Dave Arneson on the Empire of Izmer

[Havard]

Knightfall just posted on the Piazza the following correspondence between himself and Dave Arneson from 2002 on Izmer, the setting of the first D&D movie, on which Arneson worked. Within these emails there are also hidden quite a bit of insight on Blackmoor:

I think it would be okay to share some e-mails I exchanged with Dave regarding Izmer...

From: Robert Blezard [rblezard@...]
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 6:17 PM
To: darneson3@...
Cc: Arneson, David
Subject: From my Web Site

Hi Dave,

I have some questions for you regarding the Empire of Izmer and its characters. Mainly, I want to find out if the Empire was originally from Courtney's homebrew campaign world or if he just made it up for the movie. Does he have a website for his company or personally?

The reason I'm asking this is because I'm in the process of adapting Izmer to fit into my campaign world. I've got all the info and PDF downloads from WotC's site but I'm clamoring for more. I bought the novelization, as well as the movie.

Attached is a JPG map of what is going to be my Izmer with place named from the movie and novel. (Note: Izmer is only going to be a kingdom in my campaign that was once part of a larger empire.)

Were official maps of Izmer, Sumdall and/or Antius City ever done or can you even discuss that? I have a lot of burning questions but don't want to go into all of them unless your willing.

Cheers!

Robert Blezard
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada

From: Arneson, David
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 7:16 AM
To: Robert Blezard
Subject: RE: From my Web Site

Dear Robert,

Although at least partially based on Corey's world Izmer was pretty much made up for the movie. How much so I do not know for sure.

The characters in the movie were all done for the movie.

Corey has no websites.

WOTC downloads are fairly inaccurate. I should know since I was chosen by Corey to do the module after WOTC flubbed it.

Since I did all that work, and WOTC scrubbed movie support (Before the movie came out BTW) I added it to my campaign world.

In my case I placed the Empire beyond the Great Mountains to the West of the Afridi (I.e. REAL far away.) How viable an empire it is I have left open to question. After all just because the Mages think that they are so great does not make it so. And the Dragon Rods do not have unlimited range after all.

Izmer is pretty much done. Based on Prague, Czech. A wonderful old city that has survived intact. I really really like the place.

Antius is partially done but far from complete. The 'Tower' Castles are really a cool idea. Izmer it self is sketchy.

I hope to include all this as a supplement to the Blackmoor source book (out next year).

Last that I heard I can talk about the world and characters for the most part. A few things are 'Secret' but not much.

Respectfully,

Dave Arneson

****

From: Robert Blezard [rblezard@...]
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 1:40 PM
To: Arneson, David
Subject: Re: From my Web Site



I hope to include all this as a supplement to the Blackmoor source book (out next year).

Cool. Looking forward to it. But does that mean that the main Blackmoor source book will be out in 2003 and then the Izmer supplement later that year or in 2004?

I'll have to see if I can find an online map of Prague somewhere. And the tower castles of Antius are indeed a really cool idea. I tried putting together my own map of Antius but it doesn't look right.

Last that I heard I can talk about the world and characters for the most part. A few things are 'Secret' but not much.

Alright, down to the nitty gritty then. The most important thing I'm looking for are the appropriate levels for these main characters - Ridley, Marina, Savina, Elwood, Norda, and your Charlie the Cutpurse character. (Since you said the downloads are inaccurate.) I'm setting my Izmer five years after the movie using the ending in the novel, which means I'm planning to advance these characters in level. I really like Damodar's character too and will most likely resurrect him later on. Snails may or may not come back in my Izmer and if Profion does return it will be as a lich or some other powerful type of undead (or maybe even an evil Outsider). Both Vildan and Azmath (died in novel, not sure about in the movie) are going to stay dead in my version. I'll probably promote Marina to the head of the School of Magic, much to the chagrin of several other prominent wizards that were jockeying to become the next School Master.

BTW, I've attached an advanced character draft of Savina, as she will fit into my world, in Doc format and would like your opinion. (I created it using Jamis Buck's online character generator. I love that tool.) Unfortunately, I didn't have anything to go on as the On Location in the Imperial Capital page on WotC's site doesn't list a level for her.

Next Question. Is Norda a half-elf or an elf? She refers to herself as being over two and fifty years old in the movie, which is a little out of whack for a half-elf. Of course, she could have just been playing with Snails mind in order to get him to back off. Heh.

Next Question. What exactly is the Way? Is it like being a sorcerer, a psion or something else entirely? This ones important because on the continent I'm placing Izmer, called Harqual, there is already an aspect of needing a Balance between magic and the natural world built into my campaign design. (Thus, Izmer fits right in.) In my world, dragons are, for the most part, neutral in alignment (LN, NG, N, NE, CN). They are protectors of the Balance for the over goddess, Mirella, and work with her clerics, druids, and a special order of warriors known as the Knights Majestic (no PrC yet). Other dragons that don't live within the Balance are considered 'rouge', even if they are LG or CG. It's the job of the Knights Majestic to either bring them back into the fold, Balance-wise, or eliminate them from Harqual (i.e. death, banishment).

Next Question. Marina is obviously from somewhere called Pretensa but is that a city, town, or a region? I'm thinking it's a city but I want to be sure. Any other cities, towns, villages that you can tell me about. The novel refers to Gonnetz Town and names the tribe of elves, Verdalf. Is Verdalf the name of their tree community too, or did Mr. Barrett simply make up these names for the novel?

Next Question. (Let me know if I'm going overboard.) What are the dominate terrains of Izmer? Is Izmer mainly plains and cleared farmland or is it rolling hills and forest? I know that this question is a little obscure but my inquiring mind would like to know.

From: Arneson, David
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 3:39 PM
To: Robert Blezard
Cc: darneson3@aol.com
Subject: RE: From my Web Site



[color=##40BFFF]I hope to include all this as a supplement to the Blackmoor source book (out next year).[/color]

Cool. Looking forward to it. But does that mean that the main Blackmoor source book will be out in 2003 and then the Izmer supplement later that year or in 2004? [color=##40BFFF]Probably be a part of the late 2003 titles.[/color]

I'll have to see if I can find an online map of Prague somewhere. And the tower castles of Antius are indeed a really cool idea. I tried putting together my own map of Antius but it doesn't look right. The Tower castles are over 1,000 years old. Caused when the Dwarven mines there collapsed. Magic provided the 'Foundations' for the new castles. The castles themselves are nothing special. Access is via Rope elevators, etc. plus magic portals. Download the picture of Antius at the web site and fake it!

Last that I heard I can talk about the world and characters for the most part. A few things are 'Secret' but not much.

Alright, down to the nitty gritty then. The most important thing I'm looking for are the appropriate levels for these main characters - Ridley, Marina, Savina, Elwood, Norda, and your Charlie the Cutpurse character. (Since you said the downloads are inaccurate.) I'm setting my Izmer five years after the movie using the ending in the novel, which means I'm planning to advance these characters in level. I really like Damodar's character too and will most likely resurrect him later on [Arneson, David] Yeah I liked him too. He is a mage so a Saving Throw could be rtationalized. Snails [Arneson, David] (He is supposed too.) may or may not come back in my Izmer and if Profion does return it will be as a lich [Arneson, David] (Most probable.) or some other powerful type of undead (or maybe even an evil Outsider). [Arneson, David] Unlikely. Both Vildan and Azmath (died in novel, not sure about in the movie) are going to stay dead in my version. I'll probably promote Marina to the head of the School of Magic, [Arneson, David] Unlikely.) much to the chagrin of several other prominent wizards that were jockeying to become the next School Master.



Next Question. Is Norda a half-elf or an elf? [Arneson, David] (Half-Elf) refers to herself as being over two and fifty years old in the movie, which is a little out of whack for a half-elf. [Arneson, David] (Not in this world!) Of course, she could have just been playing with Snails mind [Arneson, David] (Likely!) in order to get him to back off. Heh.

Next Question. What exactly is the Way? Is it like being a sorcerer, a psion or something else entirely? This ones important because on the continent I'm placing Izmer, called Harqual, there is already an aspect of needing a Balance between magic and the natural world built into my campaign design. (Thus, Izmer fits right in.) In my world, dragons are, for the most part, neutral in alignment (LN, NG, N, NE, CN). They are protectors of the Balance for the over goddess, Mirella, and work with her clerics, druids, and a special order of warriors known as the Knights Majestic (no PrC yet). Other dragons that don't live within the Balance are considered 'rogue', even if they are LG or CG. It's the job of the
Knights Majestic to either bring them back into the fold, Balance-wise, or eliminate them from Harqual (i.e. death, banishment). [Arneson, David] (OK. That should work.)

Next Question. Marina is obviously from somewhere called Pretensa but is that a city, town, or a region? [Arneson, David] (City and Region) I'm thinking it's a city but I want to be sure. Any other cities, towns, villages that you can tell me about. The novel refers to Gonnetz Town and names the tribe of elves, Verdalf. Is Verdalf the name of their tree community too, or did Mr.Barrett simply make up these names for the novel? [Arneson, David] (Barrett did make them up. The Elves are HUNTER Elves. Much more concerned with the 'Balance' and not reluctant to intervene in affairs to set them 'right'. They like to pretend that they are aloof from such things. The later is my take on them BTW.)

Next Question. (Let me know if I'm going overboard.) What are the dominate terrains of Izmer? Is Izmer mainly plains and cleared farmland or is it rolling hills and forest? I know that this question is a little obscure but my inquiring mind would like to know. [Arneson, David] Pretty much just like Czech. A little bit of everything, including a seacoast (Big Lake ??)

***

From: Robert Blezard [rblezard@...]
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 8:10 PM
To: Arneson, David
Subject: Re: Re: From my Web Site

[Arneson, David] The Elves are HUNTER Elves. Much more concerned with the 'Balance' and not reluctant to intervene in affairs to set them 'right'. They like to pretend that they are aloof from such things.

So are Hunter Elves more like sylvan/wild elves or high/gray elves?

And two last questions. What is the name of Three-Eyes race? And are there any other new races in Izmer?

Cheers!

Robert

From: Arneson, David
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 12:25 PM
To: Robert Blezard
Subject: RE: Re: From my Web Site

Robert,

Corey's Elves bear more resemblance to Blackmoor's Mountain Elves (West of the Duchy of Tehnn). They are basically a blending of High Elves and Wild Elves. More Emphasis on the 'Wild' when dealing with humans and 'High" when dealing with each other. They try to maintain a 'Low' magical profile to keep the mages comfortable. Otherwise there would be open war.

Three Eyes race has not name. We called them Tri-Clops among ourselves for the module. They are a race with very strong mental powers.

There were to be almost a dozen new races until the special effects budget went south. Hopes that New Line would extend the funding proved to be a pipe dream.

Me, I don't mind answering questions. Too bad that the web site went away. I hope to add such a section to my own web site. Right now I am seeking permission from Corey.

Respectfully,

Dave Arneson

Source and additional information: http://www.thepiazza.org.uk/bb/viewtopi ... 307#p84307

-Havard