Thursday, March 5, 2009

Year of the Dungeon Redux

Please read the following very carefully because I don’t want any misunderstandings or misconceptions to be formed.

Last month, I mentioned in a post that I thought it would be very cool if the old school community made 2009 the year we took back the megadungeon. Over the past week, it seems that a lot of other people have had the same idea. I claim no responsibility for this sudden influx of interest in the megadungeon. If anything, I just caught a whiff of something that was in the air and commented on it.

In a recent announcement, Monte Cook stated that he plans to start a subscription based site called Dungeonaday.com, where subscribers would have access to a new megadungeon setting and its environs with new material posted each weekday. His plan is to do something rules-light and detail heavy that might be useable to players no matter what their personal edition preference might be.

James Maliszewski posted about Dungeonaday over at Grognardia and the comments began. “Why can’t the old school community do the same thing?” was a very common reaction. Thus, a very tiny germ of an idea was born.

I’d like you to go over to Grognardia and read the comments there if you haven’t already. Just so you know what’s being kicked around. What I don’t want you to do is take this post as an announcement that the old school community is going to do what Monte Cook is doing and James is in charge of it. This is NOT the case. I don’t want an angry email from James saying that people are thinking he’s spearheading the old school megadungeon project, simply because there is no old school megadungeon project. At least, not yet.

A very tiny idea has been born and it may die a crib death without going anywhere. There is no current direction to this idea and there is no roster of contributors being drawn up. This is just vaporware. I wouldn’t even mention it except that I was asked to help make people aware that this idea is out there and, for some crazy reason, people come around these parts and read what I have to say.

I hope this increases awareness without starting any crazy-go-bananas rumors. Thank you.

7 comments:

E.G.Palmer said...

What? What!!?? James Maliszewski has promised to hand dig an actual megadungeon in his own back yard! That's crazy!! I'm kidding, I'm kidding, relax. I think some sort of collaborative megadungeon would be a great idea. I'll just go check it out, shall I.

Chris said...

People doing similar things because it seems like a good idea? Self-organising leaderless creative movements? The wisdom of the herd? What lunatic ideological anarchist witchcraft is this you rave of Mike? It'll never work. Why, tis against nature. ;)

*troddles off to Grognardia*

Mr Baron said...

So this mega-dungeon-March is all your fault?

ok..just checking ;)

Its all good!

Michael Curtis said...

What? What!!?? James Maliszewski has promised to hand dig an actual megadungeon in his own back yard! That's crazy!!

OK. That made me laugh. If I had to choose a false rumor to spread, I think that would be the one.

Michael Curtis said...

People doing similar things because it seems like a good idea? Self-organising leaderless creative movements? The wisdom of the herd? What lunatic ideological anarchist witchcraft is this you rave of Mike? It'll never work. Why, tis against nature. ;)

True! Sorcery must be afoot! Prepare the pressing stones and someone dig up Vincent Price.

Michael Curtis said...

So this mega-dungeon-March is all your fault?

"It was like this when I got here, officer."

Mr Baron said...

so you are stiring the pot and causing trouble?

Excellent! Keep up the good work!