Zenopus wrote in GaryCon 2014:A recent discovery by The Collector's Trove has found TSR's first published adventure by Gary Gygax, of which, only a score or so were printed and handed-out at GenCon VIII in 1975! Used to demonstrate TSR's new game, Dungeons & Dragons, the adventure is the fully fleshed-out first-level of Greyhawk Castle!
Zenopus wrote in GaryCon 2014:I'm hoping to hear more about the published item. As a publication, how does it compare to the TSR tournament modules from the '70s?
The Collector's Trove wrote in GaryCon 2014:All things considered, I'd give it a date range of 7/75 to 8/76. That means possibly Origins I, Gen Con VIII, Winter Con IV, Origins II, or Gen Con IX. I chose GenCon VIII due to the provenance of the document being associated with a GenCon VIII program. Also it features a great number of Greyhawk Supplement references and only two tenuous mentions of anything from Blackmoor and The Strategic Preview #5. Given Gary's modus operandi of pushing new material by including it in adventures it seems likely this demo-version of Greyhawk Castle was written shortly after Greyhawk's publication.In any case, my initial thought of first published adventure might still hold. Was Tomb of Horrors as run as a tournament by Gary and Ernie at Origins I meant to be given out to the public? "If You Are Wondering What Dungeons & Dragons Is All About..." was certainly printed as a free handout that was intended for distribution by TSR.
The Collector's Trove wrote in GaryCon 2014:Zenopus wrote in GaryCon 2014:I'm hoping to hear more about the published item. As a publication, how does it compare to the TSR tournament modules from the '70s?It is more like the Understanding D&D documents and is five, typed, single-spaced, single-sided pages, and a map page, stapled together at the top left corner, with a 1.5 page description of what D&D is and how it is played, 3.25 pages of encounter keys, and a 1 page dungeon map.
The Collector's Trove wrote in GaryCon 2014:Yes, that's the one! I didn't have a copy of the Origins II program, nice job Kynan on Tome of Treasures and I didn't think to check the General, that picture is brilliant, nice work! Now I understand why the key refers to color coding and the map. The small map I have doesn't have color coding. The big blown up map was probably colored-in for easier visuals. Observers must have had the introduction, key, and small map to follow along while novice players "carefully selected" by Gary play in the live event.It looks like there are multiple maps up on the board in the picture or is it one huge map turned on edge? They are certainly in the same style of the map I have.
grodog wrote in GaryCon 2014:Does anyone have a better scan of that image?---that would certainly help with looking at the details of the map and comparing it to the level 1 maps of Castle Greyhawk we've already seen (Eric Shook's auction from years ago via Paul, as well as the one in Castle Zagyg).
grodog wrote in GaryCon 2014:Thanks Jon, that helps quite a bit! I don't recognize the triangular structure on the right end of the map from any of Gary's or Rob's levels that I've seen before.
stratochamp wrote in GaryCon 2014:if I didn't know that was a gaming convention, I'd have thought it was a Muttonchop & Van Dyke convention.
Degassy31 wrote in GaryCon 2014:I am finally planning on attending my first convention at GaryCon this year. Look forward to meeting as many Acaeum members as possible. Any advice appreciated. Matthew
