Strategic Review/Dragon Reviews - Revisited

[Glyfair]

Due to the big board crash, my threads with reviews on the earliest issues of these magazines got lost. As they were pretty good references, I'm going to try to quickly review the D&D and RPG specific elements of these magazines here, before returning to the existing thread.
[D]hq[/D]

The Strategic Review No.1
Spring 1975​

Contents (Bold items are pure D&D content)

What's going on here?
Publisher's Statement
Introducing the Strategist's Club
TSR News
Creature Feature: The Mind Flayer
Castle & Crusade (Gary Gygax)
Wargaming World
The Armory
Solo Dungeon Adventures
Mapping it Out

Here we are at the first issue of the TSR newsletter that would eventually evolve into The Dragon. Our first issue is 6 pages for $.50 (in today's dollars that would be almost $2). Much of this issue is laying out what is to come, and what their intent is.

2 1/2 pages of this issue go to the random dungeon tables in the "Solo Dungeon Adventures" article. These would later be redone for the AD&D PHB. That's years away, though.

We also see the first D&D monster added to the game from a magazine, the "mind flayer." Most of the description contains the rules for its "mind blast" attack. This odd creature has 4 tentacles by its mouth which it uses to grab its prey, withdraw their brain, and devour it. It is also pretty cowardly, running as soon as it is at a disadvantage.

TSR has a half page catalog towards the back. The D&D rules are $10 (almost $40 in today's dollars). Chainmail is $5. For $1.75 ($6.50) you can get a set of polyhedral dice. They also have a set of "scruby miniatures" (without a list) with a minimum order of $10. You can also get one of three sets of reproductions of D&D illustrations for $2.50.

There are a few wargames here. Of particular interest is Warriors of Mars, a John Carter Warlord of Mars wargame. As Edgar Rice Burroughs' estate didn't authorize it, it was quickly pulled. A copy sold on eBay for well over $500 (the price when I last looked at it) in the past year.

 

[Griffith Dragonlake]

Our first issue is 6 pages for $.50 (in today's dollars that would be almost $2).

Glad to see the repost.

How did you arrive at an inflation adjustment of 4 X ?

 

[Glyfair]

Glad to see the repost.

How did you arrive at an inflation adjustment of 4 X ?

http://www.aier.org/research/col.php

According to someone in the original thread, price changes were even worse than those numbers show. Apparently a few years later there was a huge paper shortage that we still have today. Paper prices shot through the roof, and have never dropped back to those levels.

 

[Glyfair]

The Strategic Review No. 2
Summer 1975​

Contents

In Memorium
TSR -- Why We Do What We Do (Brian J. Blume)
The Strategists Club
Cavaliers and Roundheads Rules Additions
Wargaming World
Questions Most Frequently Asked About Dungeons & Dragons Rules
Creature Features - The Roper
Rangers I (Joe Fischer)
Medieval Pole Arms (Gary Gygax)
TSR News
Panzer Warfare: Additional Unit Organizations
[D]hq[/D]

The issue has increased in size to 8 pages, without a change in price. The first thing we see in the issue is a small blurb announcing the death of Donald R. Kaye. This one event would have far reaching effects on TSR and roleplaying overall, eventually leading to Gary Gygax's exit from TSR,

The "why we do what we do article" has the typical "this is a gaming company run by gamers" comment (ironically coming from Brian Blume). However, even this early they are stating they want to emphasis the "game" over any sort of simulation.

The "FAQ" article is slightly over a page in length. Much of this focuses on the difference between Chainmail and D&D, but they also touch on experience (suggesting the balrog being worth not less than 12 factors and the largest red dragon not less than 16-17).

We have the first appearance of the classic roper. We also have the first appearance of the ranger, in an article not written by the usual suspects. Much is always made about what rangers are supposed to be about. This article gives you absolutely nothing in this area, as they are described in purely game terms (subclass of fighting man, like paladins in that they must be Lawful).

We have typical Gary "what sort of pole arm is that" article that would be a common sort of thing through the incarnations of D&D. They even printed a 3.X article touching on that.

TSR News notes that Greyhawk is due to be released soon, as well as Boot Hill (the first non-fantasy RPG?) Greyhawk is listed for sale at $5 in this issue (about $20 in today's dollars), but there is a $.25 off coupon in the issue (also good for D&D and a few other wargames). Boot Hill lists for $4 (about $15 today).

We also have an ad for Origins I. This was to be held at John Hopkins University towards the end of July 1975.

Not too bad for an 8 page newsletter with quite a bit of wargaming content.

 

[Ant]

Great stuff, Glyfair! Keep 'em coming.

 

[Glyfair]

The Strategic Review No. 3
Autumn 1975​

Contents

What's Going on Here (Editorial - Gary Gygax)
TSR News
Creature Features
The Strategists Club
Monster Reference Table Addition, Hostile & Benign Creatures (Wesley D. Ives)
The Battle of the Ebro River in 5mm Napoleonics (Bob & Paul Zahrey)
Wargaming World
Gallery of Gunfighters: Part 1 - The Art of Gunfighting
From the Rivenstar Songbook - The Unicorn Song (Michael Longcor)
Mapping the Dungeons
Deserted Cities of Mars (Jim Ward)
[D]HQ[/D]

This issue we are still at 8 pages. The issue begins with an editorial from Gary defending D&D from an infavorable review. His main issue seems to be that the reviewer (Arnold Hendrick) played the game wrong (his cleric had a spear & arrows) and that he was releasing his own minatures rules, and this wouldn't be unbiased. He then puts out a call for readers to review Mr. Hendricks products and offers to publish them. Gary would often call out those he felt was slighting D&D (often focusing on other game companies & APAs).

TSR News mentions the Empire of the Petal Throne game was nearing completion, but it wasn't yet in the catalog. It also mentions that TSR is forming a hobby division - TSR Hobbies. They also hired Gary Gygax full time (for orders, billing and accounting).

The "Creature Features" column this issue has no less than 9 monsters. We start off with the Yeti, not a real standout. However, we also get the Shambling Mound, the Leprechaun, the Shrieker, the Ghost, the Naga, the Wind Walker, the Piercing and the Lurker Above. Lots of D&D archetypes, even if some have been abandoned (the Piercer, for example).

It's followed by one of the first D&D humor articles, "Monster Reference Table Addition, Hostile & Benign Creatures." This is a table listing of monster stats, but the monsters are such things as the Umpyr, Hippygriffs and Weregamers. IMO, not very funny, but it's always nice to see a sense of humor from a game company.

"Gallery of Gunfighters" is an article series to tie into TSR's second RPG Boot Hill. This article is all flavor about guns in the Wild West.

"Mapping the Dungeons" was a public service series of articles. They listed DMs with ongoing campaigns. The assumption was that any game listed was always looking for players, or willing to communicate. One gamer offered a service for solo D&D players. For .25 he would send a sealed envelope with tricks & traps. In Cincinnati it is noted that there are "computerized" D&D games going on. Rob Kuntz and Dave Arneson also get mentioned in the article.

In the catalog, TSR has a couple of LotR wargames listed; the Siege of Minas Tirith ($5.50) and the Battle of Helm's Deep ($3.00). I do expect that these might have gone the way of the John Carter game, since it is virtually assured TSR didn't get the rights from the Tolkein estate. Maybe TSR's experiences here is where Gary started to become sensitive to TSRs IP Rights (then again, maybe he already had them for his properties).

 

[Glyfair]

The Strategic Review No. 4
Winter 1975
12 pages​

Contents

TSR News & Editorial (Gary Gygax)
Mapping the Dungeons
Castle & Crusade: A Few More Words on Medieval Pole Arms (Gary Gygax)
Chainmail Weapon Additions
Panzer Warfare: Additional unit organizations (Brian Blume)
The Strategists Club
The Armory: Tractics Weapon/Vehicle Gun Changes (Mike Reese)
Wargaming World
Illusionists! (Peter Aronson)
Tsolyani Names Without Tears (M.A.R. Barker)
Creature Features (Clay Golem)
Mighty Magic Miscelleny: Ioun Stones
Gallery of Gunfighters: John "Doc" Holliday (aka Tom McKey)
[D]hq[/D]

TSR is growing. We get a language article from M.A.R. Barker for the Empire of the Petal Throne launch. Would you ever see that today? The ad states that it is priced at $25. That's a prestige item, since in today's dollars that would be about $95!

We also get the first ad in a TSR 'zine for a non-TSR RPG. Games Designers' Workshop advertises its En Garde! RPG, set in the 17th century. At $4, it's at the other end of the scale from EPT, only about $15 in today's dollars.

Since we are starting this issue with ads, I'll mention the catalog lists Blackmoor for the first time. At $5 (~$19 today) it is on par with Greyhawk and Boot Hill. We also get an ad for Dungeon! at $12.50 (~$48 today), a D&Dish board game.

The TSR News article announces the addition to the TSR staff of Tim Kask (periodicals editor), Terry Kuntz (service manager) & Dave Arneson (design staff). Gary also points out they recieved no reviews of Arnold Hendrick’s work so they can't publish anything about his games, which he says gives us a break because "I am not known for my sweet disposition and disinterested viewpoint."

For Chainmail we have additions of the jo stick, bo stick and quarterstaff based on comments by Steve Marsh. The origins of the jo/bo stick have been questioned, and this is where they first appear in TSR publications. This is published with Gary waxing on one of his favorite topics, pole arms.

We get the second class for D&D to first appear outside of the D&D books with the Illusionist. In this article they only get spells up to 5th level. The monster in this issue is the Clay Golem. We also get a magic item article which showcases the Ioun Stones. In fact, they specifically point out that they were drawn from "Morreion" by Jack Vance.

Gallery of Gunfighters gives us the background and Boot Hill stats for "Doc" Holliday. This is sort of an extended version of the later series "Giants in the Earth."

As can be seen this issue, roleplaying games are starting to catch on. We have 3 different TSR RPGs that get articles and we even see TSR accepting ads for other companies' RPGs. We also see classic elements of the D&D game appearing for the first time with the Illusionist this issue.

We also get a "mysterious" ad with a couple of ads saying nothing more than "The Dragon is Coming! The Dragon is Coming!"

 

[Minicol]

good stuff

keep going

it takes some of the pain away from the () DI and the demise of my two favourites mags.

 

[Glyfair]

The Strategic Review Issue No. 5
December 1975
16 pages​

Contents

In the Cauldron (Tim Kask)
Sturmgeshutz and Sorcery (Gary Gygax)
Mapping the Dungeons
Mighty Magic Miscellany
Wargaming World
The Battle of the Nile Refought (Dave Arneson)
Gallery of Gunfighters Part III - Ben Thompson
GenCon IX Preview
What is the National Wargame Convention
Creature Features
[D]hq[/D]
We are now bimonthly, and we now have a cover! Admittedly, it's a very amateur B&W cover, but it's a start. In fact, in the editorial column, renamed "In the Cauldron" this issue, Tim asks for artwork suitable to print.

The article also mentions the Lahnkmar game and something about Terry working on Robin Hood rules (where these ever published?) In fact, TSRs catalog in the back is quite large, and even includes a couple of sports games now.

"Sturmgeshutz and Sorcery" is the first cross-genre and cross-game article. Gary describes a wargaming session where one group was prepared for a World War II game and another for a D&D game, where they meet. The game essentially uses Tractics and D&D rules together, along with a number of rules printed here. Much of the article describes the battle.

The "Mighty Magic Miscellany" article has two classics; the Robe of Scintillating Color and Prayer Beads. I found the description of the "Bead of Damnation" interesting. "Serves as a hot line to your patron’s chief nemesis, which usually gets you in trouble."

Gallery of Gunfighters covers Ben Thompson with the typical history lesson, followed by his Boot Hill stats.

Our "Creature Features" for this issue cover the Slithering Tracker (never officially done for 3.X to my knowledge), the Rakshasa (with the death from blessed crossbow bolts intact) and the trapper.

Oh yes, this issues "viral ads" state that "The Dragon Approaches" and "Beware the Dragon." I wonder if the subscribers knew what this meant in those days.

The editorial has a brief biography of Gary Gygax, Brian Blume, Rob Kuntz, Theron Kuntz and Timothy Kask. Lots of D&D content by pages, but much of it is in one long wargaming article. Still, we have a cover and the march to becoming The Dragon is underway.

 

[Jaws]

These are brilliant.


j.