D&D General When did the DM screen appear?

[Mezuka]

Was it with AD&D? I don't recall having one included in the D&D Basic Set (Moldvay). Was it mentioned in the rules to create one?

 

[Mannahnin]

I think Judges' Guild had the first Judge's Shield in 1977, prior to the first AD&D one.

 

[overgeeked]

Was it Arneson or Gygax that hid behind a full-body screen when DMing games?

 

[GreyLord]

I never actually used or had a DM screen until the mid 80s, so...I don't really know.

 

[Jer]

AD&D 1e definitely had a screen - had Trampier artwork on it. I don't know if there was one produced by TSR prior to that - Wikipedia doesn't list any for any edition prior to 1e.

And as @Mannahnin says Judge's Guild had one a few years earlier. IIRC it didn't have artwork on it - it had GM tables on one side and player tables on the other (I think that was the Judge's Guild screen at least - I know someone made one like that).

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

AD&D 1e definitely had a screen - had Trampier artwork on it. I don't know if there was one produced by TSR prior to that - Wikipedia doesn't list any for any edition prior to 1e.

And as @Mannahnin says Judge's Guild had one a few years earlier. IIRC it didn't have artwork on it - it had GM tables on one side and player tables on the other (I think that was the Judge's Guild screen at least - I know someone made one like that).

IIRC, the Judge's Shield in 1977 was the very first DM Screen.

1979 saw the release of the original TSR "Dungeon Master's Screen" (Tampier artwork) for 1e, and the Referee Screen for Traveller.

 

[ninjayeti]

Wikipedia says the Judge's Shield came out in 1977 which would have predated the AD&D DM's Screen by two years. A review of the Judge's guild product excerpted on the Wikipedia page states "Unless you have made up your own, an essential for any serious DM." Which would imply people were making their own screens prior to 1977.

 

[GetInTheHole]

DM Screen

I have the AD&D DM Screen (also includes a Player's screen). I believe it is the 9th printing version from 1985'ish.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Was is Arneson or Gygax that hid behind a full-body screen when DMing games?

I think I recall @Rob Kuntz saying that Gary hid behind a closet door in his office while DM'ing.

 

[Mezuka]

Before AD&D, I think maybe I used the module sleeve as screen since it contained the blue floor plan on one side and illustrations for players to look at on the other side.