DnD archeology [Archive] - Wizards Community

DnD archeology [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
goldomark
06-26-07, 10:15 AM Aside from the Lord of the Ring, Fritz Leiber's Sword cycle (Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser) and Micheal Moorcock and is Elric saga, what other books inspired the different creators od DnD?
fun2223
06-26-07, 10:24 AM Lovecraft... a lot ( < notice it is two words)
mike_beavers
06-26-07, 10:24 AM Jack Vance and the Dying earth series, R.E. Howard-conan series, Roger Zelzany- Nine princes in amber series, Karl Wagner-Kane series. There were others
MHolland
06-26-07, 11:14 AM Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Piers Anthony, Weis and Hickman and George R. R. Martin, the best of the bunch.
Kursk
06-26-07, 11:36 AM There is a pretty complete list in the 1st Ed PHB or DMG.
Joshua Randall
06-26-07, 11:40 AM You should read John Rateliff's old series on "Classics of Fantasy". I couldn't find a direct link to it, but you can use these search results:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&as_qdr=all&q=rateliff+%22classics+of+fantasy%22+sit e%3Awizards.com
_Jayne_Cobb_
06-26-07, 12:58 PM Poul Anderson, especially Three Hearts and Three Lions.
Rian Lightblade
06-26-07, 01:17 PM The writings Robert E. Howard (the founding father of the Sword and Sorcerery genre) and in particular his stories about Conan the Cimmerian, Kull of Atlantis, Bran Mak Morn, and Solomon Kane have had a profound effect on the Fantasy genre for over 80 years.
OravennasBrother
06-26-07, 01:49 PM Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Piers Anthony, Weis and Hickman and George R. R. Martin, the best of the bunch.

These authors are all AFTER D&D comes out. Weis and Hickman in particular got their start as TSR hacks. Makes it hard to influence the prior production.
Raven_Strongbow
06-26-07, 06:58 PM These authors are all AFTER D&D comes out. Weis and Hickman in particular got their start as TSR hacks. Makes it hard to influence the prior production.

One of the guys in my group keeps telling me that Weis & Hickman are such great writers and that I have to read the origninal 3 Dragonlance books. But I'v heard a lot of bad things about their writing from everybody else in the group. Are they really hacks?
CryoSilver
06-26-07, 07:06 PM Define "hack."
Jinnetics
06-26-07, 07:19 PM One of the guys in my group keeps telling me that Weis & Hickman are such great writers and that I have to read the origninal 3 Dragonlance books. But I'v heard a lot of bad things about their writing from everybody else in the group. Are they really hacks?

Read the original 3 books and decide for yourself. Are they Shakespeare? No. Are they fun? Absolutely.
Krusk
06-26-07, 07:30 PM One of the guys in my group keeps telling me that Weis & Hickman are such great writers and that I have to read the origninal 3 Dragonlance books. But I'v heard a lot of bad things about their writing from everybody else in the group. Are they really hacks?

Aside from the ____ of the twins series which i did enjoy. Their books are not "my cup of tea". I read those books years ago, so im not sure how they really are. im going off memory.

Also I would say the current designers base their material off any current fantasy that they happen to read.
MHolland
06-26-07, 11:10 PM These authors are all AFTER D&D comes out. Weis and Hickman in particular got their start as TSR hacks. Makes it hard to influence the prior production.

The OP said the "different creators" which implied by context the various versions of D&D were being discussed. That is what I based my response on.

D&D came out in 1974 but Basic Dungeons & Dragons and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons didn't see print until 1977. Piers Anthony's first novel came out in 1976. George R. R. Martin's first novel was published in 1977. Terry Brook's Sword of Shannara came out in 1977. While not early enough to inspire the 1977 version of the rules they could easily have inspired other early works in the D&D line. Weis and Hickman were indeed writers who came from TSR but their influence on D&D today can still be felt.

Added...

The problem with the original trilogy is it was a novelization of the DL adventure modules that were being released as well. Mostly it is a retelling of their gaming sessions and insights into their campaign. If you decide to read them pick up The Annotated Chronicles. Besides the novels itself in one book it features the author's notes and notes from those who played in the campaign or were artists working on the modules and what not. There is A LOT of insight into the story itself. And it should also be said this trilogy was their first novels. With that in mind they are pretty, "WOW!" Their writing has gotten better over the years. However, like any fantasy authors there are those who will hate them and those who will love them. So honestly, you just need to check it out and see for yourself.
goldomark
06-27-07, 01:57 AM I was more thinking before 1996, you know, when the game was full of (fun) fluff.

But I would like to learn what inspired the 1st ed. and planescape.

And, why not, what is so not dnd, in the classic fantasy universe. Like China Miéville.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
goldomark 06-26-07, 10:15 AM	Aside from the Lord of the Ring, Fritz Leiber's Sword cycle (Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser) and Micheal Moorcock and is Elric saga, what other books inspired the different creators od DnD?
fun2223 06-26-07, 10:24 AM	Lovecraft... a lot ( < notice it is two words)
mike_beavers 06-26-07, 10:24 AM	Jack Vance and the Dying earth series, R.E. Howard-conan series, Roger Zelzany- Nine princes in amber series, Karl Wagner-Kane series. There were others
MHolland 06-26-07, 11:14 AM	Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Piers Anthony, Weis and Hickman and George R. R. Martin, the best of the bunch.
Kursk 06-26-07, 11:36 AM	There is a pretty complete list in the 1st Ed PHB or DMG.
Joshua Randall 06-26-07, 11:40 AM	You should read John Rateliff's old series on "Classics of Fantasy". I couldn't find a direct link to it, but you can use these search results: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&as_qdr=all&q=rateliff+%22classics+of+fantasy%22+sit e%3Awizards.com
_Jayne_Cobb_ 06-26-07, 12:58 PM	Poul Anderson, especially Three Hearts and Three Lions.
Rian Lightblade 06-26-07, 01:17 PM	The writings Robert E. Howard (the founding father of the Sword and Sorcerery genre) and in particular his stories about Conan the Cimmerian, Kull of Atlantis, Bran Mak Morn, and Solomon Kane have had a profound effect on the Fantasy genre for over 80 years.
OravennasBrother 06-26-07, 01:49 PM	Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Piers Anthony, Weis and Hickman and George R. R. Martin, the best of the bunch. These authors are all AFTER D&D comes out. Weis and Hickman in particular got their start as TSR hacks. Makes it hard to influence the prior production.
Raven_Strongbow 06-26-07, 06:58 PM	These authors are all AFTER D&D comes out. Weis and Hickman in particular got their start as TSR hacks. Makes it hard to influence the prior production. One of the guys in my group keeps telling me that Weis & Hickman are such great writers and that I have to read the origninal 3 Dragonlance books. But I'v heard a lot of bad things about their writing from everybody else in the group. Are they really hacks?
CryoSilver 06-26-07, 07:06 PM	Define "hack."
Jinnetics 06-26-07, 07:19 PM	One of the guys in my group keeps telling me that Weis & Hickman are such great writers and that I have to read the origninal 3 Dragonlance books. But I'v heard a lot of bad things about their writing from everybody else in the group. Are they really hacks? Read the original 3 books and decide for yourself. Are they Shakespeare? No. Are they fun? Absolutely.
Krusk 06-26-07, 07:30 PM	One of the guys in my group keeps telling me that Weis & Hickman are such great writers and that I have to read the origninal 3 Dragonlance books. But I'v heard a lot of bad things about their writing from everybody else in the group. Are they really hacks? Aside from the ____ of the twins series which i did enjoy. Their books are not "my cup of tea". I read those books years ago, so im not sure how they really are. im going off memory. Also I would say the current designers base their material off any current fantasy that they happen to read.
MHolland 06-26-07, 11:10 PM	These authors are all AFTER D&D comes out. Weis and Hickman in particular got their start as TSR hacks. Makes it hard to influence the prior production. The OP said the "different creators" which implied by context the various versions of D&D were being discussed. That is what I based my response on. D&D came out in 1974 but Basic Dungeons & Dragons and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons didn't see print until 1977. Piers Anthony's first novel came out in 1976. George R. R. Martin's first novel was published in 1977. Terry Brook's Sword of Shannara came out in 1977. While not early enough to inspire the 1977 version of the rules they could easily have inspired other early works in the D&D line. Weis and Hickman were indeed writers who came from TSR but their influence on D&D today can still be felt. Added... The problem with the original trilogy is it was a novelization of the DL adventure modules that were being released as well. Mostly it is a retelling of their gaming sessions and insights into their campaign. If you decide to read them pick up The Annotated Chronicles. Besides the novels itself in one book it features the author's notes and notes from those who played in the campaign or were artists working on the modules and what not. There is A LOT of insight into the story itself. And it should also be said this trilogy was their first novels. With that in mind they are pretty, "WOW!" Their writing has gotten better over the years. However, like any fantasy authors there are those who will hate them and those who will love them. So honestly, you just need to check it out and see for yourself.
goldomark 06-27-07, 01:57 AM	I was more thinking before 1996, you know, when the game was full of (fun) fluff. But I would like to learn what inspired the 1st ed. and planescape. And, why not, what is so not dnd, in the classic fantasy universe. Like China Miéville.