Back in the Saddle - no apologies

Explain Myself

For various reasons, I am known far and wide as Mothshade. It is the online name I first chose for myself – and it stuck. I communicated and shared under the Mothshade name. My work as Mothshade came to be known by many as good work. For me, Mothshade is now as close to a brand name as I am likely to get. Chateau Mothshade began as an online chat group focusing upon my projects and interests – mostly in the RPG community. Over time, Chateau Mothshade became the framework for a location in my own campaign setting.

The Chateau

Smaller than a castle – bigger than a house. The idea of a chateau as the focal point for this dungeon project appeals to me. There are many Castles and Towers. Not so many Chateaus. For me, a chateau implies something more accessible – more intimate. Still grand. It must be grand. It must serve as a proper monument to the dungeon beneath. But, I don’t necessarily need an entire castle. Some of it will be empty. Some of it will be inhabited. Some of it will have fallen into ruin. Appropriately so, since it largely symbolizes my own mind.

The Underworld

The first RPG publications focused a great deal upon the idea of the ‘dungeon environment’ as a kind of Underworld to be explored by adventurers. Entire campaigns could be spent daring the challenges and threats of this subterranean realm. At the time, the dungeon conveyed an almost mythic quality – not something that welcomed rational explanation or strict verisimilitude. A virtual gameboard for fantasy adventure games, where the squares were concealed beneath a veneer of heroic adventure questing.

Mothshade Underworld

This project is very much about The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures presented to the gaming community from the very start. The dungeon is the setting. The world above is the welcome mat. Chateau Mothshade is the gateway. I am creating this for myself, though I am well-aware that there are others who may appreciate the effort. This can be for them too. I want the Chateau to be a welcoming place. I want it to be memorable. I want it to be challenging. Lives may be spent here. Hopefully, not in vain.

The Dungeon

There may be themes. And plots. And story arcs. And ecologies. And civilizations. There may even be a fleeting sense of style. Above all, there will be dungeons. Dungeons with monsters, creatures, people, curiosities, oddities, traps, tricks, treasures, stuff, junk, rubbish, artifacts, relics, thrills, spills, chills, death, amusements, wonder, despair, hope, and madness. Overall, there will be things of interest to me. Not just a maze of passages and rooms where you kick in the door, murder everyone on the other side, claim the loot – and repeat. Not just.

Disclaim Myself

I barely had the chance to experience the roots of this game. Even though I was exposed to the hobby at an early age – it wasn’t early enough. The Basic and Expert Sets were my Gateway to Adventure. It wasn’t long before everyone I knew had “graduated” to the Advanced game. I went along, but retained a deep affection for my Basic and Expert boxed sets. Still, those earliest books did come into my collection. They were all read with as much wide-eyed wonder as I could muster with adult eyes clouded by later editions of the game.

The N-Word

Nostalgia. It seems to be the first accusation thrown at those who prefer the earlier structure and feel of the game. At first, it almost offended me. I wasn’t sure how true it was. Now, I’m totally at peace with the idea. Certain editions of the game inspire me. Reading those older books. The layout, the artwork, the writing, the simplicity. Such valiant attempts at giving the reader a working framework for boundless imagination and invention. The introduction to a wondrous shared experience. Call me nostalgic. These editions of the game make me happy.

The Inspiration

As I write this, I am inspired to create my dream-megadungeon. This is not a promise. Not a contract of any kind. I may or may not be able to cobble my desires and intentions into a workable product. It’s possible I won’t have the time. I might lose focus – or heart. The scope and scale of the thing may defeat me. It might just be a bad idea from the start. It is not my intention to waste anyone’s time with this – including my own. What I will do is share my progress with those who care to follow. For as long as progress is made.

Sample dungeon level cross-section from The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures.