Discerning Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor Combat System - Part 3

Decomposing AIF

We begin today by looking at Adventures in Fantasy (AIF) by David Arneson and Richard Snider (one of the fellows in the Twin Cities gaming crowd). Snider is well known for adding complexity (see reviews of Powers & Perils by Avalon Hill) though I do find Star Empires to be readable and hope to get in some play next year. Arneson had complained that OD&D differed from the material he sent to Gygax. By looking at the combat system in AIF (published in 1979), I am hoping we will garner some insight into the elements of combat that Arneson found most essential to early Blackmoor’s combat system.

Improving Bro-stein play through critical analysis.

I have multiple years of experience as both participant and Referee of wargames and role playing games going back to 1981. I have authored two -steins (one in Midwest Fantasy Wargame: The Primeval RPG and another entitled Trouble Aboard Station Brown). I have participated in Trekstein, Hail Steinser, and Spacestein. As a player, I would rate myself as mid. As a Referee, I think I am a notch or two above average.

Similar to 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, I would like to take a few moments to reflect on the books that I have read. However, this year was devoted to personal losses, and rediscovering an old hobby in a new form. Here are the titles I read / took notes on during 2022. My final count was 24, down from 2021 when I completed 29.

AudioBooks / Lectures on YouTube
Frank Harris — The Magic Glasses
Robert E. Howard — Kull: The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune
Robert E. Howard — Kull of Atlantis, The Conqueror: The Shadow Kingdom
J.M. Barrie — Peter Pan