AD&D quick-reference aid for the Dungeon Master.  The "screen" is panels of folded cardboard, with various tables printed on one side; set up on edge, it blocks players' view of adventure information.

Dungeon Masters Screen

Printing Information

For the first six printings, the color of the screen seems to vary wildly (even within printings) from a definite yellow to a dark orange.  The color, by itself, is not determinative of a particular printing.  (Thanks to John Justice, John Kozol, Mike Kuo, and Morey Winnett for help with this information, and to John Kozol for the scan of the First print).

• First (1979):  No cover art.  "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" is printed in large letters, centered across the top front cover.  Copyright on cover is simply listed as "1979".  Wizard logo.  Paper stock is thinner than later versions (reportedly "a little thicker than a module cover").  Consists of two screens; one 11"x17" (psionic tables and the "cover") and one 11"x34" (combat & saving throws and a reproduction of the cover art from the original Players Handbook).  The "front side" of both screens (the side facing the players) is laminated; the "back side" of the screens, with the charts, is plain.

• Second (1979?):  Adds cover artwork by Erol Otus.  Slight change in the formatting of the cover text (same words, but text wraps around at different points).  Copyright on cover is now listed as "1979, TSR Games".  Screens are otherwise identical to the First print (though we've had reports of both thin-style cardboard as well as the thicker-style noted below... any other differences between these two types is unknown).  Thanks to David Banks for the scan.

• Third:  Identical to Second, but with the following differences: cardboard is noticeably thicker (this thicker cardboard would be used for all future printings as well).  The artwork paper wraps around a few millimeters to the chart-side of the screens, which creates a sort of "seal" on the edges of the cardboard (much like the covers of the hardback AD&D manuals).  The charts themselves are on a separate sheet of paper, and have been pasted on to the screen.

• Fourth (1980?):  Now states "This second edition of the DM Screen..." in the cover text.  Wizard logo.  "Printed in USA" on the bottom left.  Screens have been "redesigned for better clarity", are varnished on both sides, and are now both 11"x25" (a version has been reported with varnish on one side of the screen only -- thanks to John Justice for this info).  The artwork paper does not wrap around to the chart-side, nor are the charts pasted on.

• Fourth+:  Identical to Fourth, but does not have "Printed in USA" on the bottom left. (Thanks to Rhea Shelley for this info).

• Fifth (1981):  TSR Face logo.  "For Advanced D&D Game" is in an angled yellow banner in upper left; "Dungeon Masters Screen" is in small letters, centered on top front cover, two lines.  No ISBN or Product Number on front cover or back.  No "Printed in USA" on bottom left.  (Thanks to Venison Turner Jr. for this info, and the scan).

• Fifth+:  Identical to Fifth, but adds "Printed in USA" to bottom left.  (Thanks to Dan DeFigio for this info).

• Sixth:  TSR Face logo.  "For Advanced D&D Game" is in an angled yellow banner in upper left; "Dungeon Masters Screen" is in small letters, centered on top front cover, two lines.  ISBN and Product Number are stacked on the front cover, bottom left, underneath "Printed in USA".

• Seventh (1985):  A paper cover (featuring the artwork from the Fifth printing of the DMs Guide, and having player character ability summaries on the back), enclosing two separate, 3-panel cardstock screens:  a DMs Screen (same artwork as the cover), and a Players Reference Screen (artwork from the Eighth printing of the Players Handbook).  TSR stock #9146.  Rear cover has no ISBN above the bar code, and has the price ($6.00) on the lower right.  Labeled the First printing on our REF page.

• Eighth:  Identical to Seventh, but has ISBN above the bar code (rear cover center), and the price in the lower rear right.  Labeled the Second printing on our REF page (thanks to Francesco Catenacci and Ross Freier for this info).

• Ninth:  Identical to Seventh, but has ISBN above the bar code (rear cover center), and has no price in the lower rear right.  Labeled the Third printing on our REF page (thanks to Michael Deaton for this info).

• Ninth (1989):  New cover artwork, and now just a single cardstock DMs screen.  TSR stock #9263, with Angled TSR logo.  Includes the mini-module Terrible Trouble at Tragidore (which also has the Angled TSR logo), by Bruce and Jean Rabe, 16 pgs, for levels 5-8.  Labeled the Fourth printing on our REF page (thanks to Adrian Newman for the scan).

• Tenth (1992?):  Identical to the Ninth printing, but now features the Gold Angled TSR logo (as does the included mini-module).  Labeled the Fifth printing on our REF page.

• Eleventh (Feb 1994):  Identical to the Ninth print, but now features the TSR Dragon logo (as does the included mini-module).  Has "Eighth Printing, Feb 1994" on back cover.  Designated as the Eighth printing on our REF page.  Thanks to Linda Curtin for this info.

• Twelfth (Nov 1994):  Same as Eleventh, but says "Ninth Printing, Nov 1994" on back cover.  Designated as the Ninth printing on our REF page. Thanks to Scott Fayers for this info.

DMs Screens are fairly common.

• Dungeon Masters Screen