Historical Importance...D&D

[Col_Pladoh]

Dear Mr. Gary Gygax,

Obviously you haven't heard of role-playing.

My Dear Boy...

It is evident you do not apprehend that game is the operative word. If one wishes to be a thespian, one should join an amateur theater troupe.

Role playing is just one of the many elements that comprise the RPG game form, of course.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Arnwyn]

How interesting! Nowadays, players would tar and feather a DM if he tried saddling their characters with names of his own devising.

Actually, Azlan, those characters started out as NPCs - thus, nowadays, the DM is still within his/her rights to name them.

 

[MerakSpielman]

My Dear Boy...

It is evident you do not apprehend that game is the operative word. If one wishes to be a thespian, one should join an amateur theater troupe.

Role playing is just one of the many elements that comprise the RPG game form, of course.

Cheers,
Gary

It wouldn't be the same without dice and combat, but many of my most memorable gaming moments occurred when we forgot, briefly, that it was a game and entered full improv-acting mode.

The real key is to get together with friends and have a fun time. Exactly what you do to achieve this doesn't really matter.

 

[Azlan]

My Dear Boy...

It is evident you do not apprehend that game is the operative word. If one wishes to be a thespian, one should join an amateur theater troupe.

Role playing is just one of the many elements that comprise the RPG game form, of course.

Of course!



Likewise "of course", I was making an absurd (and pretend) statement. The very idea that G. Gygax has never heard of role-playing! Heh. But that's the sort of reaction you'd get from an elitist role-player who takes himself and the game too seriously.

 

[ledded]

I have to chime in here...


While the action is what draws, some of the *best* moments in our game have been when we have an extended scene of roleplaying, in-character, sometimes over nothing more substantial than who is paying for lunch.

We dont consider ourselves thespians by any stretch, but sometimes I truly love when we immerse ourselves totally into our characters for a short while, and not just when the fur is flying either.

Our group's Story Hour, Medallions, is full of great conversations between the main characters that often happen much like they did in game.


On the name thing, I once had a very interesting halfling character in D&D a while back whose name was S'mee Unn, and had quite a few qualities in common with his namesake.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Indeed...

The RPG is one where one element might well arise and cause memorable moments. The number of storues about lucky dice rolls, figuring out a puzzle, besting some fell opponent in combat, or gaining incredible wealth are manifold...and I usually hear many of them whenever O am at a convention :\

Rest assured that I have nothing against roleplay, and I do it myself now and then, as I did back in 1973. What I strongly object to is the assertion by some that it is the only, or even the main, theme to follow in the RPG. Pure hack & slash is scarcely as boring as endless hours of pointless yakking about things make-believe. In all, though, the best way of playing is that which pleases the group. To presume that it is universally superior, and to belittle others who do not agree, is odious. The same applies to game preferences

Cheers,
Gary

 

[diaglo]

...The same applies to game preferences...

OD&D(1974) is the only true game....

 

[Wiltrix]

Tuerny the Merciless

I have a question that falls in the history of Greyhawk.

I came across this character recently and there seems to be allot history behind him in the Greyhawk world. I'm looking for background history on this character. Here's what I know so far.

He was a wizard and ruler in Flanese at one point. He crafted items, one of which is was an Iron flask. Now he's a Nalfeshnee demon. Also his name has been mentioned in passing on the Wizards board, mentioning that this character is also a 17th level wizard.

This character sounds like he's old school. If you have any info, please pass it along. Thanks

Wiltrix

 

[Col_Pladoh]

OD&D(1974) is the only true game....

Diaglo Dude!

I used to agree with that prior to 1977, then I thought that of OAD&D, although I enjoyed playing a few other RPGs almost as much. Nowadays I most enjoy the LA game, although I still DM both OD&D and OAD&D now and again. Working on Castle Zagyg using the draft rules for the Castles & Crusades Rules coming from Troll Lord Games brings it all back very strongly,in fact

No arguing with someone's game preferences, though, eh? Fact is most hard-core GMs tailor the system they play to their own taste and that of their players...

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

I have a question that falls in the history of Greyhawk.

I came across this character recently and there seems to be allot history behind him in the Greyhawk world. I'm looking for background history on this character. Here's what I know so far.

He was a wizard and ruler in Flanese at one point. He crafted items, one of which is was an Iron flask. Now he's a Nalfeshnee demon. Also his name has been mentioned in passing on the Wizards board, mentioning that this character is also a 17th level wizard.

This character sounds like he's old school. If you have any info, please pass it along. Thanks

Wiltrix

Hi Wiltrix,

Hate to disappoint you, but Tuerney the Merciless was never a PC, just a name created for dramatic purposes, and to spoof my son Ernie's dreaded PC Erac's Cousin, a most evil magic-user The later information was likewise invented by other hands in the AD&D game.

Cheers,
Gary