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Start Here: Reading OD&D, page by page

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On this blog, I will read the original version of Dungeons & Dragons (OD&D) by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, page by page.  The purpose of this project is twofold: To analyze the contents of each page of the original game through “ page reads ,” which follow the books in order and examine each page carefully on its own terms -  click on the"table of contents" of each book below for the for the page reads ; and To systematize rules and information dispersed across different pages of multiple booklets through “ single-topic ” posts, which gather everything the rules have to say about a given subject (for example, “knights,” “archers,” or “goblins”), along with relevant historical information.  See " Reorganized Contents " for all the topics covered by all booklets. OD&D's rules (and even themes) are notoriously scattered. Players must piece them together by cross-referencing multiple sections of various booklets and often inferring general rules from...
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Horses

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Horses were central to medieval warfare, and in chivalric literature they became idealized symbols of nobility, martial prowess and morality. From the cover of Chainmail. From the box (early version) of original Dungeons & Dragons .
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OD&D: the (white) box

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A comprehensive reading of OD&D has to begin not just with the text, but with the box itself, because the cover art frames the kind of fantasy the game is inviting players to imagine before a single rule is read. The imagery signals tone, genre, and even implied style of play.  Notably, there were at least two distinct box versions: an earlier one that looks wooden, with an illustration depicting a mounted fighter in a heroic pose; and a later one, the famous white box showing an aged mage blasting a bunch of goblins or kobolds (at this point, these the creatures were difficult to tell apart).  The earlier woodgrain version. Image from Wasteland Fantasy . The later white version. Image captured from a pdf rerelease.
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Goblins & Kobolds

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In the original D&D, Goblins and Kobolds were variants of the same monster. From the box (later version) of original  Dungeons & Dragons .
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The Mage

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The Mage (or magic-user, as the class was originally called). From the box (later version) of original Dungeons & Dragons .
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The Fighter

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The Fighter (or fighting-man, as the class was originally called). From the box (early version) of original Dungeons & Dragons .
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Dungeon!'s contents

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 Below is a list of  Dungeon!'s  contents: The box Introductory Game pamphlet Rulebook The map 1st level Monster Cards 2nd level Monster Cards 3rd level Monster Cards 4th level Monster Cards 5th level Monster Cards 6th level Monster Cards Wizard’s Spell Cards SOURCE:  Dungeon! , various game components.
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D&D volume 3: The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures' table of contents

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Below is a slightly touched version of  D&D volume 3: The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures'  table of contents: The Cover Page 1: front matter Page 2: Table of Contents Pages 3-5: THE UNDERWORLD Pages 6-7: Distribution of Monsters and Treasure Page 8: The Move Turn in the Underworld Page 9: Underworld Monsters Pages 10-11: Monster Determination and Level of Monster Matrix Pages 12-13: Avoiding Monsters Page 14: THE WILDERNESS Page 15: Castles Page 16: Movement Page 17: Wilderness Monsters Page 18: Wilderness Wandering Monsters Page 19: Evading in the Wilderness Page 20: Construction of Castles and Strongholds Page 22: Specialists Page 23: Men-at-Arms; Rumors, Information, and Legends Page 24: Player/Character Support and Upkeep; Baronies Page 25: Land Combat; Aerial Combat Pages 28-33: Naval Combat Page 34: Special Suggestions for Monsters in Naval Adventure Page 35: Healing Wounds; Time Page 36: Afterword Page 37: An illustration SOURCE:  D&D volume 3:...
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