When was the original Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons first published?
The original Monster Manual was first published in 1977 by TSR. It was the first hardcover book released for any Dungeons & Dragons game.
Questions about Monster Manual
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote the first edition Monster Manual?
Gary Gygax wrote the first Monster Manual, a 108-page book published in 1977. It compiled more than 350 monsters drawn from mythology, folklore, and earlier D&D sources such as Monsters and Treasure, Greyhawk, and Dragon magazine.
What creature made its first appearance in the Monster Manual?
The mimic made its first appearance in the 1977 first edition Monster Manual.
Why did the Monstrous Compendium binder format fail during Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition?
The Monstrous Compendium used looseleaf sheets instead of a hardcover book, and those pages proved less durable than a hardback. TSR also printed monsters on both sides of each sheet, making it impossible to keep the collection in strict alphabetical order.
When did TSR replace the Monstrous Compendium binder with the Monstrous Manual?
TSR released the Monstrous Manual in 1993 as a 384-page hardcover edited by Doug Stewart. It compiled all the monsters from the first two Monstrous Compendium volumes along with many others.
What awards did the fifth edition Monster Manual win?
The fifth edition Monster Manual won the 2015 Origins Award for Best Role Playing Supplement and the Fan Favorite Role Playing Supplement award. It also won two 2015 gold ENnie Awards, for Best Monster/Adversary and Best Interior Art.