If you scroll down you'll see that the Melnibonean mythos is reproduced directly from the original version of Deities & Demigods. The second half is on the next page...
Link.
http://www.multiverse.org/content-45.html
You can also reach it from the multiverse.org frontpage by taking the "Gaming" link to the left. Ho hum...
(ducks the d12 pun-damage)
There were no royalties involved in the dropping of the two authored fiction pantheons from the book. I had a letter from Michael Moorcock granting the Melnibonean Pantheon rights gratis because of my plugging his books. [The boss of another game company] wasn't happy, as they had licensed the Elric material from Michael's agent. I said we would mention their game, and he agreed they would then do the same for our book. Brian [Blume, majority partner in TSR] refused to plug any other game company, so he personaly ordered the removal of that section from the DEITIES & DEMIGODS book.
The HPL material used was all out of copyright, but we agreed with Arkam House that protecting the property was a good idea, so the Lovecraftian material was voluntarily removed.
So the Chthulu stuff was axed out of altruism, and the Elric stuff could have stayed if not for one fella's jealousy. Gotta love these historical anecdotes.
At Moorcock's Weekly Miscellany you'll find Michael's comments on this very subject by performing a search at our forum. As the Elric movie approaches, I expect a rejuvenation in interest in this material and have preserved it for the future with permission. I hope gamers find it useful. This stuff, overall, is forgotten lore and deserves to be remembered.
Best,
Berry Sizemore
Originally posted by multiverse
As the Elric movie approaches,
An Elric movie?!? Where can we find details about this???
An Elric movie?!? Where can we find details about this???
A year and a half ago, or thereabouts, it was announced that Universal Studios had optioned Elric for a movie. That doesn't, of course, mean it will ever get made, and I haven't found any other details since then.
[ Edit: http://www.multiverse.org/article30.html ]
My pessimistic side guesses that Universal Studios may have only acquired the rights as a just-in-case measure with a view towards possibly cashing in on the success of the Lord of the Rings.
Here's CNN talking about it (and talking out of its ass, calling the Elric saga "Tolkien-esque"): http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/24/film.elric.reut/
I'd really like to see such a movie, if it were done well. But I have very little faith that it would be.
.
.Originally posted by multiverse
At Moorcock's Weekly Miscellany you'll find Michael's comments on this very subject by performing a search at our forum.
Hmm. I did find a thread on the D&DG, but no posters seemed to me Michael. Can you suggest a keyword? Or maybe just give the title of the thread? Or--I know, crazy idea--maybe a link?
Originally posted by RobertFisher
Hmm. I did find a thread on the D&DG, but no posters seemed to me Michael. Can you suggest a keyword? Or maybe just give the title of the thread? Or--I know, crazy idea--maybe a link?
Sorry. The specific question was posed in my old database. I have yet to port that. But I looked at it manually. Here's the comment I was referring to:
Vistor to multiverse.org asked -
Q: I used to play role playing games in the late 70's and I came across one of my old books at the weekend called Deities,Demi-gods and Heroes by TSR. Inside it had Statistics for your some of characters, I seem to recall you saying that this copy was withdrawn due to copyright issues. Is this correct? If so I wonder if its worth a few quid! You'll be glad to know that Elric has some of the most potent stats ever recorded in the role playing world.
Michael Moorcock replied -
A: I gave both TSR and Chaosium the okay to use my characters. In those days it wasn't big business. Then Chaosium threatened to sue TSR (even though both had equal rights) and because I hardly knew what was happening suddenly Chaosium 'own' the game rights. They have controlled the board and card game rights ever since. I haven't been happy with their presentation or distribution, though have no quarrel with most of the texts, though they are currently breaking their contract terms by not showing
them to me before they come out. I'm going to have to deal with all this soon. I don't know if the book's worth a few quid or not. You could see if anyone makes you an offer. I don't think I ever had one.
That is the extent of his remarks. Universal have optioned all rights. I suspect Chaosium are going to find themselves fighting some big time legal battles eventually.
Cheers!
.So, what did you guys think of the website?
Well, I'd already been there a few times. I like it, except when it makes me scroll left & right.
Isn't it amazing that this guy is busy answering readers questions?
No. It's amazing that others don't do likewise.
Mr. Moorcock has always left a good impression on me.I am always amazed when I recall that Lin Carter & Fritz Lieber wrote articles for Dragon. Not fiction, mind you, but gaming articles. Fletcher Pratt was a gamer too.
Originally posted by Kamelion
Long-time lurker and occasional poster on the old Q&A boards(long-gone black & white simplicity, heh heh). Mike is the man
I remember you handle. The black version of the site exists now. When you create a membership at the site, you can go to "Your Account" and choose a theme. There is one called "Black Blade". That has a little flash in it. It is a popular theme, though it is a stylistic black version of the plain white one, not an exact duplicate of multiverse.org's pleasant high contrast, but a great inversion. Though it isn't the simplicity some of us crave (can you believe I used to get complaints about how difficult the old site was to use?), the new one is easy on the eyes for all you long time lurkers...
I'll give it a try. Those old boards could be a little odd to navigate ("Hmmm, I need the little rocket icon...") but they were pretty basic ;).Originally posted by multiverse
I remember you handle. The black version of the site exists now. When you create a membership at the site, you can go to "Your Account" and choose a theme. There is one called "Black Blade". That has a little flash in it. It is a popular theme, though it is a stylistic black version of the plain white one, not an exact duplicate of multiverse.org's pleasant high contrast, but a great inversion. Though it isn't the simplicity some of us crave (can you believe I used to get complaints about how difficult the old site was to use?), the new one is easy on the eyes for all you long time lurkers...
You now also have the honor of being our 600th registered user. Congrats!
Originally posted by Glorified_Suffering
..yes I'm lame and know nothing...what are Elric's stats?
They're at the webpage linked in the original post.
What were the odds, eh?
Originally posted by TheVillageofHommlet
I was lucky enough to buy the DDG with the Elric and Lovecraft in it.
What were the odds, eh?
I dunno, but for me the odds were pretty good. It was the only kind in existance at the time.