Jump to content

Elder Tunnels: Difference between revisions

From IdeaWazaWiki
remove deletion notice
 
(26 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{User sandbox}}
<!-- EDIT BELOW THIS LINE -->
== Peryton Publishing (article draft) ==
I'm working on creation of new page for Peryton Publishing.
{{Short description|American roleplaying games publisher}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox publisher
| name        = Peryton Publishing
| image        = TBD
| caption      = We're all about the tabletop.
| parent      =
| status      =
| traded_as    =
| predecessor  =
| founded      = 2004
| founder      = {{Unbulleted list|[[Christina Lea]]|[[Tom K. Loney]]}}
| successor    =
| country      = The United States of America
| headquarters = Indiana
| distribution =
| keypeople    = {{Unbulleted list|[[Christina Lea]]|[[Tom K. Loney]]}}
| publications = Games, Books
| topics      =
| genre        =
| imprints    =
| revenue      =
| owner        =
| numemployees = 2
| website      = {{URL|http://www.perytonpublishing.com/}}
}}
'''Peryton Publishing''' is an American [[Tabletop_role-playing_game|role-playing game]] publishing company founded in 2004. It is co-owned by [[Christina Lea]] and [[Tom K. Loney]]. It is best known for their original role-playing game products, ''Crawlspace'', ''[[Qalidar]]'', and ''Spacers,'' as well as for publishing content for [[Tunnels & Trolls]] and [[Monsters! Monsters!]] role-playing game systems, frequently in collaboration with [[Ken St. Andre]].
==History==
Peryton Publishing was founded by Lea and Loney in 2004, and started selling their first gaming system, ''Peryton Fantasy Role-Playing Game'', written by Lea, built from [[Open gaming]] mechanics, and intended to simply the fantasy role-playing game experience, in 2006. It would go on to publish dozens of what can be only called niche RPG experiences.
The Peryton Fantasy Role-Playing Game  has been called "''the '''first''' 3.75 Edition''" according to Loney in mock comparison to Pathfinder RPG released a bit later. While Lea has worked primarily on her Peryton FRPG and a science fiction setting called Qalidar, she has managed and edited dozens of works by other RPG creatives. This is despite her retirement from RPG development to focus on her fiction writing since before and after that announcement. Through Peryton Publishing, Loney would advocate for expanding the ''Tunnels and Trolls'' product field after the publication of T&T 7th edition, seeking out new authors as well writing his own material for it. He'd also begin crafting rule sets for his specialty campaigns and publishing them. Both Lea and Loney assert that Peryton Publishing isn't actually about publishing anything, but "bringing gamers to the table." They name authors and artists that they have worked with since the company's creation as proof of this. They also point out the places that they go to game with other role-players to find people as passionate about the hobby as they are.
Their on-line club is Peryton Gamers, where Lea and Loney and other game masters arrange for video conference-based game sessions for various role-playing systems.
==TAG System==
To avoid any conflict with Rick Loomis with demands about T&T publications, also a bit uneasy about James L. Shipman's, Shippy, claims that he was in charge of the future of T&T, TAG was developed. "I was especially not found of Outlaw Press's release of "T&T: Sixth Edition," states Loney.  TAG (Tom's Adventure Game) was two six-sided dice based and flexible. Also so that he could write and publish his works "'''Imp Hollow'''" and "'''Mount Loki'''". It was a set game rules for role-playing that could be used with a variety of settings without much modification.
'''''TAG''''' would go on to used for role-playing scenarios set in the pulp world genres of Westerns and Penny Dreadfuls. This ''Wildly Heroic Adventure Pulp'' '''''WHAP!''''' material would be played at Flying Buffalo's RPG conference in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2008. A standing ovation by the players at the end of the session, would catch some attention by even the original T&T crew in the conference room. Ken St Andre would contribute to the next year with "'''Cowboys vs Dinosaurs'''."
In 2010, the system would be written into Loney's already existing campaigns: '''''Crawlspace''''' (horror) and '''''Spacers''''' (science fiction).
2015 is when the TAG system was modified into ''the '''Red Bat''' System''.
==Crawlspace==
Crawlspace is Peryton Publishing's horror role-playing game. "A ''Call of Cthulhu'' campaign gone awry." Claims Tom. "Players got tired of making up new PCs. I decided that were actors and could die and come back in the 'filming session.'"
The initial version of Crawlspace used "TAG" rules. This was to incentivize the players to keep track of their experience points.
In 2014 they published a new version using Tom's Action Card Kit ("TACK") system, where playing cards are used for randomization instead of dice. The GMs in the Crawlspace sessions noticed that most of their players weren't all that concerned with role-playing conventions like experience while playing out some pretty horrific scenarios. Playing cards got rid of the bookkeeping until after the games were done. Then both the GM and Players could sort things out. <ref>{{cite web |title=Tom's Action Card Kit |url=http://www.perytonpublishing.com/tack.htm |website=Peryton Publishing |access-date=23 June 2026}}</ref>
* One scenario of note is "'''TerrorHog'''" published in 2022. It is a Crawlspace Event and brainchild of Lea. "The movie Hogzilla with Joe Bob Briggs in it became her Lord of the Rings for a couple years." says Loney. "Sadly, we couldn't name the work after it, but I think our title isn't bad." It was brought up the streamed TV show '''''The Last Drive-In''''' in 2023 by none other than John Irving Bloom, the actor playing Joe-Bob Briggs, himself during a showing of Werner Herzog's ''Nosferatu the Vampyre''. This was after prompting from the actress Diana Princess, AKA, Darcy the Mail Girl a few shows before. "I'm Sorry." Lea has stated about the whole affair.<ref>{{cite web |title=TerrorHog—A Crawlspace Event: Interview with Christina Lea |url=https://www.enworld.org/threads/terrorhog%E2%80%94a-crawlspace-event-interview-with-christina-lea.692685 |website=EN World RPG News & Reviews |access-date=12 August 2025|date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
Add more info here from the Twitter links and add tv screen shot image from Robin:
* https://x.com/Shudder/status/1527902007427600384
* https://x.com/badtechno/status/1545813186863136768
==Qalidar==
(Mention the Qalidar line of products and the published novel.)
==Tunnels & Trolls / Monsters! Monsters!==
(List of products under these two product lines, including early years collaborations as well as M!M! Buzzard's Gulch products.)
==Product Lines==
* Spacers
* Red Bat System (aka "New TAG")
** Wobble
* TACK System
* TAG System
==Periodical==
Peryton publishes ''[[Elder Tunnels]]'', a role-playing game [[magazine]] that has sporadically released issues since 2010. It has featured scenarios, stories, and other content for role-playing games such as Tunnels & Trolls, Quick Ass Games, Crawlpace, and Spacers. The content has been by Peryton Publishing staff, gaming friends, and Ken St. Andre. A lot of the pieces were labeled as officially "Trollhalla Friendly," meaning it was an approved product for the Tunnels & Trolls line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elder Tunnels on RPGGeek |url=https://rpggeek.com/rpgperiodical/20444/elder-tunnels |website=RPGGeek |access-date=12 August 2025}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://http://www.perytonpublishing.com/ Peryton Publishing Home Page]
{{Authority control}}
[[:Category:Role-playing game publishing companies]]
——————————————
== Elder Tunnels (article draft) ==
{{Short description|Tabletop role-playing game magazine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox magazine
{{Infobox magazine
| title          = Elder Tunnels
| title          = Elder Tunnels
| logo            =  
| logo            = ETunBan.gif
| logo_size      = <!-- default is 180px -->
| logo_size      = <!-- default is 180px -->
| image_file      = <!-- cover.jpg (omit the "file:" prefix) -->
| image_file      = EldTun1_tn.jpg
| image_size      = <!-- default is 180px -->
| image_size      = <!-- default is 180px -->
| image_alt      =  
| image_alt      =  
| image_caption  =  
| image_caption  = Cover of the Winter-Spring 2010 issue
| native_name    =
| native_name    =
| editor          = Christina Lea
| editor          = Tom K. Loney
| editor_title    = Editor
| editor_title    = Editor
| editor2          =  
| editor2          =  
| editor_title2    =  
| editor_title2    =  
| previous_editor = Christine Crabb
| previous_editor = Christine Crabb
| staff_writer    = Tom K. Loney<br />Scott Malthouse<br/>Christina Lea<br/>Jerry Teleha
| staff_writer    = Tom K. Loney<br />Scott Malthouse<br/>Christina Lea<br/>Jerry Teleha<br/>C.L. Evans
| photographer    =  
| photographer    =  
| category        = [[role-playing games]]
| category        = [[role-playing games]]
| frequency      = Semi-quarterly
| frequency      = Annually, Semiannually, or Triannually (varied by year)
| format          =  
| format          =  
| circulation    =  
| circulation    =  
Line 123: Line 25:
| total_circulation  =  
| total_circulation  =  
| founder        = Christina Lea
| founder        = Christina Lea
| founded        = {{start date|2010|3|23|df=y}}
| founded        =
| firstdate      = {{Start date and age|2010}}
| firstdate      = {{start date and age|2010|3|23|df=y}}
| finaldate      = {{End date and age|2021}}
| finaldate      = {{End date and age|2021|10|7|df=y}}
| finalnumber    = 10
| finalnumber    =  
| company        = [[Peryton Publishing]]
| company        = [[Peryton Publishing]]
| country        = [[United States]]
| country        = [[United States]]
Line 138: Line 40:
}}
}}


'''''Elder Tunnels''''' was a [[role-playing game]] magazine created by [[Tom K. Loney]] and [[Christina Lea]] and published by [[Peryton Publishing]].
'''''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.  


==Content==
==Publication history==
The first seven issues of ''Elder Tunnels'' included content for the ''[[Tunnels & Trolls]]'' ("''T&T''") role-playing game system, and were published during the time after release of the ''T&T'' 30th anniversary (7.5th) edition, published by [[Fiery Dragon Productions]] in 2008, and before Deluxe edition, published by [[Flying Buffalo]] in 2015. During the span of years, Peryton Publishing had permission from Flying Buffalo to publish materials compatible 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>
''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.


After a publishing hiatus of seven years, Peryton Publishing released three more issues between 2019 and 2021. These issues shifted the focus of Elder Tunnels to other gaming systems rather than ''T&T'' being the main focus. Content included scenarios for [[Monsters! Monsters!]], Ken St. Andre's monsters-based derivative of ''T&T'', 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.''
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. -->


<!-- "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. -->
Between 2008 and 2012, the first seven issues focused on ''T&T'' before the magazine then ceased publication.  


In July, 2021, [[Webbed Sphere]], purchased Flying Buffalo, including ''Tunnels & Trolls.'' After the sale, Webbed Sphere terminated all licenses for third party publishing companies, including Peryton Publishing. Webbed Sphere contacted Peryton Publishing with a request that Peryton sell all of their ''T&T'' related products to Webbed Sphere, or remove them from sale on various digital platforms, including [[DriveThruRPG]].<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> Peryton Publishers and other role-playing game publishers who previously had publishing arrangements with Flying Buffalo, were asked by Webbed Sphere to no longer reference or publish content for ''T&T.''<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 to Webbed Sphere's options, Peryton Publishing chose to remove the ''T&T'' name and brand from their previously published materials and 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>
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. -->


During its run, the magazine 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 later went on to join [[Rebellion Unplugged]], who bought the ''T&T'' intellectual property in 2023, and who 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>
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>
 
<!-- 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. -->
 
==Publication history==
Peryton Publishing released 7 issues of ''Elder Tunnels'' between 2010 and 2012. After a hiatus of seven years, it produced 3 more issues between 2019 and 2021.


==Reception==
==Reception==
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>  
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>
<!-- 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>  


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:
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:
Line 167: Line 65:
<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>
<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>


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>
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> -->


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>
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>
Line 177: Line 75:
* {{cite web |title=Elder Tunnels |url=http://www.perytonpublishing.com/elder_tunnels.htm |website=Peryton Publishing |access-date=12 August 2025}}
* {{cite web |title=Elder Tunnels |url=http://www.perytonpublishing.com/elder_tunnels.htm |website=Peryton Publishing |access-date=12 August 2025}}


[[:Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States]]
[[:Category:Magazines disestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2021]]
[[:Category:Magazines established in 2010]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 2010]]
[[:Category:Quarterly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Quarterly magazines published in the United States]]
[[:Category:Role-playing game magazines]]
[[Category:Role-playing game magazines]]
 
 
{{hobby-mag-stub}}

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