Blackmoor dungeon history

[Havard]

Don't worry, it was really just a couple of adventures that really had a Sci-Fi element, the vast majority was strictly fantasy. In fact, I find it kind of funny that the published adventures turned out to be the ones that had the Sci-Fi connection...

I think Ive seen a statement from you or Dave saying that the reason these locations were chosen is because they were so different from everything else.

If you're looking for a standard fantasy setting in 1986 (when the DA series were published), you have plenty to choose between. Locations like the Temple of the Frog and City of the Gods were things people would notice.

I write alot about the sci fi elements, not so much because I like them, but because I am struggling with them. They make the place unique, but they are hard to present to players these days.

My current theory on the matter is that its not the idea of combining sci fi and fantasy that makes it difficult, it is a question of what kind of sci fi and what kind of fantasy. DA3 made the City of the Gods like something directly out of Star Trek TOS. I'm getting a much different wibe from recounts of Arneson's City of the Gods. Our understanding of science has changed alot since then. Maybe a more exotic version of sci fi would mesh better with fantasy these days?

That said, I think ZGG/CMP made a mistake by not focusing more on these parts ot the setting. Again, people have alot of different things to choose between, why would they choose Blackmoor if its "just another fantasy setting"?

Havard