Message:I recall the art redrawn by a guy at VPI&SU. He did not like my original art (crocked hand man), so he drew a guy man-spreading to air out the salty crouch. Also changed my by-line to
Our Lad George. Probably only of nostalgic value? Who knows? I and the work are not that famous. Now if I go viral by murdering (or marrying) someone famous, then fine wine.
Beware the man with the three point head. First edition ruleset w/ K-factor.
Now if the auction makes any amount of money, I know how I can pay to re-roof my house.
I can authenticate the work. We played Cutlass round the table in my last year of college c. 1983. That was a xerox copy of the rules that I pitched over four years to TSR, SPI, Rafm, Metagaming (among others). Frank Mentzer in his TSR rejection letter said that I knew nothing about sailing and the age of pirates. He also chastised the game for a lack of women's roles. SPI said they were interested but need to first establish Dragonslayer, which they then lost a lawsuit over a movie being released. Dragonquest was too little too late a step into rpg. Company folded and sold assets to TSR. Later TSR would fold not seeing the card craze, selling assets to WotC.
But I still exist! All copyrights retained.
Omnibus is a better version of Cutlass, priced at value too.
Yours,
IronRed
19-Jul-2022