Dungeon! to return in October!

To be released in October, WotC have announced that they are bringing back this classic board game:

Dungeon!

Board Game

Wizards RPG Team

A classic board game of dungeon exploration returns!
Dungeon! is a fast-paced game where you and your friends can decide which way to go in the hunt for bigger and better treasure. Will you stick to level 1 and clear out the Goblins and Kobolds? Or will you delve deep into level 6 and set your sights on the Purple Worm or the Red Dragon? Along the way, you’ll have to face off against such iconic monsters as the Black Pudding, the Drow, and even the Owlbear! Featuring simple, straightforward rules that are easy to learn, Dungeon! is perfect for a fantasy game night, or a warm-up before your next epic game of D&D!

Item Details
Release Date: October 12, 2012
Format: Board game
Price: $19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7869-6298-3

As has previously been mentioned on this blog, Dungeon! was designed by another of Dave Arneson's players, David R. Megarry and first published in 1975. As usual there seems to be no credit given to Megary for this latest edition. I'm not sure if this is just a trend at WotC or representative of corporate America as a whole?

Original Game Board

Original Rules booklet

More info here.

Photos borrowed from Sandra Rosenberg.


-Havard

Blackmoor friendly Adventure Path from Paizo?

As my friend Cthulhudrew recently mentioned on the Piazza, rumours have been spreading about Paizo making plans for a Pathfinder Adventure Path involving Numeria, which ,many see as Golarion's equivalent of Blackmoor. James Sutter, a writer/developer/fiction editor for Paizo/Pathfinder has now confirmed on his blog that there are definite plans for some kind of Numeria related AP coming down the line.

I am looking forward to this Adventure Path becoming a reality, and cant wait to see if it can be adapted to Blackmoor.



-Havard

Dan Nicholson has passed away.

Daniel James Nicholson passed away on april 21st at the age of 72. He was recently diagnosed with cancer. Dan played the first Merchant character in Dave Arneson's Blackmoor campaign, and is mentioned several times in the First Fantasy Campaign and thus one of the first to play Dungeons & Dragons. When the Merchant class was re-introduced to D&D in the Players Guide to Blackmoor in 2006 it was undoubtedly a nod to Nicholson. An obituary can be found here.

Rest in Peace.


-Havard

Thonia Revealed!

Although I made this mock cover some years ago, I have now begun detailing the Empire of Thonia. Also called the Great Kingdom, this nation has always been a bit of a mystery. Sometimes ally and sometimes rival, Thonia has always been one of the forces in the North, and someone not to be triffled with.

I have chosen to use the name Thonia and other terminology in the style of the DA modules which is my favorite interpretation of Blackmoor. You can see as the project develops here.





-Havard


Image Source.

Rare Blackmoor Manuscript Sold for $787

A rare manuscript from 1985 by Dave Arneson and David J Ritchie was just sold on ebay for 787,77 US$. The manuscript was titled Aventures in Thonia, and was the basis for module DA1 (Adventures in Blackmoor). However, the manuscript is roughly 250 pages and DA1 is only 64 pages. The sold item also included 28 single-page maps, 2 single-page map text inserts, and 2 double-sheet (11x17) maps.

f the lucky buyer is among my readers, please call me! :)

More on this story here.



Image scan by Frank Mentzer.


-Havard

Remembering Dave Arneson

Remembering Dave Arneson on this day. RIP.



-Havard

WotC to kill the Princess Ark?

Many Mystara fans were in distress earlier this week when WotC announced the destruction of the legendary Flying Ship from the classic Dragon Magazine article series Voyage of the Princess Ark:

Last Voyage of the Princess Ark
By Robert J. Schwalb
The Princess Ark, a legendary flying ship, has crashed! Explore the wreckage to find out what happened, and loot the bodies of the dead. A D&D adventure set in the world of Mystara for characters of levels 1–3.

Fortunately, it all turned out to be an April Fool's Joke.  The joke was not well recieved by the fan community however. "Imagine this in Star Trek terms to see just how unfunny it is: 'The Enterprise, the legendary Federation starship, has crashed! Explore the wreckage to find out what happened, and loot the bodies of the dead.' Try posting that in a Star Trek forum and see how much interest it generates." says one fan.

Mystara fans can take comfort in the fact that the last chapter in the Voyage of the Princess Ark has not yet been written. Bruce Heard, who recently rejoined the community stated:

"Well, yes, eventually I will write Princess Ark material. [...] If it were me, I'd just find a spot in the timeline where I could resume the exploration/adventures."

 Whenever you are ready, Bruce. We're here waiting :)





-Havard