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]

You are probably right Henry. I would have to dig through boxes to pull these out. Getting real tempting these days tho.

Okay. that sounds familiar, and IIRR, I play-tested that scenario

Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Gary,

Do you think it is possible to put the Keep on the Borderlands and the Caves of Chaos on the Yggsburgh wilderness map? Where do you think might be a good location for it? At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, KOTB is my favorite adventure, whether playing or GMing.

Yes, but the best way to decide your question is for you to look at the map that is furnished, and also consider the suggestion of adding terriroty around its verges to expand the playing area. I believe those modules would best be located to the east (KotB) and northwest (CoC) in an extension of the hills.

Sorry not to be able to be more specific.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Consider this a freebie.
ken

You are too kind amigo

Heh,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Maybe because they don't want an artificially imposed end to the progression of the story?

Surely you jest! An "artificially imposed" end to a story based on a game full of completely imaginary factors to make it fun and exciting? That's straining at a gnat and swallowing the camel without so much as a gulping motion.

LOL
Gary

 

[Sanguinemetaldawn]

Gygaxian Greyhawk "canon"

Although it didn't yield anything useful, thanks for addressing my earlier question.

To Greyhawk specifically...
Were you to run GH today what published material would you use?
Would a simple "all pre-2nd Ed" cut-off suffice?
Some you would exclude even from that?
More you would include?

Thanks again.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

This argument only holds true if you assume that nonhumans are going to be designed with inherent advantages over humans as a baseline. And even for that situation, it has always seemed to me like a very clunky solution to the perceived problem. Why weren't demi-humans designed to be relatively equal in advantage to humans from the get-go rather than creating level limits?

If the only difference between humans and the demi-human races was superficial--size and a few minor physical traits, why bother to have such races at all? Of course, fantasy literature suggests there are advantages to demi-human races too, so that might be a consideration to an able game designer...

And also not about arguably multiclassed characters like Conan? I can come up with a dozen characters from mainstream fantasy literature that are best represented by multiclassed combinations, and none of them are comic book superheroes.

Conan multi-classed? you must have read different REH yarns than I did. Conan is an archetypical swords & sorcery barbarian, and his thievery was all by use of his brawn, superior reflexes, and savage abilities. Besides fighting and stealing, what else could he do that is worthy of awarding another class?

Bah,
Gary

 

[BOZ]

i know there's not much love for 2E, but when we played that i *always* used the optional "slow advancement" rule for demihumans. that way there was never an abrupt end, but once you hit that limit, things slowed down a bit, and in the case of elves, a lot.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Thanks for the input, Gary. I thought I had the copy of Dragon at home but apparently not. Maybe it's in storage at my parents, still. The title of the column, iirc, was something like "The Last Word on Demihumans."

A misleading title, for certain, for here I am having to expend far too much time and effort on the subject

I agree. Can't recall any mythologies that have elves, dwarves, etc. as having the upper hand against humans. Nor any fantasy literature, although I don't read as much of it as I used to.

Just so. The Norse dwarves were like giants in their powers, and the French fey were as potent as fairies in some fairy tales. Neither is suitable for inclusion as a character race in a FRPG. The original gnomes were earth elementals of considerable potency as well, but i modeled the D&D race after those in fable and fairy tale.

Heh, I remember reading your description of Elves in the PHB and DMG back in the day and thinking, "Hey, that's not right!" Even by the time I was, oh, 10 or 11 JRRT's description of Elves had really influenced my take on them as a race. The differences between JRRT's elves and D&D elves can be seen rather clearly, I think, in the instance of the Grugach!. I don't think Tolkien would ever have described his elves like that. As for appealing to his fans (of which I am one) I do like the HIgh Elf, Grey Elf, Wood Elf distinctions (although Wood Elves are probably my favorite in D&D). I found the additions of Aquatic Elves and Valley Elves (which make an appearance in my homebrew world, too) to be pretty cool.

Understood. Many a participant loves elves, so adding more varieties, including the Drow, seemed a good plan. As I was thinking of detailing the Valley of the Mage, I thought it expedient to introduce that sort to the game

And who could forget the Drow? Who, by the way, are quite evil and malicious in my campaign, with absolutely no teenage-like angst about serving Lolth and the other demons )

Gray Mouser

Your treatment of those dark elves is absolutely the way I intended them to be. While abberant individuals can be other than steeped in wickedness, the Drow race is EVIL, more so than the Melnibonean one of Michael Moorcock's creation

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

WHo says you have to stop adventuring once you hit the level limit?

Besides, if they want to keep advancing just take Thief as a multi-class.

Gray Mouser

Well said, but such an obvious thing is clearly not what munchkins want. How can their PCs be the toughest kids on the block that way?

Story-schmory! The rap is to kick butt and be all powerful...


Gary

 

[tenkar]

Just an aside to the multi-class issue:

Multi-classing in the 3rd edition rules is much more powerful then 1st edition rules. 3rd edition characters get a total some of class traits, including HP and THACO (or BAB) and the flexibility of using class abilities from the multiple classes. 1st edition characters had reduced HP and THACO compared to others of their EX Point totals. This balanced the advantage of flexibility that multi-classing gave.

3rd edition is a game that runs at a higher power level, which appeals to the masses.

Reminds me of the movie Spinal Tap: "This one goes to 11"