TSR Q&A with Gary Gygax

This is the multi-year Q&A sessions held by D&D co-creator Gary Gygax here at EN World, beginning in 2002 and running up until his sad pasing in 2008. Gary's username in the thread below is Col_Pladoh, and his first post in this long thread is Post #39.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Gary, speaking of shunned areas, you once described to me a 3-way intersection on the deepest levels. "Monkeying Around" (that lead to the Isle of the Ape), "Horsing Around" (Rob's centaur level if I remember correctly), and the 3rd escapes me. It was Fooling Around, or Clowning Around maybe. I can't remember what was there, but you stated that it was one of those 'shunned' areas that was rarely visited, or maybe it was just that nobody wanted to try it after their experiences in the other two areas. What was the 3rd gate called?
Scott

Heh, yes

the horsing Around area led to a Sylvan area where centaurs were indeed one of the encounters. I might have that big map somewhere, included it as an adjunct to the CZ dungeons if it is located...or I am moved to re-create the woods and meadows.

The third area was identified beforehand as Fooling Around, and it was a double entendre name. I can't say more, for that would give away the surprise entailed in visiting the place. I don't mind saying that there was indeed a jester and A aouple of assistant "Jack Puddings" involved in the adventure. After the monkeying Around on the Isle of the Ape, all the high-level PCs put the word out to stay away from that part of the dungeon level...

Everyone enjoyed gathering nodes of sequins in the Carabas of Jack Vance's The Dirdir novel--potting off dirdir too They kept the Dirdir laser pistols as low-charge wands usable by any class and exchanged the sequins for jewelry that could be sold off on their own world. too bad i can't include that sort of thing in a commercial product...

Cheers,
Gary

 

[BigBastard]

Gary, Just incase you're tired of talking about rules and would like to take a quick break for something completely different.

Do you have any intresting stories from the many game conventions you have attened? You probably seen or heard a few strange things over the years. (Sorry if you found this question annoying.)

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Gary, Just incase you're tired of talking about rules and would like to take a quick break for something completely different.

Do you have any intresting stories from the many game conventions you have attened? You probably seen or heard a few strange things over the years. (Sorry if you found this question annoying.)

Heh...

After so many years at so many conventions, they all sort of blend into one, but...

As a matter of fact there are probable more stories about my strange behavior told than I have like tales.Those sorts of stories are l;ikely from my having imbibed way too much liquor at some party or other I've never really been hassled or insulted at a con. The attendees have all been quite civil or friendly. Of course being stopped to be regaled with tales about this or that PC, especially terribe monster, or dungeon get to be highly redious, especially because they are long and monopolize attention, a no-no at a con.

The year after i left TSR there was a very amusing event, though. I was to give a talk at Gencon, and Lorraine's minions put it in a corner where there was no light, no chairs set up, and the location wasn't properly noted in the program. Despite that about 100 intrepid adventurers managed to locate it

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Gray Mouser]

After all, a knife, baseball bat, or jedberg axe are leathal.

Colonel, I was wondering if you could shed some light on exactly what a jedberg axe is. Is it some weapon that takes its name from the Jedburgh area of Scotland or some implement of your own design.

Gray Mouser

 

[Gray Mouser]

Heh, anotehr weapon-type question, Gary. In the original Monster Manual (as well as the FF and MM II) you list the various humanoids as having a specific damage per attack (for example, 1-8 for hobgoblins) "or by weapon." I was wondering if you meant the given die-value for damage as an amount of damage based on the creature in question being otherwise unarmed or as some kind of default number for DM's who didn't want to bother figuring out what kind of weapon the creatures were armed with?

Also, if a humanoid is armed with a weapon that does less damage than the listed default amount would you go with the weapon damage or the listed default damage (i.e., would the said hobgoblin, if armed with a spear, do 1-6 damage for the spear or the listed 1-8)?

Thanks in advance!

Gray Mouser

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Colonel, I was wondering if you could shed some light on exactly what a jedberg axe is. Is it some weapon that takes its name from the Jedburgh area of Scotland or some implement of your own design.

Gray Mouser

'Mouser, you have it. A jedburg (proper spelling) axe is indeed an actual Scotish weapon, a pole axe of around nine-foot length with a guisarme-type hook, or a gaff-like one backing the blade.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Heh, anotehr weapon-type question, Gary. In the original Monster Manual (as well as the FF and MM II) you list the various humanoids as having a specific damage per attack (for example, 1-8 for hobgoblins) "or by weapon." I was wondering if you meant the given die-value for damage as an amount of damage based on the creature in question being otherwise unarmed or as some kind of default number for DM's who didn't want to bother figuring out what kind of weapon the creatures were armed with?

the number given for damage inflicted was a default to use when not wishing to get into the specifics of humanoid arming and additiopns for superior individuals in the group.

Also, if a humanoid is armed with a weapon that does less damage than the listed default amount would you go with the weapon damage or the listed default damage (i.e., would the said hobgoblin, if armed with a spear, do 1-6 damage for the spear or the listed 1-8)?

Thanks in advance!

Gray Mouser

Yes, in the case where i had specific weapons listed for the humanopids I'd use the damage applicable for that weapon, but I'd note the strength of the wielder, so there might be a bonus. In such cases I normally have levels for the humanoids too, as all are not ordinary.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[gizmo33]

Hi Gary,

I have, not one, but two questions about mummies in ADnD that have had me wondering for a long time:

The first is that the DMG, the section on "Handling Troublesome Players" recommends "attack of an ethereal mummy (which always strike by surprise, naturally)". Why ethereal? Why mummy? Is there an interesting tidbit of gaming history here? The outer planar rules in ADnD were always mysterious to me, and I've always wondered whether it was something special about the mummy that allowed for the physical attack across the plane.

The second mummy question has to do with their connection to the Positive Material Plane. Did you ever flesh out this idea? Were there other undead that would have a connection to the Positive plane? Did you ever speculate on a criteria or reason for this connection as opposed to the Negative plane?

 

[Sir Elton]

Hi Gary,

For all the balance and rules things going on, I think more people worry about rules than about playing. What do you think? I've been involved in a lot of balance debates, and I've got the feeling that this might be true.

 

[ScottyG]

There's an interesting quote in the Slayers Guide to Undead regarding Mummies and the Positive Energy plane. Basically it states that it was a mistake, and like all undead, it should say Negative Energy Plane.
Scott