One is a new article for James Wards' ENWorld column titled Origins of Monty Haul. If anyone isn't familiar with Monty Haul campaigns, well I'm sure Mr. Ward can educate you! I am definitely not a Monty Haul DM. Not usually. Check it out though, its a fun read into the early days of Greyhawk.
Lastly, this is not World of Greyhawk per se, but Secrets of Blackmoor : The True History of Dungeons & Dragons, is a new documentary about the creative origins of D&D:
"Blackmoor is the name of a fictional world created by David Arneson. It is also the prototype of Dungeons & Dragons, the first published role playing game. Unlike other fantasy worlds, such as J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, Blackmoor is a living world that is being explored to this day. Secrets of Blackmoor investigates the origins of the role playing game, through candid interviews, archival footage, and newly discovered artifacts.
In 1963, David Wesely becomes a founding member of a club that includes history buffs, model makers, and miniature collectors. Hiding within the group, however, are a bunch of college students who are interested in war gaming. Within a year, the gamers meet a high school kid named Dave Arneson who is playing war games with his friends in his parents' basement.
These gamers have no idea that they will change the face of this hobby forever. Their only concern for now, is how to simulate the reality of war, and above all, they just want to have fun. Their voracious hunt for new rules and knowledge leads them to the University of Minnesota Library where they discover an old manuscript, Strategos; the American Game of War. Within the dense pages are a few sentences that inspire them.
The influence of Strategos changes how they play their war games. But are they really following these old rules, or have they stumbled onto something truly unique by misinterpreting what it says? Should a game be constrained by rules, like Monopoly, or should there be no boundaries at all, like a game of make believe?
One thing is very clear--something magical was going on in the Twin Cities."
You will have to pay to watch this, but it is a top notch production. Here is a teaser. As D&D moves forward in the 21st century it's important for these types of documentaries to be made to chronicle our favorite hobby's history for future generations. Enjoy!
1 comment:
I so loved this documentary. It really opened up my mind. Seeing how they created.
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