#blackmoor

DA2: Temple of the Frog (1987) brings the location of the first RPG adventure into then-modern D&D terms. The production values are way better but the temple itself is largely the same. The players are sent there to rescue a kidnapped baroness, but there isn’t a lot of story here; it’s basically just a historic dungeoncrawl.

Which is fine, really, that makes it the best of the three Blackmoor modules I own (missing the fourth, probably forever, unless people get sensible about pricing). The most interesting thing about it (and its predecessor) is the fact that it is very much a science fantasy scenario. The temple was founded by a fascist (Catholic?) space traveler equipped with all sort of high-tech doo-dads. Breaking the power of the temple conveniently gives players access to a stockpile of laser guns that aren’t hobbled by tricky interfaces like those in Barrier Peaks.

It's very similar to Blackmoor (1983) [Daylight Fonts · Fonts In Use · Identifont], but doesn't exactly match. Probably it was hand-drawn using Blackmoor as a reference.

Dungeons & Dragons, Supplement II: Blackmoor by Dave Arneson, TSR, 1975. Blackmoor introduced two new character classes: monks (a sub-class of clerics) and assassins (a sub-class of thieves).

Other new rules allowed for specific hit locations depending on the the target creature's body shape, a matrix for adjusting melee results depending on attacker height and weapon length vs target height, variable damage dice for different monsters and attack forms (this one has remained through AD&D to 5e), and the effects of diseases. New rules for underwater adventures were supported by new aquatic monsters and aquatic-themed magic items.

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SO- I was watching The 2010 Remake of The Wolf Man, which was supposed to be one of Universal’s OFFICIAL, DEFINITIVE remakes of their classic monster movies in one shared Universe called The Dark Universe.

When The Dark Universe fell apart because people didn’t like The Mummy remake, the entire MULTI FILM UNIVERSE got scrapped and revamped as their Universal Monsters Land for their new Epic Universe Park.

So, if we go off of this, we can assume the Epic Land was supposed to be in part based off of these films, or rather took large inspiration from them.

And in The Wolfman 2010, Larry Talbot’s estate is called Blackmoor.

The city Frankenstein Manor is in, within the Epic Universe: Dark Universe lore, is called Darkmoor.

And this brings me to the theory that THEY’RE NEIGHBORING TOWNS. And that The Original Dark Universe is going to be far more integral to the EXPANSION that is set for Dark Universe.

I believe that one area of the Expansion is theorized to be a Creature From The Black Lagoon Boat Ride in the Jaws vein.

I also believe that part of the Expansion will be Talbot Castle/Estate/Manor, possibly in a wooded setting, and would bring with it a LARRY TALBOT MEET AND GREET, and possibly other meet and greets.

I think that in the daytime, they could have a happy go lucky but anxious Larry Talbot meet and Greet with the Cane, Star in his palm Etc. He could ask guests about The Gypsy Caravan parked on the birder of his ‘property’.

And as the Sun goes down, actors switch out to make him more disheveled until he’s either fully disheveled walking around howling anf barking at guests, or maybe even during Full Moons or Autumn time, they could do a full Wolfy scare actor.

And I think he could have a rivalry with Victoria Frankenstein.

But I also have another idea.

What if Victoria actually took over TALBOT CASTLE thinking it was FRANKENSTEIN MANOR?!

The Bride walk around character at Epic Universe CONSTANTLY accuses Victoria of NOT EVEN BEING A FRANKENSTEIN. WHICH IS WEIRD IF THAT IS NEVER GONNA COME UP.

WHAT IF SHE’S A PRETORIOUS?

What if, when the Original Dr. Pretorious died, left Victoria, his only heir, some shady information about owning The Castle, and she came and took over in secret, but got it WRONG?

AND ACCIDENTALLY INVADED A FORMERLY VACANT TALBOT CASTLE IN LARRY’S ABSENCE. Because PRETORIOUS HAD TAKEN IT OVER AND MADE HER THINK IT WAS FRANKENSTEIN’S?

He sends her a dying letter, to pose as a Frankenstein and take over the castle that was vacant because they WOULDN’T LET HIM HAVE IT.

And when she gets there, she takes over the mistakingly joined properties as ‘one’ property.

BOOM.

I have asked online about rules of original Blackmoor campaign, and got directed to the game called "Dragons at Dawn". Review incoming.

Firstly, elephant in the room - how authentic is it? I don't know for sure! If you use "First Fantasy Campaign" and "Adventures in Fantasy" as sources it's highly authentic, but we also have character sheets from the original campaign, and they show characters having 30 or so skills instead of normal characteristics and then skills (like in DaD or AiF). Truth is, Arneson changed the rules a lot during the game.

Anyway, "Dragons at Dawn" is way better than ODND and makes me think about what could have been. Not all of what I am going to list is an advantage though, some if it is an archaism.

1. It uses almost exclusively d6, save for some class skills requiring d100, which let's be real is very close to ODND.

2. From the beginning it used ability-based saves instead of old-school dnd way, and also had a skill system.

3. Classes were very loose, almost non-existent, and multiclassing was the norm. This is highly authentic because Arneson himself said this.

4. Most classes were non-combatants, especially "exotic" classes like Merchant and Sage.

5. Combat system was simultaneously simple yet complicated because it involved only one die roll but also a lot of math, I am still not sure how does it work.

6. Interesting magic systems. One is elfin, which is based on songs, but basically it's just usual magic with mana. Another one is human, based on creating magic items.

The fourth module set in Arneson's Blackmoor setting (the oldest D&D setting all the way back when Arneson and Gygax conceived of the game itself) is not written by Arneson but by David Ritchie. Ritchie had collaborated with Arneson for D1-3, but now he takes over the DA series. It will be a short takeover as this is the last of the DA modules. In fact, by this time, the notoriously litigious Arneson was on the outs with TSR and this would be Ritchie's last book for the company as well. 

TSR, having let go of many of the old school gamers that developed the game, most notably Gary Gygax himself, was looking to rebrand and relaunch as can be seen from the increasing interest in novel publishing as well as concentrating efforts on big properties such as Dragonlance or the new setting of The Forgotten Realms which had all the bells and whistles. Old settings from people who were put aside from the company, such as Arneson's Blackmoor or Gygax's Greyhawk, which TSR couldn't completely control the rights to, were suddenly old hat. 

Set some 3,000 years before other adventures in the BECMI setting this adventure explores the Duchy of Ten (not to be confused with Greyhawk's Duchy of Tenh) and much of it takes place in a boat at sea as the party looks for the Well of Souls, there are some interesting sea chase mechanics which make the adventure more unique.