CONTEST: Grognard's Challenge #3

With the first Grognard's Challenge now completed and news about the second about to be announced, it's time to turn to Challenge #3. For this contest, the prize is the volume pictured to the left: Supplement I to OD&D, Greyhawk.

The third Grognard's Challenge is as much about style as it is about content: create, describe, and provide game stats (if necessary) for a single character, monster, magic item, spell, or location that has a distinct "Gygaxian" feel. There is no word limit on this challenge, as nothing that could truly be called "Gygaxian" is spare with words. Game stats should be for either OD&D or AD&D (or compatible retro-clones/simulacra).

Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity, brevity (there may be no word limit, but concision is rewarded), and old school feel, the last of which is an entirely subjective metric based solely on my own peculiar preferences, most of which regular readers of the blog should know by now. Likewise, this particular challenge will be judged strongly on how closely entries imitate the style and spirit of the late Gary Gygax. The whole point of this and subsequent contests is to foster an appreciation for old school traditions and philosophies, so bear that in mind. Think pulp fantasy and the early days of the hobby and you'll be on the right track. No one is barred from entering, including friends and colleagues. I will post the winning entry here and explain why I selected it over its competitors, meaning that even were my wife to submit an entry -- not that she will -- it still has to withstand my rather exacting standards. Winners receive a copy of Supplement I: Greyhawk (12th printing, in nearly mint condition) and retain ownership of their creation, which they may then do with as they please (I recommend submitting it to Fight On! or another old school product).

The contest begins immediately and ends at midnight (EST) on August 17, 2008. Submissions may be sent to my email address indicated on the right hand side of this blog. Multiple entries are allowed and encouraged, but each one must be sent in a separate email. Although not strictly necessary, I'd appreciate it if you'd make the subject line of your submission something like "Grognard's Challenge #3" as that'll make it easier to keep the emails straight in my inbox.

Any questions about the contest can be asked either in the comments below or by sending me an email at the address to the right.