Have recently discovered the Gygaxian splendor of the original version of S4 "The Lost Caverns of Tsojconth" and am running it using my Holmes/OD&D expansion (basically just Holmes + OD&D). Check out my campaign journal/play report over on Dragonsfoot for bits of Holmesiana.
The adventure is relevant for Holmes enthusiasts in that it was run the year before publication of the Blue Book, and seems to have provided some influence (most notably, the inclusion of troglodytes into both the Holmes rulebook, as well as B1 a year later).
The pregenerated characters' equipment is also listed in a style similar to that used in the Holmes rulebook. Are there any other "Holmesisms" that folks are aware of?
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=72443
Troglodytes are fantastic, and much under-used these days. I see them as the degenerate descendants of the ancient snake people, who originally build much of the mid-levels of the Underworld. No-one knows this, of course. Except anyone reading this. :-)
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ReplyDeleteHuh. On my most recent trip to the USA, S4 was the one adventure module I packed to take back to Paraguay, as I planned on adapting it to Holmes myself (I spent most of November blogging about Holmes). I'll certainly check out your journal posts...I was totally unaware that the original tournament adventure had a Holmes connection. Fascinating.
Great find on the equipment. Where each item is carried is listed similar to the Malchor example in the Encumbrance section in the Holmes rulebook. This is one of the sections not in the original Holmes manuscript. Since Gygax wrote Tsojconth, this is good supporting evidence that Gygax himself also wrote this section (as opposed to someone else at TSR).
ReplyDeleteAnother Gygaxian usage later incorporated in the Holmes rulebook: the pre-gens use the 5-point alignment that had debuted in the Strategic Review #6 (Feb 1976).
ReplyDeleteGygax starts with numbers, but then switches to letters for the encounter areas, like in the Holmes Sample Dungeon. The original Sample Level in OD&D Vol 3 also had a mix of numbers and letters.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how many early adventures adopted the 5-point alignment, like the Judges Guild ones, for example.
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ReplyDeleteYes - and it's also interesting to note the usefulness of belt pouches, and the tendency for small sacks to be slung over the shoulder (I could swear I remember a Sutherland illustration depicting this from somewhere).
ReplyDeleteBoth daggers and scrolls are tucked into boots for quick access, and purses are hidden inside clothing. Certainly gives one an idea of how the typical adventurer was envisioned!
In the DMG section on Encumbrance (Appendix O), Dimwall the MU and Drudge the Fighter are described similarly. The MU has one of those useful belt pouches. Gygax added them to the equipment list in the PHB, but can be assumed as part of standard gear for OD&D.
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