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Vampire Spawn
In the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, a vampire is an undead creature. A humanoid or monstrous humanoid creature can become a vampire, and looks as it did in life, with pale skin, haunting red eyes, and a feral cast to its features. A new vampire is created when another vampire drains the life out of a living creature. Its depiction is related to those in the 1930s and 1940s Hollywood ''Dracula'' and monster movies. In writing vampires into the game, as with other creatures arising in folklore, the authors had to consider what elements arising in more recent popular culture should be incorporated into their description and characteristics. Publication history The vampire was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game. The vampire as a player character concept was present in Dave Arneson's playtest group for the original version of the rules. It led to the creation of a vampire-hunter, which became the basis of the cleric cla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vampire (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, a vampire is an undead creature. A humanoid or monstrous humanoid creature can become a vampire, and looks as it did in life, with pale skin, haunting red eyes, and a feral cast to its features. A new vampire is created when another vampire drains the life out of a living creature. Its depiction is related to those in the 1930s and 1940s Hollywood ''Dracula'' and monster movies. In writing vampires into the game, as with other creatures arising in folklore, the authors had to consider what elements arising in more recent popular culture should be incorporated into their description and characteristics. Publication history The vampire was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game. The vampire as a player character concept was present in Dave Arneson's playtest group for the original version of the rules. It led to the creation of a vampire-hunter, which became the basis of the cleric clas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TSR, Inc
TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. Gygax had been unable to find a publisher for ''D&D'', a new type of game he and Dave Arneson were co-developing, so founded the new company with Kaye to self-publish their products. Needing financing to bring their new game to market, Gygax and Kaye brought in Brian Blume in December as an equal partner. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' is generally considered the first tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), and established the genre. When Kaye died suddenly in 1975, the Tactical Studies Rules partnership restructured into TSR Hobbies, Inc. and accepted investment from Blume's father Melvin. With the popular ''D&D'' as its main product, TSR Hobbies became a major force in the games industry by the late 1970s. Melvin Blume eventually transferred his shares to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia
The ''Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia'' is a 1991 book published by TSR, Inc., as a continuation of the basic edition of the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, which ran concurrently with ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''. Its product designation was TSR 1071. Contents The ''Rules Cyclopedia'' contained all the major rules, compiled and revised from the '' Dungeons & Dragons Basic Rules'', as well as the '' Expert Rules'', '' Companion Rules'', and '' Master Rules'' boxed sets. However, the book's introduction on page 5 states that it is "intended to be a reference volume for those who already play the ''D&D'' game ... this book is aimed at the experienced user ... tlacks many of the examples and patient explanation you'll find in the ''D&D'' box sets". The same year, a revised introductory ''Dungeons & Dragons'' set was released to introduce new players to the game. This was the second revision to the ''D&D'' rules. These guidelines allow a player to deve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991 Boxed Set)
The ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' is a set of rulebooks for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. First published in 1977, it saw a handful of revisions and reprintings. The first edition was written by J. Eric Holmes based on Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson's original work. Later editions were edited by Tom Moldvay, Frank Mentzer, Troy Denning, and Doug Stewart. The ''Basic Set'' details the essential concepts of the ''D&D'' game. It gives rules for character creation and advancement for player characters at beginning levels. It also includes information on how to play adventures inside dungeons for both players and the Dungeon Master. 1977 version The original ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' was published by TSR, Inc. in 1977. TSR hired outside writer John Eric Holmes to produce the ''Basic Set'' as an introductory version of the ''D&D'' game. It incorporates concepts from the original 1974 ''D&D'' boxed set plus the '' Supplement I: Greyhawk''. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Expert Rules
An expert is somebody who has a broad and deep understanding and competence in terms of knowledge, skill and experience through practice and education in a particular field. Informally, an expert is someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill whose faculty for judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely is accorded authority and status by peers or the public in a specific well-distinguished domain. An expert, more generally, is a person with extensive knowledge or ability based on research, experience, or occupation and in a particular area of study. Experts are called in for advice on their respective subject, but they do not always agree on the particulars of a field of study. An expert can be believed, by virtue of credentials, training, education, profession, publication or experience, to have special knowledge of a subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially (and legally) rely upon the individual's opinion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frank Mentzer
Jacob Franklin Mentzer III is an American fantasy author and game designer who worked on early materials for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. He was an employee of TSR, Inc. from 1980 to 1986, spending part of that time as creative advisor to the chairman of the board, Gary Gygax. He also founded the Role-Playing Games Association (RPGA) during his time with TSR. After Gygax was ousted from TSR at the end of 1985, Mentzer left TSR as well and helped him to start New Infinities Productions Inc. (NIPI). When this venture failed, Mentzer left the gaming industry, eventually becoming the manager of a bakery. In 2008, he closed down this business and, two years later, announced he was returning to the gaming industry as a founding partner of a new publishing company, Eldritch Enterprises. Early life Frank Mentzer was born in the Philadelphia suburb of Springfield, Pennsylvania, the older of two children; his sibling is Susanne Mentzer. While attending S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Cook (game Designer)
David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer, best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years. Cook designed several games, wrote the ''Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set, Expert Set'' for ''Dungeons & Dragons'', worked as lead designer of the second edition of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', and invented the Planescape setting for ''AD&D''. He is a member of the Origins Awards, Origins Hall of Fame. Early life Cook was born in East Lansing, Michigan, and grew up on a farm in Iowa. His father was a farmer and college professor. In junior high school, Cook played wargames such as Avalon Hill's ''Blitzkrieg (game), Blitzkrieg'' and ''Afrika Korps (game), Afrika Korps'': "I was primarily a wargamer, but there wasn't any role-playing available then." In college, he was introduced to the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game through the University of Iowa gaming club. Cook earned his B.A. in English (with a Theater minor) in 1977. He married his hig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The ''Expert Set'' is an expansion boxed set for the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the '' Basic Set''. Having been told that Greyhawk was reserved for '' Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', Schick and Moldvay decided to use their own setting of Mystara specifically around The Known World area which resembled 15th century Europe. Publication history 1981 version The ''Basic Set'' saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay. The overarching goal of the revision was to provide subsequent expansions to the game, each describing a specific set of levels of character development. The ''Basic Set'' described character levels 1 through 3, as had its immediate predecessor, the ''Basic Set'' edited by J. Eric Holmes in 1977. The Moldvay ''Basic Set'' was immediately followed by the release of the ''Expert Set'' edited by Dave Cook and Stephen R. Marsh, supporting character levels 4 through 14. ''The Isle of Dread'' was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Eric Holmes
John Eric Holmes (February 16, 1930 – March 20, 2010) was an American professor of neurology and writer of non-fiction, fantasy and science fiction. His writings appeared under his full name and under variants such as Eric Holmes and J. Eric Holmes and the pen name Sidney Leland. Life Holmes was the son of US Navy officer Wilfred "Jasper" Holmes and his wife Isabelle West Holmes. Wilfred Holmes was also a writer of adventure stories under the pen name Alec Hudson. Like his father, John Eric Holmes also served in the armed forces, as a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He fought for two years in Korea. He was a medical doctor and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. He had a son named Christopher West Holmes. Writing career Holmes was a long-time science fiction fan, particularly of the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. P. Lovecraft, and an enthusiast of fantasy role-playing games. His writings reflected ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' is a set of rulebooks for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. First published in 1977, it saw a handful of revisions and reprintings. The first edition was written by J. Eric Holmes based on Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson's original work. Later editions were edited by Tom Moldvay, Frank Mentzer, Troy Denning, and Doug Stewart. The ''Basic Set'' details the essential concepts of the ''D&D'' game. It gives rules for character creation and advancement for player characters at beginning levels. It also includes information on how to play adventures inside dungeons for both players and the Dungeon Master. 1977 version The original ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' was published by TSR, Inc. in 1977. TSR hired outside writer John Eric Holmes to produce the ''Basic Set'' as an introductory version of the ''D&D'' game. It incorporates concepts from the original 1974 ''D&D'' boxed set plus the '' Supplement I: Greyhawk''. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swords Of Deceit
''Swords of Deceit'' is a 1986 adventure module for the '' Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, for the Lankhmar setting. Plot summary The module contains three magazine-sized scenarios for the Lankhmar setting, the first of which is called "The Curse of Valinor". In this scenario, the player characters become involved in intrigue among Lankhmar's nobles. The second scenario, "Return of the Rats", is a continuation of '' Swords of Lankhmar'', in which Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser go missing and the PCs are recruited to find them. The player characters are shrunk and sent into the Rat Kingdom of the Undercity to find Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. The third scenario, "One Night in Lankhmar", begins in a gambling den. The scenario pits the player characters against gamblers, assassins, and illusions. This 10th to 15th level adventure is designed for the '' LANKHMAR City of Adventure'' setting and the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' game. It cannot be played without t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lankhmar
Lankhmar is a fictional city in the ''Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser'' stories by Fritz Leiber. It is situated on the world of Nehwon, just west of the Great Salt Marsh and east of the River Hlal, and serves as the home of Leiber's two antiheroes. Description Lankhmar is richly described as a populous and labyrinthine city rife with corruption, "the City of the Black Toga." It is decadent or squalid in roughly equal parts and said to be so shrouded by smog that the stars are rarely sighted (the city's alternate name is "the City of Sevenscore Thousand Smokes"). Located next to the Inner Sea, Lankhmar is visited by ships from across Nehwon and is the starting point for Fafhrd and the Mouser's many sea voyages. The city is ostensibly ruled by an overlord and his nobility. The Thieves' Guild is influential, too, and controls Lankhmar's abundant criminal element, with the notable exceptions of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Streets in Lankhmar are often evocatively named (the Thieve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
