The Origin of the Fireball

D&D historian extraordinaire Jon Peterson has just posted a new article which deals with - amongst other things - the origins of D&D's fireball spell. It goes back to before D&D, and before Chainmail (the game from which D&D evolved in the 1970s) to a two-page ruleset which predated it, and which includes dragons, orcs, fireballs, and ents used to replay epic battles from Lord of the Rings. Of most interest is how wizards "can cast a fire ball" up to 24" as a burst effect. It even has a saving throw (a roll of 5-6 on a d6).

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The article is, as always, a fascinating read. Check it out here.

 

[Dorian_Grey]

I was under the impression, perhaps mistakenly, that fireballs were first used by a gentlemen named Fizban...

 

[Ancalagon]

What a great find. We all knew that fireball was a classic but it turns out to be perhaps the first spell in the game!

 

[Khisanth the Ancient]

That is really cool information. I would not have guessed it went back before Chainmail.