FFC reviewed at Wayne's Books Blog

[Havard]

First Fantasy Campaign (1977): Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor Emerges Post-TSR

Date: January 14, 2024Author: Wayne's Books 0 Comments

BLACKMOOR […] is the oldest and longest running DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game, and readers should find such material quite helpful in assuring the longevity of their own campaigns.
Dave Arneson . . . Is there really such a creature? Yes, Gentle Readers, there is, and shudder when the name is spoken. Although he is a man of many talents who has authored many historic rules sets and games (which TSR will be publishing periodically), Dave is also the innovator of the “dungeon adventure” concept, creator of ghastly monsters, and inscrutable dungeonmaster par excellence. He devises complex combat systems, inexplicable dungeon and wilderness areas, and traps of the most subtle fiendishness.

The partnership that gave us Dungeons & Dragons was not to last. Within a year or so, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson would part ways.
Arneson was always better at DMing and sheer creativity than outputting finished works, and that was never going to fly at the burgeoning TSR. Rancor ensued after the split, but that’s a topic for another day.
In 1977, with the help of Richard Snider, Arneson released his aptly-named First Fantasy Campaign through Judges Guild. This was first time his legendary Blackmoor setting saw print in a big way. D&D Supplement II: Blackmoor had contained little source material, instead serving as expansion rules to the original three little brown books of Original D&D. Although… the adventure within – Temple of the Frog – was certainly a taste of Arneson’s setting.
I have an FFC book going to the shelves, and that’s the subject of our profile today.

Full version here:

https://waynesbooks.games/2024/01/14/fir...-post-tsr/


-Havard