Alarums and Excursions
Encyclopedia
Alarums and Excursions is an amateur press association
started in June 1975 by Lee Gold
(at the request of Bruce Pelz
, who felt that discussion of Dungeons & Dragons
was taking up too much space in Apa-L, the APA of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
). It was the first publication to focus solely on role-playing game
s.
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. It was a four-time winner of the Charles Roberts/Origins Award
, winning "Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine" in 1984, "Best Amateur Game Magazine" in 1999, and "Best Amateur Game Periodical" in 2000 and 2001.
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 January, 2009 collation of Alarums and Excursions was #400.
Over the years, contributors have included:
The role-playing game Over the Edge
was inspired by discussions in A&E.
"Alarums and excursions" is a stage direction for the moving of soldiers across a stage, used in Elizabethan drama.
Amateur press association
An amateur press association is a group of people who produce individual pages or magazines that are sent to a Central Mailer for collation and distribution to all members of the group.-Organisation:...
started in June 1975 by Lee Gold
Lee Gold
Lee Gold is a member of California science fiction fandom and a writer and editor in the role-playing game and filk music communities.- Gaming :...
(at the request of Bruce Pelz
Bruce Pelz
Bruce Edward Pelz was a US science fiction fan. He was highly active in the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society and a major SMOF, co-chairing the 30th World Science Fiction Convention. He also wrote filksongs and was a master costumer.- Early life :Pelz spent most of his childhood in New York...
, who felt that discussion of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
was taking up too much space in Apa-L, the APA of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, Inc., or LASFS is a science fiction society with its headquarters in Van Nuys, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Van Nuys is located in the San Fernado Valley, north of Los Angeles...
). It was the first publication to focus solely on role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s.
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. It was a four-time winner of the Charles Roberts/Origins Award
Origins Award
The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so the 1979 awards were given at the 1980 Origins.The Origins Award is commonly...
, winning "Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine" in 1984, "Best Amateur Game Magazine" in 1999, and "Best Amateur Game Periodical" in 2000 and 2001.
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 January, 2009 collation of Alarums and Excursions was #400.
Over the years, contributors have included:
- Wilf K. Backhaus
- Greg CostikyanGreg CostikyanGreg Costikyan, sometimes known under the pseudonym "Designer X" , is an American game designer and science fiction writer.Costikyan's career spans nearly all extant genres of gaming, including hex-based wargames, role-playing games, boardgames, card games, computer games, online games and mobile...
- John M. FordJohn M. FordJohn Milo "Mike" Ford was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, game designer, and poet.Ford was regarded as an extraordinarily intelligent, erudite and witty man. He was a popular contributor to several online discussions...
- E. Gary Gygax
- David A. HargraveDavid A. HargraveDavid Allen Hargrave , known as The Dream Weaver, was a prolific and sometimes controversial game designer and writer of fantasy and science fiction role-playing games...
- Rob HeinsooRob HeinsooRob Heinsoo is an American tabletop game designer. He has been designing and contributing to professional roleplaying games, card games, and board games since 1994. He has also designed and contributed to miniatures games and a computer game.-Career:...
- Robin LawsRobin LawsRobin D. Laws is a writer and game designer who lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is the author of a number of role-playing games and related products.-Works:Robin D...
- Steve Marsh
- Phil McGregor
- Dave NalleDave NalleDave Nalle is a political writer, game author and font designer who was active in the early history of the development of the internet...
- Mark Rein·HagenMark Rein·HagenMark Rein·Hagen is a role-playing, card, video and board game designer, best known as the creator of Vampire: The Masquerade and its associated World of Darkness games...
- John T. Sapienza, Jr.
- Edward E. SimbalistEdward E. SimbalistEdward E. Simbalist was a role-playing game designer. Two of the most famous games he designed are Chivalry & Sorcery with Wilf K. Backhaus and Space Opera with A. Mark Ratner & Phil McGregor. He was Canadian and lived in Edmonton. He also was a teacher at .-Books written or co-authored by Edward E...
- Jonathan TweetJonathan TweetJonathan Tweet is a game designer who has been involved in the development of the role-playing games Ars Magica, Everway, Over the Edge, Talislanta and the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as the Collectible Miniatures Game Dreamblade.-Early life:Jonathan Tweet started playing D&D in...
- Erick WujcikErick WujcikErick Wujcik was an American designer of both pen-and-paper and computer role-playing games, and co-founder of Palladium Books.- Gaming career :...
- John Nephew
- Spike Y Jones
- Doc Cross
- Scott Bennie
- Ken RolstonKen RolstonKen Rolston is an American computer game and board game designer best known for his work with West End Games and the hit computer game series The Elder Scrolls...
- Nicole Lindroos
The role-playing game Over the Edge
Over the Edge (role-playing game)
Over the Edge is a surreal role-playing game of secrets and conspiracies, taking place on the mysterious Island of Al Amarja. It was created by Jonathan Tweet with Robin Laws, and published by Atlas Games...
was inspired by discussions in A&E.
"Alarums and excursions" is a stage direction for the moving of soldiers across a stage, used in Elizabethan drama.