DragonQuest Index

A Canonical List of Published DragonQuest Materials

(Last update: 1 August 2005, Rodger Thorm)

CONTENTS

NOTE: We have tried to be as complete as possible with this list. However, mistakes and omissions certainly may exist. Editorial descriptions are by the various contributors.


Game System

DragonQuest, 1st Edition, (SPI)
Three softcover 8-1/2" x 11" stapled books, tactical display map, counters, etc. A bagged set and a boxed set were both produced.

DragonQuest, 2nd Edition, (SPI) 1981.
White cover. One hardcover 8-1/2" x 11" book. SPI #3900
New combat system with TMR rather than 1st Edition APA. Some weapons are removed from the weapons table and others are changed. Contains the adventure The Camp of Alla-Akbar by Gerry Klug. Also was available in a boxed set with Blade of Allectus included as the sample adventure.

DragonQuest, 2nd Edition, (SPI/Bantam books)
White cover. One softcover 8-1/2" x 11" book.
This revised edition was published in conjunction with Bantam Books. There are only a couple of minor variations from the hardcover edition (e.g.. a character's starting PC is increased from 5 to 8). Contains the adventure The Camp of Alla-Akbar. Chris Klug (credited as Gerald Klug in the game), the developer at SPI who managed DragonQuest, has said that he considers this to be the definitive version of DragonQuest.

Arcane Wisdom, (SPI) never published.
The Fourth Book of DragonQuest Never commercially produced.
Never actually commercially published, although photocopies of playtesters' versions are known to exist. Contains 3 new colleges of magic, magic system designer's notes, and sections on magical herbs, magical stones and gems, and magical objects. Online (text and PDF) copies are also in circulation.

DragonQuest, 3rd Edition, (TSR, Inc.)
Purple cover. One softcover 8-1/2" x 11" book. TSR #01432-3
This edition removed the Colleges of Greater Summoning and Black Magics, and added Colleges of Summoning (without the Greater and very unlike it as well) and Shaping (?). The College of Summoning seems to correspond to the legendary College of Lesser Summonings and the College of Shaping was changed to remove any reference to the College of Greater Summoning. Other than these heresies, there are only cosmetic changes in the body of rules (addition of parts of the Herbal Lore section from Arcane Wisdom Rule 94, may be noteworthy). The note for Saps is changed and spells that have words like evil and hell in them are renamed. Contains the adventure The Camp of Alla-Akbar.

Game Support Materials

Arena of Death (SPI)
Insert game in _Ares_ #4
Although not officially a DragonQuest product, Arena of Death is essentially just the combat system from DragonQuest (1st Edition), with a highly abbreviated character generation system and a few minimal rules about popularity points and the response of the crowd. (It's about gladiatorial combat in an arena, as you have already guessed.) The issue came with the same map (or, I should say, Tactical Display) and counters as were in 1st Edition DragonQuest.

Frontiers of Alusia: Adventure Map (SPI) 1981
Booklet and map; SPI #337P11
Campaign setting -- maps -- brief gazetteer

GM's Screen (SPI) 1980
4 panel 8-1/2" x 11" folded screen; SPI #331P11 (1st Ed.)
For 1st Edition. It has the same picture on it as the 2nd Edition. It is four panels printed front and back (only 6 sides have game material on them).

SPI #3310 (2nd Ed.)
Has the words 2nd Edition Compatible on the front cover. Basically the same information with some minor adjustments to weapon Base Chances, and some items deleted.

Heroes and Villains (Judges Guild) 1982
46 page booklet; product #900
A 46 page booklet similar in format to the other material published by JG. A book of characters keyed to the Frontiers of Alusia map. Includes a Great Eagle Shape Changer, an inn called the Fiddle in the Hand Inn, and some interesting magic items. Written in the typical JG style. By Edward R.G. Mortimer.

Thieves' World (Chaosium) 1981
Boxed set incl. 3 booklets and maps; product #2007-X
Based on Robert L. Asprin's city of Sanctuary and the Thieves' World series of books. The Personalities of Sanctuary booklet, pgs. 24-30 has a set of guidelines for using Thieves' World characters with DragonQuest written by Eric Goldberg. Interesting features include: a very short discussion about how to handle gods, two new monsters, rules for Adepts using more than one College of Magic, and mention of the contents of Arcane Wisdom (shaping magics, lesser summonings, and rune magics). A good source of NPC's as well.

Adventures

Adventures which were published in magazines are listed here as well as under the magazine article in which the adventure appeared.

The Blade of Allectus
--
(SPI) 1980. Booklet. DQ Adventure Two; SPI #317P11.
A mysterious island where dwell a great mage and his lovely daughter. Somewhere on the island is also the rightful master of a far-off duchy, held by the mage against his will. The characters' mission is to rescue the duke and capture the mage and his daughter. (DragonNotes Nr.6)

Camp of Alla-Akabar
-- Gerry Klug
(SPI) 1981. Ares #10, September 1981, pp 17-23.
Also included in copies of 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition rules. Very good introductory adventure, especially with its emphasis on a different style of adventure.

Enchanted Wood
-- Paul Jaquays
(SPI) Booklet; SPI #

The House of Kurin
--
(SPI) Ares #7, March 1981, pp 5-12.

Magebird Quest
-- Dave Sering
(Judges Guild) 1982. Booklet; product #890.
Beginner's level adventure.

The Palace of Ontoncle
--
(SPI) Booklet; SPI #

The Shattered Statue
-- Paul Jaquays
(TSR, Inc.) 1988. Booklet; DQ1; TSR #9221
A dual DragonQuest/ADD module by Paul Jaquays which has as its major claim to fame unedited versions of The College of Rune Magics and The College of Shaping Magics taken from the original (and near mythical) Arcane Wisdom supplement.

Starsilver Trek
-- Diane Mortimer Bill Pixley
(Judges Guild) 1982. Booklet; product #930
An interesting adventure, where the player characters can all be dwarves!

The Treasure of Socranti
-- Gerry Klug
(SPI) Ares #13, pp 45-52

Magazine Articles

Articles are organized by the magazine they appeared in.

Ares Magazine


(SPI, later TSR)
There were only 17 issues (+ 1 special issue) of Ares magazine published. Earlier issues (#5 and earlier) contained little DragonQuest stuff, because the game was not out yet. Later issues (#13+) were put out by TSR and have very little DragonQuest material.

Issue No. 2
A full-page ad, this June, SPI will release... (referring to the game by its original working title, Dragonslayer).

Issue No. 3
The same ad as in #2, but with the DragonQuest title.

Issue No. 4
pp 12-?
Eye of the Goblin -
Arena of Death Story

pp 15-26 + enclosure
Arena of Death - David Ritchie and Redmond Simonsen
An early version of DQ Combat, essentially similar to 1st Edition DragonQuest combat system.

pp ?-?
The Weapons from the Arena of Death -
This is just general info on low-tech hand weaponry. Nothing in any kind of game-terms, so I wouldn't consider it a DQ article.

Issue No. 5
An ad for the GM screen. Also, an appeal for DragonQuest players to send in ideas for new monsters.

Issue No. 6 (January 1981)
p 33
Quick Combat II - Justin Leites
A first edition rules variant for calculating combat quickly.

p 34
DragonNotes - David Ritchie
Does not contain any gaming information, but does cover some of the material that was going to be published by SPI before it folded.

Issue No. 7
pp 5-12
House of Kurin - David James Ritchie
A DragonQuest Capsule Adventure.

p 30
DragonNotes

Issue No. 8
pp 14-15
DragonNotes -
Errata and notes on the 1st Edition.

Issue No. 9
p 34
DragonNotes -
PS chart

Issue No. 10 (September 1981)
pp 24, 29
DragonNotes - Gerry Klug
Horsemanship Overland Movement. Contains more rumors of DragonQuest products (which never saw the light of day) and a first version of the Horsemanship adventure skill eventually published in 2nd edition DragonQuest.

pp 17-23
Camp of Alla-Akabar - Gerry Klug Adventure. This was later included in the 2nd and 3rd Edition printings of DragonQuest.

Issue No. 11
pp 29-30
DragonNotes -
NPC Generation, NPC Card.

p 34
Designers' Notes -
Updates on DQ Projects

Issue No. 12
pp 9-13
Adventures in Albion -
Roleplaying stats and information for use with the Land of Albion game from Ares #11. Has some interesting creatures, magic items, spells, and weapons.

p 19
Designer's Notes -

pp 36, 38
Questing -
Half-elves, Lizardman characters.

Issue No. 13
pp 38-39
Questing - Gerry Klug
Corrections on Greater Summonings Circle of Protection and Summoning; modified Ritual of Summoning Succubi. Important article discussing the College of Greater Summonings and rules variants for that College. People playing 3rd edition need not worry about this article, since you don't have this College anyhow.

pp 45-52
The Treasure of Socantri - Gerry Klug
A DragonQuest Capsule Adventure; brilliant.

Issue No. 14
pp 53-62
The College of Rune Magics -
Edition of the College that was faithful to the Arcane Wisdom version.

Different Worlds Magazine


(Chaosium)

Number 11
(date?) pp 28-30
DragonQuest -
Review of the game system (after publication of the First Edition). Also includes a response from Eric Goldberg.

Number 12
(date?) pp ??
DragonQuest Review -
Review of the game system by Michael A. Stackpole.

Number 18
(date?) pp 42-43
The Enchanted Wood -
Review of the adventure module

Number 28
(date?) p 12
The Angels - Paul Crabaugh
New character race.

Dragon Magazine


(TSR)
Number 49
(May 1981) p 68
Travel and threads for DQ - Paul Montgomery Crabaugh.
Modification of 1st Edition travel rules, and some cute clothing, i.e. harness, loincloth, body stocking, etc.
Number 57
(January 1982) p 24
The Versatile Magician - Jon Mattson.
Magician Skill for DQ; in basic, a general jack-of-all-trades for the field of magic.
Number 78
(October 1983) pp 84, 86
Thrill of the Hunt - Paul Montgomery Crabaugh.
DragonQuest Rules for Finding 'Fresh' Food -- Hunting Skill for DQ.
Number 82
(February 1984) pp 20-26
Enhancing the enchanter - Craig Barrett.
What to do with that character from the College of Ensorcelments Enchantments, if you don't have Arcane Wisdom; a neat addition.
Number 86
(June 1984) pp 24-25
The warrior alternative - Craig Barrett.
Non-magical characters for DQ, for those of us who wanted to play an adventurer who did not use magic.
Number 89
(September 1984) pp 42-43
Learn magic by the month - Craig Barrett.
An alternative method for characters to learn magic, namely, in monthly installments. Rules for studying spells, based on some of the revelations out of the Thieves' World game mechanics for DQ.
Number 92
(December 1984) p 62
Going up and Getting Wet - Paul Montgomery Crabaugh.
How DragonQuest Natives Climb and Swim -- Basic rules for Climb and Swim Skills; Climb is good, Swim isn't.
Number 96
(April 1985) pp 56-60
Getting in over your head - Craig Barrett.
Rules for Swimming and Underwater combat in DragonQuest; half-decent.
Number 97
(May 1985) p 28
For a fuller background - Paul Montgomery Crabaugh.
Heritage in the DragonQuest game -- Modified Social Class Tables and the like that cover races, and have some new stuff like 'Barbarian,' 'Woods Dweller,' and 'Peasant.'

Fantasy Gamer Magazine


Number 2
(Oct/Nov 1988) pp 2-7
DragonQuest Damage Spells - David McCorkhill
Descriptions, variants, and 'flavor' for damage spells in DQ. Excellent article modifying DQ damage spells to play better. Also includes a fun supplemental backfire table where you can get the hosts of hell showing up on your doorstep if you screw-up a spell bad enough..

Unknown Sources


(possibly Adventure Gaming Magazine?)
pp ?-?
The College of White Magicke (sic) - Perry Cooper
A 'new' College of magic made simply by taking spells from other Colleges. Almost nothing original.

'Zines and Other Articles

Dragonquester's Notebook

Articles by Dean Martelle from Rider's Hobby in Ann Arbor, Michigan. These were included in a store newsletter.

Independently Published Materials

Materials produced since the end of publication of DragonQuest (post Wizards of the Coast acquisition of TSR). Both rules extensions and new adventures.

Rules

Poor Brendan's Almanac
PDF file, 8-1/2" x 11" book, 31 pages, 1.9 MB.
Includes College of Witchcraft; College of Time Magic; Diplomat, Herbalist, and Hunter skills; several new rules and weapons. Available for download from several sources.
Things Spiritual
PDF file, 8-1/4" x 11-1/2" book, 61 pages, 0.8 MB.
A system for incorporating spirits and religion into DragonQuest. Includes rules for spirits, religions, sample pantheons, and planes of existence. Available from DQ-rules group.

Adventures

The Crypts of the Dark Ones
PDF file, 8-1/2" x 11" book, 11 pages, 91 kB.
Description
Roll Out the Barrel
PDF file, 8-1/4" x 11-1/2" book, 8 pages, 1 MB.
Description
The Water Works
PDF file, 8-1/2" x 11" book, 11 pages, 91 kB.
Description

Online Resources

DragonQuest Newsletter (Yahoo group)
DQ-rules (Yahoo group)
DQN-list (Yahoo group)

Contributors:

Shannon Appel, Jim Huffman, John Kahane, Eric Labelle, David Leuck, Dan Peters, John F. Rauchert, Charles Summerhill, Rodger Thorm, and Russell Whyte.

(Last update: 1 August 2005, Rodger Thorm)