Month: January 2011

Argothald: The Missing Manual

It’s official: I now have a chance to resurrect my old Argothald campaign.

I’ve hit a snag. It’s a big one. I can’t find my old Argothald notebook.

For me, this is no small matter. This notebook contained some key game notes. It contained the maps of the main "dungeon" (Ironmaw Mountain), the nearby town, and other details that would be a big pain to recreate.

For years, I’ve kept all my gaming materials in a closet. In the two decades since I last ran Argothald, I occasionally pulled out that notebook and took a nostalgic look. Today I search the closet, but I can’t find the Argothald notebook.

There’s lots of other stuff. I have my complete notes for my other old campaigns: Star Wars, Paranoia, even Toon. I have lots of Argothald-related stuff: character sheets going back to the 1970s; notes on the geopolitical landscape of the planet Tala; the one Argothald "module" I wrote; old versions of the game rules; copies of the game newletter. Everything except that central notebook.

I can run the first Argothald adventure without that notebook. After that, it would get hard. The thought of losing that key notebook is nagging at me like a missing tooth. It was once a central part of my life. I’m irritated that I somehow let it go.

Perspective, Bill, perspective: It’s just a game. There are more important things in your life: health; friends; cats; the Craft; work. The notebook may be missing for a reason.

I think I’ll tear apart my closet again. Maybe the notebook fell into my Santa suit.

Confirmation

Today I received a letter from one of the servicemen to whom I sent books. It was my first confirmation that the packages I sent arrived at their destinations.

It was a nice letter. It went over the categories of books I sent him, explaining how he appreciated each one. I was impressed; I hope he has an opportunity to write professionally in the future.

He also confirmed something that someone not in the military had told me: Outside of work, there’s very little for the soldiers to do. I was worried that I’d sent too many books. I’m now assured that that’s not the case!