Dungeonosophy
Legend
That is true too. Pluffet Smedger and Mordenkainen (and Elmister and Dalamar) have each made their extradimensional contributions to TSR's and WotC's work.
There's more description of D&D Earth here.
D&D 5E Is D&D Next a translation of the 5th iteration of Pluffet Smedger's proto-rpg?
- Thread starter Dungeonosophy
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That is true too. Pluffet Smedger and Mordenkainen (and Elmister and Dalamar) have each made their extradimensional contributions to TSR's and WotC's work.
There's more description of D&D Earth here.
TarionzCousin
Second Most Angelic Devil Ever
Is there a DnD roller coaster ride in there somewhere? 
Dungeonosophy
Legend
Is there a DnD roller coaster ride in there somewhere?
Yes, D&D Earth is the home of the Kids. Thanks for reminding me--I went and added that to my webpage.
Dungeonosophy
Legend
Well, if I'm insane, then I'm in good company: Tolkien and Gygax.
Henry
Autoexreginated
[obi-wan]Pluffet Smedger -- now that's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time.[/obi-wan]
That said, Gary just used that fictive device for his Greyhawk box, not the core books, and it really doesn't age well for the rulebooks you're using day-to-day. I'd love to see "Pluffy, you twit" return one day, but not in the rules.
That said, Gary just used that fictive device for his Greyhawk box, not the core books, and it really doesn't age well for the rulebooks you're using day-to-day. I'd love to see "Pluffy, you twit" return one day, but not in the rules.
Dungeonosophy
Legend
Well, in my perspective, Gary dropped the ball on this one. Others seem to have a similar perspective, such as Erik Mona, who reinstated the practice of using Greyhawk alter-egos. I'm picking up where this left off.
Dungeonosophy
Legend
All it would take to convert the WotC D&D products into "in-story books" is:
1) use the WotC product number to give it its in-story Volume Number, and make a synonymous name. Mona linked the company product code with the volume number of the in-story text in the Great Library. Thus, he described the Castle Greyhawk (WG7) product as known by its Great Library volume number, which is 9222.
2) Give the book an in-story title. All rulebooks (DMG, PHB, etc) will be books in Smedger's "historical/political mathematical model" rpg.
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Dungeonosophy
Legend
The relevant passage in the Foreword of the 1983 Guide to the World of Greyhawk:
"...The Savant-Sage is known to have lived in the city of Greyhawk during Oerth's Epoch of Magic. Evidence suggests that this was not the first age in Oerth history, hut nothing exists to indicate how many ages preceded it, or intervened between it and the present. Late in this period, the Savant-Sage compiled his "Catalogue of the Land Flanaess, being the Eastern Portion of the Continent Oerik, of Oerth." Out of this epic seven-volume work, only the third volume survives: "A Guide to the World of Greyhawk". The topics discussed in the other six volumes are unknown, but the complete encyclopedia is believed to have covered almost every aspect of life in the Flanaess."
"The Sage's work was not widely circulated during his lifetime. It disappeared completely after his death, and did not reappear until several centuries later, when a copy was discovered in an Illithid's lair in the Riftcanyon. This copy eventually found its way to the Royal University at Rel Mord, where it was examined by Pluffet Smedger, the Elder, a scholar and historian. Despite the fact that the encyclopedia was by this time several centuries out of date, Smedger was impressed by its freshness and thoroughness."
"Smedger spent several decades compiling glossographies for each volume, detailing facts and information overlooked by the Savant-Sage, or too recent to have been included in the original. When Smedger's work was finished, the Encyclopedia became a standard reference catalogue in universities and libraries throughout the civilized areas of the Flanaess."
"To aid his study of the Sage's books, Smedger the Elder created mathematical models, or games, that he used with his students at the university to recreate and examine historical events and political interactions described by the Sage. During Smedger's time, magic was not a lost art, but, apparently, a fading one. Happily, Smedger the Elder's curiosity and genius preserved a priceless relic from a world that no longer exists..."
The bold-face sentence gives the in-story origin of the D&D game.
"...The Savant-Sage is known to have lived in the city of Greyhawk during Oerth's Epoch of Magic. Evidence suggests that this was not the first age in Oerth history, hut nothing exists to indicate how many ages preceded it, or intervened between it and the present. Late in this period, the Savant-Sage compiled his "Catalogue of the Land Flanaess, being the Eastern Portion of the Continent Oerik, of Oerth." Out of this epic seven-volume work, only the third volume survives: "A Guide to the World of Greyhawk". The topics discussed in the other six volumes are unknown, but the complete encyclopedia is believed to have covered almost every aspect of life in the Flanaess."
"The Sage's work was not widely circulated during his lifetime. It disappeared completely after his death, and did not reappear until several centuries later, when a copy was discovered in an Illithid's lair in the Riftcanyon. This copy eventually found its way to the Royal University at Rel Mord, where it was examined by Pluffet Smedger, the Elder, a scholar and historian. Despite the fact that the encyclopedia was by this time several centuries out of date, Smedger was impressed by its freshness and thoroughness."
"Smedger spent several decades compiling glossographies for each volume, detailing facts and information overlooked by the Savant-Sage, or too recent to have been included in the original. When Smedger's work was finished, the Encyclopedia became a standard reference catalogue in universities and libraries throughout the civilized areas of the Flanaess."
"To aid his study of the Sage's books, Smedger the Elder created mathematical models, or games, that he used with his students at the university to recreate and examine historical events and political interactions described by the Sage. During Smedger's time, magic was not a lost art, but, apparently, a fading one. Happily, Smedger the Elder's curiosity and genius preserved a priceless relic from a world that no longer exists..."
The bold-face sentence gives the in-story origin of the D&D game.
Dungeonosophy
Legend
I wonder what the original Oerthian game for recreating and examining historical events and political interactions was called by Smudger?
Was it actually called "Dungeons & Dragons"? Or did Gygax and the TSR staff change Smedger's title when they translated it from Oerth Common to American English?
Perhaps Smedger honored his object of study (The Savant-Sage), by naming the game:
"Savants & Sages mathematical modelling game"
This would be the first MMG in Oerth. I suppose the iteration seen in the Guide and Glossography was preceded by Smedger's original edition, (OS&S). He soon revised it to make the Advanced S&S mmg.
Was it actually called "Dungeons & Dragons"? Or did Gygax and the TSR staff change Smedger's title when they translated it from Oerth Common to American English?
Perhaps Smedger honored his object of study (The Savant-Sage), by naming the game:
"Savants & Sages mathematical modelling game"
This would be the first MMG in Oerth. I suppose the iteration seen in the Guide and Glossography was preceded by Smedger's original edition, (OS&S). He soon revised it to make the Advanced S&S mmg.
howandwhy99
Adventurer
For a campaign setting I could see a similar motif working. For the core books, I don't think so.
For me, it really has more to do with Zagig Yragerne and Pluffet Smedger than anything else. Those were Gary's noms de plume. I would find it more than a bit akin to signing his name to my own work. Not cool.
I would like if the core books could be enticing, dramatic, comical, and everything else D&D. I just don't think this particular route is the way.
For me, it really has more to do with Zagig Yragerne and Pluffet Smedger than anything else. Those were Gary's noms de plume. I would find it more than a bit akin to signing his name to my own work. Not cool.
I would like if the core books could be enticing, dramatic, comical, and everything else D&D. I just don't think this particular route is the way.
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