David A. Hargrave
Encyclopedia
David Allen Hargrave known as The Dream Weaver, was a prolific and sometimes controversial game designer and writer of fantasy and science fiction role-playing game
s (RPGs). Hargrave's most notable written works were based upon his own mythical world of Arduin
.
Hargrave was also an Army combat veteran of the Vietnam War
with a six-year tour of duty in country.
game world. Hargrave also produced four Arduin Dungeon Modules and several fantasy item collections, which were published by Grimoire Games
.
Hargrave's work was perhaps the first "cross-genre" venture into fantasy RPG
, and it included everything from interstellar wars to horror and historical drama. His work was, however, based principally upon the traditional (and not so traditional) medieval fantasy genre.
Arduin was one of the earliest challengers to TSR
's Dungeons & Dragons
, and a leading representative of the high-entropy, multiversal campaigns then prevalent in RPG
circles. While Hargrave was considered one of the best of the best of Game Masters, he was also known for having a somewhat volatile personality. The original role-playing community at large was split between love and mere tolerance of Hargrave's passions (his falling-out with Greg Stafford
, which resulted in Hargrave naming a spell after him as revenge, is one such example.)
Hargrave also frequently contributed to various magazines such as Different Worlds
, Alarums and Excursions
, and Abyss. As a game designer, he authored various Call of Cthulhu
adventures for Chaosium
, Inc., and was an integral part of the design team for the sci-fi game Star Rovers
, among others.
Circa 1979 Hargrave operated a game store in Concord, California, called Multiversal Trading Company.
Hargrave served in the United States Army
during the Vietnam War
for six years, serving from August 28, 1964 through August 20, 1970. While in Vietnam, Hargrave regularly served as a combat photographer, often in the line of fire.
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 (RPGs). Hargrave's most notable written works were based upon his own mythical world of Arduin
Arduin
Arduin is a fictional universe and fantasy role-playing system created in the mid 1970s by David A. Hargrave. It was perhaps the first "cross-genre" fantasy RPG, with everything from interstellar wars to horror and historical drama, although it was based primarily in the medieval fantasy...
.
Hargrave was also an Army combat veteran of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
with a six-year tour of duty in country.
Role playing games
From the mid-1970s through 1988 David A. Hargrave was very active in the role-playing community. He authored ten books based upon this ArduinArduin
Arduin is a fictional universe and fantasy role-playing system created in the mid 1970s by David A. Hargrave. It was perhaps the first "cross-genre" fantasy RPG, with everything from interstellar wars to horror and historical drama, although it was based primarily in the medieval fantasy...
game world. Hargrave also produced four Arduin Dungeon Modules and several fantasy item collections, which were published by Grimoire Games
Grimoire Games
Grimoire Games was a publishing company run by Jim Mathis. Active from 1978 to mid 1981, Grimoire Games's primary focus was the early Arduin series of RPG supplements, written by one of the grandfathers of the genre, David A. Hargrave. The most famous of these Hargrave supplements is the so-called...
.
Hargrave's work was perhaps the first "cross-genre" venture into fantasy RPG
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...
, and it included everything from interstellar wars to horror and historical drama. His work was, however, based principally upon the traditional (and not so traditional) medieval fantasy genre.
Arduin was one of the earliest challengers to TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
's 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...
, and a leading representative of the high-entropy, multiversal campaigns then prevalent in RPG
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...
circles. While Hargrave was considered one of the best of the best of Game Masters, he was also known for having a somewhat volatile personality. The original role-playing community at large was split between love and mere tolerance of Hargrave's passions (his falling-out with Greg Stafford
Greg Stafford
Francis Gregory Stafford , usually known as Greg Stafford, is an American game designer, publisher and shaman.-Glorantha and gaming:...
, which resulted in Hargrave naming a spell after him as revenge, is one such example.)
Hargrave also frequently contributed to various magazines such as Different Worlds
Different Worlds
Different Worlds was an American role-playing games' magazine, now defunct.-History:Different Worlds was launched in 1979 by Greg Stafford to promote the role-playing games from his own editing house, Chaosium...
, Alarums and Excursions
Alarums and Excursions
Alarums and Excursions , is an amateur press association started in June 1975 by Lee Gold...
, and Abyss. As a game designer, he authored various Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)
Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction role-playing game based on H. P. Lovecraft's story of the same name and the associated Cthulhu Mythos.The game, often abbreviated as CoC, is published by Chaosium.-Setting:...
adventures for Chaosium
Chaosium
Chaosium is one of the longer lived publishers of role-playing games still in existence. Founded by Greg Stafford, its first game was actually a wargame, White Bear and Red Moon, which later mutated into Dragon Pass and its sequel, Nomad Gods...
, Inc., and was an integral part of the design team for the sci-fi game Star Rovers
Star Rovers
"Star Rovers" was an short, science fiction, American comic book feature published by DC Comics between 1961 and 1964. The feature first appeared in seven issues of DC's science-fiction anthology comic Mystery in Space, followed by two issues of DC's companion science-fiction title Strange Adventures...
, among others.
Circa 1979 Hargrave operated a game store in Concord, California, called Multiversal Trading Company.
Military service
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
for six years, serving from August 28, 1964 through August 20, 1970. While in Vietnam, Hargrave regularly served as a combat photographer, often in the line of fire.
Other information
- Was known for using the names of people close to him in the titles of various Arduin spells, weapons, artifacts, and taverns. Stafford's Star Bridge is one such example.
- Added visual references/homage to Clint EastwoodClint EastwoodClinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
in a majority of his works in the form of a warrior character whose appearance is identical to Eastwood's (during his films the 1970s). Reference: front and back covers of several ArduinArduinArduin is a fictional universe and fantasy role-playing system created in the mid 1970s by David A. Hargrave. It was perhaps the first "cross-genre" fantasy RPG, with everything from interstellar wars to horror and historical drama, although it was based primarily in the medieval fantasy...
Grimoires, AG interior illustrations, the cover of The Citadel of ThunderThe Citadel of ThunderThe Citadel of Thunder was a standalone short story and gaming module written in 1979 by David A. Hargrave and published by Grimoire Games. It was based upon Hargrave's gaming system known as Arduin...
. - In his later years, Hargrave cited his repeated exposure to Agent OrangeAgent OrangeAgent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
(while in Vietnam) as the cause of his many debilitating health problems (diabetes, and so on). - Was a well-known and well-liked Game Master. He was legendary for pulling stunts of great magnitude, such as having multiple Balrogs suddenly run through a door to attack an unsuspecting party.
- Hargrave was mentioned at the end of the Diablo computer game rules manual, "In memory of".
- Is buried in Golden Gate National CemeteryGolden Gate National CemeteryGolden Gate National Cemetery is a U.S. National Cemetery, located in the city of San Bruno, San Mateo County, 12 miles south of San Francisco. Because of the name and location, it is frequently confused with San Francisco National Cemetery, which dates to the 19th century and is in the Presidio...
.