The NWFP Connection

[Havard]

I'd argue the opposite. Havard knows more than anybody regarding the overall corpus of Blackmoor, but there is indeed disagreement on Arnesons role on different parts and the DA series being one of them. David Ritchie was the lead writer there and his role was to intergrate Blackmoor into the TSR line as a standard TSR Mystara product. He consulted with Arneson (a little less on each one, seemingly) and worked from his notes, but it was ultimatly TSR who dictated the nature of the line and Ritchie who crafted it. The ZGG line, on the other hand, while largely an invention of the other writers, was under Daves control, at least to the extent that he hadan executive influence and veto power he lacked earlier and the writers were attempting to at least be consistent with Dave's vision.

I think my previous statement came off a bit more critical towards the ZGG line than intended. I agree with your assessment on that line.

I do however disagree with your description of Ritchie's role. It is important to remember that there was no Mystara at this time, and the Known World little more than the map in the Expert Set.

While each DA module includes a history section and a chapter about how the PCs can get from the Known World, via Time Travel to Blackmoor, the impact of this connection on the DA modules pretty much ends here. The descriptions of Blackmoor are in no way affected by any "baggage" of the overall line.

Ritchie's true impact however, is to bring Blackmoor into what James Maliszewski might call a Silver Age*framework:

The Silver Age is a transitional age that marries a sophisticated (some might say "decadent") interpretation of Gygaxian naturalism with a growing concern for "dramatic" coherence. The Silver Age is one of "fantastic realism" and the construction of believable worlds and stories is its great concern

While the FFC is a collection of Arneson's Campaign Notes and House Rules, the DA modules present Blackmoor as a coherent setting, removing the most blatant in-jokes and allows the reader to easily get an overview of the setting, where the FFC dives straight in. Having gotten into D&D in the "Silver Age" myself, I am much more comfortable with this kind of presentation.

The DA series have a serious impact on the core products of the ZGG line, also suggesting that Ritchie came fairly close to Arneson's vision. The main thing Arneson objected to in the DA series was having the Afridhi invade Ten, as mentioned earlier.


-Havard


*I dislike Grognardia's loaded terminology, but the analysis is good.