From page 155 of the
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide (1979) by Gary Gygax:
A book of this sort is totally impossible to tell from a normal one, although if a detect magic spell is cast, there will be a magical aura noted. Any character who opens the work and reads so much as a single glyph therein must make 2 saving throws versus magic. The first is to determine if 1 point of intelligence is lost, the second is to find if 2 points of wisdom are lost. Once opened and read, the vacuous grimoire remains, and it must be burned to be rid of it after first casting a remove curse spell. If the tome is placed with other books, its appearance will instantly alter to conform to one of the other works it is amongst.
If I ever publish a fanzine, I'm calling dibs on
The Vacuous Grimoire as its title.
Are you suggesting something vis-a-vis the Arduin Grimoire?
ReplyDelete;D
I have a similar artifact on my blog:
ReplyDeleteThe Book of Faces
Harsh!
ReplyDeleteI think there was a fanzine in the UK in the eighties named the Vacuous Grimoire, as far as I recall, although I never owned a copy.
ReplyDeletePoor Jeff; I think he would have liked to claim that one!
ReplyDeleteI think we all should be stunned that Gary was able to accurately predict the Rise of Twilight and Nick Sparks.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that sounds much better than the Libram of Gainful Conjuration.
ReplyDeleteCould Gary have really been referring to the Arduin Grimoire there? :o
ReplyDeleteIt's almost a certainty that he was, given that TSR sent a C&D to Hargrave over references to D&D in the Arduin Grimoire and when you consider Gygax's rants about "knock-offs."
ReplyDeleteI imagine later versions would sport board game pieces and references to times of day... ;)
ReplyDeleteI would definitely subscribe to a 'zine called The Vacuous Grimoire, if for no other reason than the title!
ReplyDeleteFor the moment, the title is all that exists for the thing. I doubt I'll ever get around to writing a 'zine -- I have a blog, after all -- but I still think it'd be an awesome title nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteHe definitely was referencing the Arduin Grimoire. He says so on the enworld Q&A:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/193204-gary-gygax-q-part-xiii-63.html
"I saw them when they were originally published. Ever see my magic item "The Vacuous Grimoire"? Baby fat indeed >:-("
It's too bad EGG felt that way. The AG's only supported OD&D and in return probably helped sell more White Boxes as the only way you would use Arduin rules is if you owned D&D as well.
ReplyDeleteHi James. I mailed you again about your contribution to the new supplement. Should be out shortly!
ReplyDeleteTim Gray, Silver Branch Games