Arduin Week - 2020 - Day Three

As we begin Day Three of Arduin Week 2020 let us begin with another item from our anonymous guest artist and his tribute to Dave Hargrave and Arduin.

The Lost Grimoire (Arduin Grimoire Vol. IV), 1984 

Table of Contents

Integration of Arduin Rules in Other Role Playing Systems, p. 2 

The Why of It All, p. 4 

Player Adaptability, p. 6 

Specialty Magik/Magicians, p. 8 

The Ecology of Monster Creation, p. 10 

Dungeons, Caverns and Other Holes in the Ground, p. 11 

Advanced Magikal Phumble Chart, p. 12 

Random Magikal Matrix, p. 14 

Arduinian Weaponry and Other Treasures, p. 15 

New Character Races, p. 20 

Potent Potions, Lotions and Other Amazing Alchemical Concoctions from Arduin, p. 24 

Spells, Conjurations, Etc., p. 34

Priestly Magik, p. 47New Monsters, p. 52

Legendary Potables of Arduin, p. 67

Bill of Fare for Dirty Dorg’s, p. 77 

Ruses, Traps and Other Dirty Tricks, p. 80 

Last Laughs and Other Game Master’s Quirks, p. 86 

Holidays and Festivals in Arduin, p. 89

The above is how I have run my OD&D for 45 years. You can lift and use anything form anywhere is you remember the above, "THE NUMBERS ARE NOT IMPORTANT - ONLY THE IDEA IS!" If you learn that secret you can convert anything on the fly during the game. What Dave Hargrave wrote above in those three paragraphs is the thing that in my experience - most never learn, do not understand and cannot be taught - these are the naysayers that want to pour cold water on every idea and make up the legions of rules lawyers. Meanwhile you (all of my readers) and I, just go run out games and have a lot of fun.

The Why of It All is much too long to reprint here, but it is well worth everyone reading. If I could get permission, I would like to post it and a few other things permanently on a web page.

The Medusa Stone is a good example of a magic item in Arduin.

All of  the Arduin items had great names and were usually pretty detailed as well.

Dark Dreams (Arduin Grimoire Vol. V), 1985

Table of Contents

Death in Arduin, p. 4 

The Fog of War or What in the Heck is Going on, Charlie? p. 6

The Street Gangs of Arduin, p. 9

Checkmate! How to Have Characters Game among Themselves, p. 15

The Infamous "Black Metals" of Arduin & Other Mythic Metals, p. 17

The Silk of Arachnid Origins, p. 21

Alchemy and Game Play, p. 25

Orc Alchemy, p. 33

Rogue Magik, p. 36

New Magik, p. 39

New Priestly Magic, p. 45

Arduinian Prismatic Walls: Another Look, p. 47

Gladiators, p. 57 

Mini-Dracs: The Rare Breed, p. 69

New Monsters, p. 70

Various games adverts from page 76 through page 80.

The Street Gangs of Arduin is another long section, that is too long to print here, but it is the definitive text for how to add the ultimate flavor to your cities. If your players spend anytime at all in a larger city they need to have these street gangs.

The others are just as fantastic as Silbony.

When you read these descriptions, it becomes apparent that there was a lot more to Dave Hargrave than meets the eye. One of the things about Arduin is how detailed the descriptions are. I can only wonder about the descriptions at the game table.

It is my hope that these books can be returned to print so that many more can enjoy them.