tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post4251760007780981474..comments2024-03-18T02:49:18.084-05:00Comments on Jeffs Gameblog: Short answer: 1st edition DMGJeff Rientshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-80347821629653894952012-02-03T17:09:51.259-06:002012-02-03T17:09:51.259-06:00I'll throw another vote in for the 2nd cover o...I'll throw another vote in for the 2nd cover of the DMG. I started with the gfirst cover but I have no nostalgia for it. The second cover kicked all kinds of rump. Besides, it's what's INSIDE that's important.<br /><br />Also I'll sing the praises of the 1E DMG. I did most of my earlier gaming in 2E and am fond of that ruleset but the Gygax still inspires in the 1E DMG. Now I DM Basic and my ideal situation for a group would me the <i>Rules Cyclopedia</i> ruleset with a side of the <i>Creature Catalog</i> (either edition) and the 1E DMG for random things and inspiration. I could go a loooong way with that setup.<br /><br /><b>-SJ</b>Smokestack Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06253933872608999580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-50438929397869194622012-02-03T15:23:09.679-06:002012-02-03T15:23:09.679-06:00I'm lucky enough to own both covers!AND the or...I'm lucky enough to own both covers!AND the original Deities and Demigods! My Unearthed Arcana is falling apart though.Piercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17342275462566805167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-46307733233646873322012-02-03T09:38:07.509-06:002012-02-03T09:38:07.509-06:00Funny... I have sold or given out for free all my ...Funny... I have sold or given out for free all my TSR books, but I've kept the DMG, the PHB and the FF.賈尼https://www.blogger.com/profile/03207671300903490067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-5249537553939748292012-02-03T09:14:20.630-06:002012-02-03T09:14:20.630-06:00The 1st edition AD&D DMG is a must-read for fa...The 1st edition AD&D DMG is a must-read for fantasy gamers. I would argue, though, that it's not particularly well edited or well organized. You not only <i>can</i> read it over and over again and get something, you <i>need to</i> do so. But there are buried gems in there, and it'll really give you an idea of 1st edition gaming, and you can get a lot out of it. I still look through mine periodically, but mostly I'm surprised at how many tiny little rules are buried in there, down deep, and that I ever managed to play a semblance of the game when I was young.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-52927842023466748382012-02-03T04:08:41.300-06:002012-02-03T04:08:41.300-06:00Why don't they redesign and reprint both cover...Why don't they redesign and reprint both covers? I'm too young to have any nostalgia for the original art so I'd prefer the 2nd version (or the first redrawn). I really want to tell WotC that the reprint is a good idea (with my money), but I might buy a used copy with the second cover instead.LanceTothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08553658125030883165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-72601872566769780022012-02-03T02:33:22.055-06:002012-02-03T02:33:22.055-06:00No way... original cover DMG all the way! Efreet l...No way... original cover DMG all the way! Efreet lord grabbing a mostly naked amazon in his bare hand on the front with the City of Brass floating over a flaming sea of blood on the back? C'mon people... no contest! A Sutherland classic. (Plus, that old-school typeface!)Duglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04952607750940479779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-40927161735662600372012-02-03T00:51:09.731-06:002012-02-03T00:51:09.731-06:004 gems...
1. The preface; detailing the design fr...4 gems...<br /><br />1. The preface; detailing the design framework that the game was built around. If only later custodians of the game really bought into the principles outlined here.<br /><br />2. Generation of ability scores: AD&D was not intended to use 3d6 in order. You can always pick out people who assume the content of the DMG without having done more than skim it (if that) when/if they complain about AD&D's random tyranny of 3d6 in order. Gygax wanted people to have some choices after stat generation.<br /><br />3. Time in the Campaign/Dungeon: AD&D doesn't work right without a certain level of resource management. Campaign time keeping does add a certain element of depth to the campaign as characters age and seasons pass. <br /><br />4A. Encounter Distance: most encounters do not start within the 10' melee range. A lot of tactical opportunity and variation is lost when 90% of encounters are reduced to rolls for surprise followed by sword fighting.<br /><br />4B. Morale: just as the beginning of encounters is not often understood as written, so often neither is the end. Many DMs have monsters fight too long and reduce combat to a mindless statistical grind. If your PCs understand what will make a monster break, tactics will not break down into the "I roll, I hit, I roll, I miss" that one often sees complaints of on various forums.EOTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514955150414369244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-31291174161294823232012-02-02T22:59:08.691-06:002012-02-02T22:59:08.691-06:00I'm going to pile on: The new cover is better ...I'm going to pile on: The new cover is better artistically and better at expressing the character of the DM (well done, Jeff Easley! I hope all his fans have found him on Facebook.). The original cover is full of irreplaceable associations and memories no price can be put upon. I lost my original copy I got as a kid and had to replace it with a second cover version while in college. A year or so ago, I found an almost pristine copy of the original cover version at Half-Price Books. I bought it and gave my 2nd cover printing to my daughter SO fast, it made that creepy DM's head spin. However, if I was going to hang something on a wall, or pay for someone to design a cover for a DM book that I was writing, it would be Easley's.<br /><br />And yes, one of the, if not THE, most important books for a DM/GM to read, ever, in spite of its difficulties. Good call, as usual, Jeff R.Theodric the Obscurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201793290118146978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-9951674991346101102012-02-02T22:50:35.115-06:002012-02-02T22:50:35.115-06:00I just want to agree with Chris above (but not abo...I just want to agree with Chris above (but not about the DMG), and say the Monstrous Manual was an inspirational book, too. The sheer amount of monsters collected in one book, plus the great art by Tony DiTerlizzi made me want to run a game whenever I looked through it. In fact, when a friend of mine first acquired it and I flipped through, I was inspired to start an impromptu campaign right then and there... that campaign lasted for a while, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-72164393892199061822012-02-02T22:48:33.268-06:002012-02-02T22:48:33.268-06:00REED A GRAY YRGAX BOOK IS LIKE TO SMOAK A REEL GOO...REED A GRAY YRGAX BOOK IS LIKE TO SMOAK A REEL GOOD WEID!!1 <br />DON'T BLEEV TEHM HATRES TAHT SAY IT WILL MAIK YUOR BRANES INTO A POOPS!!1<br /><br />:p<br />-NUNYAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-24486963103709063242012-02-02T22:45:41.965-06:002012-02-02T22:45:41.965-06:00The second cover is about as perfect a cover for a...The second cover is about as perfect a cover for a DMG as you could hope for. It's mysterious, dark, and suggestive of secrets held by the DM alone. The first cover looks like a module/adventure or something.<br /><br />But yes, it is a treasure trove of a book. I particularly like the many lists and tables of "stuff" and the random dungeon generator, but immersing yourself in the Gygax text gives such a sense of what AD&D is, too. The 2nd edition DMG is nearly useless by comparison, and feels sterile/stripped-down. <br /><br />The original is the standard as far as how much useful information needs to be available for the DM in any "advanced" type DMG. Less than this and the author has skimped. Even if much of it goes unused, it is there should the player want it, and even reading through it will give a sense of the game beyond the potential for use in play.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-31809946086761783332012-02-02T20:14:53.133-06:002012-02-02T20:14:53.133-06:00I wholeheartedly agree with you. I owned the secon...I wholeheartedly agree with you. I owned the second cover and prefer it. I think I may have to pick up one of these off eBay...matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04998881232495777586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-30964403983606337242012-02-02T19:39:49.427-06:002012-02-02T19:39:49.427-06:00Definitely the 1e DMG has tons of great stuff for ...Definitely the 1e DMG has tons of great stuff for any type of gaming. It can be really hard to find the cool data, but whenever there's some esoteric question about how much a ballista costs, you go to it because it's probably in there somewhere. It's like they used to say about V. Gordon Childe in mid-20th century Old World archaeology, "It's in a footnote of 'The Dawn'", meaning his "Dawn of European Civilization". Total hodgepodge and hoard of data, and an expression of one person's genius, but not totally accessible.<br /><br />If you look at it like an anthology of blog posts on D&D instead of a linear narrative and use it like that then you can appreciate the awesomeness more readily.Spawn of Endrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10431848914619887998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-32723420674505306022012-02-02T18:26:40.377-06:002012-02-02T18:26:40.377-06:00The DMG felt really dry to me. If you're talki...The DMG felt really dry to me. If you're talking older edition books that make your heart sing, what about the 2nd Edition AD&D Monstrous Manual? I loved that thing to death, and read it until my copy disintegrated in my hands.Chris A. Fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861255455468441444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-51788768188337607972012-02-02T17:40:07.922-06:002012-02-02T17:40:07.922-06:00Ok sir, I just shelled out twenty bucks for one on...Ok sir, I just shelled out twenty bucks for one on eBay. This had better be worth it... :)Papa Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08295777344694074795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-7922726387555178602012-02-02T17:39:57.069-06:002012-02-02T17:39:57.069-06:00I came to Original D&D late, but the third vol...I came to Original D&D late, but the third volume "Wilderness and Underworld Adventures" is DM gold. It has nothing like the page count of the 1e DMG of course, but there is some great stuff in there. Using the tables (the castle inhabitants, wilderness and dungeon encounter charts especially) it has or modifying them for your game world is a really really efficient way to run a game.Lumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09490249051095856396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-59305017211614514772012-02-02T16:01:29.358-06:002012-02-02T16:01:29.358-06:00Trampier's art in that volume -- and in all ot...Trampier's art in that volume -- and in all others he contributed to -- is excellent; however, the Fiend Folio has Russ Nicholson.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-82590912081095327542012-02-02T15:58:50.794-06:002012-02-02T15:58:50.794-06:00I'll second gdbackus' recommendation.I'll second gdbackus' recommendation.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-8844915909726614882012-02-02T15:44:24.899-06:002012-02-02T15:44:24.899-06:00@Evan -- If I'm in the neighborhood, I'd b...@Evan -- If I'm in the neighborhood, I'd be happy to sit in. I'll just recruit a hireling to carry extra water, extra wine, extra boots, and maybe some extra air.<br /><br />@gdbackus -- Thanks for the advice! As an old hand at RPG books, that's what I'm doing. Can you point to, say, 4 gems that I shouldn't overlook?Uncle Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02372568503602699725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-6757715265203184892012-02-02T15:27:03.218-06:002012-02-02T15:27:03.218-06:00I actually liked the Monster Manual best out of th...I actually liked the Monster Manual best out of the monster books, but maybe that's just because it was the only source of monsters I had at first. And because of Trampier.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07090296806321882601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-17127734012976551682012-02-02T13:55:32.718-06:002012-02-02T13:55:32.718-06:00Don't forget the AD&D Dungeoneer's Sur...Don't forget the AD&D Dungeoneer's Survival Guide. It introduced isometric mapping, and non-weapon proficiencies (outside or oriental adventures). It's Dungeon Master's advice on Plot and Counter Plot and world design still directly effect how I craft and string together adventures.Tyson of the Northwestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-51954332182760710902012-02-02T13:38:02.758-06:002012-02-02T13:38:02.758-06:00Read the whole thing and decide which parts are re...Read the whole thing and decide which parts are relevant to you. While you are reading you may come to section heading that you think might not be so important to you - skip it - but I'd suggest coming back later and reading it, because there's often gems tucked away in obscure corners...gdbackushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09245941451462450346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-62996697892316114412012-02-02T13:28:14.634-06:002012-02-02T13:28:14.634-06:00Preach it, brother!Preach it, brother!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12508594597349248576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-87573245184579511942012-02-02T13:21:46.821-06:002012-02-02T13:21:46.821-06:00Gygax's warning not to peek scared me away fro...Gygax's warning not to peek scared me away from it! Are there actual spoilers in there or am I just being silly? Maybe it'll be ok if I just steer clear of the crazy mofo artifact section? <br /> <br />I'm DMing right now, but I haven't given up on being a PC!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-22737941841463112982012-02-02T13:12:13.905-06:002012-02-02T13:12:13.905-06:00Jeff, you are so right about the *Fiend Folio*. Wh...Jeff, you are so right about the *Fiend Folio*. What a great monster...uhm... "manual." I spent MANY Saturday afternoons pouring over it's pages. That tome and *Deities & Demigods* too. What a cool book, filled with great illos.<br /><br />My gaming group sorta split up the costs on the various 1e books, basically by each player buying a book or two in the set. Of course some folks wanted the main 3, all for themselves, but I (at least early on) just took advantage of the sharing. My first contribution to the collective book set was the *Monster Manual II*. I LOVED that book too, especially the demons and devils sections. Oooooooo.....yoyorobbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08375340160423546919noreply@blogger.com