Score!: Genadier Hirelings

I recently found a set of the Grenadier Hirelings for a great price on Ebay - and I'm really excited to put them to use. This particular set has never been used. Very cool.

In the 80s and the 90s we never used hirelings - ever. I'm not really sure why. I suppose that's why I was fascinated with this specific set of miniatures.

Since I've come back to the game, I've read many posts about the use of hirelings and henchmen and think they certainly add fun and flavour to the game.

The other reason why I'm excited is that I've slowly been adding new or new-old miniatures to my collection in anticipation of painting. I'd like to paint these for play, not display purposes.

Given my professional and family schedule I don't anticipate starting until sometime in the new year, but in the meantime I'll get all the supplies and tools together.

My favorite miniatures are definitely the Citadel slotted metal series from the 80s. I picked up a unique set of those recently, but I'll save that discussion for my next post.

Castle Amber: Help Needed

Believe it or not, I'm writing a research paper on Castle Amber and the influence of Clark Ashton Smith on D&D. I'll present the paper at a special session devoted to authors from Weird Tales at the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Assoication Conference in New Mexico (Feb. 2010). How cool is that?

I was looking through Dungeon Magazine 116 - the issue with the greatest adventures of all time.

Castle Amber by Tom Moldvay is ranked number 15.

However, the author noted that the adventure has inspired TWO sequals. I am aware of Mark of Amber published in 1995 but I have no clue about the second.

Can anyone help me out?

Cheers!

The Bullywug: An Aesthetic History (1981-2009)

I recently read a post over at Thieves' Cant regarding the representation of D&D bullywugs.

The author wrote, "bullywugs in my campaign are filthy, mucky, swamp loving brutes. More toady than froggy, more croaky than leapy."

I've always loved bullywugs, and that observation brought me to thinking about this post.

Let me state first - to each their own. Everyone has a right to construct their game in a manner and aesthetic that is fun for them.

However, we should note that the aesthetic history of the game suggests something very different from that represented in 4E.

From the outset, bullywugs were small, thin, frogmen. Monsters perfect for low-level adventurers alongside goblins, orcs, etc.

However, somewhere along the way to 4E artists dropped the ball. Instead of our beloved weak-kneed bullywugs, they became thick, muscle-bound toadmen. This evolution (devolution in my opinion) reflects the overall change in the game from playing feeble adventurers in need of hireling meatshields to characters that now begin play as heroes. What fun would it be in the current edition to beat up on poor thin-armed bullywugs? Not much I'm guessing, those of you who play 4E regularly can speak to this better than me.

The really interesting part of the aesthetic history of the bullywug is that, at a glance, one might look at the trainwreck that are 4E bullywugs and blame the latest iteration of the game. I'm not defending 4E, it isn't my bag, but as you will note below, bullywugs actually changed in 2nd Edition and subsequent editions have carried that aesthetic forward.

BULLYWUG: THE FIEND FOLIO (1981)



BULLYWUG: DWELLERS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY (1981)





BULLYWUG: THE D&D CARTOON (1983)



BULLYWUG: THE D&D CARTOON FIGURES (1984)



BULLYWUG: THE ART OF THE D&D GAME (c.1985)



**Note: This is a moment where you stop and reflect on the above "iconic" image of the bullywug. All bullywugs are held against this standard for me. What an amazing sketch.

BULLYWUG: MONSTER MANUAL - 2ND EDITION D&D (1993)



BULLYWUG: MONSTER MANUAL - 3RD EDITION (2001)



BULLYWUG: MONSTER MANUAL II - 4TH EDITION (2009)



As a final note, MegaMiniatures has just released frogmen minis perfect for Old School gaming. Here's a sampling. You can check them out at their Ebay store.

Moral Panic II: Writing a Response: Draft I

UPDATE:

Ok, thank you for contributing both to this post and the last.

I've revised and sent off the final draft.

I'll update with the published copy as soo as it is available.

Moral Panic II: Writing a Response - Join In!

I just talked to the editor of the Orangeville Citizen with regard to the article posted here.

He asked me to write a 200 word response to the article.

I'll draft it in the next day or so.

If you have suggestions please post them here.

D&D and the Moral Panic on CBC (1985)

I'm particularly fascinated with the moral panic surrounding D&D in the early to mid 1980s. I've watched the 60 Miniutes clips posted on youtube before, but recently someone posted clips from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) from 1985.

I still find it shocking that such a discourse arose out of the game. I also find it ironic that when the odd death occurs "due" to WOW - like one in Barrrie, ON in the last couple years - people don't even notice.

PART I:



PART II:

Note: Sinister Woods Dungeon Tiles

I just read a nice review of the new Sinister Woods Dungeon Tile set over at NewbieDM.

I won't re-review the set here.

However, I do think people should know that I bought 2 sets and in both cases the top layer was peeling away from the tile. I noticed this specifically on 4 tiles. Two of the largest size and two of the smaller size (2x2). NewbieDM noticed the same thing.

I had to glue these back down or they would have been useless.

The aesthetic of the tile set is great, and this is the first time I've had a problem like this.

Buyer Beware

Miniatures from MegaMinis

I ordered a few miniatures from MegaMinis and they arrived in the mail today.

I've looked through their catalogues several times, and wanted to order a few as a trial to see the quality. I ordered the following (from Left ot Right):

Bard Playing Lute
Thief with Lantern
Dungeon Raider
Monk swinging Staff
Priest with Mace Raised
Male Cleric with Mace

Overall, I am very impressed with these miniatures. The aesthetic is perfect for old school gaming. The quality and detail is excellent and the packaging was first-rate. John worked with me on shipping too (I'm in Ontario). Customer service and communication was awesome.

I highly recommend MegaMinis, and do so without reservation.

Random Hireling Generator (Revised)

I was quite taken with the Bulette's random hireling generator for Labyrinth Lord.

I've made a few revisions that I think build on an already excellent idea.

I would have no problem using something like this for any D&D game that I play (LL, B/X, 1E, or whatever).

Please let me know what you think. I'd like to continue tweaking.

Dungeons and Dragons Hireling Generator

Hireling Miniatures: What Do You Use?

In our group, we face a quandry. We really like to use minis, but we prefer older rulesets (1E and LL). In many cases, DDMs don't provide an aesthetic that matches the look of traditional D&D. For us, the aesthetic of minis is just as important as the aesthetic of a module.

Back in the day, I painted more than a few Citadel miniatures (which I still think are the best sculpts around). I know that painting minis can be quite rewarding. We just don't have the time.

So we must sift through the DDMs for acceptable options - but we pick and choose.

When it comes to miniatures for hirelings there aren't a ton of options. I'm sure, if you use DDMs that you already have these scoped out.

I'm curious, if you use minis (metal or plastic), what do you use?

Torch-Bearers

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