If, like me, you've ever imagined what it might have been like had Dungeons & Dragons not taken off and eventually become the plaything of a multinational corporation, a good model might be Tunnels & Trolls. T&T is still produced by its original publisher (Flying Buffalo -- man, do they need a new website) and is still controlled by its creator, Ken St. Andre, who remains very active in the game's community of fans, particularly through Trollgod's Trollhalla. Having had the occasion to interact with Mr St. Andre on several occasions, I can't speak highly enough of him. He's funny, self-effacing, and accessible -- an all-around stand-up guy.
Consequently, I feel more than a little envious of fans of T&T fans. In many ways, they have the kind of situation I wish D&D fans had: their favorite game in print in several editions, the differences between which are small enough not to have permanently splintered their community, and an engaged, down-to-earth creator always ready to communicate with his game's fans. D&D fans have had (and continue to have) parts of this situation, but not all of them and, over the last few years, Time has robbed us of even those.
Unfortunately for me, I'm a D&D guy and always will be. I've read Tunnels & Trolls many times and really appreciate its virtues (which are many), but it's never quite clicked with me, for some reason. I'm not entirely sure why, though I could venture some good guesses if I had to do so. I've hung around Trollhalla and visited several of the T&T-related forums and, as I've said, I've interacted with Ken. All of these things have made me envious of what T&Ters have and, although they're quite generous in offering it to me as well, I've never been able to take it up, since Tunnels & Trolls isn't "my game," if that makes sense.
Perhaps it doesn't, I don't know. All I can say is that I hope T&T fans appreciate what a wonderful situation they have compared to the enthusiasts of many other RPGs. I am envious.
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