a world without Blackmoor? (thought experiment thread)

[hengest]

On the post linked to on this thread, I saw the following quote.  I think it's well-put.

In fact, without Blackmoor, Dungeons & Dragons—along with fantasy role-playing, role-playing games in general, video games mechanics we take for granted, plus countless tropes now part of pop-culture—would not exist.

So I propose the following as an exercise: a thread where we imagine a world without Blackmoor.  Everything else was the same up until 1970 or so, then the change we introduce is "no Blackmoor, no RPG engine (as Rob Kuntz has put it), no participation by Dave Arneson in gaming history.  In this alternate universe, DA can go on and do whatever he wants.     Not a world without Dave Arneson, just a world without Blackmoor (and subsequent contributions).  

What do you all think?

To make it interesting, a point system:

If in your post you propose a plausible argument that causes Blackmoor's absence to have changed x, you get points.

If x = the RPG world, 0 points.
If x = local elections, 1 point.
If x = something significant in art or entertainment (also lit) that is not obvious from the changes to gaming, 2 points.
If x = national elections (US or elsewhere), 2 points.
If x = education (any country), 3 points.
If x = the outcome of the Cold War, 4 points.

(Propose your own point rewards, too.)

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

My first thought is that we still have Braunstein. If I recall correctly, I believe the first Braunstein was considered a failure because it erupted into chaos.

Would David Weseley continued on? I think so.  It's an intriguing concept.  Certainly he would have wanted to try to run it again.

If so, how would it have developed differently?  I think it would have been even more tied to miniatures and to history.

I gotta put my thinking cap on for this one...

[The Perilous Dreamer]

I am still trying to wrap my head around this idea. Wow!