fbpx
Wikipedia

Alarums and Excursions

January 01, 1970

Alarums and Excursions (A&E) is an amateur press association (APA) started in June 1975 by Lee Gold; publication continues to the present day. It was one of the first publications to focus solely on role-playing games.

Alarums and Excursions
EditorLee Gold
CategoriesRole-playing games
FrequencyMonthly
First issue#1, June 1975
CountryUnited States
Based inLos Angeles
LanguageEnglish
WebsiteAlarums and Excursions page

History edit

In 1964, Bruce Pelz of the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society (LASFS) began a weekly amateur press association named APA-L.[1] In 1974, with the publication of Dungeons & Dragons by TSR, Inc., articles and comments about the new roleplaying game began to fill the pages of APA-L, a development to which Pelz objected.[2] Lee Gold took note of this and started a new APA, Alarums and Excursions (the title taken from an Elizabethan drama stage direction that moved soldiers across a stage[3]), to focus entirely on roleplaying games, attracting such material away from APA-L. The first issue appeared in June 1975.

In addition to removing roleplaying games discussion out of APA-L, the initial aim of the publication was to prevent roleplaying games from becoming so divergent that people from different cities could not participate in games together.[4][5]

The June 2017 issue of Alarums and Excursions was number 500, with a color cover drawn by Lee Moyer and printed by Rob Heinsoo.

Contents edit

Each issue is a collection of contributions from different authors, often featuring game design discussions, rules variants, write-ups of game sessions, reviews, and comments on others contributions.

Although game reports and social reactions are common parts of many A&E contributions, it has also, over the years, become a testing ground for new ideas on the development of the RPG as a genre and an art form. The idea that role-playing games are an art form took strong root in this zine, and left a lasting impression on many of the RPG professionals who contributed. The 1992 role-playing game Over the Edge was inspired by discussions in A&E.[6]

Over the years, contributors have included:

Reception edit

In the February 1976 issue of Strategic Review (Issue 6), Gary Gygax complimented the new APA, calling it "an excellent source of ideas, inspirations and fun." Although Gygax felt some of the contributors were "woefully lacking in background", and the quality of printing varied dramatically from issue to issue, he concluded, "For all of its faults, it is far and away the best D&D 'zine, and well worth reading. See for yourself why it rates a Major Triumph."[7]

In the June 1981 edition of Dragon (Issue #50), Dave Nalle reviewed Alarums and Excursions after its 63rd issue (November 1980), and although he found the writing style "a bit stuffy", with a "tendency for the writers to pat each other on the back", he still called it "the top APA publication... This is a very well run APA and features many of the leading thinkers in fantasy gaming."[8]

Awards edit

To date, Alarums and Excursions has been a winner of the Charles Roberts/Origins Award four times:

  • "Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine" in 1984[9]
  • "Best Amateur Game Magazine" in 1999[10]
  • "Best Amateur Game Periodical" in 2000[11] and 2001[11]
  • "Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame" in 2022[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "APA-L". LASFS. Los Angeles Science Fiction Society. 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  2. ^ Bretts RPG Magazine and Zine Index October 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, entry on Alarums & Excursions, retrieved September 2007
  3. ^ "alarums and excursions". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
  4. ^ Mason, Paul (2012). "A history of RPGs: Made by fans; played by fans". Transformative Works and Cultures. Vol. 11. doi:10.3983/twc.2012.0444. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  5. ^ Mason, Paul (2004). "Beyond Role and Play". In Montola, Markus; Stenros, Jaakko (eds.). In Search of the Self: A Survey of the First 25 Years of Anglo-American Role-Playing Game Theory (PDF). Helsinki: Ropecon ry. p. 2. ISBN 952-91-6842-X. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  6. ^ Shannon Appelcline (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '90s. Vol. 3 (2 ed.). Evil Hat Productions. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-61317-084-7.
  7. ^ Gygax, Gary (February 1976). "Triumphs and Tragedies". Strategic Review (6). TSR, Inc.: 15.
  8. ^ Nalle, Dave (June 1981). "The 'Zines!". Dragon (50). TSR, Inc.: 24.
  9. ^ . GAMA. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  10. ^ . GAMA. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  11. ^ a b . GAMA. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Alarums & Excursions: Moreinfo".

External links edit

  • Alarums and Excursions page
  • Lee Gold's index of APA-L's pre-A&E D&D-related content

January 01, 1970
alarums, excursions, amateur, press, association, started, june, 1975, gold, publication, continues, present, first, publications, focus, solely, role, playing, games, editorlee, goldcategoriesrole, playing, gamesfrequencymonthlyfirst, issue, june, 1975country. Alarums and Excursions A amp E is an amateur press association APA started in June 1975 by Lee Gold publication continues to the present day It was one of the first publications to focus solely on role playing games Alarums and ExcursionsEditorLee GoldCategoriesRole playing gamesFrequencyMonthlyFirst issue 1 June 1975CountryUnited StatesBased inLos AngelesLanguageEnglishWebsiteAlarums and Excursions page Contents 1 History 2 Contents 3 Reception 4 Awards 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn 1964 Bruce Pelz of the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society LASFS began a weekly amateur press association named APA L 1 In 1974 with the publication of Dungeons amp Dragons by TSR Inc articles and comments about the new roleplaying game began to fill the pages of APA L a development to which Pelz objected 2 Lee Gold took note of this and started a new APA Alarums and Excursions the title taken from an Elizabethan drama stage direction that moved soldiers across a stage 3 to focus entirely on roleplaying games attracting such material away from APA L The first issue appeared in June 1975 In addition to removing roleplaying games discussion out of APA L the initial aim of the publication was to prevent roleplaying games from becoming so divergent that people from different cities could not participate in games together 4 5 The June 2017 issue of Alarums and Excursions was number 500 with a color cover drawn by Lee Moyer and printed by Rob Heinsoo Contents editEach issue is a collection of contributions from different authors often featuring game design discussions rules variants write ups of game sessions reviews and comments on others contributions Although game reports and social reactions are common parts of many A amp E contributions it has also over the years become a testing ground for new ideas on the development of the RPG as a genre and an art form The idea that role playing games are an art form took strong root in this zine and left a lasting impression on many of the RPG professionals who contributed The 1992 role playing game Over the Edge was inspired by discussions in A amp E 6 Over the years contributors have included Terry K Amthor Wilf K Backhaus Scott Bennie Greg Costikyan Doc Cross John M Ford E Gary Gygax Andrew Gelman David A Hargrave Rob Heinsoo John Eric Holmes Wes Ives Robin Laws Nicole Lindroos Stephen R Marsh Phil McGregor Dave Nalle Mark Rein Hagen Ken Rolston John T Sapienza Jr Lawrence M Schoen Edward E Simbalist Jonathan Tweet Erick Wujcik John Nephew Spike Y JonesReception editIn the February 1976 issue of Strategic Review Issue 6 Gary Gygax complimented the new APA calling it an excellent source of ideas inspirations and fun Although Gygax felt some of the contributors were woefully lacking in background and the quality of printing varied dramatically from issue to issue he concluded For all of its faults it is far and away the best D amp D zine and well worth reading See for yourself why it rates a Major Triumph 7 In the June 1981 edition of Dragon Issue 50 Dave Nalle reviewed Alarums and Excursions after its 63rd issue November 1980 and although he found the writing style a bit stuffy with a tendency for the writers to pat each other on the back he still called it the top APA publication This is a very well run APA and features many of the leading thinkers in fantasy gaming 8 Awards editTo date Alarums and Excursions has been a winner of the Charles Roberts Origins Award four times Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine in 1984 9 Best Amateur Game Magazine in 1999 10 Best Amateur Game Periodical in 2000 11 and 2001 11 Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts amp Design Hall of Fame in 2022 12 References edit APA L LASFS Los Angeles Science Fiction Society 2019 01 14 Retrieved 2019 07 15 Bretts RPG Magazine and Zine Index Archived October 24 2006 at the Wayback Machine entry on Alarums amp Excursions retrieved September 2007 alarums and excursions Merriam Webster Online Dictionary Mason Paul 2012 A history of RPGs Made by fans played by fans Transformative Works and Cultures Vol 11 doi 10 3983 twc 2012 0444 Retrieved 2016 06 19 Mason Paul 2004 Beyond Role and Play In Montola Markus Stenros Jaakko eds In Search of the Self A Survey of the First 25 Years of Anglo American Role Playing Game Theory PDF Helsinki Ropecon ry p 2 ISBN 952 91 6842 X Retrieved 2016 06 19 Shannon Appelcline 2014 Designers amp Dragons The 90s Vol 3 2 ed Evil Hat Productions p 55 ISBN 978 1 61317 084 7 Gygax Gary February 1976 Triumphs and Tragedies Strategic Review 6 TSR Inc 15 Nalle Dave June 1981 The Zines Dragon 50 TSR Inc 24 The 1984 Origins Awards Presented ad Origins 1985 GAMA Archived from the original on 7 October 2014 Retrieved 22 April 2016 The 1999 Origins Awards Presented ad Origins 2000 GAMA Archived from the original on 6 October 2014 Retrieved 22 April 2016 a b The 2000 Origins Awards Presented ad Origins 2001 GAMA Archived from the original on 7 October 2014 Retrieved 22 April 2016 Alarums amp Excursions Moreinfo External links editAlarums and Excursions page Lee Gold s index of APA L s pre A amp E D amp D related content Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alarums and Excursions amp oldid 1178349291, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.