This site has progressed considerably, and mirrors my progression in HTML and related technologies. I will continue to update and upgrade, both as an exercise for myself and in hopes of providing a better, more useful, and more enjoyable experience to those using it. Once again, thanks to all those who have given me encouragement, feedback, and support.
The newsgroup rec.games.frp.dnd commonly discusses items of general interest to AD&Ders. Many new ideas are floated here for discussion and comment. The FAQ for rec.games.frp.dnd is maintained in html format by Aardy R. DeVarque.
USENET FAQs for the various rec.games.frp.* news groups are available here.
I currently maintain the Net Magic.Items List, the LaTeX Net.SpellBook and LaTeX Net.SpellBook. Unfortunately, the editing and formating demands of the LaTeX books are considerable, and I am a full version behind the "Official" Release. Please see this page if you are interested in the various Net.Books I personally maintain.
I'm always looking for good fantasy artwork to include in these works. If you happen to have some (non-published, non-copyrighted) or are an artist looking to gain exposure for your work, please contact me. I'm not really a good artist, despite my mom's influence. Please Help!
These sites have a plethora of information regarding AD&D and other Fantasy Role-playing Games. Some of the information is duplicated here, but most isn't. Happy Surfing!
Note: due to the volume of mail I get and my already considerable workload, I cannot include any more links here. However, please feel free to include links to this site on your page; you do not need to ask permission to do so.
I started playing Dungeons and Dragons back in 1982, when I was 12. I started with an original D&D game manual, but soon found it lacking, and moved on to Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (this was before there was an "Expert D&D" or "Masters D&D" sets). I've found that AD&D provides the better experience for myself, but others disagree. Either way, I found it an enjoyable way to pass a weekend day with several friends.
However, I had considerable difficulties in finding playing partners (due primarily to lack of interest on my normal friend's parts, not some insidious plot or anything). So, I soon turned to writing and creating. When I got to college at M.I.T. in 1989, the exposure to the Net and the vast amounts of information there stimulated my creative juices, and I've been pretty much writing steadily since then.
My primary enjoyment in AD&D is from the creation part more than the playing part. I get the most out of dreaming up new worlds and characters, and creating whole new rules frameworks to handle the outrageous things I want to do. I generally DM a little to see if my ideas are workable and enjoyable, but I generally let several DM friends be my "beta-testers" for my (sometime half-baked) ideas. It seems to work for me. DM for me is a synthesis of writer/engineer. It requires the imagination and ability to create a completely unreal world that a writer has, and the logical and analytical mind of an engineer to make this idea a reality.
I heartily recommend AD&D to anyone with a creative or imaginative bent, and that includes most children I know. Playing to me is alot like doing improvisational theater: you come up with an identity within a given framework, and then expound and go with it over the course of several (or more) sessions. Most actors I've spoken to identify with their characters, as do most AD&D-ers. This is normal and actually good. Both theater and AD&D are really specialized and structured version of the childhood "Let's pretend" game we all played. Pretending to be someone you're not for awhile is a wonderful experience, allowing yourself to let go of the worries and problems of ordinary life and immerse yourself in playing someone you (perhaps) would like to be.
That said, I include the following warning: Don't overdo it. This goes for ANYTHING. Sports. Studying. Reading. Watching TV. Acting. Playing D&D. Variety of experience is the most heathly thing for the human psyche, and getting in a rut, spending all your time on one activity, is bad. Manage your time wisely, and spend it on a variety of things. There's lots to do out there in world. DON'T spend it all (or even a large part of it) playing AD&D, no matter how much fun it may seem. Put it away and go outside, as your mother used to say.
And one final caveat for those interested: AD&D does not sponsor (or encourage) devil worship, animal mutilations, murder, domination, or any other of a variety of less savory things. If you are looking for explanations of such rites or whatnot, go looks somewhere else. As a corollary, AD&D (as I play it), does not sponsor, promote, advocate, or generally even mention Chistianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other religion, nor does it make any judgement on various society laws or customs. In general, AD&D has nothing to do with the real world, so if you're looking for a causal relationship between AD&D and any real-world occurance, go stick your head back in the sand, 'cause you obviously can't deal with reality.