Dungeon Masters Guide - A Compiled Volume of Information Primarily Used by Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Game Referees

Aug 29, 2026

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Dungeon Masters Guide assembles reference material for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game referees, covering combat tables, monster lists and encounter guidance, treasure and magic tables with descriptions, and procedures for random dungeon and wilderness terrain generation. It emphasizes how dungeon mastering blends creative art and careful science, stressing preparation, experimentation, and attention to detail. The foreword highlights rewards for running campaigns and developing a personal world using the guide alongside other core AD&D books.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryComic

FormatPDF

Pages240

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Contents

Preface

Credits

Introduction

The Game

Approaches to Playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

Dice

Use of Miniature Figures

Aids to Playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

Creating the Player Character

Generation of Ability Scores

Non-Player Characters

The Effect of Wishes on Character Ability Scores

Characteristics for Player Characters

Player Character Non-Professional Skills

Starting Level of Experience for Player Characters

Character Age, Aging, Disease, and Death

Character Age

Aging

Unnatural Aging

Disease

Death

DUNGEON MASTERSGUIDE iSSENDAL 8REE服AnOn u EA5DERIC ADVAp paLAKE GENEVA.W¹53147 AD亚ACED DUNGEONS &DRAGONS Brought to you by:blacktalonz@hotmail.com SPECIAL REFERENCE WORK DUNGEON MASTERS GUIDE A COMPILED VOLUME OF INFORMATION PRIMARILY USED BYADVANCED DUNGEONS &DRAGONS'GAME REFEREES,INCLUDING:COMBAT TABLES;MONSTER LISTS AND ENCOUNTERS;TREASUREAND MAGIC TABLES AND DESCRIPTIONS;RANDOM DUNGEONGENERATION;RANDOM WILDERNESS TERRAIN GENERATION;SUGGESTIONS ON GAMEMASTERING;AND MORE. By Gary Gygax ◎ 1979—TSR Games All rights reserved llustrations by David C.SutherlandⅢ D.A.TrampierDarlene PekulWill McLeanDavid S.La ForceErol OtusCover by David C.SutherlandII fisnibured jo the beok ruoe in the Uniiedstates by kardomHouse,Inc.and inCaradobyRondamHu e Cunodo,1hd. Inqultrietrcgaiding tha wek thsule beaegompaniodhya stampadreturr envelopeandaedrasned to:AD8Qunien,T5R Gnmet,POB756 takmGenec,MI53147. Dabook a polace urdeo ihe opyb(ao hs tnoysdstulolAmoeiea.Any mroduclion oralom urouhoeized useofihe mareftalararwok esnaica hrein smenibhind withocthemspres r -1enpermnuonf75Roboies,lec FOREWORD Is Dungeon Mastering an art or a science?An interesting question! If you consider the pure creative aspect of starting from scratch,the“personal touch”of individual flair that goes into prepar-ing and running a unique campaign,or the particular style of moderating a game adventure,then Dungeon Mastering mayindeed be thought of as an art. If you consider the aspect of experimentation,the painstaking effort of preparation and attention to detail,and the continu-ing search for new ideas and approaches,then Dungeon Mastering is perhaps more like a science—not always exacting inaliteral sense,but exacting in terms of what is required to do the job well. Esoteric questions aside,one thing is for certain—Dungeon Mastering is,above all,a labor of love.It isdemanding,time-consuming,and certainly not a task to be undertaken lightly (the sheer bulk of the book you hold in your hand will ellyouthat!).But,as all DM's know,the rewards are great—an endless challenge to the imagination and intellect,an enjoyablepastime to fill many hours with fantastic and often unpredictable happenings,and an opportunity to watch a story unfold anda grand idea to grow and flourish.The imagination knows no bounds,and the possibilities of the game of ADVANCEDDUNGEONS &DRAGONS are just as limitless.Who can say what awaits each player,except a cornucopia of fantasy andheroic adventure?So much is waiting,indeed! This book holds much in store for you as a DM—it is your primary tool in constructing your own“world”,or milieu.It containsa wealth of material,and combined with the other works of ADVANCED DUNGEONS &DRAGONS(the MONSTER MANUALand PLAYERS HANDBOOK)gives you all the information you need to play AD&D.But,as always,one more thing is needed—your imagination.Use the written material as your foundation and inspiration,then explore the creative possibilities youhave in your own mind to make your game something special. Dungeon Mastering itself is no easy undertaking,to be sure.But Dungeon Mastering well is doubly difficult.There are fewgamemasters around who are so superb in their conduct of play that they could disdain the opportunity to improve them-selves in some way.Fortunately,this work addresses the mater at length,and gives you plenty of suggestions on allaspectsof Dungeon Mastering(as well as some of the finer points)in order to help you improve your own efforts.Take heed,andalways endeavor to make the game the best it can be—and all that it can be! Mike CarrTSR Games &Rules Editor 16 May 1979 Cover:The book cover painting shows an encounter between three adventurers and an efreet on the Elemental Plane of Fire.The fabled City of Brass can be seen floating over a flame-swept sea of oil. CONTENTS PREFACE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 CREDITS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

FAQs

Is dungeon mastering presented as art or science?

Dungeon Mastering is described as both: an art in its creative personal flair when starting and running a campaign, and a science in its preparation, experimentation, and attention to required details.

What kinds of reference material does the guide provide for game referees?

The guide provides combat tables, monster lists and encounters, treasure and magic tables with descriptions, random dungeon generation, random wilderness terrain generation, and suggestions for gamemastering.

What role does the dungeon master’s imagination play?

The written material is treated as a foundation and inspiration, but the dungeon master is expected to use imagination to explore creative possibilities and make the game something special.

Aug 29, 2026

Upload by Cipher