![]() ![]() Surprisingly, TSR's Monster Manual wasn't the first book of critters for the D&D game. Upon its release, it was used exclusively for OD&D and BD&D games - though after AD&D was completed, it would become a core book for that system through the '80s.Ī History of Monster Manuals. Though Monster Manual was theoretically an AD&D book, it was actually a transitional release: it collected together OD&D monster and was published before the actual rules for AD&D were completed. Though he called Basic D&D the "first step", he said that AD&D itself would begin with a new book: the Monster Manual (1977). He was also determined not to make the same mistake twice, so it was two years after he started thinking about AD&D before Gygax was ready to reveal it to the larger public. Gygax felt like he'd been rushed to produce the first edition of D&D by fans who had loved the manuscript version of the game, and now he was going to fix that. There, Gygax revealed that the goal of the AD&D project was "to clean up the errors and fill in the holes" of OD&D. AD&D itself was then introduced in The Dragon #11 (December 1977), which was the first issue of the largely independent magazine to feature notable material from TSR itself. It was intended as an introduction to either OD&D, or a new game … called Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. The first revamped release was Basic Dungeons & Dragons (1977), authored by J. However TSR was also planning to reorganize and rerelease the D&D game. That began when they replaced The Strategic Review (1975-1976) with The Dragon (1976-2007). In late 1975, a year and a half after the publication of OD&D (1974), TSR started thinking about revamping their lines to make them more accessible and more professional. Though it's unsigned, that infamous lynx drawing is probably by Wham. Sutherland III, Dave Trampier, Tom Wham, and Jean Wells. The interior illustrations of the Monster Manual are by David C. The cover of the Adventurer's Vault 2 (2009) later paid homage to it. One non-monster picture is also of note: a full-page illustration by Dave Trampier, printed next to the list of treasure types, shows three greedy adventures reaching into a glowing chest. Of course, some folks may remember other pictures like the marilith, which revealed the nudity that was considered acceptable in the earliest D&D books - something that disappeared just as quickly as the humorous drawings. ![]() ("Whaddya mean we gotta talk to this lynx? The last monster we talked to ate half of the party!") It reveals the comedic undertones that were present in early D&D products, but disappeared quickly thereafter. However, the lynx picture seems to be the best remembered, perhaps because it was a mini-cartoon. Many of these pictures are classics, from the iconic dragon and giant illustrations to the definitive owlbear. Out of over 350 monsters, about 200 have illustrations, which marked another major milestone in the roleplaying industry. The production of the Monster Manual was also notable for its illustrations - mainly the fact that there are a lot of them. Fans who still have their original books from the '70s and '80s can attest to the success of this goal.Ībout the Other Illustrations. Gygax carefully sought out "stitched binding and school-book cover material" so that the book would be as "nearly indestructible" as possible. It wasn't just AD&D's first hardcover, but the first hardcover in the roleplaying industry - and a nicely produced one at that. Monster Manual was a big change from the digest-sized pamphlets and saddle-stitched softcovers that had previously composed the D&D line. This was the edition that updated the Monster Manual to the new AD&D trade dress, which featured orange spines and Easley covers.Ībout the Hardcover. Sutherland's cover was swapped out for a new piece by Jeff Easley with the seventh printing (1983). Like all of the original AD&D books, the artwork continues onto the back cover, which displays another half-dozen critters. Sutherland III segregates monsters into those who live above ground and those who live below - nicely showing off the divide between dungeon and wilderness adventure that was central to to the OD&D (1974) game. It was published in December 1977.Ībout the Cover. ![]() Monster Manual (1977), by Gary Gygax, was the first release for the AD&D game. Note about the Print edition: While this book is black & white, it was printed using the Standard Heavyweight "color" option for better quality paper. An encyclopedic collection of information certain to be of invaluable use to players and Dungeon Masters alike, the Monster Manual comes complete with game specifications, background details and, in many cases, an illustration in addition! Now you can download the 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. Welcome to the GM's Day sale! From now through March 14th, this title has been marked down by up to 30%! For more values, visit our GM's Day sale page.
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