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Greyhawk (supplement)
Encyclopedia
Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax
and Robert J. Kuntz
for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
. Its product designation is TSR 2003.
(paladin
, illusionist, and ranger
), spells, monsters, and treasures.
The sixty eight page supplement focuses on game rules that were used in Gygax's Greyhawk
campaign. The supplement removes the game's dependency on the Chainmail
rules by providing its own set of combat rules. This made it much easier for new, non-wargaming players to grasp the concepts of play.
The Greyhawk supplement was not intended as a reference for the eponymous setting; however, it introduced the thief
and paladin classes, and new rules on weapon damage varying by weapon. The supplement added new treasure and magic items, and new spells, including 7th, 8th, and 9th level spells. The supplement also included a section on monsters, introducing the lizard men
, beholder
s, displacer beast
s, blink dog
s, carrion crawler
s, and many others.
in 1975 as an expansion to the original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set
rules, with the Blackmoor supplement
following later the same year. Many of the new rules presented in the supplement eventually became standard parts of the AD&D game.
Illustrations for the supplement were provided by Greg Bell.
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
and Robert J. Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz is a game designer and author of role-playing game publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various Dungeons & Dragons-related materials.-Works:...
for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. Its product designation is TSR 2003.
Contents
The Greyhawk supplement introduces new combat rules, character classesCharacter class (Dungeons & Dragons)
A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by his or her chosen class; choosing a class is one of the first steps a player takes in order to...
(paladin
Paladin (Dungeons & Dragons)
The paladin is one of the standard playable character classes in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The paladin is a holy knight, crusading in the name of good and order, and is a divine spellcaster...
, illusionist, and ranger
Ranger (Dungeons & Dragons)
The ranger is one of the standard playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are protectors of nature, skilled woodsmen, and often live reclusive lives as hermits....
), spells, monsters, and treasures.
The sixty eight page supplement focuses on game rules that were used in Gygax's Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
campaign. The supplement removes the game's dependency on the Chainmail
Chainmail (game)
Chainmail is a medieval miniatures wargame created by Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren. Gygax developed the game with fellow Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association member Perren, a hobby-shop owner with whom he had become friendly, and the game was first published in 1971...
rules by providing its own set of combat rules. This made it much easier for new, non-wargaming players to grasp the concepts of play.
The Greyhawk supplement was not intended as a reference for the eponymous setting; however, it introduced the thief
Rogue (Dungeons & Dragons)
The rogue or thief is one of the standard playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A rogue is a versatile character, capable of sneaky combat and nimble tricks...
and paladin classes, and new rules on weapon damage varying by weapon. The supplement added new treasure and magic items, and new spells, including 7th, 8th, and 9th level spells. The supplement also included a section on monsters, introducing the lizard men
Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
, beholder
Beholder
The beholder is a fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It resembles a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and lots of smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers....
s, displacer beast
Displacer beast
A displacer beast is a fictional creature from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Publication history:The displacer beast was inspired by the coeurl, a feline-like creature from the 1939 science fiction story "Black Destroyer" by A. E...
s, blink dog
Blink dog
The blink dog is a fictional magical beast from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an intelligent dog that has a limited teleportation ability known as Blinking. The blink dog was created for D&D, and appeared in every edition from the first supplement to version 4.0...
s, carrion crawler
Carrion crawler
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the carrion crawler a type of fictional monster for player characters to encounter. A carrion crawler is described as a large yellow and green wormlike aberration. The carrion crawler was introduced in the game's first supplement, Greyhawk, in 1975...
s, and many others.
Publication history
The Greyhawk digest (designated Supplement I) was published by TSR, Inc.TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
in 1975 as an expansion to the original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set
Dungeons & Dragons (1974)
The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
rules, with the Blackmoor supplement
Blackmoor (supplement)
Blackmoor is a supplementary rulebook for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game written by Dave Arneson...
following later the same year. Many of the new rules presented in the supplement eventually became standard parts of the AD&D game.
Illustrations for the supplement were provided by Greg Bell.
Reception
Lawrence Schick, in his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, calls this book "The first and most important supplement to Original D&D".External links
- http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10468.phtml