07-16-2015, 01:20 PM
Havard Wrote:Very cool post Dan! Analytical and detailed as always!
I totally agree with you that the NPC section of DA1 is without a doubt derived from Dave's material and the original campaign.
Clerics are interesting because they are one of the classes that clearly originated in the Blackmoor campaign with Bishop Carr as the first Cleric character.
One thing that you do not bring up is the idea of being brought back to life. Dave Arneson mentions on multiple instances characters that have been killed, but who were returned to the living. I can't find any example saying that it was the Cleric who brought the character back to life, but it would make sense.
Another thing that could be mentioned is the FFC's references to Crusaders. Crusaders seem to be a Chainmail type(?) character that could be a proto Paladin, though this is obviously another example of a religiously motivated character type even if he most likely did not possess divine magic. I always found it interesting that Crusaders would be travelling across the North from the Great Kingdom. Probably they were off to fight against Balrogs and the like and perhaps try to convert Afridhi or other pagans?
-Havard
Great points Havard. I think a solid case can be made that Gygax's D&D Cleric does incorporate CHAINMAIL's Crusader types.
I think Mornard has been saying that William Crolley was the first Cleric player.