D&D General 50 years, 50 publications - the poll

[pemerton]

D1-2: Descent Into the Depths of the Earth (1e): The first modules to feature the drow

There are Drow in G3.

 

[JEB]

B series is on pdf.

In a bundle, in fact! B1-12 Basic Series [BUNDLE] - Wizards of the Coast | D&D Basic | Dungeon Masters Guild

 

[JEB]

There are Drow in G3.

True, but they aren't the featured foe like in D1-2.

 

[pemerton]

True, but they aren't the featured foe like in D1-2.

I think in D1 there is one Drow encounter are. Admittedly that is from memory - I haven't got up to check my copy. But it's not very long, and the other encounter areas I remember are the vampire and succubus, the mind flayers, and the troglodyte caverns (with a lich just chilling on a rock shelf).

And I can't remember if there are any Drow at all in D2. I ran that about 10 years ago, and of course it's overwhelmingly kuo-toa.

I would say it's really only D3 that has Drow as the featured foe.

 

[JEB]

I think in D1 there is one Drow encounter are. Admittedly that is from memory - I haven't got up to check my copy. But it's not very long, and the other encounter areas I remember are the vampire and succubus, the mind flayers, and the troglodyte caverns (with a lich just chilling on a rock shelf).

And I can't remember if there are any Drow at all in D2. I ran that about 10 years ago, and of course it's overwhelmingly kuo-toa.

I would say it's really only D3 that has Drow as the featured foe.

Interesting! From the core premise (pursuing the drow into the Underdark) I would have assumed drow throughout, not only in D1. Too bad D3 wasn't nominated by anyone for the poll...

 

[JEB]

Time to promote 2e!

Player's Handbook (2e): Bringing Advanced D&D into a new era.
Dungeon Master Guide (2e): An update for DMs, too!

Monstrous Compendium Volume One (2e) and Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (2e): Updating many of 1e's monsters, in a new customizable format!
Monstrous Manual (2e): Collecting together many of 2e's looseleaf monsters into one massive hardcover.

A Paladin in Hell (2e): The story behind the famous picture in the original PHB.
Arms and Equipment Guide (2e): More equipment, with more detail!
Battlesystem (2e): Updating the 1e version. Compatible with Dark Sun!
Campaign Sourcebook and Catacomb Guide (2e): A useful tool to help DMs build their own adventures and campaigns.
Chronomancer (2e): D&D's only dedicated exploration of time travel.

The Complete Book of Dwarves (2e): The ultimate book for dwarf fans. Who needs elves?
The Complete Book of Elves (2e): The ultimate book for elf fans. Who needs dwarves? Also gave us the bladesinger.
The Complete Book of Humanoids (2e): AD&D's first dedicated collection of non-core species.
The Complete Book of Necromancers (2e): One of the more interesting explorations of a specialty wizard.
The Complete Book of Villains (2e): For DMs who want to give their bad guys a little more!
The Complete Fighter's Handbook (2e): The first Complete book, and the first rules expansion for 2e, all for fighters!
The Complete Priest's Handbook (2e): Not just for PCs, but also for DMs wanting to find some religion(s).
The Complete Psionics Handbook (2e): Graduating psionics from a system tucked in the back of the 1e core rules, to an entire ruleset in its own right.
The Complete Thief's Handbook (2e) and The Complete Wizard's Handbook (2e): Don't forget the other two classic classes!

Council of Wyrms (2e): Ever want to play a dragon? Here's how.
Dungeon Master Option: High-Level Campaigns (2e): AD&D's first dedicated treatment of high-level gaming.
Encyclopedia Magica, Volumes 1-4 (2e): Two decades of D&D's magic items, all in one place!
Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar: The New Adventures of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser (2e): The final treatment of Lankhmar as an official D&D setting, packaged as its own game!
Legends & Lore (2e): 2e's take on real-world mythology. (Not to be confused with 1e's rebranded Deities & Demigods.)
Monster Mythology (2e): Everything you wanted to know about monsters' gods and beliefs.
Monstrous Arcana: The Illithiad (2e): A deep dive into the mind flayers, codifying much of their later lore.
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (2e): Updating and collecting many new and then-forgotten monsters! Plus Tony DiTerlizzi art.

Player's Option: Combat & Tactics (2e): New rules to enhance combat!
Player's Option: Skills & Powers (2e): New ways to customize your characters!
Player's Option: Spells & Magic (2e): New rules to enhance magic!

Halfway through. Be back after a break...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I remember during the 3E era, many people considered the 2E Monstrous Manual to be the best monster book TSR/WotC ever produced. People were really excited when the commemorative edition came out. It's interesting to see it doing fine, but not amazing, in the poll several decades later.

 

[pemerton]

I remember during the 3E era, many people considered the Monstrous Manual to be the best monster book TSR/WotC ever produced.

You mean the 2nd ed AD&D one?

 

[JEB]

2e part 2: the conclusion.

Priest's Spell Compendium, Volumes 1-3 (2e): Over 20 years of priestly D&D magic in one set!
Shaman (2e): The last refugee from the Role Aids line!
Tome of Magic (2e): New magic options, including the first appearance of the wild mage!
Vikings Campaign Sourcebook (2e): The first and best-regarded Historical Reference sourcebook.
Wizard's Spell Compendium, Volumes 1-4 (2e): Over 20 years of D&D's wizardly magic in one series!
World Builder's Guidebook (2e): Everything DMs need to create a detailed fantasy world.

Al-Qadim: Arabian Adventures (2e): Adventures in a setting inspired by Middle Eastern legends!
Al-Qadim: Secrets of the Lamp (2e): Everything you need to know about genies, plus elemental lore.

Birthright Campaign Setting (2e): A world where heroes and villains draw power from their realms.
Birthright: Blood Enemies - Abominations of Cerilia (2e): A collection of unique, monstrous NPCs.

Dark Sun Boxed Set (2e): The original, and (for many) definitive, take on Dark Sun.

Dragonlance: Tales of the Lance (2e): The consolidated version of Dragonlance for the 2e era.
Dragonlance: Time of the Dragon (2e): Introducing Krynn's other major continent, Taladas!

Forgotten Realms: Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog (2e): A classy catalog of equipment.
Forgotten Realms: Dwarves Deep (2e): Learn about the dwarves of the Realms!
Forgotten Realms: Faiths & Avatars (2e): The ultimate treatment of deities and religion in the Realms.
Forgotten Realms: Volo's Guide to Waterdeep (2e): The first guidebook to the Realms by Volothamp Geddarm!

Planescape Campaign Setting (2e): Turning the planes into a setting for all characters, not just high levels.
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (2e): The core monsters of the planes, Planescape style!
Planescape: Dead Gods (2e): Epic mega-adventure pitting the heroes against a then-forgotten evil...
Planescape: The Great Modron March (2e): A plane-spanning anthology centered around the titular event.
Planescape: On Hallowed Ground (2e): The deities of the multiverse, from the perspective of the planes.

Ravenloft: Realm of Terror (2e, 1990): The original version of the Ravenloft setting, primed for a "weekend in hell".
Ravenloft Campaign Setting (2e, 1994): Moving Ravenloft past the Grand Conjunction and into a new era.
Ravenloft: Domains of Dread (2e, 1997): The final TSR treatment of Ravenloft, now in hardcover!
Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendices I & II (2e): Two of the most memorable looseleaf Monstrous Compendiums in one volume!
Ravenloft: Carnival (2e): A creepy and well-crafted carnival.
Ravenloft: Night of the Walking Dead (2e): A well-regarded low-level introduction to the setting.
Ravenloft: Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts (2e): Ways to make ghosts fresh and interesting in your Ravenloft games!
Ravenloft: Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (2e): The start of the series, significantly adding to D&D's vampire lore.
Ravenloft: Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales (2e): Ravenloft themes, extended to a Victorian "Gothic Earth"!

Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (2e): 2e's first campaign setting, taking heroes into "arcane space"!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

You mean the 2nd ed AD&D one?

Yeah, that was the Monstrous Manual, not the Monster Manual.

Edited to make that clearer in my post.