_Pladoh

Wonderful weather considering global warming...

This has been the coldest April in a long time here in Wisconsin. We have about fourinches of snow, and the power was out for nearly an hour early this afternoon

Cheers,
Gary

I still relate with horror the tale of arriving in Lake Geneva last June 16th and the outside temperature being 49F.

I know, I know, but see I'm from Florida. If it hits the 50's, I break out a sweater!

Gentlegamer · 11th April 2007, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col_Pladoh

Frankly, I find very few new fantasy books in the general S&S vein worth reading. I do enjoy the "Diskworld" series, and Glen Cook's "Black Company" novels are appealing to me. Those are about all that spring to mind.

Probably because most fantasy books these days are in the "romantic fantasy" sub-genre. I'd rather read a "well-wrought tale" any day!