Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Random Inspiring Quotes from Tom Moldvay

Spotted these beauties from the Basic D&D (B/X flavor naturally) booklet this morning, while contemplating great and august things in a bathroom break.

From the Forward:
In a sense, the D&D game has no rules, only rule suggestions. No rule is inviolate, particularly if a new or altered rule will encourage creativity and imagination. 
From Part 1:
This is not like any other game you've ever played before: it is more important that you understand the the ideas in the rules than that you know every detail about the game...
While the material in this booklet is referred to as rules, that is not really correct. Anything in this booklet (and other D&D booklets) should be thought of as changeable...If after playing the rules as written for a while, you or your referee think that something should be changed, first think about how the changes will affect the game, and then go ahead. The purpose of the “rules” is to provide guidelines that enable you to play and have fun, so don't feel absolutely bound to them.
There are no rules...

5 comments:

  1. You know, I am a John Carter Fan ; therefore I prefer

    "These rules are strictly fantasy. Those wargamers who lack imagination, those who don't care for Burroughs' Martian adventures where John Carter is groping through black pits, who feel no thrill upon reading Howard's Conan saga, who do not enjoy the de Camp & Pratt fantasies or Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser pitting their swords against evil sorceries will not be likely to find DUNGEONS and DRAGONS to their taste. But those whose imaginations know no bounds will find that these rules are the answer to their prayers. With this last bit of advice we invite you to read on as enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!"

    E. Gary Gygax, 1 November 1973
    Tactical Studies Rules Editor, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

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  2. @Clovis
    I have always tended to like that one best of all as it was the first I read (courtesy of it being reprinted in Holmes Basic).

    What I thought most interesting is the fact that among some in old school circles there is a certain, lasting dismissal of B/X as a mass market phenomena. It was, of course, but it also had a very firm footing back in the open-ended play that preceded it.

    Also compare the feel of those quotes to with the formal, somewhat restrictive ones in AD&D at that time.

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  3. Hey, hope I didn't offend you about the Texans rocking their bathroom medieval style. For some reason, when Tim did that post he got a thousand hits from Texas and it was just funny. I meant no offense. I don't think you took any, but wanted to pop on your blog to be sure.

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  4. None taken in the slightest. I actually thought it was inexplicable and funny too.

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  5. Okay, whew. Okay, good. Thanks for the reply. Now I feel better. Thanks.

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