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50,000 Monkeys at 50,000 Typewriters Can't Be Wrong

making plans for nigel

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My brain keeps giving me 404s when I try to get focused long enough to write this short scary story (well, I think it's scary. It has a monster in it) in time for Halloween.

So I'm doing other things to try and trick it into rebooting the server, like cleaning up my house, playing with my dog, and wishing that I had this book again:

First_edition_dmg 

and this:

Phb_sixth_edition 

and this:

Monster_manual_fourth_edition 

Well, I'm not a lot closer to getting this story out, but I'm certainly a lot happier in general than I was a couple hours ago. Funny how just looking at old AD&D stuff can do that for me.

(Images borrowed from The Acaeum, which is a fantastic D&D historical reference site.)

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28 October, 2009 Wil

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senses working overtime → ← Memories of the Futurecast: Episode Eight

82 thoughts on “making plans for nigel”

  1. Francesca Ball says:
    28 October, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    Wil, this brings back fond memories… Thank you 🙂

  2. J-F says:
    28 October, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    What, no love for Fiend Folio?

  3. Danyiel says:
    28 October, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    Holy carp, Wil, that’s hawesome! Nostalgia, it’s a really fun place to go sometimes, isn’t it?

  4. Wil says:
    28 October, 2009 at 4:59 pm

    I love the Fiend Folio, but this was already image-heavy, and I thought I’d stay with what I believe are truly the core books for AD&D.

  5. Chris Turkel says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    I have all three of those. They are in storage and I’d be happy to trade you all three for something. Seriously.

  6. SandieK says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    I was having a similar issue earlier. I have a midterm to finish up, but all my brain was giving me was an episode tag for this last episode of Castle (and I dont even write fanfic…much). Every single time I tried to focus on the midterm, my brain would just go back over this tag until finally I gave out on the midterm and focused on this story. It’s now happily sitting in a spiral notebook and Im now completely focused (well, mostly) on the midterm.
    Sheesh.

  7. Udi Schlessinger says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    If you liked it so much then, why not play now? It’s much more fun as an adult. Plus the new editions.. most, at least.. have improved on the game.
    Anyway, this does bring back warm memories.

  8. Andre Alessi says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    Oh, man, I loved those covers so much. They were THE reason why the priests at my school (frauds by the way, didn’t get a single heal or res the entire 5 years) kept sitting down with me and my friends one on one to warn us of the “dangers” of D&D. Funny to look back now and try to recapture that sense of doing something truly transgressive, when really we were just a bunch of kids who liked to get together and tell stories about dragons.

  9. David Blackstone says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    I have the first two, pretty sure. I could send if above dude falls through.

  10. SeanT says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    Those AD&D books are great for nostalgia, but hoo boy, try actually reading them again and you’ll have a new found appreciation for your red book basic and 4th Ed rules. Good luck “getting the band back together” to actually play it!

  11. J-F says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    Good point and I do agree.
    I mentioned the FF because it has a special place for me and my RPG buddies; it was so hard to get back then in a Quebec small-ish town, so when we finally did it was cause for a celebration.

  12. ZB says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    Aw…I have those, but I don’t have anyone to play with.
    Oh well.

  13. Wil says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    Are they really that tough to get through? The red basic and blue expert rules are as easy to understand and use as I remember them.
    I don’t have as many clear memories of the AD&D books, because my friends did all the heavy lifting during those days, and I just showed up with characters and dice.

  14. Heather Murray says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    Wow, memories… Favourite baddie: Gelatinous Cube. Just the concept was awesome. Worst thing to happen during a session: a scuffle between myself and a guy over who got to keep the bag of devouring – I have a scar on my chin to show for it.

  15. Paula J Newton says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    this has nothing to do with nothing just think ur so cute; feel like i grew up with you. ok so i’m a tad bit older so it’s like i’m ur big sister! ha! was never too much into d&d but had some friends who were, so i guess that kinda makes me kinda cool, twice removed? xoxo

  16. Niki says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    My dad had those books! I remember pouring over them and enjoying reading about the monsters inside. He was an old DM from the 80’s. Sweet sweet memories.

  17. technogamy says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    Those books bring many a tear to my eye. The tinyfont… my name calligraphed on the inside of the cover… the smell of spilled Coca Cola on hex paper… the looking-at-my-friend’s-dad’s-stack-of-Playboys-while-the-other-guys-are-rolling-up-their-characters… Such good time, it kills me kindly to think of them.
    I just learned today that my wonderful pregnant wife and I are having a boy!, and one of the first things that hit me was: I can’t wait to take him through Queen of the Demonweb Pits. He’s totally going to think all those coins at the end are REAL, man!, and then, like, they’re going to EVAPORATE, and he’s going to be like, WHA??? and we’ll laugh and stuff, because he’ll get lots of XP so it’ll be OK.
    It gets into your blood, it does.
    PS: Would’ve been the same if we were having a girl, frankly.

  18. JCB1978 says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    Love this man! Once again your awesomeness is showing!:) By the way, what ever became of the dog you temporarily named ‘DOG’, the Sunday you did the walk/runathon?? I just want to say you and your wife’s passion for animals is out of this world. You are the kind of owners every dog, cat, etc. needs to survive. Sorry this is off subject, but just thought I would throw that in. The best to you and your family Wil:)-Josh

  19. Jason Burton says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    It’s funny because I was just looking on eBay at grabbing a used copy of the DMG and PHB…
    …Don’t outbid me!!

  20. Chris Turkel says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    @Niki “Old DM from the 80s” sigh. That was me as well.

  21. Mark Mathison says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    Powell’s books out of Portland OR (also at powells.com) is my go to place for out of print stuff. No cover art avaliable for the older stuff but if you can get isbn numbers to cross-reference you might be able to find them.
    http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780935696004-12
    http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780935696011-0
    might be the two of them.

  22. roger grow says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    just ran across my Player’s Handbook the other day! had some wrinkly graph paper in it…

  23. dkplewis says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    Saying that, I do wonder if there’s a collectibles market for D&D? I found a couple of 2nd Edition rulebooks in Haslam’s in St Petersburg and was tempted to get them. Now I’m wondering if I should keep my 4E books pristine and pencil-free!

  24. cwboldt says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    Hey man… don’t hate me, but I still have my original DM Guide. Its in my bookshelf and I’m looking at it while I type this.
    🙂

  25. dkplewis says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    Wow, congrats!

  26. Betsy Hodges says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    Making Plans for Nigel? I know an awesome Squeeze song about making plans for Nigel…

  27. BlackbyrnePublishing says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:47 pm

    Wow, what a memory trip! I never had the chance to get those, always spending my extra cash on adventures like Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh! But I still held onto my original Basic Set box, rules (here: http://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/setpages/setscans/basic8th.html ) even the dice (proudly on display in my china cabinet).

  28. Danyiel says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Yeppers. If I even attempted to bring any of those books to school with me, they’d be trying to perform an exorcism on me. Yeah. Catholic school survivor, as well!

  29. Kelly Naylor says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    Ah, what memories, what memories! I wonder whatever happened to my copies.

  30. dkplewis says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    This bought a smile to my face; posted on the same day I got my first 4E DM Reward in the mail! I just hope WOTC convert the rest of The Temple of Elemental Evil, as I have fond memories of playing through that campaign in college.
    A group of friends and I played it during a 44 hour, non-stop gaming session, for charity, and raised a load of money, unfortunately not from the guy who thought we were a bunch of nerds, made a “joke” (so he said, later) sponsor pledge and ended up weaseling out of paying us £90!

  31. Chris Turkel says:
    28 October, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    Generally the later (more recent) stuff is not valuable since there is so many of them. Keep them though because in 50 years maybe Wil’s grandson will need some copies to relive the old days.

  32. J-F says:
    28 October, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    D&D was way simpler than AD&D, the red and blue sets especially. It was weird to have two separate systems from the same company, although I must say that when they came up with the Gazetteers, it made D&D far more interesting to me.
    God, I’m such a geek. I’ll be quiet now.

  33. fmphoenixhawk.livejournal.com says:
    28 October, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    I have those. Well, I have the reprints of them. I also have the Dungeoneer’s Survival Guide, The DragonLance and Greyhawk rules, and the original Oriental Adventures book. They even smell like books still.
    And yes, they are very text and rules dense. Never play a Cleric/Assassin in 1st edition. Yeesh.

  34. Bill Doyle says:
    28 October, 2009 at 6:27 pm

    Wow. I saw these images and was instantly transported back to the early 80s.

  35. Phillip Seiler says:
    28 October, 2009 at 6:27 pm

    XTC, not Squeeze. He’s got his future in the British Steel

  36. Phillip Seiler says:
    28 October, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    My problem too, ZB. My DM Guide and Handbook got a bit charred in a fire though. I do have an intact Deities and Demigods though.

  37. Alan says:
    28 October, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    I played D&D. No bloody “A”, no bloody… wel… just the “A” I guess.
    Sure, sure, I took a bit of heat for not being one of the cool uncool kids for not being quite as advanced as they were, but I didn’t care. I understood the rules and they were good enough for me.
    My main memory of AD&D was charts. Lots and lots of charts.
    Although it wasn’t nearly as bad a some other game I played once — it might have been Warhammer. That had tables that told which part of the body you hit and had descriptions for what the damage looked like.

  38. Heidi Zimmerman Lawler says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    A man came to the Lutheran church I attended in my youth with a great stack of these. He proceeded to warn us if the evils of D&D. I had never seen such things before, but I was fascinated. I tried to steal them. He spoke with my parents. Later, at the library, I was curled up with The Hobbit when I was approached by a member of the only roll playing group in town (very small town. pop 3k) and invited to the next game. MERP! Excitement! I could hardly speak! But then my mother found out and I was no longer allowed to spend time with those “undesirables” as she feared for my immortal soul. She has since figured out that it’s really just stories about dragons, but the 14 year old in me still wants to play.

  39. cicely says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    My husband and I have two full sets of those, including one of the first-edition Deities and Demigods with the Cthulhu Mythos and all. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Unearthed Arcana, Oriental Adventures, all the Spelljammer stuff…we even wasted money on the two Survival Guides.
    Our son cut his teeth on those books, and now he are a DM hisself. Granted, his crowd goes with the more recent releases, but that’s just how kids are, right?

  40. Lee Reynoldson says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    Will (and everyone else)hullo, love the blog. Been reading for a few years, couldn’t resist an AD&D post. Had to comment. You should check out the Old School Renaissance stuff that’s about, and some of the OGL retro-clone rules. I think the AD&D retro-clone is called OSRIC.

  41. Brian Smith says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Memories….
    I had all three of those, plus Fiend Folio, Deities and Demigods, and Unearthed Arcana.

  42. Richard DeNoyer says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    Thanks Wil brings back many a fond memory of late nights Friday & Saturday in 1978 to 1980 as we fought the evil menace of Thartan

  43. Jeanette Viala says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    I still have those!! Somewhere at least. In the attic maybe?

  44. allandaros.livejournal.com says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    Same here. (Well, I only have one copy of the Monster Manuel, but extras of the other two.)
    Join the old-school renaissance, Wil! Join uuuuus!

  45. allandaros.livejournal.com says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:46 pm

    There are quite a few old-school AD&D communities out there! Check Knights and Knaves Alehouse, Dragonsfoot, and RPGnet – you might be able to find some players in your area! 🙂

  46. allandaros.livejournal.com says:
    28 October, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    That second game sounds like RoleMaster. Charts upon charts upon charts, or so I hear.

  47. CapnPike says:
    28 October, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    I don’t have my originals but I have copies found in local used books stores. I’ve been thinking about playing ever since I started reading the blog Grognardia and discovered the “old school gaming” movement. As Lee said, they have been republishing versions of original D&D, Basic/Expert D&D and AD&D using the Open Gaming License. For a really concise, clean version of AD&D check out OSRIC as a PDF or in print from Lulu.

  48. Betsy Hodges says:
    28 October, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    Got it! Thanks! Now I can download it!

  49. 3clipse says:
    28 October, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    Oh no!!!!!
    I just went and pulled mine out and my old AD&D Player’s Handbook is missing!!!
    Do you know how hard it is going to be to find out who I lent it to 20 years ago, track them down and get them to give it back to me?
    I smell an Epic Quest……….

  50. Anonymous says:
    28 October, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    They’re not that bad. I have all my originals (personalized with my name & address). My 11 yo son loves reading them and can quote the rules to me – and knows what most of them MEAN.
    The covers are the best. Plus I can still open up the books to just the right tables after all these years. I actually find the latest editions a pain to read, too much clutter on the page and behind the text.

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