It has no pretentions of being comprehensive or even meaningful. How else can one explain a rulebook written with college-level diction about a game where you go into a 10’x10’ room, kill four orcs, and loot their treasure for no discernable motive? And, make no mistake, that example is what original D&D (OD&D) is all about. Camp & Pratt’s literate but tongue-in-cheek fantasy help round out the tone of D&D. Burroughs and Leiber both wrote high fantasy adventure. One must look closely to see the influence of these authors, for it is more subtle than the presence of Tolkein in D&D (more on that later). The foreword (also missing from the table of contents/index) includes a short history of how Dungeons & Dragons began, mentions both the Blackmoor and Greyhawk campaigns, and ends with a short inspirational reading list - Burroughs, Leiber, Camp & Pratt - that is particularly illuminating as to what a D&D campaign was meant to be like. It also refers to players who plan to use D&D “in an existing campaign.” Frequent references to the Chainmail miniature rules, a plug for Avalon Hill’s Outdoor Survival game, and the combat system being dubbed “alternative” further indicate that D&D may have been intended as supplemental rules rather than a stand-alone game. The introduction offers a brief synopsis of the three volumes. More curious is that some sections (classes and races, spells and undead turning) are lumped together in the table of contents (also curiously called an index though it makes for an even worse index). The order of coverage seems haphazard (Alignment before Abilities? Languages before Levels and Hit Dice?), though this reflects changes in priorites as the game has evolved. All of the game mechanics are introduced in this volume - mechanics that should seem familiar to D&D players from any edition of the game - arranged in the following order: Character Classes, Character Races, Alignment, Abilities, Languages, Non-Player Characters (includes mechanics for loyalty and morale), Basic Equipment and Costs, Levels, Experience Points (xp), Hit Dice (HD), “Alternative” Combat System (alternative to the Chainmail miniature rules), Saving Throws, Spell Tables, Undead Turning, and Magical Research (for new spells).

1, Men & Magic, is the real meat to Dungeons & Dragons. I will be reviewing Men & Magic (and D&D in general) in this part.

My copies are from the sixth printing (exact year unknown, but most likely 1977). 3, The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures. When Dungeons & Dragons was first released, it was in a boxed set holding three booklets - vol.

System shock d&d 5e table