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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) Mazes & Minotaurs
claims to be "the first roleplaying game ever published". Was it really
released in 1972, two years before Dungeons & Dragons ?
2) Is Mazes & Minotaurs an old school or retro-clone RPG ?
3) Is Mazes & Minotaurs just a hoax / parody game or is it really playable ?
4) Why are there two versions of the game, the "1972 Original rules" and the "1987 Revised rules" ?
5) What are the main differences between the two versions ?
6) Are there any adventures available for Mazes & Minotaurs ?
7) Where can I find optional rules, new creatures, new mythic items and other cool stuff for M&M ?
8) Can I contribute to the Minotaur webzine ?
9) Is the game REALLY free ?
10) Why are there no print copies of Mazes & Minotaurs available at Lulu or other print-on-demand sites ?
11) I've noticed that the Minotaur
webzine only includes material for the Revised rules. Does this
mean that the Original version of the rules is no longer supported ?
12) Can I make my own print copies of Mazes & Minotaurs and sell them on my website ?
13) Is there an official Mazes & Minotaurs mailing list, newsgroup or forum ?
1) Mazes & Minotaurs
claims to be "the first roleplaying game ever published". Was it really
released in 1972, two years before Dungeons & Dragons ?
No - at least not in our time continuum. The whole story about Mazes
& Minotaurs being the first RPG is a fictional conceit not unlike
the one found in Peter Jackson's faux documentary movie Forgotten Silver. This transparent 'hoax' is an essential part of the homage / pastiche
aspect of the game - as is its title, which deliberately mimics those
of early fantasy RPGs, including Dungeons & Dragons and Tunnels
& Trolls. The whole Mazes & Minotaurs concept was invented by
Paul "Mithras" Elliott in 2002, in an article called The Gygax-Arneson Tapes
published on RPGnet , which can be found here. The story of how this
article gave birth to a real, complete and 100% playable game can be
found here.
2) Is Mazes & Minotaurs an old school or retro-clone RPG ?
Since Mazes & Minotaurs was designed as a pastiche and homage to the first
fantasy RPGs, it certainly has a strong 'old school' feel; as such, its
rules deliberately include many elements which were inspired by various
old school games, including Basic D&D, Tunnels & Trolls or
Dragon Warriors - but it is not a retro-clone, since it has its own,
original game mechanics. The best term to describe the retro elements
of M&M would probably be neo-retro or faux retro (retraux ?). I was surprised and delighted to find a detailed analysis of this question on this gamer's blog,
complete with a fascinating diagram showing how M&M differs from
true retro-clones and other newly-produced old school RPGs.
3) Is Mazes & Minotaurs just a hoax / parody game or is it really playable ?
Mazes & Minotaurs is a completely, genuinely, utterly playable RPG. Its
simple, straightforward rules were designed to convey the "yahoo
spirit" of early adventure RPGs, but with less emphasis on tactical
simulation or so-called realism - the game does not require the use of
maps or miniatures, for instance.
4) Why are there two versions of the game, the "1972 Original rules" and the "1987 Revised rules" ?
The Original "1972" rules can be seen as the alternate dimension
equivalent of the original Dungeons & Dragons rules, while the "1987"
Revised rules, with their three core books (Players Manual, Maze Masters Guide
and Creature Compendium) are an obvious counterpart to the Advanced
Dungeons & Dragons rules. It should be noted, however, that the
Revised M&M rules are much, much simpler than those of AD&D in any of its incarnations.
5) What are the main differences between the two versions ?
The Revised version is NOT more complex than the Original rules but
expand the scope of the game and include more options for characters -
many of which were first introduced in the three supplements published
for the Original rules : Men & Monsters, Myth & Magic and
Unveiled Addenda. The Revised rules are much more generous to
magic-using characters, who now have access to their full repertoire of
powers right from level 1 instead of gaining a single new power per
level. Other significant changes include the replacement of the Faith
attribute by a Will attribute and a more flexible approach to character advancement.
6) Are there any adventures available for Mazes & Minotaurs ?
Yes ! Several Mazes & Minotaurs scenarios have been published in the Minotaur webzine... And then there is Tomb of the Bull King, a truly
titanic 200+ page mega-module. And all this is completely FREE, like
all the Mazes & Minotaurs stuff.
7) Where can I find optional rules, new creatures, new mythic items and other cool stuff for M&M ?
In the Minotaur webzine ! Each issue contains approximately 48
pages of M&M goodness, including rule variants, new creatures and items, articles for Maze Masters and scenarios.
8) Can I contribute to the Minotaur webzine ?
Yes ! The Minotaur is always looking for quality M&M material
and all submissions will be carefully considered - however, since the
Minotaur webzine is a 100% free, non-commercial publication, all
contributions must be free to (ie we cannot pay anything). You can
reach the editor here.
9) Is the game REALLY free ?
Yes. Everything is 100% FREE - no hidden fees, no subscription, no catch.
10) Why are there no print copies of Mazes & Minotaurs available at Lulu or other print-on-demand sites ?
Mazes & Minotaurs will never be available as a commercial print
product. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is really a
legal technicality; many of the illustrations used in the PDFs of the
game were bought from a Clipart website - and the legalese from the
site in question is really not clear at all whether or not these illustrations can be
used as part of a commercial product. The second reason is an entirely personal choice : simply put, I have neither the
time, inclination or ability to start a commercial publishing business,
no matter how small. Mazes & Minotaurs was designed as a labor of
love - and will always remain a free, non-commercial product. If you
want your own print copies of the M&M rulebooks, just DIY.
11) I've noticed that the Minotaur
webzine only includes material for the Revised rules. Does this
mean that the Original version of the rules is no longer supported ?
Yes, it means exactly that. The Original "1972" rules are still
available but unless otherwise noted, all the material in the Minotaur
webzine is for the Revised rules - that being said, if you are an
Original edition grognard, you should have no problem converting this
material to the Original M&M system (hey, how retro is that ?)..
12) Can I make my own print copies of Mazes & Minotaurs and sell them on my website ?
Absolutely not. The fact that the game is free does not change anything
to the principles and rules of intellectual property. If you
stumble upon a website offering print copies of Mazes & Minotaurs for sale, please
let me know. Help us keep M&M free !
13) Is there an official Mazes & Minotaurs mailing list, newsgroup or forum ?
Yes, the center of the M&M community on the web is the official Mazes & Minotaurs Yahoo newsgroup, which can be found here. It has an ever-growing membership and is noted for the courteous, friendly spirit of its members.