Secrets of Blackmoor - The True History of Dungeons & Dragons - Chapters 1 & 2

The Informal Game Presents "Secrets of Blackmoor"
Chapters:
1. Introduction
2. Arneson and Dungeons & Dragons
Watch the entire film in the US/UK on Amazon at: www.amazon.com/gp/video/detai...
and Worldwide on Vimeo at:
vimeo.com/ondemand/sobfinal
DVD's, Books, and more available at www.tfott.com
Chapters coming soon:
3. Mustering the Troops
4. Resurrecting the Referee
5. The War Game RPG
6. Change of Command
... and more.
Don't forget to subscribe to get notified when we post new chapters.
About the Movie:
What if everything you knew about the history of Dungeons & Dragons was wrong?
6 Years, 12 Cities, 200 Hours of Interviews, 20,000 Documents and Photos: An unprecedented investigation into the history of D&D - the game that spurred a multi-billion dollar industry.
Be among the first to know the Secrets of Blackmoor.
Blackmoor is the name of a fictional world created by David Arneson. It is also the prototype of Dungeons & Dragons, the first published role playing game. Unlike other fantasy worlds, such as J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, Blackmoor is a living world that is being explored to this day. Secrets of Blackmoor investigates the origins of the role playing game, through candid interviews, archival footage, and newly discovered artifacts.
In 1963, David Wesely becomes a founding member of a club that includes history buffs, model makers, and miniature collectors. Hiding within the group, however, are a bunch of college students who are interested in war gaming. Within a year, the gamers meet a high school kid named Dave Arneson who is playing war games with his friends in his parents' basement.
These gamers have no idea that they will change the face of this hobby forever. Their only concern for now, is how to simulate the reality of war, and above all, they just want to have fun. Their voracious hunt for new rules and knowledge leads them to the University of Minnesota Library where they discover an old manuscript, Strategos; the American Game of War. Within the dense pages are a few sentences that inspire them.
The influence of Strategos changes how they play their war games. But are they really following these old rules, or have they stumbled onto something truly unique by misinterpreting what it says? Should a game be constrained by rules, like Monopoly, or should there be no boundaries at all, like a game of make believe?
One thing is very clear--something magical was going on in the Twin Cities.

[@Dragons_Novel]

I played in the 1980s. All we had were character sheets, pencils and graph paper to draw maps. I didn't even know players used figures until the last two years. Dungeons and Dragons is my most favourite game. It has had a huge impact on my life. Thank you for sharing its history.

[@RHSNOW]

This is the purity of Gaming. Paper. Pencil. Imagination.❤ They cannot take what lives in the Mind and the Heart.

[@jewelpickard9716]

Nicely done video. I own a copy of Arneson's The First Fantasy Campaign the I put in a large ziplock bag. And back in the mid-1980's I had a few questions and corresponded with him via emails; he was polite and intelligent in his responses. I regret that I never got to meet him in person.

[@griffithmorgan4966]

Everyone I have met who had conversations with him has said he was very friendly and nice. It is sad that he passed away when he did as he was only about 61 years old which is still very young. Did you keep copies of your correspondence? - Griff

[@iantaran2843]

OH this is the one I already bought 🤣 Here I was thinking I was getting new content Still here to support the creator no matter what 🤘

[@vincentnotabartolo2801]

I own this digitally, I’m ordering the two disc dvd tomorrow. LOVE this documentary!

[@olma5124]

Thanks you so much for those two first chapters, I can't wait for the next ones. In different interviews Bob Meyer explained that he uses a 2d6 system in his games but I noticed in the video that all his players have 3d6 in front of them. I know that Bob prefers to keep obscure the exact mechanisms but does someone has an idea about how he determines the results. Believe it or not, it is one of the fundamental questions of my life !

[@griffithmorgan4966]

If you watch the actual die rolls used during play you can see they are all 2d6.

[@olma5124]

@@griffithmorgan4966 I noticed that the dice rolls were only 2d6 but I did not understant why all the players have 3d6 in front of them. Maybe that I'm wrong but I guess that if the characters have an advantage the players throw 3d6 and keep the two highest but if they have a disadvantage they keep the two lowest.

[@griffithmorgan4966]

@@olma5124 No one knew the rules. RPG gamers usually use 3d6 thus they all had 3d6 ready for playing, but they only used 2d6. The 3d6 is simply force of habit.

[@olma5124]

@@griffithmorgan4966 Thanks you so much for this clarification and above all thanks you very much for all your articles on your blog. Please Mr Griffith, you and your friends ( Bob Meyer etc ) do not let die your old and authentic way to play. A lot of people who can't be present at your conventions will be pleased to watch an entire "actual play" as we can see some excerpts in this video or on Facebook. Of course the players we are don't need to discover the rules but the RPG lovers we are really want to feel what does it mean to sit at your table as if we were in the seventies even if it's via KZbin.

[@griffithmorgan4966]

@@olma5124 Well, we're just gamers ya know? I will keep playing in the way I always have because I do not know any other way to do it. I am sure Bob is like that too.

[@navi8141]

Thank you for making this. I had never heard of Blackmoor.

[@TheInformalGame]

There are more videos, did you see them all?

[@roygoodman1077]

Griff, I k ow you had some hesitation about producing a paperback version of LDoT. Im glad you did, because now its at a price point i can afford and i will be purchasing the book.

[@griffithmorgan4966]

I really hope you enjoy it. Knowing more people can read it, or play it, is what matters.

[@roygoodman1077]

My copy of The Lost Dungeons of Tonisborg arrived over the weekend. I can not wait to fun this.I have a setting that I'm going to place this mega-dungeon into. It's gonna be awesome. Once again thanks for doing the softcover.

[@Lightmane]

If only Arneson and Gygax had remained friends, and didn't go their own ways. I wonder what D&D would be like today, if that happened.

[@lm7586]

It's cool that you're making this more accessible, but did you ask the creators for permission to upload this?

[@TheInformalGame]

We are the creators, but we did forget to ask ourselves. I'll do that now.

[@lm7586]

@@TheInformalGame I thought this was done by "The Fellowship of the thing" like it says in the video.

[@TheInformalGame]

We appreciate your concern. I invite you to take a closer look ar the channel details. It'll help.

[@lm7586]

​@@TheInformalGameThankyou for pointing that out.

[@ThaiThom]

How/where can I buy the DVD? Thanks in advance.

[@TheInformalGame]

It is on our Website, TFOTT.com in the store. We also have other interesting items like original art and books. Please Share our Links to friends on your social media to friends. We rely on Grass Roots Support from Gamers like you to help get the word out about our film. Thank you for watching.

[@ThaiThom]

​@@TheInformalGame Thank you very much!