Gnat the Beggar wrote:This would be a VERY nice project.Too bad I recently sold all the copies I had.Otherwise I could add 8 issues to the list.
JasonZavoda wrote:I only have 22 issues myself but they are in a nice block of #4-26 (missing #21). issue #4 has an index of issues #1 & 2 but I'm not sure if it covers everything. I will have to talk with Hermit and see how I can enter info into the wiki. I'm really low tech and just wasn't sure from the help page how to do it. I'm also not sure about how to reduce the size of the scan to something the wiki will accept.Otherwise I figured on doing some reviews of the issues and posting the table of contents with as much relevant collecting info as I can find. I figure a concise review of these first three years of the zine might make a good article for the Acaeum Newsletter.
General:From the title page: "This fanzine is set up as a monthly discussion apa for SF fans and others interested in role-playing games"Each issue has approximately 150 pages and 40 contributors. Some of the more recognizable names are listed below.Contributors review current RPGs and discuss rule changes and additions. There is, of course, much focus on Dungeons and Dragons and the new AD&D, Gary Gygax, and Dragon magazine, but contributors also discuss Chivalry & Sorcery, The Fantasy Trip and other games.Issue #44: includes 2 pages by Steve Marsh, contributor to many TSR products ("Analects of a Mad Sage"); 6 pages by Ed Simbalist, co-author of Chivalry Sorcery ("Kismet: Role Playing Modes of Gaming Wilderness Tourney"); 2 pages by Wilf Backhaus, also co-author of C&S ("One Frost Giant's Icicle"); 3 pages by Phillip McGregor, another C&S sourcebook co-author ("Morningstar Mutterings"); a 3 page review of the Arduin Trilogy by Mike Gunderloy; 2 pages by Greg Costikyan, author of the TOON RPG by Steve Jackson Games ("We're Looking for a few good DM's") 11 pages by John Sapienza ("The Golden Dragon"); 8 pages by Lee Gold ("Tantivy" and editorial comments). Cover by Glenn Blacow.Issue #45: includes 4 pages by Dave Hargrave, creator of Arduin ("The New Arduin Chronicles"); 3 pages by Steve Marsh ("Analects of a Mad Sage"); 14 pages by John Sapienza ("The Runelord Writes #4"); 8 pages by Lee Gold ("Tantivy" and editorial comments). Cover by Ken Murphy.Issue #46: includes 4 pages by Dave Hargrave, creator of Arduin ("New Arduin Chronicles #4"); 5 pages by Steve Marsh ("Heroquester #5"); 11 pages by John Sapienza ("The Runelord Writes 5"); 8 pages by Lee Gold ("Tantivy" and editorial comments). Cover by Peter E. Dixon.Issue #64: includes 9 pages by Dave Hargrave, creator of Arduin ("New Arduin Chronicles"); 1 page by Steve Marsh o ("Analects #5"); 15 pages by John Sapienza ("The Golden Dragon" and "Dragonsgold"); 10 pages by Lee Gold ("Tantivy" and editorial comments). Cover by Ken Murphy.Issue #70: includes 13 pages by Dave Hargrave, creator of Arduin (2 different installments of the "New Arduin Chronicles"); 4 pages by Ken Rolston, who has various TSR, Avalon Hill and Paranoia! game credits ("Dungeon Register #8"); 1 page by Phillip McGregor, a C&S sourcebook co-author ("Morningstar Mutterings"); 12 pages by John Sapienza ("The Golden Dragon #30"); 10 pages by Lee Gold ("Tantivy" and editorial comments. Cover by Phil Alexander.Issue #72: includes 1 page by Steve Marsh ("Analects of a Mad Sage"); 10 pages by John Sapienza ("The Golden Dragon"); 8 pages by Lee Gold ("Tantivy" and editorial comments). Cover by Artemis Gail.
Zenopus wrote:An Alarums & Excursions index is long overdue, so I am happy to see this Jason, especially with such early issues (1977 and earlier) that have material for OD&D rather than AD&D.The contents of each contributer's zine within each issue is rarely reflected by the title (which would be the same from issue to issue). I have one copy right now, issue 30 - Jan 1978, (which I bought from Gnat), so I can help with the contents for that one. As an example, Steve Marsh has a zine called "A Page from the Verdigris Testament" but it is mostly a 2-page alternate assassin class for OD&D. So the very best index would describe the contents of each article beyond the title. But what you have is an excellent start (and I see you are planning to do more in-depth reviews).Later issues, such as #30, have a Contents section, but it just lists the number of pages from each contributor (since each zine may be numbered separately or not at all). Even later issues (like below) included the color of the zine in this section, which helped in locating particular contributions.I posted some info from several later issues in a thread back in 2007, but just the titles, and only those from the names I recognized.
Blackmoor wrote:I have the first 70 or so, I will get the table of contents for #1-3 to you over the next few days
Zenopus wrote:Here's some limited content from the issues you have, Jason. These are J. Eric Holmes (of the Holmes Basic set) contributions. Feel free to copy and paste any of this info for the index.ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS submissionsA&E is an APAzine edited by Lee Gold; these submissions pre-date his short stories in DRAGON, and read more as descriptions of campaign encounters"Warrior-For-Hire", ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS #11, May 1976, 1 page (unnumbered)hybrid narrative/OD&D variant rule suggestion; see here for a short reviewfeatures Ajax the warrior, who appears in MAZE OF PERIL"Were-shark", by Eric and Chris Holmes, ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS #13, July 1976, 2 pages (unnumbered)early version of chapter 2 ("Dark Water") of MAZE OF PERILmentions Boinger but not Zereth1 illustration by Chris Holmes"The Adventure of the Giant Chameleon", by Eric and Chris Holmes, ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS #14, August 1976, 4 pages (unnumbered)mentions a hobbit and elf, but not by name; there is a Murray the M-U as in MAZE OF PERIL2 illustrations, presumably by Chris Holmes"The Adventure of the Lost City: Part One, ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS #17, November 1976, 6 pages (unnumbered)adventurers include Boinger the Halfling and "Xoreth" the Elf"The Adventure of the Lost City: Part Two, ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS #19, January 1977, 5 pages (unnumbered)"Letter", article, ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS #18, Jan 1977, 1.5 pages (unnumbered)thanks Lee Gold for mentioning MAHARS OF PELLUCIDAR in A&E #17describes use of Pellucidar creatures in OD&D, including stats for Mahars, Sagoths and ThipdarsUntitled Letter, ALARUMS & EXCURSIONS #24, Aug 1977, 15 lines of text mentions that Red Axe sequel "is never going to be released by ERB, Inc" and that the envisioned third novel would have been titled "Swordsman of Pellucidar"The last one was just a part of a page. I think Lee would use short letters and submissions to fill up pages. I'm not sure if these are included in the Contents page. Another challenge for indexers.Lee gave me the above information very quickly after I asked her about Holmes' contributions. She may have her own index, or a phenomenal memory (she also copied the articles for me for a nominal fee).I'd be interested in info any responses to J. Eric Holmes stories/articles (or any missing from above), and any discussion of the Holmes Basic Set. Issue #30 has a response to Lee Gold's submission from #27 (Oct 77) where it appears she mentioned the new Basic Set. John Sapienza replies that he hasn't looked at it because he's waiting for AD&D to be released. For the most part I believe the Holmes Basic set didn't make much of an impact on the A&E regulars - they were too experienced with D&D to have much use for it.Holmes also had a section in his 1980 FRPG book devoted to A&E, including a picture of one of the covers.
JasonZavoda wrote:One of the things that is very interesting is the list of fanzine recommendations. I will make a list of those as a seperate post.
Blackmoor wrote:Page #2Letter From Gary Gygax to Lee Gold about Issue #1Author Gary GygaxAs a note this is a very cool letter, it describes the beginning of D&D and hints at a release of the Blackmoor Campaign book by Dave Arneson and about some other book (presumably Greyhawk) that could be released as well. Loaded with other stuff. Four page letter. It is soooo cool
grodog wrote:*drools*
