On July 27, 2019, I was Dungeon Master for a charity game of 1st edition Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) which benefited the Phoenixville Women's Outreach Center. This event occurred at Nerd Merch, which is a new gaming "store" in Phoenixville, PA.
The game Dungeons and Dragons was published in 1974. I started playing in 1978, just as the first edition (1e) of Advanced DnD was being released. This is the version I played the most- all the way through college and after. Second edition (2e) was published in 1989, and that's the edition that was current when I worked for TSR (company that fist published the game) from 1992-4. In 1997, TSR was purchased by Wizards of the Coast (WOTC.) WITC was purchased by Hasbro in 1999. DnD is currently enjoying a new resurgence with its 5th edition (5e). (Wikipedia)
I can't say I'm a big fan of 5e. Power gaming at its worst. And dumbed down like crazy. That's why I prefer earlier versions.
A seat at the table cost $20. That got you your character. If your character died, you could "re-buy" another for $10. Every cent was going to the Center. The module was Tomb of Horrors, (ToH) known by gamers as the deadliest dungeon ever written. The (surviving) creator of DnD, Gary Gygax, was tired of players complaining about how tournament modules were too easy, so he wrote ToH to absolutely kill characters. In this module, characters died. Often. So, the rebuy was going to raise more money. I also set up an online fundraiser.
I arrived and the staff at Nerd Merch helped me set up the tables. I pre-made appropriate characters, chose appropriate spell, and put them in color coded folders. I figured that if the players were shelling out $20 per seat, they should get the best I could make it within my means. I did my best to set the players for success. All was ready and set up for noon... and nobody showed... until near 1. Sigh.
Eventually I had eight players- mostly around my age. The store was crowded, and people playing whatever at other tables were curiously looking over. We recruited one from another table. Score!
After a few "false starts" the group finally found the true entrance. This first corridor was loaded with trap doors... and a "false path" of red tiles set into the floor. These traps would claim the first kill- a paladin who was impaled on poison spikes. The group found their way into a second hallway, and pressed onward.
Oh, I forgot to mention, each player had one "Mercy." It was essentially a re-roll. The party leader had two of these. You could buy more for $5.00 each, again going to the Center. You could also get more for good role playing or having a great idea. By the end of that first corridor, the party had used almost all their Mercy.
I used all the original pictures as player aids. I made enlarged copies so they were easier to see, though.
The idea was to play until all characters were dead or surrendered. By the end, all but one had been magically deposited, butt-naked, back at the Tomb entrance. The one who hadn't was at the entrance, having run away earlier. The others surrendered, so the one guy won the "prize:" a never released Citadel miniature so rare that even staff only ever got one (this one was mine.)
What did I get paid for all this? 3 bottles of Fiji water- exactly what I requested. Between the day and the online, we raised over $300 for the Phoenixville Women's Outreach Center... which they didn't expect as the guys at Nerd Merch never told them that the event was happening. *facepalm* I received a very nice email from the director of the Center- and that was more than enough for me. I helped, and I got to play a game I love.
I used to play DnD all the time. I played ToH as a player twice back in the day, and DM'ed it twice (counting this.) Doing this game, and knowing it was a good cause really reminded me of how much fun the game was and is. Also, it was a fitting way of saying "goodbye" to the town where I'd lived for over 16 years on and off- but that's another story
If I could find a group willing to play an old edition of the game up here in State College, I'd jump at it. Alas, I fear it will not be.
Still, I was able to help a little.
Be well.
I can't say I'm a big fan of 5e. Power gaming at its worst. And dumbed down like crazy. That's why I prefer earlier versions.
A seat at the table cost $20. That got you your character. If your character died, you could "re-buy" another for $10. Every cent was going to the Center. The module was Tomb of Horrors, (ToH) known by gamers as the deadliest dungeon ever written. The (surviving) creator of DnD, Gary Gygax, was tired of players complaining about how tournament modules were too easy, so he wrote ToH to absolutely kill characters. In this module, characters died. Often. So, the rebuy was going to raise more money. I also set up an online fundraiser.
I arrived and the staff at Nerd Merch helped me set up the tables. I pre-made appropriate characters, chose appropriate spell, and put them in color coded folders. I figured that if the players were shelling out $20 per seat, they should get the best I could make it within my means. I did my best to set the players for success. All was ready and set up for noon... and nobody showed... until near 1. Sigh.
Mt set up behind the screen
Eventually I had eight players- mostly around my age. The store was crowded, and people playing whatever at other tables were curiously looking over. We recruited one from another table. Score!
First Corridor
After a few "false starts" the group finally found the true entrance. This first corridor was loaded with trap doors... and a "false path" of red tiles set into the floor. These traps would claim the first kill- a paladin who was impaled on poison spikes. The group found their way into a second hallway, and pressed onward.
Oh, I forgot to mention, each player had one "Mercy." It was essentially a re-roll. The party leader had two of these. You could buy more for $5.00 each, again going to the Center. You could also get more for good role playing or having a great idea. By the end of that first corridor, the party had used almost all their Mercy.
Original art. Want a gem?
The idea was to play until all characters were dead or surrendered. By the end, all but one had been magically deposited, butt-naked, back at the Tomb entrance. The one who hadn't was at the entrance, having run away earlier. The others surrendered, so the one guy won the "prize:" a never released Citadel miniature so rare that even staff only ever got one (this one was mine.)
What did I get paid for all this? 3 bottles of Fiji water- exactly what I requested. Between the day and the online, we raised over $300 for the Phoenixville Women's Outreach Center... which they didn't expect as the guys at Nerd Merch never told them that the event was happening. *facepalm* I received a very nice email from the director of the Center- and that was more than enough for me. I helped, and I got to play a game I love.
I used to play DnD all the time. I played ToH as a player twice back in the day, and DM'ed it twice (counting this.) Doing this game, and knowing it was a good cause really reminded me of how much fun the game was and is. Also, it was a fitting way of saying "goodbye" to the town where I'd lived for over 16 years on and off- but that's another story
If I could find a group willing to play an old edition of the game up here in State College, I'd jump at it. Alas, I fear it will not be.
Still, I was able to help a little.
Be well.
Sounds to me like you had a good time and did something for someone else without expecting anything in return! Good Job!
ReplyDeleteYou might fare better than you expect on finding players, not amongst the student, but amongst the faculty and staff there. Worth a shot.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance check out Tales From the Yawning Portal (probably in a game shop). The 5e version of Tomb of Horrors used NONE of the art from the AD&D version. All those lovely play aids not a part of the game.