03-07-2012, 11:13 PM
Havard Wrote:At this point I think it is fair to say that it is pretty clear that we are interested in different things from Blackmoor. -Havard
Isn’t everybody? :?
Havard Wrote:I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, but if our discussions are to get any further it might be useful to clarify where we stand. Perhaps instead of focusing on discovering a "True Blackmoor" we could move on to discuss different continuities of Blackmoor according to our own preferences. -Havard
Precisely what I’ve been advocating. I like to approach questions regarding the setting by asking what is your starting point. Is it d20 Blackmoor, DA series Blackmoor, FFC Blackmoor, Greyhawk Blackmoor, a homebrew, or something else entirely. What version you prefer to start with will prioritize what information, if any you might take from other sources. Sources that might include geographical references from early Greyhawk, such as Rauxes and Aerdy.
Havard Wrote:Personally I will always use Thonia for my Blackmoor.. It is not a name invented by Dave Arneson, but since Dave didnt make up a specific name for his Great Kingdom (except Geneva maybe...) I have no problem using it. Especially since it is used both in the DA modules and the D20 line.
If you want to use the Great Kingdom of Aerdy for your continuity, I think that is fair. You should probably know that this is very much in line with the Greyhawk setting. Greyhawk did have a Great Kingdom of Aerdy (old Aerdy) which at one point covered almost the entire continent of Flanaess. Using the name Aerdy does suggest that your continuity is closer to Gygax' vision of their shared world. -Havard
Given that Dave did very little to flesh out the Great Kingdom, whereas Gygax did a bit in the 1970’s when the settings were still connected, I don’t feel any particular need to separate Dave’s Great Kingdom from Gygax’s, at least as far as the early stuff goes. I tend to prioritize Original over Revised, (depending somewhat on who authorized the revision) but that is merely my preference.
Havard Wrote:I also think it is unfair to refer to David Ritchie as a TSR fanboy with no history with the setting. -Havard
Uh, you may have misread me. I meant “Thonia” has no previous history as a name for the setting. I was also under the impression that there was uncertainty about who first choose the name Thonia for the Great Kingdom, but if it was David Ritchie, I’m sure he was a fan and no disrespect was intended in saying so.