What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Encyclopedia: Volume 1
All AD&D game campaigns have one thing in common - treasure. Of course, some campaigns have more treasure than others, but it is the lure of treasure that entices intrepid adventurers of any world away from the warmth and safety of home and hearth and sets them plunging into labyrinthine depths or into the uncharted wilderness to face fearsome beasts. To an adventurer, the most prized treasure of all is magic. Open this book and you will find a concise listing of every enchanted item ever invented for TSR, Inc.'s fantasy role playing games. The list in Volume One runs from abacus to Goblet. The listing includes an experience point value and a gold piece sale value for each item. At last, you'll know exactly what every bauble in any hoard is really worth. No need to keep guessing. The listing also identifies the product where the item is described and the page number where you can find it. A complete list of those products (current through December, 1992) is also provided. Ever wonder what a phylactery is? Do you know what a diadem looks like or how a chaplet is worn? Don't wonder anymore! This book also contains an illustrated description of each kind of item.
61 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1992
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 10, 2017
This is an odd book, and much like the old lady sweeping the beach, destined to be obsolete before it was even finished. The only reason I picked it up is that (a) I found a cheap copy, and (b) I am for some reason listed as a contributor. The contributor list is gigantic, since it includes authors throughout Dragon Magazine history as well as the various rule books and adventure modules.
The introduction says that it’s meant to be a collation of all magic items for D&D throughout its history from original D&D to AD&D 2nd edition, and including offshoots such as the Conan game and the Indiana Jones game. However, for cross referencing where a particular item came from, it includes abbreviations for “every role playing product or role playing-related product, TSR, Inc. has produced before December 31st, 1992—except for novels.” (Volume one says it’s only for products through December 1991). Which includes Marvel Superheroes, Gamma World, and so on. As far as I can tell, these abbreviations don’t actually appear in the list of magic items.
The magic items are not, for the most part, described. Only their format—ring, scroll, skull, cordial—is described. Everything else is just an entry in a list, such as “Comb, Korrigans Relic 65,000 1021-57”. This means that Korrigans Comb (or Comb of Korrigans) is a relic, is worth 65,000 GP, and appeared in, if I’m reading this right, the D&D Master Boxed Set on page 57.
In an attempt to create an infinite loop, at least one of the items (Teleport Pad) is referenced as appearing in the Magic Encyclopedia.
It comes in two volumes. The first volume contains the instructions, the product list sorted by product code, a magic shoppe chain store, and magic items from Abacus (there’s only one) to Goblet (there are four). Volume two contains the table of contents for both Volume 1 and 2, a different set of instructions for using the book, the product list sorted by product number (which is different from the product code, for example, Against the Cult of the Reptile God is product code N1, but product number 9063), magic items from Goggles (two) to Zwieback (one), and one randomization chart to rule them all.
The text on that chart is small enough that I have to wear glasses to read it even when I’m not drinking, which I almost have to have been doing to want to use it.
For example, roll 72 on Table 1 leads to Table R (the tables go from number 1 to A and then proceeds from A to S) Armor and shields. Use reference tables R1 through R8. Roll a 19 on Table R Preliminary Table leads to Table R2 (C-D) which, with a roll of 65, means Blue Dragon Armor.
My favorite part, however, is that they felt the need in 1992 to include this disclaimer:
It was probably the Tarts.
The introduction says that it’s meant to be a collation of all magic items for D&D throughout its history from original D&D to AD&D 2nd edition, and including offshoots such as the Conan game and the Indiana Jones game. However, for cross referencing where a particular item came from, it includes abbreviations for “every role playing product or role playing-related product, TSR, Inc. has produced before December 31st, 1992—except for novels.” (Volume one says it’s only for products through December 1991). Which includes Marvel Superheroes, Gamma World, and so on. As far as I can tell, these abbreviations don’t actually appear in the list of magic items.
The magic items are not, for the most part, described. Only their format—ring, scroll, skull, cordial—is described. Everything else is just an entry in a list, such as “Comb, Korrigans Relic 65,000 1021-57”. This means that Korrigans Comb (or Comb of Korrigans) is a relic, is worth 65,000 GP, and appeared in, if I’m reading this right, the D&D Master Boxed Set on page 57.
In an attempt to create an infinite loop, at least one of the items (Teleport Pad) is referenced as appearing in the Magic Encyclopedia.
It comes in two volumes. The first volume contains the instructions, the product list sorted by product code, a magic shoppe chain store, and magic items from Abacus (there’s only one) to Goblet (there are four). Volume two contains the table of contents for both Volume 1 and 2, a different set of instructions for using the book, the product list sorted by product number (which is different from the product code, for example, Against the Cult of the Reptile God is product code N1, but product number 9063), magic items from Goggles (two) to Zwieback (one), and one randomization chart to rule them all.
The text on that chart is small enough that I have to wear glasses to read it even when I’m not drinking, which I almost have to have been doing to want to use it.
For example, roll 72 on Table 1 leads to Table R (the tables go from number 1 to A and then proceeds from A to S) Armor and shields. Use reference tables R1 through R8. Roll a 19 on Table R Preliminary Table leads to Table R2 (C-D) which, with a roll of 65, means Blue Dragon Armor.
My favorite part, however, is that they felt the need in 1992 to include this disclaimer:
Since 1974, TSR’s policies and the talents of its staff and freelance authors have matured significantly. Many of the items listed in both volumes of the Magic Encyclopedia contains references that would not be considered acceptable by the standards we set today. References to items, however, are included for the sake of completeness.
It was probably the Tarts.
May 1, 2015
Gave this book to my local liabary after I was done with it!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews