Should every aspiring GM read Appendix N?
If the GM wants to understand what AD&D 1e is trying to emulate, then yes.For other systems? Not needed, but it can be a fun experience.
>>96461612I've only read Anderson, Burroughs, Howard, Lovecraft, Morcock, Tolkien, Vance and Zelazny. Half the rest of those I don't even recognize.But sure, anon. Read books. It's good for your brain. And none of this "audiobooks count" bullshit.
I would encourage anyone to read fantasy that isn't Tolkien or Sandersonslop
>>96461612Sure. Reading is always good.
>>96461612No, most of the books on that list are dogshit.
Every aspiring GM should read, and those are reasonable fantasy suggestions.
>>96461612As someone who can read I ask, why are you asking about appendix N but posting that list which isn't appendix N?The answer to your question is no. Some of those are good but as noted below, that list was just some stories Gygax liked. Inspiration for campaigns can come from anywhere. Some of those were good stories but there have been a lot more good stories written in the last 50 years.>>96461655>If the GM wants to understand what AD&D 1e is trying to emulateNeither that list nor appendix N are a list of things AD&D is trying to emulate. Gygax may credit Howard's Conan work as influential upon the game but AD&D doesn't try to emulate sword-and-sandal. Weinbaum and Williamson are science fiction authors nothing like the AD&D fantasy game.The list,as Gygax says in appendix N, were inspirations for him. They may provide inspiration for others to make for interesting campaigns, but they are not a list of things D&D was intended to emulate.>From such sources, as well as just about any other imaginative writing or screenplay you will be able to pluck kernels from which grow the fruits of exciting campaigns.
