AD&D 1e modules existed in three different forms. Starting in 1978, they were published with monochrome covers. Then in 1980, TSR’s fortunes were rising, and the covers became full cover. Both of these versions included the diagonal AD&D branding at top left. In 1983, the AD&D 1e branding was then updated with an orange level bar at the top (and much bolder branding). Adventure covers from all three eras have been homaged, but as with other homages, it’s the earliest era (approximately 19...| Designers & Dragons
The Basic D&D line, with its rulebooks by Holmes (1977), Moldvay (1981), and Mentzer (1983), was many players’ entry to the game, particularly in the early ’80s when D&D was growing exponentially thanks to the James Dallas Egbert III affair. Unsurprisingly, several of those adventures have covers that have been homaged.| Designers & Dragons
In 1983, TSR began their descent into self-censorship that reached its height in 1989, when demons and devils were expelled from AD&D 2e (1989). But the first act in this drama seemed fairly innocuous: TSR asked Jeff Easley, who had followed Larry Elmore to TSR around early 1982, to redo the covers of their existing AD&D 1e rulebooks.| Designers & Dragons
The first article in this series spotlighted homages to the AD&D 1e core rulebook covers. This one moves over to the parallel Basic D&D line of the ’80s and looks at the three major covers for that edition, from 1977, 1981, and 1983. Of them, Erol Otus’ 1981 design is probably the most homaged, but Larry Elmore’s 1983 cover is likely the most famous.| Designers & Dragons
I’ve lately been immersed in covers, as I prepare the graphical resources for Designers & Dragons Origins, my four-book series of product histories for OD&D, BD&D, and AD&D 1e. Many of those covers are classics that have been homaged and parodied many times. Following is a look at the homages to the three core AD&D […]| Designers & Dragons
Five years and one month ago, I sat down at my computer with a simple goal: expand Designers & Dragons with new histories. On the one hand, I wanted to write some of the “lost histories” that I’d played around with following the publication of Designers & Dragons 2e, but never had the time to […]| Designers & Dragons
This look at the million-dollar Dungeons & Dragons 5e Kickstarters was written as part of the history of “Hit Point Press”, which will appear in Designers & Dragons: The ’10s. Prior to the COVID pandemic, there were just two pure RPG Kickstarters that broke a million dollars: 7th Sea in 2016 and Humblewood in 2019. […]| Designers & Dragons
It’s been more than two years since Wizards of the Coast attempted to revoke the OGL using contractual reinterpretations that were of questionable legality and even more questionable morality. Their attempt failed, hard, because fandom offered a unfied front and hit Wizards where it hurt, in the pocketbook, by boycotting D&D Beyond.| Designers & Dragons
