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[German RPGs] “Das Schwarze Auge” 1st Edition in English

Das Schwarze Auge Recently commenter Elias Eight requested an overview article about German RPGs. I really think this could be an interesting topic for a series of posts, so I started doing some research on the issue. And while doing so, I stumbled upon an unofficial English translation of the 1st edition rules of “Das Schwarze Auge” (aka The Dark Eye).

"Das Schwarze Auge” was one of the first German roleplaying games and for a long time it was the most commercially successful RPG on the German market. When I remember correctly, I only played it once, but I actually own a PDF copy of the 4th Edition that came with the Drakensang computer game. When time permits, I will write a short review of this edition of DSA as part of my German RPG series.
Stargazer

Michael Wolf is a German games designer and enthusiast best known for his English language role-playing games blog, Stargazer's World, and for creating the free rules-light medieval fantasy adventure game Warrior, Rogue & Mage. He has also worked as an English translator on the German-language Dungeonslayers role-playing game and was part of its editorial team. In addition to his work on Warrior, Rogue & Mage and Dungeonslayers, he has created several self-published games and also performed layout services and published other independent role-playing games such as A Wanderer's Romance, Badass, and the Wyrm System derivative Resolute, Adventurer & Genius, all released through his imprint Stargazer Games. Professionally, he works as a video technician and information technologies specialist. Stargazer's World was started by Michael in August 2008.

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4 comments

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Elias Eight

Great! Looking forward to this.

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comments user
Voidman

Fantastic,

I really wanted a close look at the German rpg-scene. I come just from across the eastern border of that fine country and it's just a disgrace how little of the original German rpgs managed to seep through. Even the mighty Shwarze Auge was shamefully neglected. Although inquisitive budding rpg fan (like yours truly) would have discovered that behind the computer games of Blade of Destiny cycle lies a deeper fascinating dimension. Instead the first official generation of our players wandered the perilous lands of the Old World. It could easily have been so much different, it could have been Aventuria. But that's a tale for different occasion…

Thanks Stargazer I look forward to more.

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Stargazer

I have to admit I have almost no first-hand experience of most German RPGs myself, probably because my first gaming group focused on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. But I've played Space Gothic, "Plüsch, Power & Plunder" and even a single session of ERPS and DSA respectively. But for my series of upcoming articles I will try to delve deeper into German RPGs.

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satyre

I remember playing a couple of sessions of Das Schwarze Auge at Uni (way too many moons ago!) – good clean fantasy fun.

I remember the adventure had quite an emphasis on puzzles which was a diversion from the usual kill n' loot 1E we were playing.

Would be nice to see how things have evolved. 🙂
.-= satyre´s last blog ..winter warmer (review: kobold quarterly 12) =-.

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