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Post by hengest on Jul 25, 2021 18:15:28 GMT -5
I realize, despite my enjoyment of this forum, that I don't know nearly as much as I might about the history of this hobby. A general picture, sure, but I really have no information to lean on to say that I have an opinion one way or another about whether Blackmoor was played before Chainmail was released, anything like that. Would anyone particularly recommend any published works on this topic? I know I need to get and read Dave Arneson's True Genius by Rob Kuntz. But otherwise I am at a bit of a loss. |
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jul 25, 2021 18:31:51 GMT -5
I realize, despite my enjoyment of this forum, that I don't know nearly as much as I might about the history of this hobby. A general picture, sure, but I really have no information to lean on to say that I have an opinion one way or another about whether Blackmoor was played before Chainmail was released, anything like that. Would anyone particularly recommend any published works on this topic? I know I need to get and read Dave Arneson's True Genius by Rob Kuntz. But otherwise I am at a bit of a loss. There are several books out, I will need to make a list and post it, but it will not be for a while. Anyone else is welcome to start. IMO they are all very biased and one in particular was more "let's see how much dirt we can dig up on Gygax" than anything else. |
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Post by hengest on Jul 25, 2021 18:52:13 GMT -5
I realize, despite my enjoyment of this forum, that I don't know nearly as much as I might about the history of this hobby. A general picture, sure, but I really have no information to lean on to say that I have an opinion one way or another about whether Blackmoor was played before Chainmail was released, anything like that. Would anyone particularly recommend any published works on this topic? I know I need to get and read Dave Arneson's True Genius by Rob Kuntz. But otherwise I am at a bit of a loss. There are several books out, I will need to make a list and post it, but it will not be for a while. Anyone else is welcome to start. IMO they are all very biased and one in particular was more "let's see how much dirt we can dig up on Gygax" than anything else. I can find books on my own, but can't easily judge them unread. I was hoping there would be at least one positive recommendation! But whatever you or anyone can offer when you have a chance would be great. Thank you, PD. |
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jul 25, 2021 20:26:42 GMT -5
There are several books out, I will need to make a list and post it, but it will not be for a while. Anyone else is welcome to start. IMO they are all very biased and one in particular was more "let's see how much dirt we can dig up on Gygax" than anything else. I can find books on my own, but can't easily judge them unread. I was hoping there would be at least one positive recommendation! But whatever you or anyone can offer when you have a chance would be great. Thank you, PD. I wish that I could give you a positive recommendation, but outside of Robs book I cannot. |
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Post by mao on Jul 26, 2021 5:48:08 GMT -5
I can find books on my own, but can't easily judge them unread. I was hoping there would be at least one positive recommendation! But whatever you or anyone can offer when you have a chance would be great. Thank you, PD. I wish that I could give you a positive recommendation, but outside of Robs book I cannot. As a history major, I find this very discouraging. At least we are trying to inform the new generation. It's a shame that that is how peeps are going to learn. |
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Post by hengest on Jul 26, 2021 9:42:28 GMT -5
I understand. Well, looks like there is all the more reason for the 'zine and / or the compilation of notes from experienced refs. Seems this thread is not likely to be developed much, but who knows. I guess I have to splurge on Rob's book. I share your feeling, mao, but at least we cna take comfort in the fact that most new players are not too likely to read these books. |
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Post by mao on Jul 27, 2021 4:01:24 GMT -5
I understand. Well, looks like there is all the more reason for the 'zine and / or the compilation of notes from experienced refs. Seems this thread is not likely to be developed much, but who knows. I guess I have to splurge on Rob's book. I share your feeling, mao , but at least we cna take comfort in the fact that most new players are not too likely to read these books. Nice Thoght! |
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jul 27, 2021 8:47:58 GMT -5
I understand. Well, looks like there is all the more reason for the 'zine and / or the compilation of notes from experienced refs. Seems this thread is not likely to be developed much, but who knows. I guess I have to splurge on Rob's book. I share your feeling, mao , but at least we cna take comfort in the fact that most new players are not too likely to read these books. Nice Thoght! As soon as I can find the time, I will try to write a little about the books that I have or know of. |
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Post by Morose on Aug 6, 2021 2:19:36 GMT -5
Haven't read any books along this line. I suppose I feel like it would be TMI.
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Post by hengest on Aug 6, 2021 20:11:04 GMT -5
Haven't read any books along this line. I suppose I feel like it would be TMI. You know, I can't disagree with this. I don't really want to know the nitty-gritty of this or that dispute between creators. I do want to know a bit more about the soup of factors and playstyles that went into the development of what we today call RPGs. |
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Aug 6, 2021 20:58:57 GMT -5
Haven't read any books along this line. I suppose I feel like it would be TMI. You know, I can't disagree with this. I don't really want to know the nitty-gritty of this or that dispute between creators. I do want to know a bit more about the soup of factors and playstyles that went into the development of what we today call RPGs. Yeah, one of the tell all books goes into details that I just don't want to know about anybody, let alone the guy that wrote a game I love. |
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Post by hengest on Aug 6, 2021 21:06:50 GMT -5
If the reviews of Rob Kuntz's book are reliable at all, that book is going to have enough for me to spend a year considering and digesting. I certainly don't need to hear what any gamer had for breakfast in 1970 (or worse).
I am curious about the regular life of that time that I completely missed, but that is not what is in a tell-all (breakfast, attitudes towards time, work, relationships).
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Post by Morose on Aug 6, 2021 21:23:28 GMT -5
If the reviews of Rob Kuntz's book are reliable at all, that book is going to have enough for me to spend a year considering and digesting. I certainly don't need to hear what any gamer had for breakfast in 1970 (or worse). I am curious about the regular life of that time that I completely missed, but that is not what is in a tell-all (breakfast, attitudes towards time, work, relationships). Tell all books get into the stuff that no one needs to know. Who was into hookers and blow, is not relevant and no decent person would write about those things in a book geared towards gaming. I only read biographies of people from long enough ago that little of the lascivious included in most cases, especially in older books, but the last 30 years, the TMI is the main focus. |
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