My Own Appendix N

Gary's got his, I got mine.

I was watching a video by Lord Mattaeus about less rigidity and more experimentation in TTRPGs. The rigidity, in some circles, is determined by modes of play and described with phrases such as Rules as Written (RAW) or 1:1 time.

The style and tone of Dungeons and Dragons were set by the books that were read by those who authored it. This list of books is referred to as Appendix N and, for some, the tone these books set, as well as the rules, are cannon and cannot and should not be messed with.

If you are not familiar with Appendix N, Appendix N is a list of books that influenced Gary Gyagax, the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons. His complete list can be found here but a few of the two dozen or so authors/books he recommends are

• Poul Anderson’s Three Hearts and Three Lions

• Howard R.E. “Conan” Series

• Michael Moorcock’s Stormbringer and futher Elric books

• Tolkien, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Hobbit.

Some of these I have read and some of these I have not. To be honest, I will likely never go back and read all these books, not because they aren’t good but because of time. I guess that’s what retirement is for.

I am thankful for these books and for a game produced by them, but I am also thankful that my mind and heart were not fossilized by them. I am thankful for a childhood that was marked by a bunch of guys sitting around a table laughing hysterically at each other’s character’s dying and not by the rules we memorized.

Now, if you’re a more stringent adherent to the rules, good on you! If it bring you joy, great! Play your game. I’m not here to poop on anyone’s parade, rather I’m here to celebrate the ongoing experimentation of ttprg’s which have brought us games like Shadowdark, The One Ring and Castles and Crusades.

The books I have read, my Appendix N, during my later elementary and middle school years were the most formative to how I, now, run and play rpgs.

My Appendix N

These books were pre-dnd for me and ignited my passion to be a hero, or at least heroic.

The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

In 1983 I bought the Dungeons and Dragons Redbox and got hooked on this series: The Sleeping Dragon: Guardians of the Flame.

1984-85 brought me

The Dragonlance Trilogy by Weis and Hickman which introduced me to my Youtube channel’s namesake Flintfireforge.

This was a late discovery for me but well worth the wait and where I started to see humor, as an integral part of my fantasy world.

In 1990 Torg entered the chat of my mind, and said, “You can have all these worlds happening at once!” I never played TORG the rpg, but I did borrow it from my friend, lost it when I moved and then bought it back for him several years later. One day, Shane, one day, we will actually play it.

Since my graduation, some almost 40 years ago, I’ve read hundreds of books, many of which could be included in my Appendix N, but these are the ones that had the greatest impact on me.

Are there any books in the past 20 years that I have enjoyed? A few.

The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher

The Nightside series by Simon R Green (which I will one day turn into an rpg) and Hawk and Fisher

and the horror series, The Remaining by J.D. Molles

Whether you think the books in my Appendix N are great literature or trash is of no concern to me. These books continue to shape, enhance and encourage my out of the box thinking when it comes to ttrpgs.

My Crit Happens Zine is my new experiment, that I started last year, and I have no idea where it will take me but I know that my Appendix N comes with me.

What books are included in your Appendix N?

What books do you “carry with you” when you run, play and/or experiment with ttrpgs?

Let me know.