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Designers & Dragons: Origins #1
Designers & Dragons: Origins: Volume 1: Original D&D and Advanced D&D 1E, 1971-1983
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September 15, 2026
Volume 1 of a four volume product history of D&D under TSR, not including AD&D 2nd Edition (more or less, it gets complicated). This volume includes Original D&D and AD&D 1E up to 1983.
This is an Appelcline book, with all that implies. Extremely entertaining histories, but completely lacking in citations. This is also a history of D&D, with the frustrations and missed opportunities that are inherent in the subject matter.
Each product is given a standardized review made up of an image of the product and two or more sections, where those sections apply. For example, if the product added to setting lore, then there will be a "Worlds of Adventure" section outlining that contribution, but if not then that section will be missing.
Sections include:
Artwork & Design: covering any notable art, trade dress, and layout decisions.
Origins & Other Stories: the core of every entry that describes how the product came to be. (this section is always present)
Expanding Dungeons & Dragons: any new rules of note the product introduces (this one gets a few variations in the earliest entries)
Sources & Tropes: a listing of tropes the product includes or borrows from
Worlds of Adventure: any setting lore of note introduced by the product
The Creature Compendium: any new monsters of note introduced by the product
The Rogues Gallery: any specific individual characters of note introduced by the product
The Multimedia Connection: any non-game products connected to this product in some way, mostly novels and miniatures.
Related Books: not exactly a bibliography, but a listing of other products that have a connection in some way, and a short description of what that connection is. (this section is always present)
This is not an essential history of D&D (the Peterson books provide those), but it is an entertaining one, and well worth the read if you like reading about the history of D&D. I'm looking forward to the later volumes in the set.
This is an Appelcline book, with all that implies. Extremely entertaining histories, but completely lacking in citations. This is also a history of D&D, with the frustrations and missed opportunities that are inherent in the subject matter.
Each product is given a standardized review made up of an image of the product and two or more sections, where those sections apply. For example, if the product added to setting lore, then there will be a "Worlds of Adventure" section outlining that contribution, but if not then that section will be missing.
Sections include:
Artwork & Design: covering any notable art, trade dress, and layout decisions.
Origins & Other Stories: the core of every entry that describes how the product came to be. (this section is always present)
Expanding Dungeons & Dragons: any new rules of note the product introduces (this one gets a few variations in the earliest entries)
Sources & Tropes: a listing of tropes the product includes or borrows from
Worlds of Adventure: any setting lore of note introduced by the product
The Creature Compendium: any new monsters of note introduced by the product
The Rogues Gallery: any specific individual characters of note introduced by the product
The Multimedia Connection: any non-game products connected to this product in some way, mostly novels and miniatures.
Related Books: not exactly a bibliography, but a listing of other products that have a connection in some way, and a short description of what that connection is. (this section is always present)
This is not an essential history of D&D (the Peterson books provide those), but it is an entertaining one, and well worth the read if you like reading about the history of D&D. I'm looking forward to the later volumes in the set.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review