I decided to upload a bunch of pictures of my collection of Role Playing games from the 1980's (and 1970's!) ... I posted all the pics at my Facebook page, but I'll only post a few here.
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| Basic D&D - "Holmes Bluebook" edition |
Above is my first RPG purchase - I think I bought it in 1978 when I was 15 years old - it's the original Basic Dungeons and Dragons boxed set, with the Dave Holmes edited "Bluebook" rulebook. Where it all started for me.
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| AD&D Players Handbook (otherwise known as 1e) |
Here's the next thing I bought, probably in late 1978 - the original hardcover edition of the Players Manual - eventually becoming known as 1st Edition (of now 1e). Than along came the Monster's Manual and Dungeon Masters guide.
This was what most folks my age are the most familiar with. We all bought these three hardcover books back int he late 1970's, and this is what it all progressed from. I never owned Chainmail, or any of the OD&D "wood grain" or "white box" original printings, just these. In 1981 I bought the new boxed version of Basic and Expert D&D.
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| B/X D&D Moldvay Edition |
These two booklets managed to simplify the Advanced System down for younger players. Most of the hardcore gamers were not really in favor of this system, yet it did draw a number of younger players in with better layouts, illustrations, and much easier-to-understand rules. I didn't use it much, but I did use it as a reference quite a bit, just because it was easier to wade through than the big hardcover books. Nowadays, the new OSR game called Labyrinth Lords has taken this system and re-created it almost verbatim, but combining the two booklets into one simple rules set, with more of a "for adult gamers" feel. I do like the look and feel of Labyrinth Lords, but it took me a while to really get it. I've been reading Swords & Wizardry, and actually used the S&W White Box edition to begin developing my own rules system and game setting.
I think my game system (of which I'm in the middle of developing THREE different games ...) is fast turning into a Setting, rather than a Rules System. There are so many of the great OSR systems out there right now, based on the above games that I think adding another one would just be silly. I think I'll concentrate on the Leprosia Setting and its unique "quirks and flavors".
Okay . more pics of my collection?
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| Stormbringer (Chaosium Games, 1982) |
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| TSR's Star Frontiers |
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| Bushido |
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| TSR's Knights of Camelot |
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| Star Trek, the RPG |
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| The Fantasy Trip (Steve Jackson Games) |
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| Dragon Magazine - March 1981 |
That'll do for now.
