sleuth2000 wrote:My copy of The Character Archaic (1st print, Sept. 1975, distributed by TSR) has a list of "items of interest currently avalaible". These are:

1. The Dungeon Master's Kit: "Set includes 10 map sheets allowing for greater playing speed; a pre-factored sheet of monsters for the Dungeon Master's use or for solo play; pre-planned treasures (pretty to look at but watch what you touch)."
   The name and description make it quite clear that this is the "Palace of the Vampire Queen" module. It was listed here a bit in advance, as to my knowledge this module would not be issued until 1976.
   The end of the description was blackened out. It would read: "The kit comes by level - 1 through 5 - state desired level when ordering." It looks like this module was initially planned to be sold level by level, but the idea was dropped.
   
2. The Quest Kit: "10 maps (9 different player maps and 1 master map for the Controler's use - only he knows where anyone is); a sheet of pre-factored, pre-programmed beings to encounter; and a sheet of interesting items located on the map area."
   I did not see any other reference to this "Quest Kit" on other products I own. My guess is that the description should more or less match another early game from the Wee Warriors, though there could have been changes between the time this description was made and the time the product was issued, if the project was not dropped altogether. Any idea ?
   
3. Character Sheets: "Individual character sheets available in packs of 20 by type. Use the color code when ordering. Sheets are pre-punched for use in standard 3-ring binders as well as in this book." A "$1" was stamped next to the description, and an additional note says that these sheets ONLY could be ordered and paid to Pete Kerestan.
   Sheets from the Character Archaic are pre-puched and have different colors depending on character types -- though there are not as many different colors as there are types. The most likely explanation is that these were simply extra sheets for the Character Archaic. Otherwise, how could the buyer know the "color code" ?

sleuth2000.

• Cover. The top hole digs into the spearhead on the outside cover. Exact same wording as the prepub version of the inside cover.
• Character Roll Call
• 25 character sheets: 6 blue (2 * female wizard with wand, 2 * dwarf wizard with spiky staff, 1 wanderer wizard with walking staff, 1 black & white wizard with rod pointing at the reader), 3 light yellow (3 * half-human priest with holy cross and food), 16 goldenrod (2 * halfling with sword & sling, 2 * dwarf with shield & spear, 2 * elf with bow & arrow, 2 * halfling with walking stick, 2 * defending thief with eye patch & sword, 2 * female elf with long spear & shield, 2 * middle east fighter with twisted sword, 2 * defending fighter with short sword & shield) -- descriptions are far from perfect, but they should allow for comparison between sets
• Blank page
• Combat Matrix Reference
• Wizard's Tomb map
• Creature Encounters: this is just an empty table, like the Character Roll Call.
• Blank page
• Back cover. Lines of text are slightly wider than in the prepub version. The last sentence from the DM Kit description has been blackened out. Prices are not printed and a $1 stamp was added next to the "character sheets" entry. There is Pete's address in Morro Bay where you would send check or money to order Character Sheets ONLY -- maybe the rest was exclusively TSR, -- and the "Distributed exclusivly by TSR Hobbies, Inc." (sic) at the bottom.

stormber wrote:Inside back cover:
-Last sentence from the DM Kit description has NOT been blackened out.
-Prices not listed
-Address in Morro Bay
-"Distributed exclusivly by TSR Hobbies, Inc."

stormber wrote:29 character sheets:
-10 blue (2 of female wizard with wand, 2 of wizard with mace-like staff, 2 of wizard with walking staff, 2 of wizard casting with right hand)
-3 light yellow (3 of human cleric with cross and haunch)
-16 goldenrod (2 of halfling with sword & sling, 2 of dwarf with shield & spear, 2 of elf with bow & arrow, 2 of halfling with walking stick, 2 of defending thief with eye patch & sword, 2 of female elf with long spear & shield, 2 of middle east fighter with twisted sword, 2 of defending fighter with short sword & shield)

stormber wrote:Inside back cover:
-Last sentence from the DM Kit description has NOT been blackened out.
-Products include: The Dungeon Master's Kit, The Quest Kit, and Character Sheets
-Prices not listed for products
-Address in Morro Bay
-"Distributed exclusivly by TSR Hobbies, Inc."

a2jeff wrote:

harami2000 wrote:Jeff, could you confirm the last line is missing from your copy and any other interesting comparison points, aside from the prices listed/not listed difference.

Correct David, that line is absent and there's no reference at all to TSR.

a2jeff wrote:I can post another picture of the rear cover if it will assist with this research. Differences are product listings,prices, and lack of TSR mention.

sleuth2000 wrote:
I have something similar on one of the cut-up sheets from "The Village", (c)1977.

I'd be most interested if harami2000 would post scans of his "special" Wee Warriors character sheet for us to compare with both printings from the Character Archaic, see:
http://www.acaeum.com/forum/about2894.html

sleuth2000