AD&D

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) is a tabletop role-playing game originally published by TSR, Inc. and derived from the original Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The name "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" was used for a series of rules editions beginning in 1977 and continuing through the late 1990s. AD&D became one of the most influential tabletop role-playing games and established many conventions that continue to appear in modern fantasy role-playing games.

History

Origins

Dungeons & Dragons was created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and first published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. As the game developed, disagreements arose concerning the direction and organization of its rules.

In 1977, TSR began publishing a more structured version of the game under the name Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. The first major AD&D rulebook was the Monster Manual, published in 1977. It was followed by the Player's Handbook in 1978 and the Dungeon Master's Guide in 1979.

AD&D was intended to provide a more comprehensive and standardized rules system than the original Dungeons & Dragons, while the original game continued to be developed separately.

First edition

The first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons was published between 1977 and 1979. The principal rulebooks were:

Monster Manual (1977) Player's Handbook (1978) Dungeon Master's Guide (1979)

The first edition introduced or formalized numerous rules