Inspiring Citations

 “Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.”

— Franz Kafka

I love reading books and even internet articles that reference their sources. Most of the non-fiction I read includes such handy research tools as foot- or endnotes and bibliographies. Many authors rely on these to document the information they used for their books. Internet writers use them to allow readers to cross-reference terms, concepts, and prior work beyond simply citing sources; a hyperlink can enable instant access to relevant material that might shed additional light on the topic and expose readers to new concepts they might wish to pursue on their own. Writers — even game designers — should include references not simply to substantiate their work but provide readers with inspiration. And readers — and game players — should seek them out to enhance and expand their own experiences.

Back when I wrote The Raiders of the Lost Ark Sourcebook (my first freelance project for West End Games) I included a bibliography in the manuscript. Nothing huge, just one page, five books listed, with some notes about using them and other sources for period inspiration. It made sense to me, writing for a pulp game book based however loosely on real-world historical places and events. I recall the editor gave it an odd glance but kept it in the book. West End’s owner Scott Palter was a history buff; I vaguely recall him voicing his approval that I’d included a bibliography of my sources, though I could tell by his tone he thought it was a bit unusual. The company later received a letter from a fan praising the sourcebook and admiring the bibliography for providing more sources helpful for his own gaming.

Some of my subsequent work included bibliographical sources where relevant, primarily to provide inspiration to readers (though I’ll confess I also wanted to validate my work). My first blog post (such as it was) back in 2003, at the ancient and now-defunct Griffon’s Aerie website, consisted of a bibliography of material I used writing the Afrika Korpse Weird War II d20 supplement for Pinnacle Entertainment; I can’t recall if I’d originally proposed it for the book or if I thought of posting it after the fact. My magnum opus, Pulp Egypt, devoted two pages in “Appendix 4: Media Resources” listing books, roleplaying games, films, and even music that informed my work and might inspire gamers. My solitaire wargame Operation Drumbeat included half a page of inspirational resources used in designing the game.

In a way citing one’s sources to provide gaming inspiration hearkens back to the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, with Gygax’s “Appendix N” in the AD&D Dungeon Master’s Guide and Moldvay’s “Inspirational Source Material” from the Basic D&D rulebook. While these weren’t bibliographical references in the academic sense, they offered readers some insight into the creators’ perspectives as well as additional ways they might immerse themselves in different flavors of the medieval fantasy genre. Over the years other roleplaying games have offered similar lists of relevant source material, whether in rulebooks or subsequent supplements, to better illustrate the kind of stories gamers might tell at the table.

Many indulging in the adventure gaming hobby are stereotypically bookish. We immerse ourselves in resources from “Appendix N” and other literature evocative of our gaming interests. For some of us — myself included — our enthusiasms for history and gaming provide even more resources to explore across historical fiction and non-fiction as well as films and television. Nurturing curiosity gets harder in our older age as we scramble to find time between work and family and numerous other “adult” obligations and concerns; but exercising our inquisitive nature can enrich our lives, especially our gaming. I credit my parents, schooling, and gaming interests with instilling in me a lifelong curiosity, particularly about historical topics.

In my generation’s pre-Internet-Age schooling we learned to find and use a variety of non-electronic legitimate sources: books, periodicals, various kinds of specialized encyclopedias and dictionaries, broadcasts, interviews. Relentless research paper assignments throughout junior high, high school, and college instructed and reinforced in me the importance of citing one’s sources in footnotes/endnotes, and bibliographies, keeping track of every significant bit of information (and its source) on notecards. We were taught — but didn’t always learn — to examine a source’s biases, if any, regarding its subject, approach, and conclusions. These research skills not only trained us in using and citing sources, but encouraged us to examine them for political agendas, “alternative facts,” and the occasions where beliefs override reality. I’d like to think these issues represent new alarming trends, but, alas, I fear they’ve been with us for quite some time, just in different guises.

The research ethic also instilled in me an urge to ask questions, explore new resources, indulge my curiosity, and find new interests I could pursue (inevitably in the service of my adventure gaming activities). I can’t remember all the references I’ve found in books, internet articles, and even author recommendations over the years that led me down a new path in expanding my horizons. Some offered new perspectives that momentarily entertained or informed me; others inspired a deeper dive into a new topic. A non-fiction book’s bibliography is my go-to place to learn about further reading to gain a more informed perspective.

Over my years of blogging I’ve occasionally discussed the affect reading and inspiration have on my own gaming and its potential to influence others:

* “Considering Appendix N” offers my own insights on those works listed in the seminal fantasy roleplaying game “bibliography.”

* “You Are What You Read: Gaming Inspiration” looks at how my own reading habits have shaped my exploration of various game topics.

* “The Inspiration of Books” discusses my general love of books.

* “Browsing to Expand Horizons” talks about taking the time to simply wander among the stacks (so to speak) in search of new inspiration we might not otherwise discover.

Stay curious. Follow the sources your favorite authors and games cite...and see what tempts or inspires you.

“Every story I write adds to me a little, changes me a little, forces me to reexamine an attitude or belief, causes me to research and learn, helps me to understand people and grow.”

— Octavia E. Butler