Dungeon Master's Guide
Gary Gygax published the original Dungeon Master's Guide in 1979 through TSR. This 232-page hardcover book featured a cover by David C. Sutherland III and served as the primary rulebook for game arbiters. The text provided essential rules for creating campaigns that spanned multiple sessions. It included statistics for magic items, treasure, and basic monsters found within the game world. A random dungeon generator allowed Dungeon Masters to construct adventures on the fly using dice rolls. Don Turnbull reviewed the volume in issue #16 of White Dwarf magazine during December 1979 or January 1980. He noted that only the most severe critic could point out even a minor omission in such a comprehensive work.
The second edition Dungeon Master Guide arrived in 1989 with revised rules designed for streamlined administration. David Zeb Cook wrote this 192-page hardcover which featured interior illustrations by Jeff Easley and Clyde Caldwell. The book detailed options for character creation, alignment rules, and new systems for money and equipment handling. A premium reprint of this specific version appeared on the 21st of May 2013. Wizards of the Coast released the third edition guide in September 2000 with contributions from Monte Cook and Jonathan Tweet. The fourth edition Dungeon Master's Guide hit shelves on the 6th of June 2008, introducing skill challenge systems and aquatic combat mechanics. James Wyatt authored this 224-page volume while Shannon Appelcline highlighted its mechanical changes as key design philosophies. The fifth edition guide followed in 2014 as Jeremy Crawford and Mike Mearls co-led the final core rulebook release.
David C. Sutherland III created the cover art for the original 1979 hardcover edition of the Dungeon Master's Guide. Jeff Easley provided a new cover for the 1983 printing and later illustrated the second edition released in 1989. Scott Taylor ranked the 1989 Jeff Easley cover as number ten in his list of top TSR paintings from Black Gate magazine. Henry Higginbotham designed the covers for both the 2000 and 2001 editions of the third edition guide. Wayne Reynolds illustrated the front cover of the fourth edition book while Brian Hagan handled the back cover. The fifth edition cover featured artwork by Wayne Reynolds who also contributed interior illustrations alongside Rob Alexander and Steve Argyle. Scott Taylor listed the Dungeon Master's Guide as number two among orange spine AD&D hardcovers painted by Jeff Easley.
The original
Dungeon Master's Guide won an ORIGINS award and a Gamer's Choice award during its early years. Lawrence Schick wrote in his 1991 book Heroic Worlds that this volume contained excellent advice on running AD&D campaigns. Stephan Wieck reviewed the second edition in White Wolf #17 during 1989 stating it became more of a guide than a manual. The fifth edition Dungeon Master's Guide received the 2015 ENnie Best Supplement Gold award. It also took home the 2015 Origins Best Role-Playing Game Supplement award and the Fan Favorite award. Henry Glasheen called the fifth edition the new gold standard for D20-based tabletop role-playing games in SLUG Magazine. Jonathan Bolding noted in Escapist Magazine that the system confirmed what critics already knew about Dungeons & Dragons rather than offering pure innovation.
A Dungeon Masters Screen appeared
as a supplement featuring two heavy-duty tri-fold boards with frequently used tables printed on them. This screen described its purpose as shielding maps from players while providing instant reference to charts during play. The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Second Edition screen came packaged with a brief adventure module for new groups. Wizards of the Coast released a Dungeon Master's Kit in 2010 as part of the Essentials line of products. This kit included a digest-sized book containing much material from the fourth edition guide along with cardboard tokens for monsters. A premium reprint of the first edition Dungeon Master's Guide was released on the 17th of July 2012. The third edition version received a premium reprint on the 18th of September 2012 which corrected errors found in earlier printings.
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Common questions
Who published the original Dungeon Master's Guide in 1979?
Gary Gygax published the original Dungeon Master's Guide in 1979 through TSR. This 232-page hardcover book featured a cover by David C. Sutherland III and served as the primary rulebook for game arbiters.
When was the second edition Dungeon Master Guide released?
The second edition Dungeon Master Guide arrived in 1989 with revised rules designed for streamlined administration. A premium reprint of this specific version appeared on the 21st of May 2013.
Which artist created the cover art for the original 1979 hardcover edition of the Dungeon Master's Guide?
David C. Sutherland III created the cover art for the original 1979 hardcover edition of the Dungeon Master's Guide. Jeff Easley provided a new cover for the 1983 printing and later illustrated the second edition released in 1989.
What awards did the fifth edition Dungeon Master's Guide receive in 2015?
The fifth edition Dungeon Master's Guide received the 2015 ENnie Best Supplement Gold award. It also took home the 2015 Origins Best Role-Playing Game Supplement award and the Fan Favorite award.
When were the third edition versions of the Dungeon Master's Guide reprinted as premium editions?
A premium reprint of the first edition Dungeon Master's Guide was released on the 17th of July 2012. The third edition version received a premium reprint on the 18th of September 2012 which corrected errors found in earlier printings.