tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7766667058118419487.post5197706806403604172..comments2024-03-01T03:41:38.650-05:00Comments on Xeveninti: Zagyg's gate to BarsoomXevenintihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609390831891414670noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7766667058118419487.post-32842515505491819642008-12-19T16:10:00.000-05:002008-12-19T16:10:00.000-05:00TSR published miniature rules for Barsoom.The orig...TSR published <A HREF="http://rdushay.home.mindspring.com/Museum/SF/Mars.html" REL="nofollow">miniature rules for Barsoom</A>.<BR/><BR/>The original D&D booklets reference Mars.<BR/><BR/>Indeed, there are tales of Ernie Gygax’s PC journeying to Barsoom in the original Greyhawk campaign.<BR/><BR/>This gateway is as much authentic Greyhawk as anything.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733274876782876659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7766667058118419487.post-90575876128692118672008-12-02T14:48:00.000-05:002008-12-02T14:48:00.000-05:00I recommend that you read Grognardia and what Jame...I recommend that you read Grognardia and what James has to say about this subject.Xevenintihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14609390831891414670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7766667058118419487.post-61521850712723209432008-12-02T13:48:00.000-05:002008-12-02T13:48:00.000-05:00Thanks for addressing my comment. Just out of inte...Thanks for addressing my comment. <BR/><BR/>Just out of interest, which books would you consider more important to D&D? I ask because I see a huge footprint of Tolkien on D&D which isn't matched by any other single source. Aspects of D&D are touched by Leiber, REH and Vance, but those contributions, in my opinion, are to specific areas whereas Tolkien's influence seems much more widespread.<BR/><BR/>I agree that EGG was not following Tolkien's literary theories on fantasy and its roles. As for the theme of the adventuring party, the interesting thing is the multi-racial aspect of the D&D adventuring party, which is not found in any of the formative fantasy literature which I have read. It may be there, I just haven't seen it. As to the Campbellian aspects of <I>LotR</I>, I honestly don't agree with much of that thesis, though I think it is an interesting literary exercise.<BR/><BR/>As for the purpose of parties, while the experience system does reward combat and treasure accumulation, I do not recall anything indicating that the game concept precludes the type of quest as found in <I>the Hobbit</I> (which does have a lot of gaining wealth and might through adventure and battle) or <I>LotR</I> (which might have some moral quandaries but also has plenty of adventure and battle, including in an underground complex). Perhaps the initial releases had a clearer mission statement.<BR/><BR/>It just seems to me that much of the discussion of Gygax and Tolkien includes a fair amount of revisionism. That is based on the information I have at hand, which is nothing that is not available in the public domain. I have no special knowledge, and I stand ready to be corrected.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!AccidentalFraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17624177847590940415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7766667058118419487.post-33748502813742469892008-12-02T08:05:00.000-05:002008-12-02T08:05:00.000-05:00Gygax not inspired by Tolkien?You are right. I sho...<I>Gygax not inspired by Tolkien?</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>You are right. I should have said that he "was not <I>entirely</I> influenced by Tolkien."<BR/><BR/>Yes, Gygax did list <I>The Hobbit</I> and <I>The Lord of the Rings</I> as a source of inspirational reading. But those four books were not the only ones on that list. And they were far from being the most important.<BR/><BR/>I see little evidence in Gygax's writings that he was very interested in the dogma of Tolkien's theories regarding fairy-stories. Nor do I see any indication that Gygax envisioned for player-characters a Judeo-Christian template of the Hero's Journey as presented by Tolkien in the <I>The Lord of the Rings</I>.<BR/><BR/>Instead, what I see is a game that is built around the concept of gaining wealth and might through adventure and battle. Not epic quests that test the moral strength of the heroes.Xevenintihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14609390831891414670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7766667058118419487.post-60711647568487480262008-12-01T20:42:00.000-05:002008-12-01T20:42:00.000-05:00Gygax not inspired by Tolkien? I think you need to...Gygax not inspired by Tolkien? I think you need to read this:<BR/><BR/>http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2008/11/brief-history-of-tolkien-rpgs.htmlAccidentalFraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17624177847590940415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7766667058118419487.post-60950171379868506102008-12-01T13:15:00.000-05:002008-12-01T13:15:00.000-05:00Barsoom....or Carcosa.Barsoom....or Carcosa.Patrick W. Rollenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832604648690667589noreply@blogger.com