A Grognard Reflects: Who Knows Where the Money Goes?

As you probably know (since you’re here), I started my gaming hobby back in the 70’s. I was a huge fan of many of the games of the 70s and 80s. And by “fan” I mean its actual meaning: “fanatic.” The gaming industry took a strange turn and instead of writing lots of new, wonderful …

A Cyberpunk Renaissance

What does the term "cyberpunk" mean to you? This? Keanu Reeves in the movie adaptation of Johnny Mnemonic? Or perhaps this, the movie adaptation of Blade Runner? The original cyberpunk role-playing game, the one I started with. I’ve just started playing in a cyberpunk RPG again, for the first time since we said good bye …

Part Forty-Five: 2010. “I mean it’s sort of exciting isn’t it? Breaking the rules.” – Hermione Granger. A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

And here we are, well into the 21st century. It’s like science fiction, isn’t it? I still don’t have a flying car though. Or a four-day work week. Or food pills. And I can’t vacation on the Moon or Mars. No, the future’s not what it was cracked up to be, not by a long …

Part Forty-Four: 2009, Action and Reaction. A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

Dave Arneson Blackmoor, We Hardly Knew Ye Last year we had lost Gary Gygax. This year we lost his old partner, Dave Arneson. The old guard had passed. Who was Arneson? I’ll give it to you in brief, and (I think) unbiased. (Although many will beg to differ.) As was well known back in the …

Part Forty-Three: 2008, All Things Must Pass. A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

Journey’s End On March 4th, 2008, Gary Gygax passed from our plane of existence. It was a time for solemnity. It was also a time for the bereaved widow. Gary’s second wife Gail now owned Gary’s IP. She pulled all of Gary’s products and licenses. The Zagyg and Yggsburgh and Lejendary Journey product lines would …

Part Forty-Two: 2007, More GORE, Please. A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

OSR Yep, the Old School Revival in gaming is going strong and getting stronger. But maybe the tent isn’t big enough for everyone. Let’s take a look. Labyrinth Lord This year finds another D&D retroclone produced as a publishing vehicle. Like Basic Fantasy RPG from last year, this is a clone of B/X D&D. Not …

Visions of the Future: Grand Master Fritz Leiber

Recently I’ve been reading or re-reading a lot of fantasy and science fiction from the twentieth century. It’s been fun, but it’s also been thought-provoking. A Book About the Future, And Understanding the Past In 1953 famed author Fritz Leiber (who is credited as having invented the term “sword and sorcery,” and who you probably …

Part Forty-One: 2006, Everything Old is New Again. A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

OSR And we’re back! You’ll recall my mention of the Old School Revival movement, folks who wanted to play older editions and rejected the churn of “improvements” being foisted on us (3.5e D&D, I’m looking at you). You could play with old books, but you might want something more durable, or reorganized, or available for …

Part Forty: 2005, “Not the Real Thing but an Amazing Simulation!” A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

Greyhawk of my Dreams Let’s start off 2005 with the exciting news that Gary Gygax began the release of the famed Castle Greyhawk dungeon through Troll Lord Games (TLG)! We’d been waiting decades for this! Now for the fine print. The products obviously couldn't be written under 1st edition AD&D. The serial numbers had to …

Music Hath Charms: As It Was Played, Old-School Gaming Atmosphere

Back in 1980 or so, when I was just starting to run my own 1st ed AD&D games for groups of friends, I was also active in fantasy and science fiction fandom as well as in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and other “ren fest” groups. Now all of these groups had get-togethers of …