I don't think I can make that decision yet, as I haven't got a clear enough mental picture of either era. But the world* I'm using does not really have any great kingdoms of any kind, so Blackmoor would almost certainly be independent.



* I use the term "world" loosely - as I said I'm basically adapting the Outdoor Survival map with few changes. The one major difference is that everything east of the easternmost river becomes open sea, with mountains and forests therein becoming islands. Blackmoor itself would be located in the big swamp to the south-west (as you probably know, OD&D turns lakes on the OS board into castles). Other elements are likely to shift around somewhat, too, but I haven't decided where yet.

This will probably mutate into the official known world for BLUEHOLME™, which will of course mean that the eventual "Blackmoor" will be more of a homage than the actual thing itself. Just between you and me, I've already settled on a name that dedicates it to not just one, but two of my inspirations. The name is Castle Blackpool, and the other inspiration is that classic programme whose first showing in Europe coincided with my discovery of D&D - ! 8)

If memory serves me correctly, the Outdoor Survival map wasn't actually "the world of Blackmoor" but was a somewhat generic local map used for adventures to the south.

Rob Conley's Southland map is a nice extension of the lands to the south as well.


I think you can get a larger image of this if you go here:
http://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2009/ ... s-map.html

Note the similarities between the souther desert on the OS map and the Valley of the Ancients on later Blackmoor maps... 8)

-Havard

Oh, I know OS wasn't the basis of Blackmoor (but didn't I read somewhere that Dave Arneson had his players go out and adventure using the OS board?). But I'm not using the real Blackmoor map, just adapting the locations and peoples and fitting them into my version of the OS map. You see, what I'm trying to do is create a setting reminiscent of Blackmoor, but not one that my players will immediately recognise and learn all about. :wink: