Somewhere in 1985, a kid picked this up off a hobby shop shelf and immediately decided…
“My fighter is becoming a samurai.”
Jeff Easley had that effect on people.
Cover for AD&D sourcebook Oriental Adventures.
How old school are you?
Old school enough to remember when your first dragon looked like a radioactive lake serpent painted by Erol Otus?
Yes, and it was glorious.
Cover for the 1981 “Moldvay” D&D Basic Set.
STERANKO
The Mighty Swordsmen - 1970
In an era of so MANY Frazetta clones this was
such a refreshing approach, Jim showcasing
his superb design skills on this gem.
The next issue of d12 Monthly, my #DnD zine, will showcase a new way to generate #DungeonsAndDragons characters for #OSE or any old school version or hack. A small selection of classes with a lot of choices! #TTRPG
Before Elmore.
Before Caldwell.
Before Easley.
Before Parkinson.
There was Dave Sutherland’s dragon.
The original 1977 Holmes Basic Set painting is far brighter than the published box cover.
A wizard.
A fighter.
A dragon on a pile of treasure.
That’s it.
That’s D&D.
Fifty years later, we’re still chasing that moment.
Photo from @ZenopusArchives blog