Links to Dave Hargrave Day Posts and Even More Bonus Links

Riffing off of this blog post Links to Dave Hargrave Day Posts and a Bonus Link I decided to do my own deep diving into the Internet Archive and I came up with these links to share.

Last Stand by Paul P Mosher at the link click on Glimmers in the Night to get to this link

Whisper Crypt by Paul Mosher at the link click on the image besides Nexus Points then click on Vaults of Bone to get to this link

Fordham's Freehold by Ethan Karp at the link click on Glimmers in the Night to get to this link

The Tired Old Revenant by Bejamin Baugh at the link click on Glimmers in the Night to get to this link

Hope this whets your appetite for more things Arduin and Dave Hargrave.

Edit 12 27 2022: The old links have stopped working at the Internet Archive and I updated the links, but you have to navigate as now noted to read the articles.

Paul Mosher friend of Dave Hargrave has Passed On

Paul Mosher was a close friend of Dave Hargrave and he has now passed on into forever.

Have a mug of rummy tum ale all in Paul's honor as we celebrate his life and mourn his passing.

Here are Aprel’s words (Paul’s wife):

On Sunday April 15, 2018:

“I wanted to let you all know, that this morning with no fuss Paul quietly slipped from this world into ARDUIN forever. He had not been sick, and it was a real shock…Please let anyone else you think of know.”

On April 25, 2018:

“They have finally signed off on Paul's death certificate and he was cremated last night. I will be picking up his ashes Thur. Hopefully today or tomorrow I will be meeting with the Vet guy and will be getting the arrangements made for the memorial. “ 

Time to Celebrate Dave Hargrave Day May 25th

The Dream Weaver - that is a name to inspire you and it was Dave Hargrave who inspired the name. Now on May 25th his birthday, let's take a moment and remember what he created when he created Arduin and first brought it into the public eye.

The Arduin Trilogy is the first three books of the Arduin Grimoire reorganized and presented in a single volume pdf. It is not available in hard copy. I would love to get one if it were. Take a look at the table of contents with all of the material organized into categories and with clean typesetting and all very readable with all the benefits of the pdf format. The original three books were done on a typewriter with all the limitations that entails. Pick up the original Arduin Grimoire for flavor and then pick up this item to use.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedications 1 – 2
Dedication 2
Dedication 2
Special Dedication 2
Forwards 3 – 5
Forward 4
Forward 4
Opening Comments 4 – 5
Special Message To Fans Of Arduin 5
David Hargrave’s Words Of Wisdom 6 – 35
How To Play The Game 7 – 8
Point System 9
Notes On Player Character Types 10
Individualization Of New Player Characters 10
Notes On Character 10
New Character Hit Point System 11
Comments On The New Hit Point System 12
Notes On Natural Character AC 12
Notes On Character Functions, Capabilities, And Characteristics 13
Notes On Languages 13
Experience Level Chart 14 – 17
Notes On Treasure 18
Notes On Potions And The Like 18
Guild Fees 18
DM’s Versus Angry Players 19
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly 19
Random Chance Chart For Magik Weapons 20 – 21
Notes On Alignment And Playability 22
Hargrave’s Detect Ability Chart 23
Random Trap Matrix 24
Notes On The Random Event Charts And Campaign World 25
Rope Breakage Chart 25
Resurrection And Other Notes 26
Notes On Travel 27 – 28
Movement Of Men And Monsters 29
Hargrave’s Magikal Equipment Saving Throw Matrix 30 – 31
Space Creatures And Other Aliens In Fantasy Role Playing Games 31
Energy Weapons In Fantasy Games 32
Miscellaneous Notes On Combat 33
Special Note On Combat 33
Special Note On Melee Movement 33
Real Medicine And Fantasy Gaming 34 – 35
Various Rules Changes 35
Rule Questions 35
Physical Character Appearance 36 – 48
Character Height Determination Chart 37 – 38
Character Weight Determination Chart 39
Optional Character Appearance Chart 40 – 41
Body Type Determination Table 42
Female Attributes Chart 42
True Strength Function Chart 43 – 45
Giant Strength Equivalency Chart 46
True Charisma And Its Meaning In Game Play 47
Special Physical Additional Bonuses 48
Player Character Resources 49 – 62
Character And Alignment Chart 50
Special Ability Charts 51 – 57
Character Aging 58
Character Social Status 58
Character Wealth Table 59
Character Legacy Chart 60
Owned Equipment Chart 61 – 62
New Player Character Races 63 – 66
Deodanths 64
Phraints 64 – 65
Saurigs 66
New Classes 67 – 100
Alchemist Class 68
Assassin Class 69 – 70
Barbarian Class 71
Bard Class 72
Courtesan Class 73 – 74
Druid Class 75
Forrester Class 76
Martial Artist Class 77 – 79
Medicine Man Class 80
Normals Class 81
Outlaw Class 82
Psychic Class 83
Rune Singer Class 84 – 85
Rune Weaver Class 86
Sage Class 87
Saint Class 88 – 89
Slaver Class 90 – 91
Star Powered Mage Class 92 – 93
Techno Class 94 – 95
Trader (Merchant) Class 96
True Paladin Class 97 – 98
Witch Hunter Class 99 – 100
Character Limitations 101 – 108
Character Limitation Chart 102 – 103
Condensed Character Limitation Chart 104 – 107
Condensed Character Limitation Chart 108
Character Saving Rolls 109 – 115
Character Saving Roll Chart By Race 110 – 111
Character Saving Roll Chart By Class 112 – 113
Character Type Saving Throw List 114
Saving Roll Chart For All Stoning Of The Glance Or Gaze Variety 115
Class Errata And Resources 116 – 122
Special Errata Notice 117
Clerical Spells, Healing, Regenerating, And Such Like 117 – 118
Black Clerics 118
Special Note On Thieves And Thievery 118 – 121
Reworking The Clerical Curing And Healing System 122
Techno Magik 122
The Multiverse 123 – 128
The Multiverse 124
Guilds And Societies Of The Arduinian Cycle 125
Rank And Royalty Chart 126
Principle Wild Tribes Of The Arduinian Nexus 127 – 128
Money and Valuables 129 – 139
Value Chart For Coinage 130 – 131
Precious Gems, Semiprecious Gems, And Other Valuables 132 – 138
Price Examples For The Arduinian Universe 139
Wergild 139
Multiversal Trading Company 140 – 152
Multiversal Trading Company Price List 141 – 143
Loan Rates And Other Information 144
Price List For Goods 145 – 146
Price List For Specialty Magik Items 147 – 148
Magik Item Price List 149 – 150
Magik Weaponry Value Chart 151 – 152
Weapons 153 – 165
General Notes On Weapons 154
Weapon Classification Tables 154
Weapon Attack Chart 155
Weapon Damage Table 156 – 157
Missile Weapon Attack Chart 158
Missile Damage Table 159 – 160
General Gunnery Charts 161 – 162
Non-Weapon Attack Matrix (Claws And Things) 163
Weapon’s Breakage Chart 164 – 165
Fighting Tools 166 – 175
Combat 167 – 168
Main Combat Table 169
Brawl Chart 170 – 171
Melee Chart 172
Miscellaneous Notes 173
Combat Rules 174
Notes On Fighting Men And The Use Of Weapons 175
Escape And Evasion 176 – 181
Escape Tables 177 – 180
Overland Escape And Evasion Chase Chart 181
Criticals And Fumbles 182 – 187
Hargrave’s Fumble Table 183
Hargrave’s Critical Hit Table 184 – 185
Critical Hit Table For Non-Weapon Wounds 186 – 187
Undead 188 – 190
Notes On Undead 189
Clerical Turn Away Chart 190
Monster Data 191 – 205
Notes On Monsters 192
Dinosaur Chart 193 – 194
Sea Creature List 195 – 196
Werecreatures Combat Chart 197 – 198
Overland (Water) Monster Encounter Chart 199 – 201
Monsters 202
Dragon Determination Chart 202
True Elementals 203 – 204
Experience Chart For Monster Slaying 205
New Monsters 206 – 258
New Monsters 207 – 216
New Monsters 217 – 228
New Monsters 229 – 258
Magik 259 – 269
Magik In Arduin 260 – 262
Prismatic Walls And Their Usages 262 – 264
Rune Weaver Magik’s Wondrous Webs of Power 265 – 266
Notes On Magik 267 – 269
Spells 269
Mana And The Cost Of Spell Power 269
New And Unusual Spells 270 – 307
New And Unusual Spells 271 – 276
New And Unusual Spells 277 – 285
New Spells 286 – 307
New Magikal Treasures 308 – 327
New Magikal Treasures 309 – 312
New Treasures 313 – 319
New Magikal Items 320 – 327
Golems 328 – 330
New Golem Types 329
Golem Construction 330
Heaven And Hell 331 – 367
Principal Religious Sects In Arduin And The World 332 – 334
Angels 335
Demon Lore 336 – 337
The 21 Planes Of Hell 338 – 340
Lesser Demons 341 – 344
New Lesser Demons 345 – 348
Greater Demons 349
Hargrave’s Demon Lore Greater (Named) Demons Of The Arduinian Cycle 350 – 366
Hell Spirals 367
Game Master Resources 368 – 382
Dungeon Master’s Solo Determination Charts And Notations 369 – 373
Random Encounter Chart 374
Encounter Reaction Roll Chart 375
Random Life Style Changes 375
Reincarnation Charts 376
Character Resurrection Chart 377 – 378
Most Malignant And Malefic Miseries Known 379 – 380
Notes On Fantastic Beings 381 – 382
Dungeons 383 – 392
Dungeons 384
Key To Dungeon “Sign Posts” 385 – 387
Dungeon Monster Encounter Chart 388 – 390
Random Fog And Mist Generation Chart For Dungeon Rooms 391 – 392

Take a look through that list of contents, you should already have a dozen or a hundred ideas percolating just looking that it. Reading it is an experience you don't want to miss. The wealth of ideas is mindboggling and is in my mind the ultimate OD&D supplement.

Oh and my favorite parts are the spells and the "Magikal" Treasures. I will write about them another day before long.

Happy Birthday to Dave Hargrave and thank you for being an idea cornucopia in an idea stingy world.

Coming Soon! Dave "The Dream Weaver" Hargrave Day May 25th

May 25th is the Birthday of Dave Hargrave also known as The Dream Weaver. Dave Hargrave is the creator of Arduin and it one of the all time great's of the early RPG world. Please join with us on May 25th to post in honor of Dave Hargrave and to celebrate his life and Arduin his creation.

The First FRPG (OD&D) and World Building - Original Edition RPG Appreciation Day(OERAD)

Original Edition RPG Appreciation Day - May 5th, 2018. Celebrating OD&D and all its derivatives.

I don't know about all of you, but as an old school OD&D referee one of my greatest pleasures in life is World Building. Some fear that blank white paper and writer's block, but when it comes to World Building, not me. 

Now don't get me wrong I can struggle with inspiration on other things just like anyone else, just not with World Building. With World Building just give me some paper, a pen and let me be, I'm good.

I think I have read everything that ERB published in book form and those books are a rich deposit with many deep fans of ore than can be mined and mined and mined for ideas and inspiration. The worlds of Tarzan that stretch all the way to Pellucidar, the worlds of John Carter from Barsoom to Jasoom. The Amtor of Carson Napier. 

I have always loved the world of Amtor, especially the forests of massively giant trees.

There there are the stories of REH and the worlds of Conan, Kull, Bran Mak Morn, El Borak, Dark Agnes de Chastillon, Solomon Kane, Cormac Fitzgeoffrey and Breckinridge Elkins. 

The Middle Earth of JRRT and dozens nay hundreds of other worlds by other author's that must go unmentioned.

Then of course are the real world atlases and geography books, maps galore, Google Earth and the NASA images of the planets and moons.

But that is all just ideas and inspiration. It is when you put pen/pencil to paper that things really start. Now I am not an artist and kudos to those that are, but those pitiful little marks I make on paper are enough to evoke the images they represent and along with the brief written descriptions they allow me to present the world to the players during the game.

When you reach the swamp it is overcast and muggy, the air is still and the stench of rotting vegetation is overpowering. You think you see vestiges of a path, but it is obvious you will have to do a lot of wading. There are grassy hummocks here and there among the trees and the downed rotting logs. Big leafy pads cover pools of unknown depth and occasional bubbles break the water now and then. The biting insects buzz around you in clouds and from within the swamp emanate all manner of sounds from large insects to "other" creatures. One loud booming sound seems to be of something large, how large and how aggressive? Do you want to continue into the swamp?

I can picture every rock and every rill, every blade of grass, every grain of sand and every leafy branch. All the fauan and flora the world has to offer. Rivers, oceans, streams, creeks, ice caps, deserts, mountains, plains, broad valleys, rolling hills, grasslands, forests, savannahs, swamps, marshes, wooded hills, broken wastelands and more.

Monsters of all types; humanoids of greater and lesser intelligence, appetites with legs, every manner of undead, tiny insects by the billions, giant insects, giant snakes, venomous creatures of every stripe, giants, mage created monstrosities, odd hybirds, dragons and much more.

Cannibals, head hunters, bandits, pirates, armies, and bureacrats. Merchants, farmers, sliversmith, armorers and every kind of person. The honest and good, the corrupt, the evil and the insane.

The vilest of real world religions and cults, to mythology, to invented pantheons and invented religions and cults (though it is tough to try to top the real thing), they all go into the storehouses to be brought forth and used at need.

There is so much evil in the real world, so many vile perverse cultures, beliefs and practices that there is no need to make things up. But make it up we must, even if we are only filing off the serial numbers and changing names to protect the guilty, less your time would be consumed by the fake outrage from the Guild of the Perpetually Offended and from the Guild of Defend the Indefensible at All Costs.

I also write of the many races/species of men and demi-humans who together fight the good fight to preserve and defend civilization against all comers. I also write of the many races/species of the monstrous who along with traitorous treacherous human/demi-human scum war against civilization, who seek to destroy and erase humanity/demi-humanity from the face of the world.

The heroes are the black, brown, olive, red, swarthy, white and yellow races/species of man, based on the seven species and the sub-species 
that are found in the real world along with all the mixed of the same. The Villians are the many species of monsters and the traitors who are black, brown, green, olive, purple, red, swarthy, white and yellow, the furred, the leather-skinned and the armored and all manner of odd variations.

Ancient kingdoms, ancient ruins, young kingdoms, city states, tribes, clans, farmland, merchant caravans, trading ships, warships, pirates ships and trade routes.

All of these and more go into creating a living breathing world with a history, a present and a future with or without the PC's. The breath, depth and detail will vary from ref to ref depending on the available time, but World Building is something every old school Referee can, should and does do.

In an old school world there are no railroads in the sense of adventure paths that the PC's are forced to follow. Now in some variations, steampunk OD&D anyone, there may be real physical railroads and players are not forced to use them. 

All of this just touches the surface of World Building. This is not even getting started, this is just the barest shallowest taste of what World Building is.