The questions are in! TheOneRing.net’s exclusive interview with Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeon and Dragons, is ready to go. Below is a list of the interview questions sent in by YOU, the fans. Look for the answers soon!
1. Do you enjoy the works of JRR Tolkien? If so, how did he influence your work?
2. Did you actively base D&D on Tolkien’s world, adopting some of the preferences of the species, their behaviours, and all that from Tolkien?
3. As many D&D fans know, the game has taken flak in the past from Christian and “concerned parents” groups regarding the game and its supposed occult/Satanic influence on some of those who play it. How would you respond to those that say D&D is a “gateway” to Satanic or dangerous practices?
4. Are you surprised that D&D and games like it have been as popular as they are? Were you aiming for a much smaller market, or did you imagine that this many people would enjoy what you enjoy creating?
5. How old were you when you actually began to create AD&D?
6. I would imagine that you invented D&D and played it for a long while before actually going to market with it; who, if anyone, inspired you to market the game?
7. I imagine you read fantasy novels quite a bit; do you have any favorite authors, or any favorite books in general?
8. In a recent issue of Dragon magazine, you said you would have developed a 2nd edition of AD&D differently than what TSR eventually came out with in 1989. What would have been your vision of a 2nd edition had you worked on it?
9. The Dungeon and Dragons game used to be billed as a “simple” game as opposed to those games like G.U.R.P.S. and Wizards and Warriors. Why has it become so complicated?
10. What do you have in the works as of now?
11. Thinking back, I seem to remember a Middle-arth role playing game. Were you involved in this? Is it still available?
12. Did you ever consider making the Lord of the Rings into a module?
13. What is your favorite book of all time (excluding your own)?
14. Who is Gary Gygax? What makes him tick?
15. In all of your world, who is your favorite creature or character you have created?
16. I know you have not seen the trailer because you dont want to spoil it, but what do you think of the Lord of the Rings movies being produced? What are your hopes for it?
17. Do you think the Lord of the Rings movies will create a surge in new fantasy fans?
18. When first creating D&D, did you ever expect to make a living at it?
19. What was the book that you read that got you hooked on fantasy?
20. And finally, what do you think of TheOneRing.net?
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Hello again everyone! Gamgee here! Lets have another rousing time with the Tolkien fun section! Our last winner was Melian! Wonderful Job!!! The answers were:
1) six
2) Oakenshield
3) Gollum
Here are the questions for today:
1) “What were the names of Farmer Maggot’s dogs?”
2) “oomrftngor” (Scrambled Tolkien person, place or thing)
3) “He should not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” (Who said this?)
As always, Mail me with your answers, the 1st person to mail me all 3 correct answers in one mailing will be posted here next time! Good luck……Gamgee
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The Hall of Fire is ready with a new topic for today at 5:30 EDT [-5 hours GMT]. Bring your Director’s Chair with you this time, as we take a look at a beloved Tolkien book through the eyes of the movies.
The Silmarillion on Film
Imagine you win the challenge of creating The Silmarillion on film. Like Jackson’s effort on The Lord of the Rings, the task would be enormous and daunting to say the least. Uncountable questions would need answers, like: who would you cast as the characters? Which characters and events would you cut out? How would you approach the project?
We’ll also play around with general Silmarillion film questions, like what scenes we’d love to see on the big screen, how the creation of Arda would be portrayed, and what places would make great locations. Read up and bring along your text for this one!
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Last month Ianman spent a few days looking at what they were doing up on Mt.Ruapehu and we’ve been enjoying installments of the photoessay of his adventures (more)
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Hi Tehanu, a spy report from The Hutt Hobbit
“… there is a new LOTR site here in the Hutt Valley. It is located in Peterkin Street, Wingate, at the old Telecom yard, right next to the Pilkington Glass Factory.
“The set appears to be the Gates of Moria. From what little I can see, it is made up of a 30 foot high, 100 foot long fake rock wall with two other sides (blue screens possibly). The main wall is facing away from the road, so only the rear scaffolding is visible. In the centre there is a huge cavern-like hole (the entrance to Moria?). Running parallel to it is one of the blank walls of the same size. Presumably it doubles as a blue screen and as a shield from prying eyes. There is a gap about 10 feet wide that various crew members and actors use to get in and out of the set on the side. There is one end open, but that faces the railway tracks and a row of houses opposite the tracks. There are about 2 feet or so of gravel piled up on the floor of the set and an artificial pond. Also inside the set are a couple of old dead trees. One night they had smoke (fake mist possibly) being pumped through the set. There were a pony and some very small actors in Hobbit gear.
“Filming seems to be done only at night. The cast and crew take lunch in a well-lit building with lots of windows that happens to be right next to the road. No attempt has been made to cover the windows, so you can get a very good look at who is there. I guess because the set is down a side road in an industrial area they probably are complacent and don’t think that they will be noticed much (wrong! lol:)) Two things gave them away: little signs with ‘JAMB’ on them pointing the way, and great bright lights that can be seen for miles.
“On High street you can catch a glimpse of the rock face, complete with trees, shrubs, bushes, etc, if you look between the houses that back onto the railway tracks. As I was looking directly at people’s houses to see the set I could not stay long. I don’t think the residents would like people staring in the general direction of their homes for too long! That would be rude. lol 🙂 The best view (albeit it only a brief one) of the set would be to observe it from the train, as the set is open on the railway side.
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More news has come in on the doings at the new Wingate set in Lower Hutt, which is just outside of Wellington. Read all about it in Spy Reports
Somebody get down there with a camera, please! It’s on the main trunk line, for pete’s sake! [more]
Meanwhile, Jonny over at The Realm of the Ring has some photos that sort of whet the appetite for more.
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