Raskal:
I have not find any information about the extreme south east in the North map, the zone crossed by the Greenway at the south of Pug's Station and east of the Taff River.
This region is part of Blackmoor kingdom ? Thonia Empire ? Peshwah ? Others ?

****************

Havard:
My guess is the plains region (Eastern Hak) is dominated by various Peshwah tribes. Although not shown on the D20 line maps, the City of Marban should appear somewhere behind the "The North" logo. Marban is a Thonian city and I imagine everything south of that is Thonia.
***********************

Raskal:
I have scheduled to masterize "The Six Spheres of Zaihhess" (Necromancer Games), so i need a wild area, Frontier like, with isolated villages.
This region seems ok for that. The villages can be populated by Thonia Empire colonists, a little isolated and surronded by Peshwah tribes.

The information about Marban is linked to your Blackmoor in Mystara setting ?
***********************
Havard:
I don't know "The Six Spheres of Zaihhess" beyond what you describe here, but it sounesd like it should work. Another alternative would be using areas along the western side of the map.

IIRC Marban is mentioned in one of the DA modules, but otherwise not linked to Blackmoor in Mystara.
*****************

DClingman:
By TSR canon, the southern border belongs to the Thonian Empire. By Dave Arneson's version it's something slightly different. I hate to tease, but I can't disclose that right now. More will be made available in the coming months. Smile
*****************************

Raskal_
Ok, i can wait some month...but not to long Wink
I hope that Dustin will release a setting book for the (mad & evil) world around Blackmoor

********************
Rafael_
Will the upcoming BM DMG contain material covering the outskirts of Blackmoor? What about Rhun, that legendary country Marfeldt looted, for example? - I can see me introducing that one into my games. Smile
**************
Raskal:
Rhûn is a land at the east of Mordor. I suppose you are speaking of another land ?
*******************

Rafael_



Joined: Jun 15, 2005
Posts: 2209
Location: Würzburg, Germany

No, I am referring to the land mentioned in the First Fantasy Campaign's description of Marfeldt's past. There,Rhun is mentioned as a place where MArfeldt first came to fame. (pg. 15) It's generally taken for granted that this Rhun is equal to the one described by Tolkien, BUT after all, it's one of the few moments where the world around BM is described. (If we let all later TSR tie-ins to Mystara aside.)
*********************

Raskal:
I am a little confused by this book. There is a lot of reference to the Great Kindgom (Marfeldt was responsible of the divisions of this kingdom, p20). This is the same Great Kingdom than in Greyhawk ?
Yes, page 21 in my edition, there is a short Biography on the barbarian : The Archives of Rhun.

In your setting, Blackmoor is linked to the Known World of Judge Guild ?
*******************

Rafael_
Basically, since I understand that Blackmoor, Greyhawk, Myrlind's Dungeon and all the other first-hour D&D settings were extremely focused on their main dungeons, it was fairly easy to link them with a very generic overall setting. Actually, from the first hour of D&D, no details are known about the details of the Great Kingdom (that I could remember). So, in short, it's not Greyhawk's Great Kingdom, but maybe a very similar place. I personally think of doing some kind of crossover with Blackmoor and the Great Kingdom as described in *Ivid the Undying*.

IMC, I indeed take the existence of the Wilderlands as granted. I set them on some unspecified place southwards. Mostly, I use them as background for some more fleshed-out stories and as additional option for characters. If you don't have already, get the PG to the Wilderlands as soon as you can. For me, it's almost THE definite d20 product when it comes to incorporate new material into a BM game. Smile
*****************

Havard:
Here is my take on this stuff:

Blackmoor is set in Mystara's ancient past, ca 6000 years before the Known World (gazetteer era).

The Great Kingdom may have similarities to Greyhawk's Great Kingdom, but I envision it as more Conan-esque with decadent rulers, slave girls, camels etc. Something like Gomorra in the movie Scorpion King. Most Thonians IMC have been given slavic names inspired by Taha Marcovic, but I'm thinking I should make them more middle eastern or byzantine in the future.

I have found a location for Blackmoor's Rhun, which will be revealed soon... Cool

The Wilderlands also exist IMC to the southwest. I'm not sure it will have a great impact on my campaign at all, but I agree that the PG is an excellent book. Its style has influenced the way I present Blackmoor even if the PCs will never travel to those lands.

Havard
************************

-Havard

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=467

Havard:
I got hooked on the Hellboy and B.P.R.D comics after seeing the Hellboy movie a few years back. They don't appear in the movie, but frogs and frog-like monsters play a big role in the comics.

In the B.P.R.D collection called The Black Flame, the Frogs were able to summon a Cthulhu-ish. deity.

They are really scary, but more "monsters" than how I have pictured the Froglin till now. Still, they have a language, and their own Lovecraftian religion.

I'm getting alot of inspiration for my Blackmoor campaign here!

Does anyone know what I am talking about?
******************

EE:
I've seen some of the HB's you speak of. They are a great inspiration, especially when HB investigates the castle. Good stuff.

Off Topic. Havard - I read somewhere that the writers of the Temple, snuck you into the adventure. Is that true?

More off topic. Has any one played Temple at one of the cons? Spill the beans, people!

-Ari

***********************************
DClingman:
You can play it yourself if you make it to The Summoning. Check the We're playing Blackmoor forum for details.

*********************

bgilkison:
If I were thinking in game terms, I'd say they could be Froglins with some sort of template applied -- if we could go outside the SRD, my first instinct would be the "pseudonatural" template, but within the MMRPG rules, it's difficult to say... Perhaps a fiendish, or half-fiend Froglin, or make them Thralls of Coot? Laughing

OT, I love the Hellboy mythos (could be 'cause I grew up reading Lovecraft and company), but I wish Mignola would go back to doing the BPRD artwork -- I'm not a fan of Guy Davis's art-style at all...
*************************

Havard:
E.E. wrote:
I've seen some of the HB's you speak of. They are a great inspiration, especially when HB investigates the castle. Good stuff. i


Yeah, I'm hooked on this stuff! Smile

Quote:
Off Topic. Havard - I read somewhere that the writers of the Temple, snuck you into the adventure. Is that true?


Hmmm...I dont know! That would be fun though! Smile

Hey, are you Ari Marmell or another Ari? Smile

bgilkison wrote:
If I were thinking in game terms, I'd say they could be Froglins with some sort of template applied -- if we could go outside the SRD, my first instinct would be the "pseudonatural" template, but within the MMRPG rules, it's difficult to say... Perhaps a fiendish, or half-fiend Froglin, or make them Thralls of Coot?


Froglin Thralls of Coot, now I like that!
Personally, I have been tinkering with making my Froglin sort of like the Lovecraftian Deep Ones. That means there could be human-looking Half-Froglin who would eventually turn into True Froglin....

Quote:
OT, I love the Hellboy mythos (could be 'cause I grew up reading Lovecraft and company), but I wish Mignola would go back to doing the BPRD artwork -- I'm not a fan of Guy Davis's art-style at all...


Yeah, I miss Mignolas stuff. And I miss HellBoy himself! I heard there was going to be another movie though, so maybe.... Smile

Havard

************************

EE:
Another, less important Ari. Smile

Took me a while but I found the thread. Knew it was in there someplace.

http://dablackmoor.com/MMRPG/index.php? ... =3830#3830

I'm only assuming that it is the same Temple. Dunno.

~Ari
**********************

Havard:
Everyone who posts here is important! Smile

I have no idea if this Temple version has anything to do with the one run at the Con. It would be really fun if everyone who is active at this forum could get a sneak appearance in some ZGG product other other Smile

Havard
***************************

-Havard

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=443

Havard:
Which of Blackmoor's Enemies do you consider the best, most interesting or most fun to use in your campaigns?
**************

Sheridan:
It's gotta be the Egg!
***********************

dwraith:
oh hell yeah, the egg is just sick!
*******************

grimwell:
You gotta dig on the Egg man.

That said, I really enjoy the flavor of many of the Blackmoor enemies. This is the first setting that I've found in a long while where most of the individual parts of the campaign have context to the greater campaign as a whole. It's not just "Insert orc nation to create random enemy #19" when it comes to the treatment of the 'other' powers. Instead they are individualized, have relevance, and objectives beyond feeding XP to players...
************************

Havard:
Yeah, my vote was for the Egg too. I hope someone votes for something else or this is gonna be one boring poll Razz

***********

gsvenson:
The Orcs were always my favorite enemy...
****************

Rafael:
I voted *Something Else*.

If you like to know what, play in my campaign. Wink

*************
Falconer:
My vote goes for the Ran of Ah Fooh!

Surprised you left him out of the options! Regards.


****************
Havard:
Damn, I knew I had forgotten someone. Embarassed
I suppose I was thinking more in terms of nations than individuals. The Ran is cool though! Twisted Evil
********************

Falconer:
The Duchy of Ten, then. ;-) Regards.
*****************

Havard:
Yeah Smile

Hey, you just gave me a nice idea for the Ran....

Thanks!

************

tadkil:
EGG. EGG. EGG. EGG.

Yep. The Egg.
*****************
Spikey:
Personally I side with the avatar of Zugzul. He is one BAD Mother.
******************

Rafael:
Ran is mine.
*****************

Havard:
I'd be careful about such statements. Remember that the Egg also has a claim for Ran... Twisted Evil
********************

-Havard

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=421

Havard:
Has anyone here campaigned in the City of the Gods, whether the Da3 version or other? What were your experiences in it?
******************

gsvenson:
I played in the original adventure before the module was written, but I am afraid that it was over 30 years ago and I don't remember much of the story. So I am no help to you. Sorry...
Greg

*******************

Havard:
With Dave Arneson as a DM, right? Do you remember if Arneson's version had a space ship? I'm getting the impression that it was more of a city than a ship back then. If you or anyone else can help me out, it would be helpful. Thanks!
*****************

Gsvenson:
Yes, Dave ran the game. It was definitely with "aliens". My recollection is that it was a crossover from our parallel "Star Empires" campaign that John Snider was running (from early 1973 to late 1974 or so, when John went into the Army). There was an RPG component to "Star Empires" which we were also playing, but TSR never published it.

We had several encounters with scout ships from the neighboring galactic empires before the world Blackmoor is on was quarantined by the local galactic government, I can't remember which empire controlled it. We had encounters in Blackmoor with both human and avian scouts (Scott Belfry ran the avian empire). I remember someone getting a 'magic cape' that allowed the wearer to fly (the avians wings were no longer functional, so they created alternate ways to fly). The Blue Rider's armor was a suit of powered Battledress. I was running a galactic empire controlled by a race of ursoids (think of the Hoka's if you know the story - I can't remember the name of the book we based them on any more, though).
***********************

Spikey:
Wow, Blackmoor with space ships. This could be a very interesting plot twist for late campaign gaming.
**********************

Havard:
Greg, you are virtual gold mine here! Smile
So there were indeed space ships. I am wondering how close Dave Ritchie's version of the Valley of the Ancients from DA3 was from Dave Arneson's version. IIRC Arneson said Ritchie never consulted him about the modules, though DA1 is pretty close to the FFC obviously.

I can see that including all of these sci fi elements wouldnt be for everyone, but it is really fascinating hearing about these old events that in fact helped shape Blackmoor into what it is today.

What is Star Empires? Any relation to this: http://starempires.com/se4/ ?

There was the Avians and the Ursoids. Do you remember any other races/Empires?

I'm still interested in getting hold of David Ritchie to find out what formed his ideas about the City of the Gods...

********************
gsvenson:
"Star Empires" and "Star Probe" were a set of rules written by John Snider, which were published by TSR in the mid-70s. I don't know if there is any relation to the web based game you referenced. The concept is a natural for a epbm game as I tried running "Star Empires" campaigns by s-mail a couple of times back in the days before the internet...

There were eight major empires. Three were humanoid empires with one each of ursoid (bears), feline (cats), avian(birds), amoboid (amobas) and icthioid (fish). There were also a variety of minor empires with just a couple of worlds inhabited by exotic races (along with the normal ones above).

I have only read DA1, so I can't tell you what is in the published modules and how they compared with what we did early on.
***********************

gsvenson wrote:
"Star Empires" and "Star Probe" were a set of rules written by John Snider, which were published by TSR in the mid-70s. I don't know if there is any relation to the web based game you referenced. The concept is a natural for a epbm game as I tried running "Star Empires" campaigns by s-mail a couple of times back in the days before the internet...

There were eight major empires. Three were humanoid empires with one each of ursoid (bears), feline (cats), avian(birds), amoboid (amobas) and icthioid (fish). There were also a variety of minor empires with just a couple of worlds inhabited by exotic races (along with the normal ones above).

I have only read DA1, so I can't tell you what is in the published modules and how they compared with what we did early on.


Is this the same as Star Frontiers, or is that a different animal alltogether? Sounds like a fun setting in any case! Smile

I wonder if Dave Ritchie ever played with Arneson...

Havard
**********************

gsvenson:
o, nothing to do with "Star Frontiers".

Nor do I have any idea if Dave Ritchie ever played D&D with Dave Arneson.
**********************

-Havard

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=401

Havard:
I noticed Greg's name is missing from the list of original players of Blackmoor in the HC edition of the Sourcebook. I'm assuming that is a glitch? In any case, what does "original Blackmoor player" mean? During which years did these people play in Blackmoor?

Just curious Smile

***********************

gsvenson:
I am on the list of "original Blackmoor players" in the PDF version and, I assume, the softcover version of the Sourcebook. My understanding is that it was a glitch.

I can't tell you how the list was decided upon or what is meant by "original Blackmoor players", but I moved away from the Twin Cities area in the Fall of '74 (I transfered from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to Mankato State University in southern Minnesota for the Fall semester that year) and I recognize all but three of the names on the list as members of our gaming group from that time or earlier. So, all of the players I recognize would have been players before D&D was published by TSR (which also happened during the Fall of '74). The other three players might have played in sessions that I was not present for, I don't know (their characters are written up in the DA1 "Adventures in Blackmoor" module though, so they must have been involved in the "early" days, too)...
**************************

DClingman:
I can't tell you how the list was decided upon or what is meant by "original Blackmoor players", but I moved away from the Twin Cities area in the Fall of '74 (I transfered from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to Mankato State University in southern Minnesota for the Fall semester that year) and I recognize all but three of the names on the list as members of our gaming group from that time or earlier. So, all of the players I recognize would have been players before D&D was published by TSR (which also happened during the Fall of '74). The other three players might have played in sessions that I was not present for, I don't know (their characters are written up in the DA1 "Adventures in Blackmoor" module though, so they must have been involved in the "early" days, too)...[/quote]

This was a mistake that we corrected in the newer version of the campaign book. Both Dave and I looked long and hard at that list and I think that somehow we saw Svenny's name there even though it wasn't. Greg's the man and definitely an original player. I was very happy to join the list of honorary players this time around, but that's only because Dave allowed me to. )

******************

Havard:
hanks for clearing up this one for me guys!

Dustin, congrats for being added to the honorary players list. You have done more than anyone for Blackmoor in recent years Smile
***********************

glgnfz:
oh no! i

what have i done??? Embarassed

've turned greg into a dinosaur... Rolling Eyes
*****************

Havard:
A herbivore or a carnivore? Razz
*************

Glgnfz:
i guess an omnivore...
*********************

Havard:
Then you are in trouble, no matter what you are made of Wink

******************
Glgnfz:
that's exactly my problem...

**********************

-Havard

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=403

Falconer:
The way it all began is one time I was designing a Middle-earth Fourth Age campaign. I didn't want to use the same lands as had been visited in The Lord of the Rings books, because those lands are at their peak excitement in the Third Age and best played then. So I looked to the inland Sea of Rhûn and the land about it. Tolkien wrote very little about it, but the following quotes shaped my vision of the campaign:
Quote:
The Lord of the Rings, "The House of Eorl"

In Gondor the King Elessar now ruled, and in Arnor also. In all the lands of those realms of old he was king, save in Rohan only; for he renewed to Eomer the gift of Cirion, and Eomer took again the Oath of Eorl. Often he fulfilled it. For though Sauron had passed, the hatreds and evils that he bred had not died, and the King of the West had many enemies to subdue before the White Tree could grow in peace. And wherever King Elessar went with war King Eomer went with him; and beyond the Sea of Rhûn and on the far fields of the South the thunder of the cavalry of the Mark was heard, and the White Horse upon Green flew in many winds until Eomer grew old.

This shows that Rhûn is one of the main areas of contention in the early Fourth Age; that Sauronic foes thrives there still; and that Elessar is a force involved there.
Quote:
The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Last Writings"

But the other two Istari were sent for a different purpose. Morinehtar and Romestamo. Darkness-slayer and East-helper. Their task was to circumvent Sauron: to bring help to the few tribes of Men that had rebelled from Melkor-worship, to stir up rebellion ... and after his first fall to search out his hiding (in which they failed) and to cause dissension and disarray among the dark East.

The most exciting thing about Rhûn is, of course, the Blue Wizards! I decided to go with these names rather than Alatar and Pallando, which are strictly their names "in the West."
Quote:
Unfinished Tales, "The Istari"

I think they went as emissaries to distant regions, East and South, far out of Numenorean range: missionaries to enemy-occupied lands, as it were. What success they had I do not know; but I fear that they failed, as Saruman did, though doubtless in different ways; and I suspect they were founders or beginners of secret cults and 'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron.

Secret cults and magic? Starting to sound like D&D! I definitely think the Blue Wizards should both be "fallen". Of Neutral alignment, perhaps. Fallen from their high and angelic purpose, and desirous of being lords over men, but not full-blown Sauron wannabes.

As for the peoples (the "Easterlings", to westerners) that would be the native inhabitants of Rhûn, Tolkien identifies at least two distinct peoples: the Balchoth and the Wainriders.
Quote:
The Lord of the Rings, "The Numenorean Kings"

The Wainriders were a people, or a confederacy of peoples, that came from the East; but they were stronger and better armed than any that had appeard before. They journeyed in great wains, and their chieftains fought in chariots.

That paints right away a very vivid picture of this nation. As for the Balchoth, we know that at one point they "built many great boats and rafts", which leads my to believe that they were used to plying the waters of the inland Sea of Rhûn itself. I put Morinehtar as ruler over the Balchoth and controlling the shores of the Sea, and I had the Wainriders paying homage to Romestamo in lands out east of Rhûn proper.

Quote:
Unfinished Tales, "The Istari"

It is said that in later days (when again a shadow of evil arose in the Kingdom) it was believed by many of the "Faithful" of that time that "Gandalf" was the last appearance of Manwë himself, before his final withdrawal to the watchtower of Taniquetil.

This "shadow of evil" intrigued me. This is where Tolkien's scarcely-begun Fourth Age sequel to The Lord of the Rings, entitled The New Shadow, comes in. I can't quote the entire thing, but at least I can share the name of this "new shadow:"
Quote:
The Peoples of Middle Earth, "The New Shadow"

His voice sank low and could scarcely be heard above the murmur of a sudden chill wind in the leaves, as the sun sank behind Mindolluin. 'You have heard then the name?' With hardly more than breath he formed it. 'Of Herumor?'

Borlas looked at him with amazement and fear. His mouth made tremulous motions of speech, but no sound came from it.

The story does not last enough to expound on Herumor, but he is mentioned earlier in Tolkien's writings:
Quote:
The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"

And Sauron gathered to him great strength of his servants out of the east and the south; and among them were not a few of the high race of Numenor. For in the days of the sojourn of Sauron in that land the hearts of well nigh all its people had been turned towards darkness ... But because of the power of Gil-galad these renegades, lords both mighty and evil, for the most part took up their abodes in the southlands far away; yet two there were, Herumor and Fuinur, who rose to power among the Haradrim, a great and cruel people that dwelt in the wide lands south of Mordor.

For Herumor to be a Black Numenorean sorceror from the Second Age makes him a fearsome fellow indeed. I figured that Haradrim and Orcs would flock to his banners if he arose to take Sauron's place in the Fourth Age. This would be a threat to Rhûn from the south.

The last evidence we have is various maps of Rhûn. They show a mountain range alongside the western and southwestern shores of the Sea of Rhûn; a large forest covering its northeastern corner; an island amidmost the Sea, and the vineyard-land of Dorwinion on its northwestern shores. The Dorwinions I made out to be a "free people" of farmers and merchants of a good sort.

More in the next post...

_________________
Michael Falconer - http://ulmo.mux.net
"Because by fate even the gods are cast down, weep ye all with me."

********************************

Falconer:
I ran a one-shot adventure in Rhûn as my first attempt at DMing, many years ago. The players enjoyed themselves well enough. It wasn't several years later that I began my full-blown campaign, and of course this time I was using my Blackmoor/Greyhawk/original campaign. It eventually occured to me that Rhûn existed in Blackmoor, so why not in my campaign?

Indeed, I think the approach of fully realizing a Fourth Age Rhûn within the context of Tolkien's world and then transposing it to another world was wholly rewarding. Of course Elessar and his lands to the West must be replaced with Blackmoor and the Great Kingdom and all that; but why shouldn't the PCs, if they traveled far to the east, find strange lands with Blue Wizards and Wainriders?

I have many notes in my development of this campaign. Morinehtar ruled a large walled city called Morinburg on the island in the Sea of Rhûn. This city is dominated by a grand arena for Morinehtar's constant sports. The "Forest of Twilight" and the "Crimson Mountains" are some prime adventuring locales. Etc. Anyway, those are some of my ideas. Regards.
**************************

Havard:
Thanks for posting this Falconer! Truly a fascinating read!

So if we are porting this over to Blackmoor, what would be the origin of the Blue Wizards here then? I'm getting a celt-like imagery of the Wainriders and Balcoths. Is that appropriate you think? Obviously also allied with Orcs and Beastmen of the North.

I noticed that the section on Marfeldt in the FCC actually has quite alot on Rhun aswell, it could be interesting to try and reconcile some of these things....

***************************

Falconer:
Some descriptors Tolkien used to describe the Easterlings included "wild men out of the East", "hordes of Easterlings", "a fierce people...wholly under the shadow of Dol Guldur" (Balchoth), "Not tall, but broad and grim, bearded like dwarves, wielding great
axes". Tolkien describes many, many races under the general descriptor of Easterling, but in general they seem to me to reflect a European's view of what invaders from the east would be. Visigoths and Lombards, Mongols and Aryans, that sort of thing.

As far as "porting this over to Blackmoor" and "the origin of the Blue Wizards" and all that, well, I think it would be a coupout to treat this as anything other than a totally Tolkienesque corner of the world. It doesn't need to be integrated with the core Blackmoor/Vestfold lands. Though, even there, you will meet Orcs and Balrogs but not their creator, Melkor, right? Just so. If one travels far, far to the east he will arrive at the great inland Sea of Rhûn with its Blue Wizards and its hordes of chariot-fighters. It doesn't matter which immortal powers sent Morinehtar and Romestamo as emissaries to the fierce and grim peoples here, for they have forsaken their quest anyway to live as wizard-kings in this new and exciting land. (Although, if the Blue Wizards DO preach Oromë and Mandos, and Herumor preaches Melkor, is that really campaign-breaking in a n already polytheistic world?)

I read the Marfeldt the Barbarian story just a few weeks ago, but I'll read it again and extract what I can from it. Should be interesting. Regards.
**************

Havard

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=404

Havard:
Here is a report from a guy lucky enough to play a Blackmoor game with Dave himself over at ConQuest. There is a pic further down the thread too:

http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=286043
******************

gsvenson:
Interesting thread. Thanks, HÃ¥vard.
****************

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=378
Havard:
Here is a new map I've made of Blackmoor Smile

http://home.nvg.org/~hoc/Blackmoor_final.jpg

Comments?

HÃ¥vard

Edit: I made the image into a link instead so its easier to read posts in the thread.
*****************

Rafael:
My new desktop background! Very Happy
************

Havard:
Glad you like it! Smile

************

Spikey:
AH, but to make this one complete you have to have Pebbletown and Heronsport! Although these were not in DA's original map Sad
********************

Havard:
I can do that! Smile Where do they appear? I suppose I could also include some other locations like Cicatri from the Redwood Scar. Are there any other locations I should include if I make an update on the map?
******************

Rafael:
I would like to see maps of the Thonian Rand, and the area south of the VoA as described in DA3. There's a lot of unused adventuring potential down there, if you ask me... Smile
******************

HAvard:
This page http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_anagrams.html has a list of anagrams, puns and homages in the Greyhawk setting. Some of them are also relevant for Blackmoor such as:

Quote:
Egg of Coot
Blackmoor According to Gary Gygax in an ENWorld thread, "According to Dave Arneson the "Egg of Coot" was created from the name "Gregg Scott," the chap who ran the MicroArmor casting company some years back. Gregg dismissed fantasy games as childish and claimed wargaming was "manly."

Coot indeed!" Egg of Coot was an evil swamp monster in Dave Arneson's Blackmoor game;

Nosnra G1:
The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, p. Nosnra = Arn[e]son Dave Arneson was co-creator of D&D

Robilar
WoG folio, p. Robilar = Rob liar/lair? Character played by Robert J. Kuntz


Now, maybe we could make a similar list for Blackmoor? I would need your help though. Seems like every location or character name in Blackmoor could be on this list. Who wants to add some?

HÃ¥vard

*********************
Spikey:
Grey hawks are dangerous, a mere touch from one is enough to kill you.'
******************
Rafael:
Well, Archlis, Glendower and Blackmoor itself are the names of famous and expensive whiskeys... Smile Apart from that, all the name puns are pretty obvious, I guess... Still, I foudn no explanation for "Thonia". Smile
**********************
HarleyStroh:
Inspired by this post, I hid some names in my portion of the GenCon episode of "Temple of the Frog." Not too hard to find, but it is nice to continue the tradition. In fact, everyone above makes an appearance. Smile
********************

Havard:
Ringlo (from Tolkien):
The river Ringló
Ringló arises as two smaller unnamed rivers in the White Mountains, on the southern arm that bends towards Belfalas.
Flowing through the Gondorian city Ethring, it passes north of Tarnost where it is met by its tributary Ciril, and meets the sea at Edhellond, near Cobas Haven above Dol Amroth.

Which map location names were inspired by Liqour or cigarette brands?

******************

-Havard

Havard:
http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=244

It's been a long time since I've updated my website, but I finally got around to fixing a few links, adding this forum to the "community" section, adding some more download links etc. Most of this should have been done ages ago, but at least it is nice to finally have it done! Smile

Anything else people would like to see on my Blackmoor fansite?

Anything people want to write and see it on my Blackmoor fansite?

***********************

Hi Havard,

Maybe you could put a link to the PbP boards on it? Wink The more publicity we get here, the better...

BTW, very cool d20 modern link! I hang out a lot over at WotC, but I had totally missed that one!

Your site is Blackmoor's pride, like always!

Yours,

Rafael
***********************

Desdichado wrote:
Maybe you could put a link to the PbP boards on it? Wink The more publicity we get here, the better...


That's a great idea! Do you want it in the Community or the Link section (or both)? Suggestions for a subtext for it?

Quote:
BTW, very cool d20 modern link! I hang out a lot over at WotC, but I had totally missed that one!


Foul Weather is a pretty cool scenario, and although Mike McArtor said he hadn't even thought about the Blackmoor/Mystara connection when he wrote it, I suspect he subconciously must have had the original FSS Beagle in mind when he wrote it. This offers an interesting backstory to the Beagle. Apparently, it was built by a human civilization before being taken over by the Galactic Federation after the events of Foul Weather and turned into a Federation Scout Ship under the command of Captain Bork Riesling. I havent compared the ship blueprints yet, but likely they will indicate that the ship underwent dramatic reconstruction by the Federation, probably due to the damage it sustained during Foul Weather.


Quote:
Your site is Blackmoor's pride, like always!


Thank you, thankyou Embarassed

Havard
**********************

havard wrote:

That's a great idea! Do you want it in the Community or the Link section (or both)? Suggestions for a subtext for it?


Where you prefer it - I can send you a short text next week, if you like... I am having exams next week, but after they are over, I will resume my work on the DA-timeline as well. - If it finds your approval, would you like to post it there as well?

havard wrote:

I havent compared the ship blueprints yet, but likely they will indicate that the ship underwent dramatic reconstruction by the Federation, probably due to the damage it sustained during Foul Weather.


BM and Mystara are living a certain renaissance over at WotC lately, I think. - Maybe that Hollow World joke was welcomed better than they thought...

Does the Beagle play a big role in your campaign? - As you might already know, spelljamming etc. is practically nonexistant in my own games.

Yours,

Rafael
************************

Desdichado wrote:

Where you prefer it - I can send you a short text next week, if you like... I am having exams next week, but after they are over, I will resume my work on the DA-timeline as well. - If it finds your approval, would you like to post it there as well?


Text for Grim Winter:
Yeah, that would be sweet! Smile

DA-timeline:
Absolutely. And I don't think you'll have any problem getting my approval on your work.
Looking forward to seeing it!

Quote:

BM and Mystara are living a certain renaissance over at WotC lately, I think. - Maybe that Hollow World joke was welcomed better than they thought...


The HW joke was interesting because the ones who wrote it wanted to pick a setting they thought noone was interested in, yet they couldn't pick one that was so obscure most people hadn't heard of it.

Quote:
Does the Beagle play a big role in your campaign? - As you might already know, spelljamming etc. is practically nonexistant in my own games.


Space travel of any sort has never really come into play, but in theory Voidships (from Champions of Mystara) exist and the Void may be explored.

In my Mystara campaigns, the Beagle has played a certain role since it's Core Reactor is now a major source of magic on Mystara.

I've been going back and forth with what to do with it in Blackmoor though. Now I'm back to the point where I will probably keep it. I am wondering about the aliens though. Might it be cooler if I made them more alien-looking and less human?

My most recent idea for a BM campaign is one revolving around the discovery and development of technology, and I am thinking of having the finding of the Beagle be one of the climaxes of the campaign. Ofcourse, I was thinking about having them sent to the far future and witness the destruction of Blackmoor by the end of the campaign....

Havard
*******************
havard wrote:

Text for Grim Winter:
Yeah, that would be sweet! Smile

DA-timeline:
Absolutely. And I don't think you'll have any problem getting my approval on your work.
Looking forward to seeing it!


Thank you very much! I'll send you a text for the PbP advert about next weekend!

havard wrote:

The HW joke was interesting because the ones who wrote it wanted to pick a setting they thought noone was interested in, yet they couldn't pick one that was so obscure most people hadn't heard of it.


HW was cool - I hope WotC republishes some M material as apart of their classic series. -
havard wrote:

My most recent idea for a BM campaign is one revolving around the discovery and development of technology, and I am thinking of having the finding of the Beagle be one of the climaxes of the campaign. Ofcourse, I was thinking about having them sent to the far future and witness the destruction of Blackmoor by the end of the campaign....


IMC, the beagle is non-existant. The City of the Gods is indeed a city of dead gods... I think the main difference between our both views of BM is that my campaign is rather dark, while your's is more science fantasy. Smile

You don't have campaign journals at hand, do you? Smile

Yours,

Rafael
**********************
Desdichado wrote:

Thank you very much! I'll send you a text for the PbP advert about next weekend!


Cool! Cool

Quote:

HW was cool - I hope WotC republishes some M material as apart of their classic series. -


Their classic series? Please explain?

Quote:

IMC, the beagle is non-existant. The City of the Gods is indeed a city of dead gods... I think the main difference between our both views of BM is that my campaign is rather dark, while your's is more science fantasy. Smile

You don't have campaign journals at hand, do you? Smile


No campaign journals so far, but hopefully one day Smile

As said, I have gone back and forth on the technology bit. I really wouldnt go as far as calling my campaign science fantasy. Steampunk Fantasy would work better.

In general, the style of Blackmoor IMC is low, almost dark fantasy, a world perhaps comparable to the real world ca 1000 AD.

However, there are pockets of civilization, or rather individuals who have managed to make leaps of technomagical advances, such as the Alchemists of Blackmoor (Blackmoor University) working with the dwarves as well as the Egg of Coot (Dark Frankenstein-ish experments).

I am still unsure on how the Beagle will be presented (The name will never be revealed to the players!), but it should be clear that any devices recovered from this vessel will lead to a dramatic change in the world. (Ofcourse, should the PCs decide not to bring anything, Rocklin and other will already have brought enough tech around to make it available to entities such as the Egg. The Ran of Ah Fooh, one of the leaders of Ten, is also a technological experiment by the Egg and is possibly working with the Afridhi now occupying Ten. His "army" is in fact an elite force of cyborged zombies.

I am pretty sure I will stray away from anything resembling Star Trek. No laser weapons, no jump suits, and no names that will bring in those associations.

Please share more about the atmosphere in your campaign! Smile

Havard
********************

havard wrote:

Their classic series? Please explain?


WotC is rereleasing the DL modules as well as the old I6 module for 3e. ToH and White Plume Mountain can be found as free 3e versions for download. - Rumour has it that there is much more to come...

havard wrote:

In general, the style of Blackmoor IMC is low, almost dark fantasy, a world perhaps comparable to the real world ca 1000 AD.

However, there are pockets of civilization, or rather individuals who have managed to make leaps of technomagical advances, such as the Alchemists of Blackmoor (Blackmoor University) working with the dwarves as well as the Egg of Coot (Dark Frankenstein-ish experments).


IMC, nearly no steampunk but a lot of gothic style happenings... I cannot hide that I am Ravenloftler at heart... (I am not sure how much I can reveal here... My players might be lurking...)

havard wrote:

The Ran of Ah Fooh, one of the leaders of Ten, is also a technological experiment by the Egg and is possibly working with the Afridhi now occupying Ten. His "army" is in fact an elite force of cyborged zombies.


A terrible lich lord, the one supervillain IMC. Ran's even more nasty than the Egg...Has shown up in every of my campaigns so far...
****************

glgnfz:
the link to the hand-drawn arneson-map is dead!

(but i guess you have already found this on dragonsfoot.)

*******************

Spikey:
I like all the happy disease tables, if I ever finish my swamp modules they will be included in a more palatable form to mess with players...

BUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
********************

My exams went well, thank you - still waiting for the grades...Confused

Thank you for linking to our game! That is like knighting me! Smile ... Oh, and btw, it's DESDICHADO! Wink

If you want to put some more info up there, you can use the recent add I wrote - although that one is pretty long...

You find it here:

http://dablackmoor.com/MMRPG/index.php? ... opic&t=255

In any case, thank you so much!

Yours,

Rafael
**********************

http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/index.p ... opic&t=362

Sheridan:
OK, so I recieved my Big Box O' Zeitgeisty Goodness today (Player's Guide, Castle Blackmoor, softcover campaign setting), so I do have plenty to read for a while, BUT, how can those of us who didn't make it to GenCon get a copy of the Paladins of Blackmoor supplement?

Also, a couple sidenotes:
1) The "pullout" map in the Blackmoor softcover had the perferation barely exposed past the glued spine of the book, making it extremely difficult to remove. In fact, mine ripped Shocked Crying or Very sad
I had assumed it ws going to be a pull out version of the map that was originally in the hardcover/last year's Goodman Games catalog, but when I saw it was different I had to remove it. I would suggest a seperate map with a rubber cement strip in the future if at all possible.
2) When I took the "Dungeons of Castle Blackmoor" book out of the box, my wife quipped "Uh oh. Our party's in trouble, aren't we?" Smile

Thanks,
-Scott Moore
*Sheridan
*************************

zg_rorio:
Here it is:
http://www.dablackmoor.com/MMRPG/index. ... load&cid=1

Richard
*******************

gsvenson:
Thanks for your efforts. I like the new Paladin Supplement.
*******************
Zg_rorio:
Cool!

This is just one version, it will be found in a future supplement.

Richard
*****************
Havard:
I agree with Svenny! These are very nice. It never made sense to me that there should be character type like this for LG characters only, without the other sides having their champions as well...

Thanks!

*****************

zg_rorio:
I am glad you like it.

Richard
********************

Sure! Smile

I spread the word about this one over at the Mystara forum and got some useful response:

Quote:eldersphinx wrote:
Interesting writeup, Havard. Thanks for finding it. I've got a couple questions about the editing of the text (the Paladin of Chaos, frex, has an ability called Detect Good - "at will, a Paladin of Chaos can use detect law, as the spell", and also has a code of conduct which requires him to respect all capable authority figures), but all in all it makes for a nice addition to the system.