[Review] The Strategic Review

[Deleted]

This thread will review The Strategic Review by Tactical Studies Rules, to be followed by a thread in which I review The Dragon. I was inspired by a similar thread on another forum, but my POV will be quite different. I was in High School when OD&D was published, and it is the first edition of the game I played. It is to be hoped that some of you not around in those days might learn some interesting trivia from the early days of the hobby. Perhaps it will spur some interesting discussion. I hope you enjoy reading these reviews.

[Deleted]

The Strategic Review. Vol. 1 No. 1. Spring 1975.

Price: 50¢
Page Count: 6

It is difficult to say, perhaps, what separates a magazine from a newsletter. This first edition of The Strategic Review seems to straddle this imaginary divide with its six pages of double column, left justified (ragged right), 7 point (?) sans serif font. There is plenty of white space to keep one's eyes from growing tired while reading, but not an excessive amount. There is no index, but who needs one with but six pages? The articles are separated with a double black line, columns with a single line.

To give some historical reference, here are some facts about 1975. In the USA a gallon of gas cost around 45-50 cents. "Jaws" was popular in the movie theater, and it would cost you $2 to buy a ticket to see it. If you enjoyed reading you very likely owned a copy of James Clavell's latest release, "Shogun" (which my best friend consistently referred to as "Shotgun").

First off, let us address the title: The Strategic Review. The initials conveniently spell out "TSR", which corresponds with those of the publishing company, Tactical Studies Rules. In the future, the company name would change to simply "TSR" and thus the origin of that acronym is revealed.

The first page lists a basic mission statement and publisher's statement. The editor is listed as E. Gary Gygax, with Brian Blume credited as co-editor. Guidon Games (Chainmail) is referenced as being acquired by Tactical Studies Rules, and the various games acquired from them are listed. Finally, the promise of at least one supplement to OD&D to be released before GenCon.

The mind-flayer makes its first appearance here, the term "Illithid" does not appear in the short (approximately two paragraphs) article. A creator is not listed, though Gygax's claim of being the originator is, to our knowledge, not disputed. Psionics had not yet made an official appearance in OD&D, this would not happen until "Eldritch Wizardy" was released in 1976, but the creature works just fine without them.

The issue also contains an essay on "The Spear in Man to Man Combat" by Gygax, updates to "Tractics", and an excellent solo dungeon generator. This last would appear, with only a few changes, in the AD&D "Dungeon Masters Guide".

The last page has information about future issues of TSR and a hint of what "Tactical Studies Rules" planned to publish in the near future. Half the page is taken up with an advertisement for, among other things, "Warriors of Mars". Because this book was yanked from the market under threat of lawsuit from the Burroughs estate, it is now a bit of a "holy grail" for collectors.

All in all, a very good premiere for what would become a giant in the hobby industry.

[rick krebs]

Looking forward to the rest of your series. Nice to revisit the early days of D&D. Also in 1975, I think Cheap Trick was regularly playing the Ice House in Rockford, IL

[Deleted]

Thanks! I thought it might be of some interest to this board, considering our focus.

[Deleted]

The Strategic Review. Vol. 1, No. 2. Summer 1975.

Price: 50¢
Page Count: 8

For clarity, The Strategic Review will be abbreviated SR, and "Tactical Studies Rules" will be abbreviated TSR.

Our new issue arrives in the mail, and immediately we are struck by two things: an increased (by two) page count, and more art. The premiere issue of SR featured but a single piece of artwork, and it was merely filler, whereas this issue of SR features no less than six. The general layout from the first issue is retained.

The magazine opens with a dedication to Don Kaye, co-founder of TSR and lifelong friend of Gary Gygax, who had recently passed away.

This is followed by an editorial by Associate Editor Brian Blume, emphasizing TSR's willingness to work closely with its fan base, and asking for input regarding the future direction of the company. The list is of some interest, from a historical perspective, and is quoted here (along with directions for providing input to TSR).

Please drop a card listing your reaction by the numbers 9-0; 9=wonderful; 4-5=about average, 1=horrid; and a zip means you wouldn't even give the offering a thought.

A. Ancient-Rules
B. Wild West Rules
C. Napoleonic Naval Campaigns
D. More D & D Supplements
E. STAR PROBE Additions
F. Medieval Rules for the Crusades (compatible with CHAINMAIL)
G. Rules for Aurthurian Legend (compatible with CHAINMAIL)
H. Rules for Robin Hood (compatible with CHAINMAIL)
I. American Civil War Rules
J. Revolutionary War Rules
K. Napoleonic Wargame Rules for Super-Large Battles
L. Colonial Wars
M. WW I
N. FIGHT IN THE SKIES game
O. A Fantasy Boardgame
P. A Battle Game Similar to those Offered by AH & SPI
Q. A "Dippy" Variant with Rules and Full-Sized Mapboard
R. Name Your Own Poison

Also featured in this issue are rules additions for Cavaliers & Roundheads, and an article detailing news and information about the wargaming community. Of more interest to current gamers, perhaps is the appearance of the D&D FAQ. This FAQ provides clarification to combat in OD&D, morale, experience, and spell-casting and memorization. Hidden within the combat example are hints of a never-to-be-published and quite simple unarmed combat system.

The "Creature Feature" is back, with an early version of yet another classic D&D monster, the Roper. This time the article features an illustration, but not of the roper. Instead, the graphic appears to be an attempt to establish a standard artwork header for the feature and illustrates a purple worm and two dragons, one flying and standing.

Also appearing for the first time in a TSR publication is another D&D classic, this time a PC class: the Ranger (titled, curiously, Ranger I), credited to Joe Fischer. Is this the first version of the intended class? There is no indication within the pages of this edition of SR, so time will tell. The class is similar to what appeared in the pages of First Edition AD&D, with cleric and magic-user spells, tracking skills, and limitations on alignment, wealth, and magic items. Curiously, their first level advantage of rolling 2 dice for hit points is somewhat stronger for this version, because Rangers roll the same die as the OD&D Fighting-Man.

This issue also contains a lengthy (for SR) and illustrated article on pole arms by Gygax; the beginning of what some gamers have labeled a "fetish" for pole arms in the D&D/AD&D rules.

Rounding out the issue are a "TSR News" column, an advert for "Origins I" (this was before the famous dust-up between Origins and GenCon/TSR), rules expansions for "Panzer Warfare", and a full page of ads for TSR products.

Another great issue, setting a strong precedent for quality which, in our humble opinion, continues for many years in this magazine.

[Finarvyn]

SR was an interesting publication. I remember that my friend and I picked up the sequence somewhere around issue 3 or 4 and had to pick up the first couple as "back issues."

I wish that there was something like it today. Fight On! and Knockspell and the like are great publications, but there's something nifty about a tiny little newsletter kind of thing. It wasn't nearly as professional as Dragon became and it was simply fun to read.

I'll be following the progress of your readings.

[chgowiz]

Jun 27, 2009 15:59:19 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

SR was an interesting publication. I remember that my friend and I picked up the sequence somewhere around issue 3 or 4 and had to pick up the first couple as "back issues."

I wish that there was something like it today. Fight On! and Knockspell and the like are great publications, but there's something nifty about a tiny little newsletter kind of thing. It wasn't nearly as professional as Dragon became and it was simply fun to read.

I'll be following the progress of your readings.

Green Devil Face is a neat publication, small and very full of interesting ideas.

[calithena]

Readers of Fight On! #5 will also be aware of Scribe of Orcus and Old School Gazette, which seem in the vein you're looking for also, Fin.