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{{Infobox magazine
<!-- EDIT BELOW THIS LINE -->
| title          = Elder Tunnels
| logo            = ETunBan.gif
| logo_size      = <!-- default is 180px -->
| image_file      = EldTun1_tn.jpg
| image_size      = <!-- default is 180px -->
| image_alt      =
| image_caption  = Cover of the Winter-Spring 2010 issue
| native_name    =
| editor          = Tom K. Loney
| editor_title    = Editor
| editor2          =
| editor_title2    =
| previous_editor = Christine Crabb
| staff_writer    = Tom K. Loney<br />Scott Malthouse<br/>Christina Lea<br/>Jerry Teleha<br/>C.L. Evans
| photographer    =
| category        = [[role-playing games]]
| frequency      = Annually, Semiannually, or Triannually (varied by year)
| format          =
| circulation    =
| publisher      =
| paid_circulation  =
| unpaid_circulation =
| circulation_year  =
| total_circulation  =
| founder        = Christina Lea
| founded        =
| firstdate      = {{start date and age|2010|3|23|df=y}}
| finaldate      = {{End date and age|2021|10|7|df=y}}
| finalnumber    =
| company        = [[Peryton Publishing]]
| country        = [[United States]]
| based          =
| language        = English
| website        = {{URL|http://www.perytonpublishing.com/elder_tunnels.htm}}
| issn            =
| eissn          =
| oclc            =
| module          = <!-- Other templates can be embedded here -->
}}


I'm working on a revision to Ken St. Andre's works. (January 2024)
'''''Elder Tunnels''''' is a [[role-playing game]] magazine that was published by [[Peryton Publishing]] starting in 2008. Originally its main focus was the fantasy role-playing game ''[[Tunnels & Trolls]]'' (''T&T'') published by [[Flying Buffalo]]; later, it embraced other games.


== Bibliography ==
==Publication history==
''Tunnels & Trolls'' was first published by Flying Buffalo in 1975, shortly after the release of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' by [[TSR, inc.| TSR]]. ''T&T'' underwent several revisions. After [[Fiery Dragon Productions]] released version 7.5 in time for the game's 30th anniversary in 2008, Tom K. Loney and Christina Lea gained permission from Flying Buffalo  to publish materials compatible with and for use with ''T&T.''<ref>{{cite web |title=Authorized Tunnels & Trolls Websites, Dealers and co-publishers |url=https://deluxetunnelsandtrolls.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/authorized-tunnels-trolls-websites-dealers-and-co-publishers/ |website=Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls: The latest news on the most flexible RPG there is! |publisher=Flying Buffalo Inc. |access-date=28 August 2026}}</ref> They subsequently created the magazine ''Elder Tunnels'' to focus on ''T&T''; the first issue was published by Peryton Press in 2008.


A bibliography and ludography of St. Andre's works follows. Detailed information on the role-playing game items can be found at RPG Geek<ref>{{cite web |title=RPG Geek |url=https://rpggeek.com |website=RPG Geek |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>.
Content included contributions from ''Tunnels & Trolls''' creator [[Ken St. Andre]], as well as independent writers of ''T&T'' material produced in cooperation with St. Andre and/or Flying Buffalo, such as Brian Penn, Michael Eidson and David Crowell, as well as other game designers such as Scott Malthouse (who as part of [[Rebellion Unplugged]]{{snd}}which bought the ''T&T'' intellectual property in 2023{{snd}}helped design ''Tunnels & Trolls: A New Age'', the first new version of ''T&T'' since 2015).<ref>{{cite web |title=Doubles Are Rolled Again |url=https://rebellionunplugged.com/doubles-are-rolled-again/ |website=Rebellion Unplugged |access-date=26 June 2026 |date=6 March 2026}}</ref> Staff illustrators included Jeff Freels, Mike Hartlieb, Régis Moulun, and Simon Tranter.  <!-- As for the future of ''Elder Tunnels,'' Loney indicated "It's not over, just yet. That said, the magazine's title is a bit dated as we're not doing ''T&T'', or even ''Monsters! Monsters!'' material anymore. 'E-Tunn' might just blend into a new gaming magazine as the 'Weird Fantasy' section." Need quote for this. -->


=== Role-playing games ===
Between 2008 and 2012, the first seven issues focused on ''T&T'' before the magazine then ceased publication.


* ''[[Monsters! Monsters!]]''
After a publishing hiatus of seven years, Peryton Publishing released three more issues between 2019 and 2021. These issues shifted the focus to other gaming systems, including scenarios for ''[[Monsters! Monsters!]]''{{snd}}[[Ken St. Andre]]'s monsters-based derivative of ''T&T''{{snd}} as well as Jerry Teleha's ''Stay Alive!'' modern action rules for ''T&T''-style play, and [[QAGS|Quick Ass Games System]]. These issues also featured content for use with Peryton Publishing's in-house game systems, including ''Crawlspace'' and ''Spacers.''  <!-- "This would be advantageous," according to Loney "Things were changing in T&T with the death of (Richard) Loomis." Need a source for this quote. -->
** 1st edition, (1976; 2nd printing, 1979)
** 2nd edition (2020)
** 2.7th edition (2023)
** 1976 Zero Edition (2023), an early draft of 1st edition


* ''[[Starfaring]]''
In July 2021, [[Webbed Sphere]] purchased Flying Buffalo, which included ''Tunnels & Trolls'', and terminated all licenses granted to third party publishing companies, including Peryton Publishing.<!-- <ref>{{cite web |title=Peryton Publishing on DriveThruRPG |url=https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/2586/peryton-publishing |website=DriveThruRPG |access-date=28 August 2026}}</ref>--><ref>{{cite web |title=Webbed Sphere Terminates Legacy 3rd Party Tunnels & Trolls Licenses |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SvCnSlLzvA |website=YouTube |access-date=26 June 2026 |date=23 March 2023}}</ref> In response, Peryton Publishing removed the ''T&T'' name and brand from their previously published materials, and could not use the game name or content in future publications, including ''Elder Tunnels.''<ref>{{cite web |title=Anyone else had their 3rd party T&T stuff taken off DTRPG? |url=https://trollbridge.proboards.com/post/66562 |website=Vin's T&T TrollBridge |access-date=26 June 2026 |date=16 April 2023}}</ref>
** 1st edition (1976)
** 2nd edition (2007)


* ''[[Stormbringer (role-playing game)|Stormbringer]]''
==Reception==
** 1st edition (1981)
In Issue 4.3 of the French games magazine ''[[Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]]'', Patrice Greille identified ''Elder Tunnels'' as an excellent prozine, and called it "absolutely essential for anyone interested in ''T&T''."<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine | last =Greille| first =Patrice| title =Portrait de Famille: Tunnels & Trols | magazine = [[Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]] | volume = 4|issue =3 | pages =233 | date =May-June 2012 | language =fr }}</ref>
** 2nd edition (1985)
<!-- In October 2011, Scott Malthouse, one of the staff writers of ''Elder Tunnels,'' noted in his ''The Trollish Delver'' website the release of the Halloween 2011 issue of ''Elder Tunnels'' is "packed to the brim with awesomeness."<ref>{{cite web |author1=Scott Malthouse |title=Elder Tunnels Halloween 2011 is out! {T&T} |url=http://www.trollishdelver.com/2011/10/elder-tunnels-halloween-2011-is-out-t.html |website=The Trollish Delver |access-date=25 June 2026}}</ref>
** 3rd edition (1987)
** 4th edition (1990)


* ''[[Thieves'_World_(role-playing_game)|Thieves' World]]'' (1981), with multiple authors
Thomas Grimshaw, in his ''Alchemy Gaming Blog'', reviewed the premier issue (Winter - Spring 2010) of ''Elder Tunnels'' in July, 2012, admitting up front "Peryton Publishing now has 6 issues of the Elder Tunnels zine under its belt and, in my opinion, they just keep getting better and better," before analyzing the individual adventures in the first issue:


* ''[[Tunnels & Trolls]]''
<blockquote>The first issue was a little hit and miss from my point of view. I absolutely loved the "Wuthering Depths" adventure written by Tom K. Loney. It had depth and an atmosphere that really drew you in as the GM reading over his notes. Stephen Butka's effort, "The Sorcerers Chimney" however left a lot to be desired."<ref>{{cite web |author1=Thomas Grimshaw |title=Week Of The Troll: Elder Tunnels - Winter / Spring 2010 |url=https://alchemygaming.blogspot.com/2012/07/week-of-troll-elder-tunnels-winter.html |website=Alchemy Gaming Blog |access-date=25 June 2026 |date=27 July 2012}}</ref></blockquote>
** 1st edition (1975)
** 2nd edition (197?)
** 3rd edition (197?)
** 4th edition (1977)
** 5th edition (1979)
** 5.5th edition (2005)
** 30th anniversary (7th) edition (2005)
** 7.5th edition (2008)
** ''Power Trip'', a super-heroes T&T variant (2008)
** ''Gamma Trollworld'', a post-nuclear war T&T variant (2009), with James L. Shipman
** 8th (French) edition (2012)
** Deluxe edition (2015)


=== Adventure modules, solo adventures, and items ===
In August 2012, Grimshaw favorably reviewed the Halloween 2010 issue of ''Elder Tunnels'':
* ''Bean RPG''
** ''Death Phrogg Attack'' (2010)


* ''Monsters! Monsters!''
<blockquote>Balancing horror and high-fantasy can be a difficult task. Even in surreal, pan-dimensional warp spaces like the many worlds of Tunnels and Trolls it's a delicate balance. Many of the classic tropes have already been explored in depth by most gamers, either through the classic fiction that most of us will have read or, through popular culture.... Pick it up now, read through it within the next week and, your next session can really bring some bite to the table. Not only will the players not be expecting you to run such a scenario but, to their credit, the two GM adventures included in this issue don't read like horror at all... Until your players are already up to their necks in it that is.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Thomas Grimshaw|title=Review: Elder Tunnels - Halloween 2010 |url=https://alchemygaming.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-elder-tunnels-halloween-2010.html |website=Alchemy Gaming Blog |publisher=blogspot.com |access-date=25 June 2026 |date=13 August 2012}}</ref></blockquote>
** ''Battle School: Deadly Combat'' (2020)
** ''The Wizard's Test: Deadly Combat (M!M! version)'' (2020)
** ''Vvvarrr's Qiip: Deadly Combat (M!M! version)'' (2020)
** ''[[The Toughest Dungeon in the World]]'' (2020)
** ''Rescue Mission: Deadly Combat (M!M! version)'' (2020)
** ''Khara Khang's Random Rainbow Maze: Deadly Combat (M!M! version)'' (2020)
** ''Oh My, Khost!'' (2021)
** ''Monster Maze of Zorr: Deadly Combat (M!M! version)'' (2021)
** ''Mission for a Cat Goddess'' (2022)
** ''Monsters! Monsters! GM Screen'' (2022)
** ''Ken St. Andre's Monsterary of Zimrala'' (2022)
** ''Zimrala Big Map'' (2022)
** ''Trollgod's Gift'' (2022)
** ''Gauntlet of Doom'' (2022)
** ''Trollgod's Crystal Caves Challenge (2023)


* ''[[Shadowrun]]''
Game designer and editor Dan Hembree of The Lone Delver Games, writing in his web blog on October 26, 2012, "The Lone Delver", complimented the Halloween 2012 issue: "This is their annual Halloween issue, and it's a good one," and "[a]t only $5.99 for the pdf it's quite a bargain."<ref>{{cite web |title=New Elder Tunnels and More from Peryton |url=https://danhemsgamingblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/new-elder-tunnels-and-more-from-peryton.html |website=The Lone Delver |access-date=26 June 2026 |date=26 October 2012}}</ref> -->
** ''Harlequin'' (1990) with multiple authors


* ''Stormbringer''
As of June 2026, several issues of the magazine have earned Copper Best Seller rank at DriveThruRPG.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search results for Copper Best Seller Elder Tunnels issues from Peryton Publishing |url=https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/2586/peryton-publishing?ranking=copper&keyword=elder%20tunnels&src=browse2586 |website=DriveThruRPG |access-date=26 June 2026}}</ref>
** ''Stormbringer Companion'' (1983)


* ''Tunnels & Trolls''
==References==
** ''Computer Generated Dungeon'' (1977)
{{Reflist}}
** Solo 2: ''Deathtrap Equalizer Dungeon'' (1977)
** Solo 4: ''Naked Doom'' (1977)
** Solo 12: ''Arena of Khazan'' (1979)
** Pocket Adventure 1: ''Goblin Lake'' (1979)
** ''The Toughest Dungeon in the World'' (1980)
** ''Hela's House of Dark Delights'', originally printed in ''[[Different Worlds]]'' Issue 22 (1982)
** ''The Infinite Adventure'' (1985)
** ''Sword for Hire and Blue Frog Tavern'' (1986)
** ''The Amulet of the Salkti and Arena of Khazan'' (1986)
** ''Naked Doom and Deathtrap Equalizer'' (1986)
** ''Take the Money'' (2008)
** ''Trollgod's Exciting Random Rooms of Ruination'' (2008)
** ''Strange Destinies'' (2008)
** ''Hunting Party'' (2008)
** ''Hot Pursuit'' (2008)
** ''Khara Khang's Random Rainbow Maze'' (2010)
** ''The Wizard's Test'' (2011)
** ''A Traveler's Tale'' (2011)
** ''Tavern by the Sea'' (2011)
** ''A Sworded Adventure'' (2011)
** ''Rescue Mission'' (2011)
** ''Dwarf World'' (2011)
** ''DewDrop Inn'' (2011)
** ''Deep Delving'' (2011)
** ''Battle School'' (2012)
** ''À la poursuite du serpent d'argent'' (2012)
** ''Le Nain Ivre'' (2012)
** ''Le lac aux gobelins'' (2012)
** ''Le Dépouillement Dernier'' (2012)
** ''4 Jars of Mead'' (2013)
** ''Trollhammer'' (2013)
** ''Saving Fang from the Pits of Morgul'' (2013)
** Solo 9: ''City of Terrors'' (Deluxe T&T 3rd Edition, 2013), with [[Michael Stackpole]]
** ''Rock & Rule: The Spellbook of Gristlegrim's Dwarves'' (2014)
** ''Missing Inaction'' (2014)
** ''Adventurers Compendium'' (2014)
** ''Les cavernes de Lan-Faer'' (2014)
** ''Spellbook of the Leprechauns'' (2015)
** ''Spellbook of the Gremlins'' (2015)
** ''The Spell Book of Shancinar (Ancient Elven Magic)'' (2015)
** ''Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls Gamemaster Screen'' (2015)
** ''Spellbook of the Uruks'' (2016)
** ''Quest for the Crown'' (2016)
** ''The Last Adventure of Big Jack Brass'' (2016)
** Solo 28: ''Grimtina's Guard'' (2016)
** ''Goblin Lake (Deluxe)'' (2016)
** ''Agent of Death (Deluxe)'' (2016)
** ''Capture the Troll'' (2016)
** ''The Fairy Spell Book'' (2016)
** ''The Trollgod's Terrible Twenty'' (2017)
** Solo 4: ''Naked Doom (Deluxe)'' (2017)
** ''Mongoni Island'' (2017)
** Solo 12: ''Arena of Khazan (Deluxe)'' (2017)
** ''The Vaults of K'horror'' (2018), with Andy Holmes
** ''The Peacock Continent of Trollworld'' (2018)
** ''Monster Maze of Zorr'' (2018)
** ''Trollstone Caverns: Lair of the Silver Serpent'' (2019)
** ''Dragons Attack X'venn'' (2019)
** ''The Wizard's Test: Deadly Combat (T&T version)'' (2020)
** ''Vvvarrr's Qiip: Deadly Combat (T&T version)'' (2020)
** ''Murder at the Ruptured Troll'' (2020)
** ''The Non-Human Spell Book'' (2020)
** ''Khara Khang's Random Rainbow Maze: Deadly Combat (T&T version)'' (2020)
** ''Grimtooth's Tomb of the Warhammer'' (2020)
** ''Goblin Crag: Level One'' (2020), with Andy Holmes
 
* ''WHAP (Wildly Heroic Action Pulp)'' RPG<ref>{{cite web | title=Wildly Heroic Action Pulp (WHAP!) | url=http://perytonpublishing.com/WHAP.htm |website=Peryton Publishing |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>
** ''Howls in the Wild'' (2010)
** ''Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs'' (2010)
 
=== Other role-playing game related subjects ===
* ''The 1st Annual World Who's Who in Tunnels and Trolls'' (1978)
* ''Ten Days in the Arena of Khazan'', originally printed in Different Worlds Issue 7 (1980)
* ''A Fragmentary History of Trollworld'' (2010)


=== Novels and Short Stories ===
==External links==
* {{cite web |title=Elder Tunnels |url=http://www.perytonpublishing.com/elder_tunnels.htm |website=Peryton Publishing |access-date=12 August 2025}}


* "Old Soldiers Never" (1989), in ''Shrapnel: Fragments from the Inner Sphere'', a [[Battletech]] anthology.
[[Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States]]
* "Turtle in the Tower" (1990), in ''Shadowrun: Into the Shadows'' edited by [[Jordan Weisman|Jordan K. Weisman]]. An anthology of stories based on the ''[[Shadowrun]]'' role-playing game. ({{ISBN|1-55560-118-9}}).
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2021]]
* "The Two Worst Thieves in Khazan" (1992) in ''Mages Blood and Old Bones: A Tunnels & Trolls Anthology''
[[Category:Magazines established in 2010]]
* "The Triple Death" (1995), in ''Enchanted Forests'' edited by Katharine Kerr and Martin H. Greenberg. An anthology of stories about magical woods. ({{ISBN|0-88677-672-4}}).
[[Category:Quarterly magazines published in the United States]]
* "A Thief's Day in Khazan" (2005) in ''Golden Heroes''.
[[Category:Role-playing game magazines]]
* ''Dragon Child: Just a Thief from Khazan'' (2006), by Ken St. Andre and James L. Shipman.  A fantasy novel based on the ''[[Tunnels & Trolls]]'' role-playing game. Expanded and republished in 2017 as "Thief of Khazan".
* ''Griffin Feathers'' (2008), by Ken St. Andre.  A collection of linked short stories based on the ''[[Tunnels & Trolls]]'' role-playing game.
* "Introduction: Trollgod's Treasure Hunt" (2008) in ''Troll Tunnels'', edited by Christina Lea.  A collection of short sword and sorcery tales.
* "The Awakening" (2008) in ''Troll Tunnels'', by Ken St. Andre and James L. Shipman.
* "Champion of Stormgaard" (2010), an excerpt from the novel ''Rose of Stormgaard''
* "Murder at the Ruptured Troll" (2020)
* "Pirate Days Along the Yann" (2020)
* "Mandrikor: A Trollworld Tale" (2020)
* "Woden's Ring: A Heroic Fantasy Tale" (2020)
* "Fairy Tale" (2021)
* "The Trollgod's Tale" (2021)
* "Tomb Raiders from Trollhalla" (2021). Adapted from a game of T&T run by Ken St. Andre with players from his Trollhalla fan group.
* "Final Exam" (2021). A short novel based on a play-through of the solo adventure of the same name.
* Tales of Trollhalla #1: "The Serpent Queen" (2021)
* ''Rose of Stormgaard: A Trollworld Novel'' (2012), by Ken St. Andre, cover art by [[Steve Crompton]].  ({{ISBN|1-4801-7576-5}}).
* "Slithery Jungle Tales", issue 1 (2022)
* "Temple Rescue'' (2022). A narrative of a play through of ''Temple of Issoth'' T&T solo adventure by Dan Hembree. Illustrated by William Connors.
* "Slithery Jungle Tales", issue 2 (2023)
 
=== Flash Fiction ===
 
* "Moral Invaders" (2005) in ''Flash Fantastic'', No. 16.  A very short story in issue 16 of the online magazine.<ref>{{cite web |title=FLASH FANTASTIC Adventures in short, short fiction Back issues and index |url=https://www.crazedfanboy.com/fiction/flash/issue_16.html |website=Flash Fantastic |publisher=Crazed Fanboy |accessdate=21 August 2019}}</ref>
* Ken St. Andre's "A Troll's Flash Fiction" story collection contains [[flash fiction]] written by him but also collected from other authors. Stories published between 2011 and 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Troll's Flash Fiction |url=https://trollfic.wordpress.com/ |website=A Troll's Flash Fiction |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>
 
=== Comic Books ===
* "Monsters! Monsters!", issue 1: "Return to Goblin Lake" (Trollgodfather Press Comic Group, 2022). A republication of a comic from 1995, illustrated by Gilead Artist.
 
=== Computer games ===
* ''[[Wasteland (video game)|Wasteland]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Adventure_Construction_Set|Adventure Construction Set]]'' adventure "Galactic Agent" (Amiga version, 1986)
* ''[[Wasteland_2|Wasteland 2]]'' (2014)
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}

Latest revision as of 16:47, 1 October 2026

Template:Infobox magazine

Elder Tunnels is a role-playing game magazine that was published by Peryton Publishing starting in 2008. Originally its main focus was the fantasy role-playing game Tunnels & Trolls (T&T) published by Flying Buffalo; later, it embraced other games.

Publication history

Tunnels & Trolls was first published by Flying Buffalo in 1975, shortly after the release of Dungeons & Dragons by TSR. T&T underwent several revisions. After Fiery Dragon Productions released version 7.5 in time for the game's 30th anniversary in 2008, Tom K. Loney and Christina Lea gained permission from Flying Buffalo to publish materials compatible with and for use with T&T.[1] They subsequently created the magazine Elder Tunnels to focus on T&T; the first issue was published by Peryton Press in 2008.

Content included contributions from Tunnels & Trolls' creator Ken St. Andre, as well as independent writers of T&T material produced in cooperation with St. Andre and/or Flying Buffalo, such as Brian Penn, Michael Eidson and David Crowell, as well as other game designers such as Scott Malthouse (who as part of Rebellion UnpluggedTemplate:Sndwhich bought the T&T intellectual property in 2023Template:Sndhelped design Tunnels & Trolls: A New Age, the first new version of T&T since 2015).[2] Staff illustrators included Jeff Freels, Mike Hartlieb, Régis Moulun, and Simon Tranter.

Between 2008 and 2012, the first seven issues focused on T&T before the magazine then ceased publication.

After a publishing hiatus of seven years, Peryton Publishing released three more issues between 2019 and 2021. These issues shifted the focus to other gaming systems, including scenarios for Monsters! Monsters!Template:SndKen St. Andre's monsters-based derivative of T&TTemplate:Snd as well as Jerry Teleha's Stay Alive! modern action rules for T&T-style play, and Quick Ass Games System. These issues also featured content for use with Peryton Publishing's in-house game systems, including Crawlspace and Spacers.

In July 2021, Webbed Sphere purchased Flying Buffalo, which included Tunnels & Trolls, and terminated all licenses granted to third party publishing companies, including Peryton Publishing.[3] In response, Peryton Publishing removed the T&T name and brand from their previously published materials, and could not use the game name or content in future publications, including Elder Tunnels.[4]

Reception

In Issue 4.3 of the French games magazine Casus Belli, Patrice Greille identified Elder Tunnels as an excellent prozine, and called it "absolutely essential for anyone interested in T&T."[5]

As of June 2026, several issues of the magazine have earned Copper Best Seller rank at DriveThruRPG.[6]

References