POLYHEDRON #9
Holiday Greetings!
It is always an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity
to address
fellow game enthusiasts, whether in person or by the print medium. However,
it is a bit hard to get into the proverbial Spirit of Yuletide when the
grass is still green and the sun overhead is warm and comforting. Alas,
that
is the effect of the dreaded Leadtime Beast! Bear with me, Good Readers,
while I work my perceptions round to the future date when you will be
reading this.
The RPGA Network is still in its infancy.
This is but its second winter and
already it has developed into a large and
meaningful body. The growth and progress
planned for by Frank Mentzer are
now the oversight of Kim Eastland, for I
dragged Frank off to assist with the vast
D&D game system completion and
AD&D game work. Frank was loath to
leave, just as I hesitated to ask him to do
so, but Kim as steward of the Network
satisfied us all. While Frank, Francois
Marcela-Froideveal, and I work to improve
and expand your FRPG enjoyment, the
Learned Mr. Eastand has a far broader
concern -- the continuation of your association's
plans and projects, and the
broadening of activities so that the Network
will be able to provide you with
even more in the new year to come.
It is a difficult task to establish a new
organization, set its goals, make its plans,
and then proceed to carry the whole effort
through. There are always unforeseen
factors, difficulties and delays which
test the mettle of the stoutest heart! Yet
the RPGA Network has provided you
with excellent tournaments for two seasons
now, publishes an excellent newsletter,
and offers an ever-expanding list
of special modules and other products at
reduced prices for RPGA members! Not
bad, but . . .
The goals established initially have
not been met uniformly. It is desired by
all that the Network offer more products,
and over the course of the coming year I
am certain you will all be delighted with
what Kim has in store for you. More information
exchange and service is desired,
and this aspect will likewise be improved.
Of course, there are also plans
for continued development of sponsored
events and tournaments -- some which
extend well beyond 1983. We hope to be
able to provide or approve AD&D game
tournaments and rate the participants of
such events. Eventually, this service will
be extended to as many covered RPG's
as possible. It is desirable to coordinate
activities more closely with the UK Players
Association -- and what about some
interchange with the French Gaming
Federation? With its founder and president
immediately available here, we
should certainly be in a position to take
positive steps in that direction.
It has long been my personal
desire to develop tournament
play to a degree
where truly superior scenarios,
evenly judged, bring
the winner not only acclaim
but some heavy-duty benefits
as well. This might, in
fact, be accomplished in the
1983 GEN CON Game Fair
AD&D Open Tournament.
Can we manage to select a
winner and send him or her
to England to participate in
a tournament there? It looks
quite possible! In the same
vein, can the AD&D Invitational
Tournament be established
so as ot include rated
RPGA Network members
and cooperating tournament
DM's? Again, this seems
quite possible now, if on alternating
years the Open
and Invitational winners
were sent to participate in
events in other countries.
Other meaningful rewards are also under
consideration too. This is not to denigrate
the current award system but rather
to augument it so as to make the successes
even more meaningful.
The Holiday Season has many meanings,
and this is merely one of many you
will receive, but I do hope that it will fill
you with the good cheer associated with
this time of year. We all wish you the
best, now and in the New Year. I trust
that all members will be delighted with
what your association does for you in
1983 and plans for the years to come.
Both Frank Mentzer and I will be on
hand, as needed, to contribute what we
may, and Kim Eastland will, I am sure,
provide you all with the direction which
best assures an ever-growing and better
association. Neither Kim, nor Frank, nor
I can do it alone -- or in conjunction. As
the name says, it is an association of
gamers who enjoy role playing games. It
is also up to you, Fellow Members, to
contribute your share of the direction
and development of the Network. Of
course, your membership alone is considerable,
as is your support of association
activities, tournaments, and so on.
We also need your help in recruiting new
members, giving us the benefit of your
ideas and opinions, and by being active
members. If RPGA Network members
put on demonstrations and serve as
spokesman for our hobby, it will go far towards
building an even larger audience,
bringing in new members, and dispelling
the charges that role playing is occultist
and a form of "behavior modification"
somehow aimed at subverting the nation's
youth. Network members are the
best proof that RPG's increase thinking
and reasoning ability, improve all forms
of useful skills, and (best of all) are good,
clean fun!
Thanks for your support and participation
in 1982. May you all have a most
happy holiday season and a marvelous
year to come. If all goes well, I should be
doing this again next year at this time,
and with your kind assistance, the report
and message for the following New Year
will be better still!
E. Gary Gygax