** ARCHIVED FORUM - ANY CHANGES ARE REVERTED HOURLY **



It is currently Nov 21, 2024 2:02 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: [Blog] The 1985 Mayfair Games Blackmoor Modules!
PostPosted: Jun 02, 2014 4:11 pm 
Offline
Lord of the Regency Council
Lord of the Regency Council
User avatar

Joined: Nov 17, 2009 2:48 pm
Posts: 7335
Location: Norway, Europe
A previously unknown chapter in the history of Blackmoor publications has just come to life thanks to my friend NPCDave at The Piazza. Reading an old interview with Dave Arneson from Space Gamer Magazine, I learned that Dave had planned many more Blackmoor modules than the four from the DA series published by TSR. It has long been rumoured that DA5 City of Blackmoor was completed, but never published.

In Space Gamer #85 (1986) Dave talked about a total of to be published by TSR for the Blackmoor Campaign. Was this just Dave Arneson bragging? The most recent information reveals a hidden chapter in the story of the DA Blackmoor modules. Before they were published by TSR, it was another company, Mayfair Games that intended to publish a total of twelve modules based on Dave Arneson's Campaign in 1985 for their Role Aids RPG line famous for their "For use with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" label (which would get Mayfair Games into trouble with TSR in 1993). This information can be learned from an advert in TSR UK's Imagine Magazine #26 (published in early 1985).


So what happened through the course of 1985 that lead to the Blackmoor material being transferred from Mayfair Games to TSR? Gary Gygax was still with TSR untill December that year. Apparently he was interested in more cooperation between Mayfair Games and TSR, but was voted down on this issue. There have also been some rumors about Gygax being involved in TSR to publish the DA modules, but the details of this is unknown to me at this point. If anyone knows more about the relations between Mayfair Games and TSR in the mid 1980s let me know!

Full version: http://blackmoormystara.blogspot.no/201 ... dules.html





-Havard

_________________
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: [Blog] The 1985 Mayfair Games Blackmoor Modules!
PostPosted: Jun 03, 2014 10:37 am 
Offline
Lord of the Regency Council
Lord of the Regency Council
User avatar

Joined: Nov 17, 2009 2:48 pm
Posts: 7335
Location: Norway, Europe
Minor corrections to the article made.

-Havard

_________________
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: [Blog] The 1985 Mayfair Games Blackmoor Modules!
PostPosted: Jul 24, 2014 1:43 pm 
Offline
Count
Count
User avatar

Joined: Feb 01, 2010 11:59 am
Posts: 1023
Location: Schenectady
Great find!

_________________
"The gamemaster may find that sometimes it is a good idea to just let the unexpected lead where it will." Dave Arneson - DNA DOA

'blog https://www.blogger.com/home


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: [Blog] The 1985 Mayfair Games Blackmoor Modules!
PostPosted: Jul 30, 2014 5:47 am 
Offline
Lord of the Regency Council
Lord of the Regency Council
User avatar

Joined: Nov 17, 2009 2:48 pm
Posts: 7335
Location: Norway, Europe

_________________
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: [Blog] The 1985 Mayfair Games Blackmoor Modules!
PostPosted: Aug 01, 2014 9:03 am 
Offline
Baronette
Baronette
User avatar

Joined: Jan 16, 2010 8:02 am
Posts: 658
Location: suburbs of Chicago
One really has to wonder how much of this material was ever written or just how much was being advertised on "potential." With a specific number such as 8 or 12 being quoted, it sure sounds like something concrete was done and awaiting publcation. And I would have loved to have an officially sanctioned Blackmoor novel. That would have been pretty neat!

On the other hand Troll Lord Games got burned by advertising so many potential Castle Zygag products that never materialized when the license got yanked out from under them, so perhaps Mayfair thought they had something locked up and then TSR lowered the "we own the IP" boom on them.

_________________
Marv / Finarvyn
Member of The Regency Council
Visit my board
since 1975

"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!"
- Dave Arneson



Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Copyright © The Comeback Inn
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
[ Time : 0.021s | 13 Queries | GZIP : Off ]