If you enjoyed this post make sure to check out our weekly podcast, Roll For Combat, where a group of old-school gamers play Paizo’s new Starfinder RPG.
Also, make sure to check out Part 1 and Part 3 of this series.
Last week we explored some of my Dungeons & Dragons treasures when I was a kid growing up in the 80s. This week friend of the show Rob Trimarco shared some D&D artwork he did when he was a kid in the 80s as well … and I simply love it! I felt this needed to be shared with the world.
Ladies and gentlemen … I present to you “Fighters and Wizards, Good & Evil Book I” and “Book II, Evil Monsters of the Dungeon”. Enjoy!
From Rob, “I, apparently, made my own D&D type monster manual/campaign book when I was, maybe 10? 12? I dunno but please enjoy it whilst I cringe.”
“Facts not Story!”
“TEEMA EVIL HOBGOBLIN LEADER – Teema is kind of a dick leader to wear nice boots while his warriors are shoeless…”
“…500,000 warriors all without shoes. Truly a tyrant. Also, mixed occurrences of cursive writing is a little unprofesh.”
“EELO GOOD DWARF FIGHTER – Sorry, he definitely looks like an elf. What the hell, 12-year-old Rob? I like his 1970’s disco chain and poofy Aladdin pants, though.”
“GOOD WIZARD OLIN – Fuck yeah, Chain Lightning. Still the coolest spell. Cool sandals.”
“ERGON, EVIL WIZARD – I had to hold up the spine of this poorly assembled ‘book’ to get the full effect of the evil staff. Cool evil sandals.”
“ATHAMEUS GOOD BARBARIAN – Li’l-too-big winged helm, runic axe, longsword in a back scabbard, charging tiger on a shield, furry spiked onesie. And the sandals … again.”
“VIL PALADIN EEMON – Ok, wow. A lot to unpack here. Let’s start from the top:
- 80’s porn ‘stache on a school principal.
- MASSIVE SPIKED SHOULDERS!
- Tae kwon do gi top and short shorts.
- Evil bat shield WITH STRAP.
- The greatest belt ever.
- Booties.”
“Book 2! Buckle up!”
“EVIL MONSTERS OF THE DUNGEON!!! Not the good ones.”
“DUNGEON DWELLING GHOUL – Standard. C’mon, 12-year-old Rob, you can do better.”
“VAMPIRE – Screw you, White Wolf!”
“WHO DID THIS?!?! MOOOOOOOOOM!!!!”
“SKELETON – Influenced heavily by Ed Emberly’s drawing techniques.”
“OGRE – Often mistaken for a human? Not with those nipples.”
“GIANT BAT – I know I titled the book ‘Monsters of the Dungeon’ but I seem to have been compelled to remind everyone that these monsters live in one on every page.”
“THE TOMMLAMA!”
“I definitely fear this monster but for different reasons than I originally thought.”
“ENERGY DRAGON – Conjoured up by Wizardry to … blast walls? Bad. Ass.”
“GIANT SPIDER – It sure is giant … and striped!”
“PLANT MONSTERS (various) – Are those coconut feet?”
“I vaguely remember being proud of almost getting the perspective right on the top vs. underbelly of this beast.”
“Also, it seems I looked up what carrion meant and put it in the book so you all could learn definitions.”
“GREEN SLIME –Heyyyyy wait a minute, look at those eyes… This is the Hedora, the Smog Monster!”
“THE WAMIA– I am definitely sure I saw a picture of a Neo-Otyugh and forgot what it was called but that didn’t stop me!!”
“GIANT RAT – I definitely phoned this one in. BE CAREFUL, ADVENTURERS!!!! The End.”
If you have some D&D treasures from your childhood please send them along! We love unearthing these classic treasures when D&D was mysterious and only shared between friends at school.
If you enjoyed this post make sure to check out our weekly podcast, Roll For Combat, where a group of old-school gamers play Paizo’s new Starfinder RPG.
Also, make sure to check out Part 1 and Part 3 of this series.