The Quest for the Oldest Character • Page 2 • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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The Quest for the Oldest Character
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darkseraphim
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:10 pm

If I remember correctly, the first D&D playtest (The Fantasy Game) was in 1972 for Ernie and Elise. I seem to remember hearing their stats were written on index cards ("sheets" would be overkill for some time yet) for quick passing and changes. Can't remember where I heard all the details though.

Perhaps Ernie would be the one to ask if he still has his card. PDT_Armataz_01_36

ExTSR
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 1:28 pm

A couple to share, both from the mid-'70s...

Grumpy (dwarf Ftr/Thf) was played by Howard Fessler and Morpeth Gravel (gnome Ftr/Ilus) by David Axler (now Dr. Axler).

Grumpy is on an old but apparently home-made sheet (c 1977). Morpeth is on one of the early TSR sheets, with "Dungeons & Dragons* " and * TM reg applied for" (also 1977).

As was typical of that era, we started with OD&D rules & supplements, morphed into Holmes, and then translated everything into AD&D when it first appeared. The earliest character sheets were added to, and then redone (and the originals discarded), as different editions came into play.

Though I have a couple of dozen sheets from '77-78, nothing earlier seems to have survived. :/

F

darkseraphim
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:01 am

Thanks Frank! I think Grumpy's * character sheet is the veritable essence of 1970s beer-n-pretzels (pop-n-pizza?) D&D. I felt a gnole (sic) sneaking up on me while I was reading that.

I'm still hoping to find my first Moldvay charsheet, Kronx the Neanderthal. 17 STR, 17 CON, 5 WIS, 5 INT on 3d6 (is that even usable with the PHB stat minimums?). Hopefully it's not in the water-damaged box I'm still thinking about freeze-recovering ...

* Is he carrying 10 oil flasks and a bullseye lantern? I'd give good money to see him fall into a 30' pit.

ashmire13
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:40 am

Didn't every player carry 10 oil flasks, bullseye lantern and several dozen iron rations...? :lol:

Thanks for sharing those Frank, interesting to see the old notes.

I really must dig mine out tonight, I know I have them stored somewhere.

Rolls a '3'

"Did I hit.....?"

Labrat
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:32 pm

Here is one circa 1975 / 76.

S. Jacobson
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misterspock
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:34 pm

Labrat wrote:Here is one circa 1975 / 76.

[ Image ]

Someone was reading up on their Kalevala back in 75/76!

jasonw1239
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:40 pm

Wow! An MU with an INT of 11 and that is one of his best stats!
AND he made it to level 8!

Check out my Chaosium sourcebook.
Secrets of Tibet

Labrat
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:54 pm

misterspock wrote:
Someone was reading up on their Kalevala back in 75/76!

Got it for my birthday in 1972.

S. Jacobson
You're never alone with a rubber duck

Labrat
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:56 pm

jasonw1239 wrote:Wow! An MU with an INT of 11 and that is one of his best stats!
AND he made it to level 8!

He was my first character. I wasn't very lucky with my rolls.

S. Jacobson
You're never alone with a rubber duck

faro
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:02 pm

Labrat wrote:Here is one circa 1975 / 76.

Interesting, thanks.

Any recollection where the character sheet blanks and spell point system came from?

"7.3 ORGANIZING THE PARTY: Always have a keg, even if it's BYOB...
7.4 TAKING THE GAME SERIOUSLY: Don't"

FormCritic
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:10 pm

Something tells me that the first character sheet won't have DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS printed on it.

"But I have watched the dragons come, fire-eyed, across the world."

copycat
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:14 pm

Yeah, it'll say Chainmail + The Fantasy Game or whatever.

Those who can, don't. Those who should not, do.

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