11-25-2009, 04:20 PM
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
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
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign