ars ludi

By popular demand, I’ve uploaded the other group photos I have from the Shippensburg Adventure Game Camp. Where you there? Find yourself in the crowd and be amazed how you looked 25 years ago.

I’m missing photos of one of the weeks in 82, 83, and 84. If someone out there has those, let me know so we can make the set complete.

The rest of the photo gallery has a few more gems, like the letter announcing the cancellation of the camp and the test they sent campers to gauge their knowledge of AD&D.

UPDATE Added pictures for the other sessions in 82 and 83, courtesy of fellow councilor Todd Goldman. So now the only missing photo is the other week of 84. Thanks Todd!

I just found out that Major Wesely is coming to GenCon, but he doesn’t have any sessions scheduled this year. But I have it on good authority that if people are interested, he’s willing to get together for ad hoc sessions.

Do you want a chance to play Braunstein, the grandfather of all roleplaying games? Do you want to grill him about what it was like gaming with Dave Arneson, before Blackmoor and before D&D? Do you want to hear about antiaircraft artillery in WWII or soldier’s wives in the Revolutionary War?

Speak up and let him know. He’s probably reading this thread right now, so this is your chance.

Nearly thirty years ago, there was a summer camp for D&D. Yes that’s right, a summer camp where instead of basket weaving and archery, you played Dungeons & Dragons. I went all five years it ran, three years as a camper and two as a councilor. And yes, it was awesome.

There is about zero information about the Shippensburg D&D camp on the internet, so I agreed to do an interview for posterity’s sake. You can read my write-up for yourself, but be warned, it is an epic tale of 80’s gaming nostalgia:

My Shippensburg Adventure Game Camp Interview

One other camp attendee has already replied to the post. Could there be more? There were about three hundred gamers who went to the camp. They have to be out there somewhere…

I’ve added the text from the handouts of the GenCon 2008 Braunstein games to the Braunstein Memories page, courtesy of Major Wesely.

There are some sections missing, notably the map and some of the characters from Braunstein IV. I’m hoping to get from Major Wesely later — when I do, I’ll add them.

“That’s _Lieutenant_ Student A to you…”

GenCon 2008 has sadly come and gone. If you were part of the lucky crew that came to Major Wesely’s seminars you got to play in the first recreation of the Braunstein games in 40 years, the games that led to the birth of roleplaying games… but you probably already read that post.

Here are some assorted memories from the Braunstein games, collected for posterity:

• Pictures from Braunstein I, GenCon 2008 (now including scans of player handouts)
• Handouts from the original Braunstein game (recreated by Major Wesely for GenCon 2005)
• Player report of what happened in the 2008 Braunstein games
• Post-game comments from Major Wesely

Were you at either session? Tell your side of the story. Braunstein had, by definition, as many separate stories as there were players, so every point of view sheds new light on how the whole thing worked.

Do you have more pictures or handout scans? Drop a link in the comments so everyone else can see them. I’ve got nothing at all for the Saturday Braunstein IV session. There are also rumors of audio recordings from both sessions that may appear on the internet.

And of course a big thanks to Major Wesely for putting on the referee hat and running the games. If you missed them, ask nicely and maybe he’ll do it again next year…

UPDATE

Added the text from the handouts from the GenCon 2008 Braunstein games, courtesy of Major Wesely:

• Braunstein I – Characters
• Braunstein I – Map
• Braunstein IV – Characters
• Braunstein IV – Notes & Commentary from Major Wesely

Want to hear what Major Wesely has to say about Braunstein first hand? If you’re going to GenCon now’s your chance:

Play The Braunstein Game
Fri noon-4 pm (SEM00151), Embassy Suites – Ambassador II
Sat noon-4 pm (SEM00152), Embassy Suites – Ambassador II

Make sure to double-check at the con in case they move the room or anything sneaky like that. If you’re looking online be warned that Wesely is frequently misspelled Wesley or some other variation, so if you’re doing searches check both.

While we’re at it here’s where you can find Dave Arneson and Lou Zocchi.

I’ll be at the Friday session. Hope to see you there.

UPDATE: there was an error in the GenCon schedule which has now been fixed. Both sessions are noon-4 pm, not noon-2 pm