Quick History of Classic D&D

[Havard]

Original D&D
YEAR | TITLE | NOTES 1974| D&D (Gygax, Arneson)| 1975 | Greyhawk| Thief Class 1975| Blackmoor| Monk and Assassin Classes 1976 | Eldritch Wizardry| Druid Class, Psionics 1976 | Gods, Demi-Gods and Heroes| 1976| Swords & Spells| 1977| D&D (Holmes) | works as an introduction to 1974 D&D, a transition to AD&D 1st Ed and its own thing. Only covers leves 1-3

Basic D&D
Basic D&D was a continuation of OD&D, but solidified things like race as class and returned to the pre-Holmes single axis alignment system.
YEAR | TITLE | NOTES 1981 | Basic D&D, Moldvay | 1981: | Expert D&D, Cook, Marsh | Introduces Mystara ([url=viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6638]then called the Continent[/url]) in the included X1 Isle of Dread. 1983: | Basic Set, Mentzer | Levels 1-3 "The Red Box", reportedly the single best selling TSR product of all time 1983 | Expert Set, Mentzer | Levels 4-14 1984 | Companion Set, Mentzer | Leves 15-25. Druid, Paladin, Knight and Avenger Classes as High Level Options 1985 | Master Set, Mentzer | Levels 26-36+. Mystic and Thug/Headsman as NPC Classes 1986 | Immortal Set, Mentzer | Beyond level 36 1991 | D&D Rules Cyclopedia | Collects Mentzer sets up to Master Set. Edited by Aaron Allston. Mystic and Druid available as standard classes 1991: | New, Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game (Boxed Set) | levels 1-5, aka the Black Box (15th Print). Large Board Game sized box 1992 | Wrath of the Immortals | Revised Immortal Rules (Allston) 1992: | D&D: Dragon Quest | quasi board game requiring a Dungeon Master closely based on Classic D&D Rules, carrying the Classic D&D logo. Set in Thunder Rift. Not to be confused with the [url=viewtopic.php?f=44&t=12355]SPI/TSR DragonQuest RPG[/url] 1993: | DragonStrike | quasi board game closely based on Classic D&D Rules, requiring a Dungeon Master 1994: | The Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game (Boxed Set) | levels 1-5 (17th Print). Almost identical to 15th Print, but smaller black box 1996: | The Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game (Boxed set) | levels 1-5 (18th Print) Almost identical to 17th Print, but yellowish cover instead of black

Anniversary / Collector's Editions
YEAR | TITLE | NOTES 1999: | Dungeons & Dragons Silver Anniversary Edition. | Identical to 5th Print (Holmes) 2014 | Original D&D Premium Boxed Set | Contained 1974 D&D and all the supplements with new cover art for each booklet, in wooden container. 2018 | [url=viewtopic.php?f=81&t=19183]Into the Borderlands[/url] | Collector's Edition containing reprints of B1 and B2 among other things.

D&D Fast-Play / Adventure Game
(Rules deviate from the rest of the Classic D&D family, but still does not carry the AD&D label and is not identical to AD&D or 3E.)
YEAR | TITLE | NOTES 1998 | The Dungeons and Dragons Fast-Play Game | 1999 | The Dungeons and Dragons Fast-Play Game Diablo Edition | Set in [url=viewtopic.php?f=44&t=17802]the world from Blizzard's Diablo Video[/url] Game Series 1999 | The Dungeons and Dragons Fast-Play Game Diablo The Blood Stone Tomb | Set in [url=viewtopic.php?f=44&t=17802]the world from Blizzard's Diablo[/url] Video Game Series 1999 | The Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game (boxed set) | levels 1-4. Connected to AD&D 2nd Edition 2000 | The Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game (boxed set) | levels 1-5. Connected to D&D 3rd Edition 2000 | Dungeons & Dragons The Movie Fast Play Game: Sewers of Sumdall | Vaguely based in 3E, Pre Gen characters only. Set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons The Movie.

-Havard

[shesheyan]

Excellent idea ! My first box was Moldvay.

I wonder if the 1992 Dragon Quest board game was based in some way on the DragonQuest rpg TSR bought from SPI. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonQuest

(small typo : Missing an L at Levels 1-3 in the 1977 line)

[Hugin]

Great over view, Havard.

Wasn't the 1983 Basic Set by Mentzer only levels 1-3 instead of 1-4?

[Morfie]

D&D RC mostly collected the BECM of the Mentzer rules. The I part was turned into Wrath of the Immortals which isn't on the list.

Good spotting with The Continent though, I'd forgotten about that name! The Continent to The Known World to Mystara.

[Havard]

Excellent idea ! My first box was Moldvay.

I wonder if the 1992 Dragon Quest board game was based in some way on the DragonQuest rpg TSR bought from SPI. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonQuest

From what I understand, the only thing the 1992 game had in common with the SPI/TSR RPG was the name. I believe we have a thread about that somewhere.

(small typo : Missing an L at Levels 1-3 in the 1977 line)

Thanks! Will fix that!

-Havard

[shesheyan]

Excellent idea ! My first box was Moldvay.

I wonder if the 1992 Dragon Quest board game was based in some way on the DragonQuest rpg TSR bought from SPI. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonQuest

From what I understand, the only thing the 1992 game had in common with the SPI/TSR RPG was the name. I believe we have a thread about that somewhere.

(small typo : Missing an L at Levels 1-3 in the 1977 line)

Thanks! Will fix that!

-Havard

Yes we do. It took me a while but I found it : viewtopic.php?f=44&t=12355

[Havard]

Great over view, Havard.

Wasn't the 1983 Basic Set by Mentzer only levels 1-3 instead of 1-4?

You're right, that was a typo. I have fixed it now!

Thanks!

-Havard

[Havard]

D&D RC mostly collected the BECM of the Mentzer rules. The I part was turned into Wrath of the Immortals which isn't on the list.

Good point. I have made a note of that now and included WotI as a separate entry.

Good spotting with The Continent though, I'd forgotten about that name! The Continent to The Known World to Mystara.

Indeed, I also get into the history of the setting a bit in my article on the history of the Mystara fan community.

-Havard

[RobJN]

Great over view, Havard.

Wasn't the 1983 Basic Set by Mentzer only levels 1-3 instead of 1-4?

You're right, that was a typo. I have fixed it now!

Thanks!

-Havard

You're supposed to be clearing up confusion, Havard!

[Havard]

Yes we do. It took me a while but I found it : viewtopic.php?f=44&t=12355

Nice! I added this link to the chart as well for future reference.

-Havard

[Angel Tarragon]

Fantastic thread, love this quick look into the history of the D&D and its early products!

[Tim Baker]

This is an awesome resource. Thanks for compiling it!

[Havard]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Since I included the Fast-Play Games on this list, I have added another one of those:

2000 | Dungeons & Dragons The Movie Fast Play Game: Sewers of Sumdall | Vaguely based in 3E, Pre Gen characters only.

-Havard

[Havard]

2018 | [url=viewtopic.php?f=81&t=19183]Into the Borderlands[/url] | Collector's Edition containing reprints of B1 and B2 among other things.

Added this to the list of Collector Editions.

-Havard

[gallowglacht]

Should Paladins, Knights and Avengers be added to the Druid note for the Companion set?

[barrataria]

Should Paladins, Knights and Avengers be added to the Druid note for the Companion set?

Good suggestion! Also Havard, if you're not just being overly-humble this should probably be a sticky!

[Havard]

Should Paladins, Knights and Avengers be added to the Druid note for the Companion set?

Good idea! Added now. Also included how the RC lets you use the Mystic and Druid as standard Classes.

Good suggestion! Also Havard, if you're not just being overly-humble this should probably be a sticky!

Good idea! I don't have access to my junior admin account right now, but will to that once I get home from work.

-Havard

[Dragon Turtle]

Should Paladins, Knights and Avengers be added to the Druid note for the Companion set?

Good suggestion! Also Havard, if you're not just being overly-humble this should probably be a sticky!

Stickied!

By the way, Welcome to The Piazza Barriata!

If you have the time later, feel free to introduce yourself in the Hello Thread!

-DT

Edit: Link fixed.

[BlackBat242]

Should Paladins, Knights and Avengers be added to the Druid note for the Companion set?

Good suggestion! Also Havard, if you're not just being overly-humble this should probably be a sticky!

Stickied!

By the way, Welcome to The Piazza Barriata!

If you have the time later, feel free to introduce yourself in the Hello Thread!

-DT

Hello Thread:
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=10588

[Dragon Turtle]

Hello Thread:
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=10588

Thanks BlackBat242!

-DT

[stanles]

Havard

I received the following comment directly on the Vaults Facebook page about this thread.

cheers
shawn

A correction for the article at http://pandius.com/cdndhist.html

The D&D Adventure Game and subsequent Fast Play materials are not in any way Classic D&D products. They use the AD&D or D&D 3e game systems, despite not bearing "advanced" in their name.

Src: https://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/setpages/basic.html

[Havard]

Havard

I received the following comment directly on the Vaults Facebook page about this thread.

cheers
shawn

A correction for the article at http://pandius.com/cdndhist.html

The D&D Adventure Game and subsequent Fast Play materials are not in any way Classic D&D products. They use the AD&D or D&D 3e game systems, despite not bearing "advanced" in their name.

Src: https://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/setpages/basic.html

Hi Shawn, thanks for adressing this.

In my OP I included the following: "(Rules deviate from the rest of the Classic D&D family, but still does not carry the AD&D label and is not identical to AD&D or 3E.)"

I don't agree that these are the AD&D or 3E systems either. The Fast Play Games are clearly their own thing. Perhaps they don't really belong in this thread, but on the other hand they aren't fully part of the other "edition families" either.
My "notes" section does indicate what other rulesets these Fast-Play sets are connected to.

-Havard

[Darva]

The Adventure Game and subsequent Fast Play adventure minigames use class and race seprately and AD&D classes like Paladin. They are slimmed down AD&D 2e products, not Classic D&D. The product entries on Acaeum confirm this. Not having Advanced in the name doesn't make them basic D&D products.

A correct, expanded and illustrated guide to the incarnations of Original and Classic D&D can be found at my blog, http://stockingthedungeon.blogspot.com under "Classic D&D Resources" in the sidebar.

[Cthulhudrew]

I tend to agree; I wouldn't consider the Fast Play adventures to be Classic D&D.

[Sturm]

Still useful to have them on this list IMHO. Also they could be easily converted to basic.