Tag Archives: TSR

Creating a “Best of TSR D&D” Rulebook?

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Most old school D&D players realize that it is fairly easy to use an adventure written for one version of TSR D&D with the rules for a different version of TSR D&D. While each version (OD&D, Holmes D&D, 1e, B/X, BECMI, 2e, and RC) are different enough to be separate games, they have some much in common that it often takes little effort to use an adventure or setting designed for one version with another version. In most cases, many experienced GMs can convert adventures on the fly as they run them. A lot of people used to mix rules … Continue reading →

Garage Sale Finds Given to RetroRolePlaying Cancer Fund Donors

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I made an interesting find a garage sale last week. I was headed home from the supermarket when I saw a garage sale that looked like it had some old D&D stuff. Despite having milk in the car I stopped. I was right, I had seen a badly water-damaged AD&D 1e Monster Manual II. I asked if they had anything else and they pulled out a box with about 15 old modules in it and asked a dollar a piece for them. I offered them ten dollars for the lot (all the cash I had on me) and they snapped … Continue reading →

Lords & Wizards Back on Track

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I’m happy to say that with two sessions of Lords & Wizards based on Swords & Wizardry and Labyrinth Lord (instead of on ACKS), we seem to be back on track. We are spending time playing instead of trying to fight the proficiency system or worrying about what level of treasure is too much/not enough for the system. There are still lots of bugs to work out and things to add/subtract to get to a “beta” stage, but we are all having fun playing again — even the players who really wanted the foundation of the system to be ACKS. … Continue reading →

New Random Wizard TSR Interview: David Cook

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Random Wizard has done another great interview with a former TSR employee, David “Zeb” Cook this time. The topics include Basic/Expert D&D, X1 Isle of Dread, Tom Moldvay, Conan RPG, Indiana Jones RPG, player feedback surveys during the design of 2e, Ruins of Adventure, SSI, and more computer games. David Cook Interview The Brown Box/Wee Warriors Cancer Fund Drive updated with BONUS giveaway items is on. 12 standard giveaway items (including a third printing Brown Box D&D and Wee Warriors items are available. High Donors will get get six (their choice), the rest will be raffled off with each $10 … Continue reading →

Another TSR Interview: Skip Williams

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Random Wizard has done another good interview with a former TSR employee. This time its Skip Williams talking about his first adventure, his early days at TSR, his thoughts on 4th edition, his recent work for WotC, and what he has been up to lately. Skip Williams Interview Skip worked on a lot of 2e and 3e stuff I really did not like, but the interview is an interesting read. The Brown Box/Wee Warriors Cancer Fund Drive updated with BONUS giveaway items is on. 12 standard giveaway items (including a third printing Brown Box D&D and Wee Warriors items are … Continue reading →

Brown Box/Wee Warriors Cancer Fund Drive Updated (with MORE donor giveaway items)

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This is a update to the Brown Box D&D and Wee Warriors Goodies Available (For Cancer Fund Donors) post. If you need more info, please check there. This update adds some new donor giveaway items, among other things. As most readers know, my wife had oral cancer and that I worked on the original Microlite74 as way to cope during her recovery from 6 weeks of radiation treatment in 2008. We are some of the 40 to 50 million people in the US who do not have health insurance and do not qualify for government aid as we live in … Continue reading →

More TSR Interviews: James Ward and Rick Krebs

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Random Wizard has done another set of very interesting interviews with former TSR employees, both friends of Gary Gygax. This time James Ward (author of Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World) talks about Gary,and working at TSR. Rick Krebs (author of GangBusters) talks about Gary, the development process of Gangbusters, and the role of computers with RPGs. James Ward Interview Rick Krebs Interview Our current Cancer Fund drive continues (see below). Don’t forget that all donations between now and 9pm Monday evening will be split between the cancer fund and the Ernie Fire Relief Trust Fund (for Ernie Gygax) counting for … Continue reading →

Help Gary Gygax’s Son Ernie Recover From A House Fire

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I’m sure almost everyone in the Old School Gaming Community has held that in mid-February Ernest “Ernie” Gary Gygax Jr. (pictured at right) had a house fire at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He, his room mate Scott, and his dog were all okay, but lost all of their possessions in the fire. Luke Gygax reported “Well the good news is Ernie and his roommate escaped the fire that destroyed their quarters this morning. The bad news is that they could not save any of their personal effects. Ernie is currently not working and on disability (deteriorating knees forced … Continue reading →

More TSR Interviews: Jennell Jaquays and Clyde Caldwell

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Random Wizard has done another set of very interesting interviews with former TSR employees: This time Jennell Jaquays talks about working for Judges Guild (and working on Dark Tower), TSR, ID Games, etc. and Clyde Caldwell talks about working at TSR in the 1980s. Jennell Jaquays Interview Clyde Caldwaell Interview The Brown Box/Wee Warriors Cancer Fund Drive is on. 12 giveaway items (including a third printing Brown Box D&D and Wee Warriors items are available. High Donors will get get six (their choice), the rest will be raffled off with each $10 donating giving you one chance. You can see … Continue reading →

Blackmoor’s Temple of the Frog Available as a PDF

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It looks like WOTC has released this week’s PDFs. The first one to catch my attention is DA2 Temple of the Frog (for BECMI). TSR lured Dave Arneson back in the mid-1980s to co-write four Blackmoor-based modules, the “DA” series. All for were excellent adventures that did a good job of bringing Blackmoor to live. The second module, DA2, revisited the Temple of the Frog. It was the first adventure TSR published, in about 20 pages of the Blackmoor supplement to original D&D. It was the first published dungeon many early players of D&D ever saw — myself included. The … Continue reading →