In previous posts we described the emergence of Chainmail and Blackmoor thanks to the labours of Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Today we're going to touch the history of the great and terrible OD&D - it was a significant "stepping stone" in the emergence of our favourite role-playing games and inspires computer game developers (and our project in particular) to this day. So how did the first D&D come about?
Gary, for D&D Publishing, partnered with Donald Kay: together they raised $2,400 in start-up costs to officially publish and sell Dungeons & Dragons rules. However, TSR's first release was Cavaliers and Roundheads, a game that began generating revenue for TSR. The third partner was Brian Blum - he joined in December 1973 to further fund the publication of D&D. The first D&D hit shop shelves in 1974. A year later, in 1975, Brian's father, Melvin Blum, joined the investment, giving the company a significant boost.
Gary, for D&D Publishing, partnered with Donald Kay: together they raised $2,400 in start-up costs to officially publish and sell Dungeons & Dragons rules. However, TSR's first release was Cavaliers and Roundheads, a game that began generating revenue for TSR. The third partner was Brian Blum - he joined in December 1973 to further fund the publication of D&D. The first D&D hit shop shelves in 1974. A year later, in 1975, Brian's father, Melvin Blum, joined the investment, giving the company a significant boost.
Unfortunately, in the same year tragedy struck - Donald Kay died suddenly of a heart attack in his 36th year of life. Gary was very sad about this, as he and Donald had been friends since childhood, playing board games together. Donald's role in the development of D&D is hard to overestimate, as he was the first rules tester and created the very first character, Murlynd. Gygax later paid homage to his friend by emphasising Murlynd as one of the unique characters of the Greyhawk world. In later editions of D&D, Murlynd was elevated to deity status, becoming the Eridian god of magical technology.
And so, here it is: "Woodgrain Box", less commonly "Brown Box", the very first Dungeons & Dragons rule set, released from 1974-1975. Now collectors are willing to give almost anything to acquire one (prices start at $22,000). All the illustrations for the first editions are by Greg Bell, a guy who draws for a couple of quid. It could have been a joke, but that's why the company chose him: not everyone liked his drawings, but it was cheap. Now collectors are willing to pay unbelievable sums for his drawings of the time, with bold lines and solid fills.
That's how the first D&D came to be. But what was inside? The first alpha issue (January 1974) was published in a cardboard box with Greg's drawing surrounded by very poorly readable type, rule books, characterisation tables and that was it! The titles read "Men & Magic", "Monsters & Treasure", "The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures" and Reference Sheets. In essence, instead of the usual "wargame with figures", you were offered several books - you're on your own. The company ordered exactly one thousand copies, but they made boxes, labels and booklets, apparently in different quantities, so towards the end of 1974 those who bought the set could get anything they wanted.
