REC.GAMES.FRP.DND FAQ Part 7 Resources 2: Non-Internet =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Non-Internet I1: What non-electronic resources are there for *D&D ? * I2: What are some good books to read to get good ideas? I3: Where should I start looking in a library for more information? I4: What are some good movies to watch to get good ideas? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Non-Internet I1: What non-electronic resources are there for *D&D ? A: TSR publishes two (aptly named) in-house magazines, Dungeon and Dragon, both commonly available at most stores where role-playing games are sold. Dragon concentrates more the role-playing industry, with news, reviews, and new rules and additions to various games, but especially *D&D. Dungeon includes new adventures and modules, usually for use with *D&D, but adventures for other games are often included as well. RPGA's magazine Polyhedron is available solely on a subscription basis to members of RPGA. It is kind of like Dragon only different, with more of a "home-brew" feel than Dragon has. Here is a short list of subscription addresses for a few fantasy role-playing magazines (prices are subject to change): Alarums and Excursions Attn: Lee Gold 3965 Alla Road Los Angeles, CA 90066 Monthly, Postage + $1.50 per issue 310/306-7456 Dragon (US) POB 756 Lake Geneva, WI 53147 Monthly, $30/yr; $50/yr anywhere other than US, Canada, or Europe Ph: 414/248-3625; Fax: 414/248-0389 Dragon (Europe) 120 Church End, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 3LB, United Kingdom Monthly, 16 pounds/yr UK, 24 pounds/yr Non-UK Europe Ph: (0223) 212517 Dungeon Dungeon Adventures TSR, Inc. POB 5695 Boston MA 02206 Bimonthly, US$3.75 per issue, $18/yr subs The Gamer 127 N. Madison St, Suite 202 Pasadena, CA 91101 818/795-8130 Bi-monthly, $15/yr; $25/yr Canada or Mexico; $40/yr elsewhere Polyhedron Newszine RPGA Network Headquarters POB 515 Lake Geneva, WI 53147 Pyramid P.O. Box 18957 Austin, TX 78760 Bi-monthly Silver Griffin Attn: Devlin Janax POB 1751 Saint Paul, MN 55101 Vortext Vortext Publishing 5506 Beaudry St #C EmeryVille CA 94608 USA Quarterly, US$2.75 per issue, $10 subs. ( 4 issues ) White Wolf Magazine 4153 Indian Manor Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Bi-monthly, $25/yr US, $40/yr Canada, $52/yr Overseas 404/292-1819; FAX: 404/292-9426 I2: What are some good books to read to get good ideas? A: An attempt to list every fantasy book would be suicide, plain and simple. However, what follows is a list of some of the books which Basic D&D was based upon*, as well as some others which are regarded as classics or particularly indicative of the genre. In general, if you find that a certain book or series listed here strikes your fancy, chances are that the author has written many, many more fantasy novels, as many of these authors are prolific in the extreme, and listing even the highlights of each would be a task in and of itself. Basis for D&D:*,** Anderson, Poul. _Three Hearts and Three Lions_; _The High Crusade_; _The Broken Sword_ Bellairs, John. _The Face in the Frost_ Burroughs, Edgar Rice. "Pellucidar" series; Mars series; Venus series Carter, Lin. "World's End" series de Camp, L. Sprague. _Lest Darkness Fall_; _Fallible Fiend_ de Camp, L. Sprague, and Fletcher Pratt. "Harold Shea" series; _Carnelian Cube_ Farmer, Philip Jose. "The World of the Tiers" series Fox, Gardner. "Kothar" series; "Kyrik" series Howard, Robert E. "Conan" series Lanier, Sterling. _Hiero's Journey_ Lieber, Fritz. "Fafhrd & Gray Mouser" series [a.k.a. "Lankhmar" series] Lovecraft, H.P. "Cthulhu" series Merritt, A. _Creep, Shadow, Creep_; Moon Pool_; Dwellers in the Mirage_ Moorcock, Michael. _Stormbringer, Stealer of Souls_; "Hawkmoon" series Offutt, Andrew J., ed. _Swords Against Darkness III_ Pratt, Fletcher. _Blue Star_ Saberhagen, Fred. _Changeling Earth_ St. Clair, Margaret. _The Shadow People_; _Sign of the Labrys_ Tolkien, J.R.R. _The Hobbit_; "Ring" trilogy Vance, Jack. _The Eyes of the Overworld_; _The Dying Earth_ Zelazny, Roger. _Jack of Shadows_; "Amber" series * This list is selected from a list found on p. 224 of the 1st ed. DMG ** According to the authors of the 1st ed. DMG, de Camp & Pratt, Robert E. Howard, Fritz Lieber, Jack Vance, H.P. Lovecraft, and A. Merritt had some of the most direct influences on the direction of the game, and the others had a lesser influence. Other reading: [Anonymous.] _Arabian Nights_ [Anonymous.] _Beowulf_ [Anonymous.] _The Song of Roland_ Alexander, Lloyd. _The Book of Three_ and the resultant series Anthony, Piers. "Xanth" series Anthony, Piers & Robert Kornwise. _Through the Ice_ Asprin, Robert. "Myth" series Asprin, Robert, ed. "Thieves' World" series Babbitt, Lucy Lullyford. _The Oval Amulet_ Barber, Antonia. _Catkin_ Baum, L. Frank. "Oz" books Bradley, Marion Zimmer. _The Mists of Avalon_, "Darkover" books Bradley, Marion Zimmer, ed. _Swords & Sorceress_ series Brooks, Terry. "Shannara" series; "Magic Kingdom of Landover" series Brothers Grimm. _Grimm's Fairy Tales_ [unabridged preferred] Burkert, Nancy Ekholm. _Valentine and Orson_ Cherryh, C.J. "Sword of Knowledge" series; "Morgam" books Cole, Allan & Chris Bunch. _The Far Kingdoms_ Cook, David C. (publisher). _Tullus and the Vandals of the North_ Cook, Glen. "The Black Company" series, "Glittering Stone" trilogy Cook, Rick. _Wizard's Bane_, _Wizardry Compiled_, _Wizardry Cursed_ Cooper, Louise. "Time Master" trilogy, _Star Ascendant_ Datlow, Ellen, et al., ed. _Year's Best Fantasy and Horror_ series De Angeli, Marguerite. _The Door in the Wall_ DeLint, Charles. _Into the Green_, _Brian Froud's Faerielands: The Wild Wood_ Devers, Joe. "Lone Wolf" series ("Determine Your Destiny" books) Dickinson, Peter. _The Flight of Dragons_ Dickson, Gordon. _The Dragon & The George_ Donaldson, Stephen R. _Daughter of Regals & Other Tales_, "1st & 2nd Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever" trilogies Duncan, Dave. _The Hunters' Haunt_, "Man of His Word" series Eckert, Allan W. _The Dark Green Tunnel_, _The Wand_ Eddings, David. "Belgariad" series; "Mallorean" series; "Elenium" series Ende, Michael. _Die Unendliche Geschichte_ [Neverending Story] Estes, Rose. _The Children of the Dragon_ Evans, Linda. _Sleipnir_ Feist, Raymond. "The Riftwar Saga" series Feist, Raymond & Janny Wurst. "The Empire Trilogy" Foster, Alan Dean. "Spellsinger" series Foster, Hal. _Prince Valiant_ Forward, Eve. _Villians By Necessity_ Gemmell, David. "Drenai" tales; "Sipstrassi" tales Gilliam, Richard, et al., ed. _Grails_ series Grahame, Kenneth. _The Reluctant Dragon_ Gray, Elizabeth. _Adam of the Road_ Gygax, E. Gary. "Gord the Rogue" series Harrison, Harry. _Warriors of the Way_ Henderson, Jason. _The Iron Thane_ Hildick, E.W. _The Case of the Dragon in Distress_ Jacques, Brian. _Redwall_ series Jones, Diana Wynne, ed. _Fantasy Stories_ Jones, J.V. _The Baker's Boy_ Jones, Terry. (of Monty Python fame) _Nicobobinus_ Jordan, Robert. "Wheel of Time" series Kelly, Eric P. _Trumpeter of Krakow_ Knaak, Richard. "Dragon Realm" series Knight, Max E., ed. _Christian Morgenstern's Galgenlieder_ [Gallows Songs] Koller, Jackie French. _The Dragonling_, _A Dragonling in the Family_ Kurtz, Katherine. "Deryni" series Lackey, Mercedes. "Magic's Dream" series ________ & Josephine Sherman _Castle of Deception_ ("Bard's Tale") ________ & Ru Emerson. _Fortress of Frost & Fire_ ("Bard's Tale") ________ & Mark Shepherd. _Prison of Souls_ ("Bard's Tale") Lawhead, Stephen R. "Merlin"; "Taliesin"; "Arthur" Lewis, C.S. "Narnia" series Llywelyn, Morgan & Michael Scott. "The Arcana" (trilogy) McCaffrey, Anne. "Pern" series Modesitt, L.E., Jr. _The Magic of Recluse_ Moon, Elizabeth. _The Deed of Paksenarrion_ Morgenstern, S. (pseud. for William Goldman). _The Princess Bride_ Newman, Sharan. _Death Comes as Epiphany_, _The Devil's Door_, _The Wandering Arm_ Niles, Douglas. "The Watershed" trilogy Niven, Larry. _The Magic Goes Away_ Norman, John. "Gor" series Paxson, Diana L. & Adrienne Martine-Barnes. "Chronicles of Fionn Mac Cumhal" series Peters, Ellis. "Brother Cadfael" series Pierce, Tamora. _"Song of the Lioness" series, "Immortals" series Piper, H. Beam. _Lord Kalvern of Otherwhen_ Prachett, Terry. "Discworld" series; _The Color of Magic_ Priess, Bryon, et al., eds. _The Ultimate Dragon_ Pyle, Howard. _Otto of the SIlver Hand_ Rawn, Melanie. "Dragon Prince" trilogy, "Exiles" trilogy Reichert, Mickey Zucker. "The Last of the Renshai" trilogy; "Bifrost Guardians" series; "The Renshai Chronicles" series Roberts, John Maddox. "StormLands" series, "Cingulum" series Rosenberg, Joel. "Guardians of the Flame" series Saberhagen, Fred. "Swords" series; "Lost Swords" series Shea, Michael. _Nifft the Lean_, _In Yana, the Touch of the Undying_ Sherman, Josepha, ed. _Orphans of the Night_ Sim, Dave. _Cerebus_ (1st collection) Skurzynski, Gloria. _The Minstrel in the Tower_ Smith, Clark Ashton. _The Boiling Point_, _Hyperborea_, _Xiccarph_, _Zothique_ Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. _The Changing Maze_ Stirling, S.M. & Holly Lisle, _The Rose Sea_ Swanwick, Michael. _The Iron Dragon's Daughter_ Turtledove, Harry. "Arhel" series Weber, David. _Oath of Swords_ Wein, Elizabeth E. _The Winter Prince_ Weis, Margaret, & Tracy Hickman. "Darksword" series; "Deathgate" series Wells, Martha. _City of Bones_ Westall, Robert. _The Cats of Seroster_ White, T.H. _The Once and Future King_ Willey, Elizabeth. _A Sorcerer and a Gentleman_ Williams, Tad. "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy Wrede, Patricia C. _Dealing with Dragons_, _Calling on Dragons_ Yolen, Jane, _Wren to the Rescue_, _Wren's Quest_ Zelazny, Roger & Thomas T. Thomas. _The Mask of Loki_ [Various.] (Any novel published by TSR) You may also want to look into the Recommended Fantasy Authors List, located at as well as the Speculative Fiction Authors Bibliography, located at or the Alternative Authors list, located at . To find out more about current and forthcoming books in the fantasy genre, here are a couple of publishers' web pages to look into: http://www.tor.com The official page for TOR Books, the SF/Fantasy imprint of Tom Doherty Associates. http://www.baen.com The official page for Baen Books, a SF/Fantasy publisher. http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/ The official page for Del Rey Books, the SF/Fantasy imprint of Ballantine Books. http://www.bdd.com/forum/bddforum.cgi/scifi/ The official page for Spectra, the SF/Fantasy imprint of Bantam Books. There are many other, non-fiction books out there which tell the history of daily life in the Middle Ages; see the next question or ask your local librarian for more information. However, the following series pretty much sums up everything you ever wanted to know about medieval weapons, armor, and life. Oakeshott, R. Ewart. _The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armor From Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry._ Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK; Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 1994. ________. _A Knight and His Castle._ Chester Springs, PA: Dufour Editions, 1993; London, Beaver Books, 1976. ________. _The Sword in the Age of Chivalry._ Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK; Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 1994. ________. _A Knight and His Armor._ Philadelphia: Dufour Editions, 1961; London, Lutterworth Press, 1961. ________. _A Knight and His Horse._ London: Lutterworth Press, 1962; Philadelphia, PA: Dufour Editions, 1964. ________. _A Knight in Battle._ London: Lutterworth Press, 1971. ________. _A Knight and His Weapons._ Philadelphia, PA: Dufour Editions, 1964; London: Lutterworth Press, 1966. If you are looking for information on mythological beasts, a decent series called _Monsters of Mythology_ was put out by Chelsea House Publishers in the mid-80's; each book detailed one monster. I3: Where should I start looking in a library for more information? A. What sections of your average library to look in to find reference material for a medieval setting: Dewey Library of Decimal Congress Subject 398.2 GR72-79 Folk tales, legends, fairy tales, tall tales PN683-687 " PN1341-1347 " 398.204* PJ*, PL*, " PQ*, PT* " 398.209* PA3285 Folk tales of a geographic area PN905-1008 " PT6200-6230 " PT9509-9542 " 398.4* GR81, GR500-615 Literature of folk tales, horror stories GR700-860 " 133.* BF1001-1999 Occult 016.2* Z7721-7865 Religion Z6876-6880 " 291.13 BL300-325 Mythology 940.1 CB351-355 Medieval history 623.441 U800-897 History of arms & armor (pre-firearms) 623.1 UG400-442 Fortifications 725.18 NA490-497 Military use of walls, gates, etc. 728.81-2 NA 7710-7786 Castles, palaces 355.009 U29-42 History of military science 723 NA 350-489 Medieval architecture 709.02 N5940-6311 Medieval art 321.14 JC101-126 Medieval government 909.07* D111-203 Medieval history CB351-355 " 340.55 K140-165 (Medieval) History of law 780.0902 ML170-190 Medieval music 759.02 ND140-146 Medieval painting 181 B121-163 Ancient (Medieval) Eastern philosophy 189 B720-765 Medieval Western philosophy 615.0902 RM44 Medieval medicine 615.50902 " 734 NB170-180 Medieval sculpture I4: What are some good movies to watch to get good ideas? A: As above, it would be suicidal to attempt to list every single fantasy movie ever made. However, what follows is a fairly good listing of the movies most indicative of the genre, as well as a number of turkeys which are fun to watch and get ideas from. Warning: Some of these movies are intended for children, and a couple are almost guaranteed to rot your brain. I take no responsibility for any damage done to your sanity by watching some of these films. All of these are available on video. A: Animated The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) Aladdin (1986, 1992A) Aladdin and His Magic Lamp (1968A, 1976) Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (1982) A Ali Baba and the Forth Thieves (1944) Archer: The Fugitive From the Empire (1981) Arkenstone Fantasy (1974) Army of Darkness (1993) Arslan Senki (pt. 1-4) (a.k.a. Heroic Legend of Arislan) (1991-93) A Ator the Fighting Eagle (1983) Barbarian Queen (1985) Barbarian Queen II (1992) The Beastmaster (1982) The Blade Master (a.k.a. Ator the Invincible) (1984) Bladestorm (1986) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1988) Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (1988) Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989) Clash of the Titans (1981) Conan the Barbarian (1982) Conan the Destroyer (1984) A Connecticut Yankee (1931) A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949, 1970A) The Court Jester (1956) The Dark Crystal (1983) Deathstalker (1984) Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans (1987) Deathstalker III: The Warriors from Hell (1988) Deathstalker 4: Clash of the Titans (1991) Dragon Half (pt. 1-2) (1993) A The Dragon Who Wasn't (Or Was He?) (1983) A Dragonslayer (1981) The Dungeonmaster (1985) Excalibur (1981) Faerie Tale Theatre: Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1984) Fire and Ice (1983) A First Knight (1995) Flesh + Blood (a.k.a. The Rose and the Sword) (1985) Flesh and Blood (1951) Flight of Dragons (1982) A Fury of Hercules (1962) Gnomes (1980) A Gnomes Great Adventure (1987) A The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974) Gor (1988) The Greenstone (1985) Grendel, Grendel, Grendel (1982) A Hamlet (1948, 1990) Hawk and Castile (19??) Hawk of Castile (1964) Hawk the Slayer (1980) Henry V (1944, 1989) Highlander (1986) The Hobbit (1978) A The Iron Crown (1941) Iron Warrior (1987) Ironmaster (1983) Ivanhoe (1952, 1982) Jabberwocky (1977) Jason and the Argonauts (1963) King Arthur, the Young Warlord (1975) Krull (1983) Labyrinth (1986) Ladyhawke (1985) The Last Unicorn (1982) A Legend (1986) Legend of Lyon: Flare, pt. 1-2 (199?) A The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1979) A Lord of the Rings (1978) A The Magic Sword (1962) The Magic Voyage of Sinbad (1952, 1962) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974) The Name of the Rose (1986) Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (a.k.a. Warriors of the Wind) (1985) A The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey (1989) Neverending Story (1984) Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter (1991) Neverending Story III (1994) Ninja Scroll (a.k.a. Jubei's Ninja Chronicles) (19??) A 1001 Arabian Nights (1959) A Outlaw of Gor (1987) Petronella (1985) The Phantom Toolbooth (1969) A The Princess Bride (1987) Quest for the Mighty Sword (a.k.a. Ator, l'Invincible) (1990) Rashomon (1951) Record of the Lodoss War, pt. 1-13 (199?) A Red Sonja (1985) The Return of the King (1980) A RG Veda, pt. 1-10 (1991-96) A Robin and Marian (1976) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Rumik World: Fire Tripper (199?) A Scaramouche (1952) Seven Magnificent Gladiators (1984) Seven Samurai (1954) Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Shogun Assassin (1980) Shogun's Ninja (1983) Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) A Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989) Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Son of Ali Baba (1952) Son of Sinbad (1955) The Sorceress (1983) The Sword and the Dragon (1956) The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) Sword of Doom (1967) Sword of Heaven (1981) Sword of Lancelot (1963) The Thief of Baghdad (1920, 1924, 1940, 1961, 1978) A Thousand and One Nights (1945) The Three Musketeers (1933, 1948, 1974, 1994) Time Bandits (1981) The Vikings (1958) Warlock (1991) The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984) Warriors (1955) Weathering Continent (1992) A Willow (1988) Windaria/Winderia (1992) A The Wind and the Lion (1975) Wizards (1977) A Wizards and Warriors (1983) Wizards of the Demon Sword (1991) Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (1985) Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II (1989) Yoma (possibly a.k.a. Curse of the Undead: Yoma) (19??) A Yotoden (pt. 1-3) (19??) A Zardoz (1973) You can use the Internet Movie Database at or the AllMovie Guide at if you wish to search for information on any of these movies, or for any movies not already listed here. ***End Part 7***