Saturday 24 November 2012

The Resurrection

When I'm talking (writing) about "the Resurrection" - I'm not talking about anything religious, or even the 7th Level Clerical Spell - but rather AD&D 1st Edition.

Earlier this year saw the release of the Premium Hardbacks - the Players Handbook, the Dungeon Masters Guide, and the Monster Manual - gorgeous books all, and I've noticed real-world "chatter" of late about 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (or "Classic" AD&D - a term I've heard bandied about) I was in Forbidden Planet last week, buying some Comics (DC New 52 if you're at all interested) and two guys were talking about the AD&D 1st Edition Premium Hardbacks and how they have started playing 1st Edition and loving it! (and they aren't the first I've overheard either).

People aren't just buying the Premium Hardbacks as collectors items, they are using them for what they were originally intended for - Gaming! (It warms my heart it really does).

Now with the creation of "TSR the Next Generation" (LoL) and Gygax magazine, I can't help getting a new "flutter of hope" in my heart about my beloved AD&D 1st Edition!

It harkens me back to when I first got my hands on the 1st Edition AD&D Players Handbook, great days and a great feeling - I hope it lasts . . . . .

Friday 23 November 2012

Gygax Magazine

By now, most of you will know about the Return of TSR as a Gaming Company (albeit a new one with an old name) and the impending release of Gygax Magazine.




At Gen Con last year there was a rumor that TSR was reforming.

To a lot of people this meant that the fate of Dungeons & Dragons was somehow "hanging" in the balance (don't forget this was sometime before 5th Edition was announced) and the future all things D&D was a little uncertain.

Their first Publication, is to be the wonderfully entitled "Gygax Magazine" -  Editor Jayson Elliot let a few tantalizing tidbits out on ENWorld forum -

Hi guys, this is Jayson. I'm the editor for Gygax Magazine.

Gygax Magazine is myself, Ernie Gygax, Luke Gygax, Tim Kask, James Carpio, and Jim Wampler. Our first issue is out in December; since it's not finished yet, we've been pretty quiet about things until it's ready.

Just to address some of the questions, I thought it was best that I leave a reply. We do own the trademark for TSR, and have since December of 2011. We are a new company, not the old TSR, as they were purchased by Wizards in the '90s. The trademark was abandoned about nine years ago, and we registered it in 2011.

We decided the best thing to release first as TSR was a gaming magazine, because we wanted a way to bridge the traditions of the old guard with the awesome new games that are out today.

As Gary's sons Ernie and Luke Gygax are "on board", the new company is free to use the Gygax name for the new magazine!

Luke Gygax goes into some detail about things here.

Tim Krask has a Q&A Thread over at Dragonsfoot here.

I (for one, although I am sure I am not alone in this) am VERY excited!!!

Thursday 22 November 2012

The Dungeon Master

It's an odd "feeling" seeing 1st Edition "supported" (kinda) again, with the release of the Premium Hardback Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and Monster Manual.

I was even more "taken aback" with the impending () release of Unearthed Arcana as a "premium reprint) - I've spent so long feeling like I am "in limbo" when it comes to AD&D 1e, I'm a little unsure how to react?

Part of me is thinking why now - is the new Edition of D&D going to be so bad they need to "soften the blow" - or is it genuine homage to the original Master of the Game, Gary himself.

Whatever the reason, the books themselves are gorgeous - and it's a giant leap forward.