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<blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 7037812" data-attributes="member: 82106">Well, I've heard that Gygax statement too. I don't doubt that he said it, and saying it I don't doubt that he meant it. If you look at things like the 'Council of Eight' thing in Greyhawk, I would assume that arises out of actual EGG campaign events. That sort of play certainly sounds like mostly wizards playing god games.I think the game evolved a lot though. At first there were only up to 6th level spells, and the range of available spell effects was much more limited. In effect 12th level was about as high as the rules provided for in any significant way. I think in the early days they probably assumed players would run PCs up to something around level 10 and then they would spin off into being lords and probably semi-retired as adventurers. Over time the concept of the game evolved, people weren't that interested in the wargame aspect. So the divergence of PCs into running strongholds and whatnot faded in importance. At the same time new material was developed, and it was most interesting to add new high level stuff. Eldritch Wizardry brought demons and devils, including demon lords, Gods, Demigods, and Heroes brought in even more high level stuff. By the time the 1e PHB was written level advancement to level 20 was clearly envisaged, and that was really only 4 years or so after the game came out. I would say the game that 1e envisages is definitely a high level wizard-fest, mostly. Clerics get into the action somewhat, druids and other casters do OK, but the non-casters in 1e are pretty much stuck with slightly better versions of what they got at level 1. Fighters particularly still have their now kind of rump stronghold stuff, but in the 1e play paradigm its sort of a side show.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="AbdulAlhazred, post: 7037812, member: 82106"] Well, I've heard that Gygax statement too. I don't doubt that he said it, and saying it I don't doubt that he meant it. If you look at things like the 'Council of Eight' thing in Greyhawk, I would assume that arises out of actual EGG campaign events. That sort of play certainly sounds like mostly wizards playing god games. I think the game evolved a lot though. At first there were only up to 6th level spells, and the range of available spell effects was much more limited. In effect 12th level was about as high as the rules provided for in any significant way. I think in the early days they probably assumed players would run PCs up to something around level 10 and then they would spin off into being lords and probably semi-retired as adventurers. Over time the concept of the game evolved, people weren't that interested in the wargame aspect. So the divergence of PCs into running strongholds and whatnot faded in importance. At the same time new material was developed, and it was most interesting to add new high level stuff. Eldritch Wizardry brought demons and devils, including demon lords, Gods, Demigods, and Heroes brought in even more high level stuff. By the time the 1e PHB was written level advancement to level 20 was clearly envisaged, and that was really only 4 years or so after the game came out. I would say the game that 1e envisages is definitely a high level wizard-fest, mostly. Clerics get into the action somewhat, druids and other casters do OK, but the non-casters in 1e are pretty much stuck with slightly better versions of what they got at level 1. Fighters particularly still have their now kind of rump stronghold stuff, but in the 1e play paradigm its sort of a side show. [/QUOTE]

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