Darkest Dungeons

[Ron Edwards]

Hi there,

I have some recommendations for you: Hackmaster, Drowning and Falling, and (at the risk of conflict-of-interest) my own game, Elfs. All of them utilize absurdities or at least embarrassing features of old-school Dungeons & Dragons play as actual rules. In looking over them and thinking about it, I came up with a question you might also consider. I recommend not posting your answer, because it's not amenable to the quick-reaction, instant-post type of dialogue so often found on the internet.

The question is, how much anger is present in this design goal of yours?

Best, Ron

[vertigo25]

Thanks, Ron. That's very much the kind of thing I was looking for.

I'm thinking that I'm going to back off from discussing the specifics of my game on the various fora for awhile. I still want to talk about game design and publishing in general, of course. I'm also looking through a lot of the humor threads, especially at RPGnet. They give a pretty good insight in to some of the tropes people buy in to as well as what they find funny about games... and themselves.

Now... anger...


Hmmmmmm....


Where'd I put that muse?

[vertigo25]

Oh... and I just wanted to say, that your question couldn't have been better timed.

Talking to my best friend the other day about the game, he asked me if I'd like for him to do some illos for it. He's one of the best artists (graduated magna cum laud BFA) I've ever known. Even as a fine arts artist, his great love has always been comics. He's been in a basic retirement from art for several years, though.

I told him, that of course, I'd love for him to do some stuff, and I asked him why the interest. He said, "I hate Jack Chick."

[Justin Nichol - BFG]

Sounds a lot like Munchkin to me. I like the Chick reference. Do you read Order of the Stick?

[natfrobinson]

Andy,

Sorry for calling you Ron! I must've got the posts mixed up.

Your game sounds great. I'd just like to say that I'd buy it once it's released.

[Monkeys]

Your game's already out. It's a LARP, and I've been playing it for years...

[vertigo25]

It took me a second to get Monkeys' joke

Justin: There's some aspects that I think are kind of sort of similar to Munchkin, as well as Ron's Elfs. I think a lot of humor games that deal directly with the hobby itself are going to get compared to each other. I think, though, that the over all reasons behind each of the games is different (as well as actual game play).

Nat, and others saying they'll buy the game: I'm gonna hold you to it, ya know So... even if it's the worst game ever written you are now morally obligated

Ron: The anger question has been a real break-through. I started working on the introduction to the game. I don't know if it will definitely go in, but it's really made me look at the motivations behind this little endeavour of mine. It starts with my very first encounter in role playing. I was 12, it was Christmas. My folks gave me the Basic and Expert sets (the red and blue ones). That night at a Christmas party, my mom's best friend told her she was shocked that she was allowing me to play D&D. She proceeded to tell her that it was a Satanic game, and she should be really worried about me.

Thinking back on that, I realize that my first encounter as a gamer with a non-gamer is a huge inspiration towards this.

It's actually all re-motivated me.

Thanks!