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]

Re: What's the record for a thread?

Caedrel, Hi

This thread is on the longish side, isn't it? As you note, I do enjoy reading posts and responding. I have about 600 on the main LA game website, but it seems that here on the EN borads is going to be my most active place for a while longer...

The Lejendary Adventure game makes limited rules use of the d30 in combat, some of the nasty monsters having it as the base die. I use the d7 personally, and it is not a required die for the system.

The d30 does tend to roll a long time unless you have a bounded place to toss it. The d7 is a pentagon, the points and sides having numbers. As I think I stated, it seems to generate all seven numbers pretty equally when rolled.

While I am not much of a collector or picky about dice, there are a couple of d20s and d10s that I like to use best because they seem to generate the numbers I want as the GM more often In truth, though, I'm generally satisfied with whatever dice are at hand.

Management at TSR tended to be very much on the "poor" sinde, yes. Not only were discharged employees escorted out, but at one point Kevin was going to use his "medical training" to examine employees for drug use and fire them if he found they were using. Luckily, he was talked out of that scheme. When one of their relatives was discharged for lack of capacity, though, she was allowed plenty of time before having to leave, and then during the audit it was found that the company was paying for her college tuition...

As for KoDT, I do read it now and then. A very funny comic that!

the first Lord of the Rings movie Was very good indeed. I was bored in the opening--too long for my tasts, and I disliked the flute music and chanting when the elves were around. That seemed inappropriate to me. I liked all the rest, and the orcs wer great, especially the chief of the bunch. My wife picked the movie up on CD, so I've seen it after the big screen outing, and my son Alex has watched it about a half-dozen times now.

I've seen the "Harry Potter" film twice also. With the LotR movie, that makes the two best fantasy films done to date. I too am looking forward to seeing "Two Towers" as well the next "Henry Potter" flick.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Hi Todd!

Welcome, and at the risk of wearing it out, I really do have some fun on boards

No, I haven't seen Lorraine Williams since the court case was settled. I think she is living out in California now, in Carmel by the Sea yet...

It is really pretty sad that Brian behaves as he does, for once we were at least close and friendly assiciates, almost buddies. I suppose it is his conscience that makes him behave as he does--or maybe he does think I'll give him a sound thrashing given the opportunity...heh.

Ah well, as a fan of REH's work since I was about 10 years old, I'll have to see the next "Conan" film even though I'll likely really not like it. I told Arthur Lieberman and Mimu Shapiro both that they needed an axpert consultant on the "Conan" written by Howard, and Art then wanted me to design a weapon for "King Kull" to use and suggest a storyline for that flick...for free Anyway, I like Arnie in many films, but not as Conan. Tough luck for me.

I never got into much microarmor play, always preferred HO scale. I've played more contemporary games, but WWII armor amongst my very favorite periods in miniatures and board wargames too.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[pogre]

Hello Gary,

[insert gushing, thanks, etc. here]

Do you still use mass combats in your fantasy campaigns? What rules set? The real Chainmail perhaps?

One other thing - it seems like the genesis of roleplaying was in the midwest. First there was yourself and Dave Arneson, then the folks down here (Bloomington) at GDW with Traveller, and the guys over in Decatur (Judges' Guild). Any theory why this is so?

Frank Chadwick once told me it was because the midwest is boring and so we have better imaginations to make up for it.

 

[johnsemlak]

Hello Gary,

One other thing - it seems like the genesis of roleplaying was in the midwest. First there was yourself and Dave Arneson, then the folks down here (Bloomington) at GDW with Traveller, and the guys over in Decatur (Judges' Guild). Any theory why this is so?

Frank Chadwick once told me it was because the midwest is boring and so we have better imaginations to make up for it.

I asked roughtly the same question earlier in the thread. Look in the first 4 pages or so. Gary posted an answer.

As I added earlier, I'd like to mention that Chicago was also the home of Weird Tales, the fantasy pulp magazine where Robert Howard and others published their works, in the 30s. So the midwest has long been a hotbed for fantasy.


EDIT: Found it: page #3

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Hello Gary,

[insert gushing, thanks, etc. here]

Do you still use mass combats in your fantasy campaigns? What rules set? The real Chainmail perhaps?

One other thing - it seems like the genesis of roleplaying was in the midwest. First there was yourself and Dave Arneson, then the folks down here (Bloomington) at GDW with Traveller, and the guys over in Decatur (Judges' Guild). Any theory why this is so?

Frank Chadwick once told me it was because the midwest is boring and so we have better imaginations to make up for it.

[Insert usual cordial responses to thanks

Lacking a large playing space these days, when we get into large-scale combat dice are used to indicate positions, and I have a "quick & dirty" method of resolution of fighting (based on the LA game system) in which there are no player parsonas involved. this allows such combats to not eat up too much of the game session.

Actually, back in the 1960s, while there was a large Midwestern contingent of wargamers, the East ans West Coasts, Texas too, were well represented. Perhaps because of the GenCon event being here in Wisconsin, and a lot of activity in the surrounding area playing, and what good old Frank Chadwick pointed out, there was more fervor for gaming here than in milder climes. I know my most productive time of year is usually from November through Arpil

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

As I added earlier, I'd like to mention that Chicago was also the home of Weird Tales, the fantasy pulp magazine where Robert Howard and others published their works, in the 30s. So the midwest has long been a hotbed for fantasy.

And now Wisconsin is home to Arkham Press.

The Midwest was also big on spiritualism back in the early 20th century Wonder what all that indicates... Boredom springs to mind

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Endur]

Question regarding boxed D&D

Gary,

Although I've read most of your 1e products, my favorite remains the boxed set my parents bought me in 1980. With the Blue cover and the Dragon facing off against the Wizard and the Warrior. And B2, my favorite module, the Keep on the Borderlands.

My question: In the Blue rules book, on page 39, there is a cross section of Stone Mountain with a great Stone Skull showing levels one through seven. And then on pages 40+ you have a sample floor plan for the first level of the dungeon.

My question: Was this sample dungeon ever fully fleshed out? Or was it left as just starter materials for the imagination of those who would be using the product?

Tom

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Re: Question regarding boxed D&D

Gary,

[snip]

My question: Was this sample dungeon ever fully fleshed out? Or was it left as just starter materials for the imagination of those who would be using the product?

Tom

thanks for the good words, Endur

Your latter surmise is correct. The dungeon was never fleshed out as a priduct, just shown as an example. Now that you mention it, I wonder why we never did make it into a product, as it would have had a ready and waiting audience.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

LA MMPO RPG Website Just Online

Greetings All!

In case anyone wants to see what the LA game is all about in its online, MMP version, I've just learned that the special website for it is now officially open. Come on by, take a gander, and join the group there if it looks like fun

www.LejendaryAdventure.com

Regards,
Gary

 

[Caedrel]

Movies

the first Lord of the Rings movie Was very good indeed. I was bored in the opening--too long for my tasts, and I disliked the flute music and chanting when the elves were around.

If you get around to seeing the extended version on DVD, let us know what you think - apparently it's got better character development but not onerously so. If you found the opening slow, I wonder if you'll find the extended version slower?


I've seen the "Harry Potter" film twice also. With the LotR movie, that makes the two best fantasy films done to date.

Uh oh! I feel a "best movie of all time" debate coming on - perhaps a sure way to generate some controversy and get this thread closed

My personal favourite would be Ladyhawke from 1982 (I think). But that probably has more to do with me than the movie, as I suspect most "personal favourites" are

I loved the Harry Potter books, especially "the Prisoner of Azkaban", but was a little disappointed with the more kids' oriented tone of the first movie. I understand why they did it and all, but one of the things that drew me into the books was the dark menace of Voldermort. It was probably a bit too hard to convey that in a movie format to the target audience: how many regular movie-goers would appreciate the significane of something that kills and drinks unicorn blood to survive?

I understand that JK Rowling has a bit of writers' block and is having trouble delivering the next book - aaahhhh! I hope she isn't run over by a bus or something before she finishes the series. Not that I want anyone to be run over by a bus!

I suppose I'd better ask a question too, while I'm here I know you enjoy watching your team in the NFL (I forget which - sorry, it was a lot of pages ago! ), but do you have a favourite sport to take part in? Were you a mean basketball player, or bowler, or were you never really interested in the physical stuff, with all this wonderful material coming out of your mind?

Cheers,
Caedrel