tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post5852113521238913206..comments2024-03-18T20:22:06.331-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Interview: Tim Kask (Part II)James Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-9522051708676617102008-09-22T12:24:00.000-04:002008-09-22T12:24:00.000-04:00Tim:I find it interesting that you flat out say AD...Tim:<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting that you flat out say AD&D was developed for tournament play, when other more unreliable sources lately have said that sounds like hogwash.<BR/><BR/>Good interview.Thwackohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00829538057125935040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65479468321307649922008-09-20T22:30:00.000-04:002008-09-20T22:30:00.000-04:00Dear Tim (and James) - oh, I know. You're quite r...Dear Tim (and James) - oh, I know. You're quite right, <I>Blackmoor</I> didn't come out until summer or fall of 1975, yes? It might have been a typo in the book, but I suspect not. There are a number of other errors in the book, not the least of which was that Holmes refers to <I>The Strategic Review</I> as <I>The Dragon Rumbles</I> at one point. Even so, it shows what <I>Holmes</I> was thinking at the time - a lot of the book is essentially an introduction to the entire hobby, not just D&D.Victor Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05928494560036528653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-62518253344442604182008-09-20T21:37:00.000-04:002008-09-20T21:37:00.000-04:00"In 1974, I persuaded Gygax that the original..."In 1974, I persuaded Gygax that the original D&D rules needed revision and that I was the person to rewrite them...<BR/><BR/>That date is wrong. Blackmoor didn't come out until well after that date.<BR/><BR/>"...He readily conceded that there was a need for a beginner's book, and 'if you want to try it, go ahead.' "<BR/>Gary did not "readily agree"; we had no idea who Holmes was or what credentials he had when he first contacted us. We learned that he was a psychologist that played D&D, and he told us that he specialized in child psych. I was present at one of the earliest meetings.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05444155006366754145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-6778214481888983802008-09-20T20:12:00.000-04:002008-09-20T20:12:00.000-04:00(and you really do need to see the photo on the ba...<I>(and you really do need to see the photo on the back cover jacket)</I><BR/><BR/>Special is it? :)James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-48661089907178214992008-09-20T01:26:00.000-04:002008-09-20T01:26:00.000-04:00I've got a copy of Fantasy Role Playing Games, by ...I've got a copy of <I>Fantasy Role Playing Games</I>, by Holmes. It's an interesting read, as it is clearly intended as a kind of introduction-cum-explanation about his take on D&D.<BR/><BR/>"In 1974, I persuaded Gygax that the original D&D rules needed revision and that I was the person to rewrite them. He readily conceded that there was a need for a beginner's book, and 'if you want to try it, go ahead.' I went through the original three booklets and the first two supplements, <I>Blackmoor</I> and <I>Greyhawk</I>, of which Gygax's <I>Greyhawk</I> is the greatest help. Trying to use the original words of the two game creators as much as possible, I edited a slim (48 page) handbook for beginners in role playing, published by TSR in 1977 as <I>Dungeons and Dragons</I> and usually marketed as 'the basic set'." (p. 68, <I>Fantasy Role Playing Games</I>, copyright 1981 by J. Eric Holmes, MD, Hippocrene Press, NY)<BR/><BR/>(and you really do need to see the photo on the back cover jacket)Victor Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05928494560036528653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-54422872890096574892008-09-19T21:02:00.001-04:002008-09-19T21:02:00.001-04:00Also I laughed out loud at "the direst emergency, ...<I>Also I laughed out loud at "the direst emergency, or a call from our wives".</I><BR/><BR/>Me too. What a terrific line.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-404010376858057332008-09-19T21:02:00.000-04:002008-09-19T21:02:00.000-04:00Has anyone read Holmes' 1980 article "Confessions ...<I>Has anyone read Holmes' 1980 article "Confessions of a Dungeon Master" from Pyschology Today?</I><BR/><BR/>I have not, but I plan on hunting down a copy.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-63755091676915522632008-09-19T11:54:00.000-04:002008-09-19T11:54:00.000-04:00belst8: someone posted a link to the Holmes articl...belst8: someone posted a link to the Holmes article over at OD&D Discussion just recently.<BR/><BR/>Also I laughed out loud at "the direst emergency, or a call from our wives".Jeff Rientshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-73570523626169561122008-09-19T11:33:00.000-04:002008-09-19T11:33:00.000-04:00This is incredible stuff. That makes perfect sense...This is incredible stuff. That makes perfect sense about Holmes. Has anyone read Holmes' 1980 article "Confessions of a Dungeon Master" from Pyschology Today? I can't find an online version, and I've been resisting ordering a hard copy from the magazine people.belst8https://www.blogger.com/profile/05896444893911828265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-36025033055389613952008-09-19T10:14:00.000-04:002008-09-19T10:14:00.000-04:00I knew that Holmes had a background in psych, but ...I knew that Holmes had a background in psych, but I wasn't aware that child pyschology was his area of study. That suddenly sheds a whole lot of light on why he was the editor chosen for a basic distillation of the rules, at least for me.<BR/><BR/>I had always assumed he was a gamer who just happened to have a degree in psychology. Learn something new every day,Michael Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13217338828086458862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-74918519388988685132008-09-19T09:01:00.000-04:002008-09-19T09:01:00.000-04:00I'll second that.Incredible insight into a time th...I'll second that.<BR/><BR/>Incredible insight into a time that most of us weren't "there" for. And sadly, the old guard is passing, so it's wonderful to get the "history" from those who were there first hand while it's available.Gamer Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006232842482959060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65841096648398187072008-09-19T08:17:00.000-04:002008-09-19T08:17:00.000-04:00Thanks for these interviews. Very rad!Thanks for these interviews. Very rad!Thoth Amonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00172210835575382770noreply@blogger.com