Kalibruhn: The OD&D Supplement That Never Was

[jdrakeh]

I thought this was an interesting piece of RPG history that might merit posting here. I'd really like to know the specifics on the product's history if anybody knows then, but even without details it's interesting all the same:

Rob Kuntz'z Kalibruhn

Maybe somebody can organize a Fundable to purchase this and then make the notes (glorious uncopyrighted notes!) available via the OGL? I'd do it but, frankly, I can't be trusted with 3k of your money. So, any takers?

 

[diaglo]

well i always considered the mass combat/miniatures booklet Swords & Spells to be supplement V. it was the attempt to rewrite Chainmail miniatures rules.

 

[jdrakeh]

well i always considered the mass combat/miniatures booklet Swords & Spells to be supplement V. it was the attempt to rewrite Chainmail miniatures rules.

I'm aware of that Supplement V (and I kind of wish I wasn't). Kalibruhn would have apparently been published in its place if things had gone differently back in the day (and even though I know nothing of Kalibruhn, I kind of wish it was). Or, at least, that's what the blurb at Noble Knight makes it look like.

I wonder what D&D would be like now if another official setting had been introduced prior to AD&D and the re-worked minis rules had been shelved instead of Kalibruhn. It could have impacted a lot of things. Or nothing. Still, I like alternate timeline theory.

 

[Erik Mona]

I have a pile of notes about the world of Kalibruhn (as opposed to this OD&D manuscript) that Rob gave me a while back, and I must say it includes some phenomenal stuff. Rob Kuntz is one of the true heroes of the first generation of D&D, and many of his ideas are fascinating. One of my greatest regrets about the end of the Dungeon license is that it apparently also spelled the end of more Maure Castle levels from Rob. Those were always a joy to work on and publish.

--Erik

 

[MerricB]

Where's Allan (grodog)? Does he own a copy?

Cheers!

 

[Mouseferatu]

I have a pile of notes about the world of Kalibruhn (as opposed to this OD&D manuscript) that Rob gave me a while back, and I must say it includes some phenomenal stuff.

No chance you could work out a deal to publish a "Kalibruhn Gazetteer" (perhaps with any WotC-owned IP removed)? I'd certainly consider buying it, regardless of system. I'm always interested in seeing what the game's early folks came up with.

 

[Sanglorian]

Maybe somebody can organize a Fundable to purchase this and then make the notes (glorious uncopyrighted notes!) available via the OGL?

I would check the legality first before doing this. Notes - like any creative work - are still covered by copyright.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I would check the legality first before doing this. Notes - like any creative work - are still covered by copyright.

Yep. Lots of people don't realize it, but any original written work is copyrighted the moment you put pen to paper (or electrons to monitor). Now, it's hard to prove such copyrights, which is why most people prefer to formalize it. But the copyright exists either way.

 

[jdrakeh]

I would check the legality first before doing this. Notes - like any creative work - are still covered by copyright.

Well, true, but looking at the notes on Noble Knight, they aren't exactly ordered (i.e., organized). This being the case, a properly ordered document made available via OSRIC, S&W, or some other such avenue seems entirely possible. Still, I agree that it's skirting the edge of ethical practice.

 

[grodog]

well i always considered the mass combat/miniatures booklet Swords & Spells to be supplement V. it was the attempt to rewrite Chainmail miniatures rules.

I'm aware of that Supplement V (and I kind of wish I wasn't).

Well, technically Swords & Spells isn't really Supplement V: there wasn't a supplement V ever published. Each of the first four supplements were explicity numbered, but S&S wasn't. So, FWIW, I think it is in fact just what diaglo said: a Chainmail revision, rather than an OD&D supplement. Pedantic? Perhaps

Kalibruhn would have apparently been published in its place if things had gone differently back in the day (and even though I know nothing of Kalibruhn, I kind of wish it was). Or, at least, that's what the blurb at Noble Knight makes it look like.

I wonder what D&D would be like now if another official setting had been introduced prior to AD&D and the re-worked minis rules had been shelved instead of Kalibruhn. It could have impacted a lot of things. Or nothing. Still, I like alternate timeline theory.

I think everything we know about the game today would be radically different. Kalibruhn is very close to OD&D (and GH and BM) in many ways, but it also has some strong departures too.

I have a pile of notes about the world of Kalibruhn (as opposed to this OD&D manuscript) that Rob gave me a while back, and I must say it includes some phenomenal stuff. Rob Kuntz is one of the true heroes of the first generation of D&D, and many of his ideas are fascinating.

Seconded: Rob's influence on the development of D&D was very significant, and his sheer creativity is likely unsurpassed among the founders' generation (save, perhaps, by Barker).

One of my greatest regrets about the end of the Dungeon license is that it apparently also spelled the end of more Maure Castle levels from Rob. Those were always a joy to work on and publish.

And they are a joy to play too!

Where's Allan (grodog)? Does he own a copy?

I'll have to dig into my auction archives, but I'm pretty sure that this is one of the lots that was auctioned off by Rob c. 2006 or so via Paul Stormberg. It originally sold for substantially less than $3500 though, since Bottle City only hit $3650, and I don't recall anything else being close to that figure.

No chance you could work out a deal to publish a "Kalibruhn Gazetteer" (perhaps with any WotC-owned IP removed)? I'd certainly consider buying it, regardless of system. I'm always interested in seeing what the game's early folks came up with.

Rob definitely has plans to publish Kalibruhn, Ari, along with many other materials from the Lake Geneva Campaigns.