Hello all new here I need some ideas for a new OD&D Blackmoor campaign

[Bard The Bowman]

Hello Aldarron or Harvard,

What does this ATL mean and EL mean in the MMRPG's? I don't understand that. Please clarify when you find the time. 

Bard

[Bard The Bowman]

Harvard,

Whats the weird enclave of Blackmoor PDF? It was created by Aldarron it looks like. Is that for using the campaign in Oerth? Vs Skothar? I am using mine 2000 years before the Known World was founded in Skothar so will this not apply to me? Or maybe you don't know anyting about this? Or is there still info I can use in it regardless such as history?

Thx,
Bard the Bowman

[aldarron]

Harvard,

Whats the weird enclave of Blackmoor PDF? It was created by Aldarron it looks like. Is that for using the campaign in Oerth? Vs Skothar? I am using mine 2000 years before the Known World was founded in Skothar so will this not apply to me? Or maybe you don't know anyting about this? Or is there still info I can use in it regardless such as history?

Thx,
Bard the Bowman

Hi Bard - so yes, I'm most definitely D. H. Boggs. lol.  Weird Enclave is primarily for Greyhawk players. Blackmoor began life in 1971 as a place on the Castle and Crusade world map along with another place called Greyhawk. After Arneson left TSR he placed a version of Blackmoor on the City State of the Invincible Overlord map by judges guild. In the 1980s  TSR struck a deal with Arneson to publish some of his adventures and the DA series of modules was born. Because they wanted to used them in the Basic D&D, TSR decided to make Blackmoor part of the Mystara setting even though a version of Blackmoor remained part of the world of Greyhawk. So there are at least three official settings for Blackmoor, if not more.

Anywho, I wrote Weird Enclave so Greyhawk players could draw on and use much of the Blackmoor material. 

I'd encourage you to download it even if you aren't interested in Greyhawk because its free and you might get some use out of the timeline or some of the references.

[Bard The Bowman]

Harvard,

Whats the weird enclave of Blackmoor PDF? It was created by Aldarron it looks like. Is that for using the campaign in Oerth? Vs Skothar? I am using mine 2000 years before the Known World was founded in Skothar so will this not apply to me? Or maybe you don't know anyting about this? Or is there still info I can use in it regardless such as history?

Thx,
Bard the Bowman

Hi Bard - so yes, I'm most definitely D. H. Boggs. lol.  Weird Enclave is primarily for Greyhawk players. Blackmoor began life in 1971 as a place on the Castle and Crusade world map along with another place called Greyhawk. After Arneson left TSR he placed a version of Blackmoor on the City State of the Invincible Overlord map by judges guild. In the 1980s  TSR struck a deal with Arneson to publish some of his adventures and the DA series of modules was born. Because they wanted to used them in the Basic D&D, TSR decided to make Blackmoor part of the Mystara setting even though a version of Blackmoor remained part of the world of Greyhawk. So there are at least three official settings for Blackmoor, if not more.

Anywho, I wrote Weird Enclave so Greyhawk players could draw on and use much of the Blackmoor material. 

I'd encourage you to download it even if you aren't interested in Greyhawk because its free and you might get some use out of the timeline or some of the references.

Aldarron, aka DH Boggs and Dan LOL. Thanks! I kind of figured it was part of Blackmoor set next to the Oerth and Greyhawk campaign Gygax created since they played in each other's worlds back in the early 70's. Now it makes sense why its part of Mystara. I definately am interested in getting into Greyhawk also at some point. I heard its an awesome campaign, and I have seen a TON of modules for it. I have it downloaded and plan on hopefully getting some use out of the timeline and references. =) Also, it seems you're the author also of The Lost Dungeons of Tonnisborg? Or am I mistaken and its a joint thing maybe? I don't know much about but I have seen the book browsing online and it looks awesome! Something I would love to run sometime when I am higher in level. Let me know more about this please. Thanks for getting back. Whats the ALT and EL iirc in the MMRPG sessions? I saw that and was so lost of what it meant. You and Harvard have helped me get up to speed a bit more with "Blackmoor" campaign. I do appreciate your time. Btw, do you know if the 4th Edition players manual something of the wolf was ever created? I can't seem to find the pdf on drivethru or anywhere online. Just curious if you guys knew. I am trying to collect all the pdf's made of 3.5 and 4th Ed. 

[aldarron]

Hi Bard - Yes, well, Tonisborg was a collaboration. I cleaned up/typed up Greg Svenson's dungeon, wrote the ruleset, organized the book and wrote about 25% of the advice section. 

Oh, the MMRPG episode I was thinking of actually isn't Swamp Flies, it is episode 28, Left and Disappeared. That's set in South Pim, which might be a great place to start a level 1 character. For some reason, there is also a map of South Pim in episode 61.

Age of the Wolf - officially never happened. There was a version put out a couple years or so ago by the writer who had been hired to do it back in the day, but it appears he went off-script per the product developer (who is a mod here) and he also ran afoul of the Arneson Estate. It was a big kerfuffle. Ymmv.

[Bard The Bowman]

Hi Bard - Yes, well, Tonisborg was a collaboration. I cleaned up/typed up Greg Svenson's dungeon, wrote the ruleset, organized the book and wrote about 25% of the advice section. Wow! Thats awesome. So the book is basically a giant dungeon module per se? I saw Tonnsburg I think on the map across the bay from "The North" is that where the dungeon is located? I would love to get that book if its a mega-dungeon. =)

Oh, the MMRPG episode I was thinking of actually isn't Swamp Flies, it is episode 28, Left and Disappeared. That's set in South Pim, which might be a great place to start a level 1 character. For some reason, there is also a map of South Pim in episode 61. Hmm, I see. Glad you got the correct one for me. I will have to check that out. I appreciate it. I saw episode 1 and that looked like a good place also since its in Blackmoor in the Comeback Inn. Glad Harvard finally got me access to the episodes. What does ATL and EL mean in the episodes? I see that listed next to the NPC's or monsters and have no clue what it means. Guessing its a 3.5 term. I don't play that version so not sure. 

Age of the Wolf - officially never happened. There was a version put out a couple years or so ago by the writer who had been hired to do it back in the day, but it appears he went off-script per the product developer (who is a mod here) and he also ran afoul of the Arneson Estate. It was a big kerfuffle. Ymmv. Ahhh, too bad! Now I can quit looking. lol I did hear about it that he ran amook (however you spell that word) and put a bad new out for the Estate. Pretty sad. Well at least I am getting a lot of good info for this campaign and many adventures now to find. =) Thx for the reply Aldarron. 

[Bard The Bowman]

Hello Aldarron and Harvard,

I still trying to get an answer from either one of you about what does ATL and EL I believe iirc mean in the episodes? I have no clue. Is that 3.5 terminology? Maybe, I am guessing. I never played past 2nd Ed so I am not familiar with 3.5 or maybe its something new with these episodes only. I see it listed for the NPC's or monsters. Can someone kindly let me know. Thx kindly gents.

Bard

[Havard]

Hello Aldarron and Harvard,

I still trying to get an answer from either one of you about what does ATL and EL I believe iirc mean in the episodes? I have no clue. Is that 3.5 terminology? Maybe, I am guessing. I never played past 2nd Ed so I am not familiar with 3.5 or maybe its something new with these episodes only. I see it listed for the NPC's or monsters. Can someone kindly let me know. Thx kindly gents.

Bard

To be honest I was confused by this as well, even though I ran 3E/3.5E at the time. 

ATL is Average Table Level

EL I believe is Encounter Level. 

So, if the ATL is much lower than the EL, then the DM knows the party will have a tough fight ahead of him. Of course, noone has ever really managed to make a good system for gaging this sort of situations. 

-Havard

[Bard The Bowman]

Hello Aldarron and Harvard,

I still trying to get an answer from either one of you about what does ATL and EL I believe iirc mean in the episodes? I have no clue. Is that 3.5 terminology? Maybe, I am guessing. I never played past 2nd Ed so I am not familiar with 3.5 or maybe its something new with these episodes only. I see it listed for the NPC's or monsters. Can someone kindly let me know. Thx kindly gents.

Bard

To be honest I was confused by this as well, even though I ran 3E/3.5E at the time. 

ATL is Average Table Level

EL I believe is Encounter Level. 

So, if the ATL is much lower than the EL, then the DM knows the party will have a tough fight ahead of him. Of course, noone has ever really managed to make a good system for gaging this sort of situations. 

-Havard

Harvard,

Oh gotcha! Thats funny you ran 3E and 3.5E and still didn't know what that meant, thats hilarious buddy. Ya, I figured it had something to do with that edition and I never played it so I was totally confused. Thats not so helpful. Just looking at the monsters vs the party and saying ok do we fight or run is much easier I think. LOL
Thanks Harvard. Also, is there any fanzines made for Blackmoor at all that either of you guys know of? I have been reading Threshold for BECMI's Mystara and its awesome! Tons of extra info for the world. So I am curious, was there any ever made by fans of Blackmoor such as you 2?

Cheers,
Bard

[Havard]

Also, is there any fanzines made for Blackmoor at all that either of you guys know of? I have been reading Threshold for BECMI's Mystara and its awesome! Tons of extra info for the world. So I am curious, was there any ever made by fans of Blackmoor such as you 2?

Indeed, Threshold Magazine is excellent and made in association with The Piazza and the Vaults of Pandius which are two websites I have supported for decades. There are often Blackmoor articles in that fanzine.

Various Greyhawk fanzines have also included Blackmoor material.

There is no Blackmoor fanzine that I am aware of, but the Blackmoor Rampant sort of served that purpose back in the ZGG days? You can download all the issues for free from this website here.

-Havard