Breeyark.org
"It's OK — Gary sent us."
We all get by with a little help from our friends
This is a collaborative site, and I'm pleased to note that it's made possible by a lot of folks.
"The Game Wizards" from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, are first in line for proper credit. In particular, I’d like to reference the red, Moldvay-edited Basic D&D boxed set (1981) for its memorable place in what has become the most rewarding hobby in which I’ve engaged. Through the years, this (and the boxed sets to follow) were consolidated into the excellent Rules Cyclopedia, which formed the whole of the original Dungeons and Dragons game core rules. OD&D was the first role-playing game I played, and, despite (or because of) its "simplicity," it remains my favourite.
This crowd of OD&D enthusiasts can be found on the Yahoo! group of the same name, and it's a smart, funny, and inspirational bunch. The folks there—Greg, Richard, Scott, Bob, Geoff, and Steve in particular—inspired me to create this site. If you want to meet some old-school D&D friends, make sure you join this group.
Shortly after the release of the Rules Cyclopedia, I decided to shift to a new campaign using a heavily modified variant of the RC as its core. To go along with the new rules, I created a new campaign world, AErchus, which proved a great vehicle for all the setting ideas I had rolling about for the last few years. I recall this campaign as one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever run. I thank the gamers who visited AErchus with me for the first time: George, Michael, E. Thea, Julia of the Persistant Wound, Just Joe, and Dreamscape Brenda.
The magenta Basic D&D boxed set languished on my bookshelf for at least a year before I figured out how to play the game inside. When I did, it was in a 7th-grade study hall with my schoolmates who taught me how to play: Joe, Gregg, Heath, Alex, Michael L., Marc, Michael S., Daniel, Matthew, and, believe it or not, a real girl named Lori. They’re all probably doing real-world stuff now, but I thank them for playing make-believe so many years ago.
I know it seems sappy, but it’s important to remember Mom and Dad, who bought me the aforementioned red Basic D&D boxed set to begin with. They thought they were giving me a Christmas gift. They ended up giving me a rewarding hobby that has lasted for 20 years and counting. I played so much in school that Dad blamed D&D for the low grades I got in Geometry and Calculus class. Mom wisely noted my consistently high marks in History and English. It is to her memory that I dedicate this site. I still remember those D&D games with you at the dining room table, Mom, and I am thankful.