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Legends & Lore


Sequels (and expansions) to the Original D&D Supplement Gods, Demi-Gods, & Heroes.  For AD&D.

Deities & Demigods by James Ward with Robert Kuntz
Legends & Lore by James Ward with Robert Kuntz

In the rec.games.frp.dnd FAQ, Aardy DeVarque notes: "The first printing of Deities & Demigods included the mythoi of Cthulhu and Melnibone.  The ideas behind the Cthulhu mythos were in the public domain at that time, but copyright on the Cthulhu books in print was owned by Arkham House, who had licensed Chaosium to create a Cthulhu RPG based on those books.  TSR thought the public domain status allowed them to create game representations of whatever Cthulhu creatures they desired, and so that mythos was added to Deities & Demigods.  TSR then contacted Michael Moorcock, who gave permission for TSR to include the Melnibonean mythos in Deities & Demigods. However, again, Chaosium had already arranged for a license to create an Elric RPG.

"Chaosium became upset that TSR was apparently violating Chaosium's licenses, and the print run of Deities & Demigods was halted while the two companies sat down to talk.  Eventually, they agreed that TSR could continue printing the books with the two mythoi as is, on the condition that a note be added to the preface: 'Special thanks are also given to Chaosium, Inc. for permission to use the material found in the Cthulhu Mythos and the Melnibonean Mythos.'  The printing plates were changed, and the first printing continued.

"When the time for a second printing came (noted as the Third print, below -- Ed.), the Blume brothers decided that a TSR book should not contain such a prominent reference to one of their competitors. They decided to remove the two mythoi, and thus the need for the note."  (Thanks to Aardy DeVarque for this info).

Legends & Lore has identical contents to Deities & Demigods; the cover artwork was updated in-line with the other 1983 AD&D manuals, and the title was changed to avoid potential conflicts with fundamentalist Christian groups.


Printing Information  Logos

The printing descriptions below treat both manuals as simply different printings of the same book (which they are).

  • First (1980):  Entitled "Deities & Demigods"; cover artwork by Erol Otus.  Wizard logo.  Contains 17 pantheons, including the Chaosium-copyrighted Cthulhu and Melnibonean mythoi.  Chaosium is not thanked for these mythoi on the bottom of page 4.  ISBN on back cover lower left and on spine.  144 pages.  (Thanks to James Kirby for help with this info).

  • Second:  Entitled "Deities & Demigods"; cover artwork by Erol Otus.  Wizard logo.  Contains 17 pantheons, including the Chaosium-copyrighted Cthulhu and Melnibonean mythoi.  Chaosium is thanked for these mythoi on the bottom of page 4, with a line reading "Special thanks are also given to Chaosium, Inc. for permission to use the material found in the Cthulhu Mythos and the Melnibonean Mythos."  ISBN on back cover lower left and on spine.  144 pages.

  • Third:  Entitled "Deities & Demigods"; cover artwork by Erol Otus.  Wizard logo.  Contains only 15 pantheons (the Cthulhu and Melnibone mythoi have been removed), but the back cover of the manual still states "seventeen pantheons".  Chaosium is still thanked for them on page 4.  ISBN on back cover lower left and on spine.  128 pages.

  • Fourth (1981):  Entitled "Deities & Demigods"; cover artwork by Erol Otus.  TSR Face logo.  Contains 15 pantheons.  Colors are slightly shifted towards blue, as compared with the purples of the first three printings (especially near the top of the cover).  Back of manual correctly states "fifteen pantheons", but the Chaosium credit on page 4 is still there.  ISBN and Product number on back cover lower left and on spine. (Thanks to Scott Griffin for this info).

  • Fourth Plus:  Entitled "Deities & Demigods"; cover artwork by Erol Otus.  TSR Face logo.  Contains 15 pantheons.  Colors are slightly shifted towards blue, as compared with the purples of the first three printings (especially near the top of the cover).  Back of manual correctly states "fifteen pantheons", and the Chaosium credit has now been removed from the bottom of page 4.  ISBN and Product number on back cover lower left and on spine. (Thanks to Kurt Lupinsky for much of this info and the scan). 

  • Fifth (1984):  Retitled "Legends & Lore"; artwork by Jeff Easley (now with an orange spine).  Credits on bottom of front cover are two lines.  Contents identical to Fourth Plus print. (Thanks to John McCarthy for help with this info).

  • Sixth (1987):  Credits on bottom of front cover have now been combined onto one line.  States "6th Printing, December 1987" on copyright page.  Otherwise identical to Fifth print.  (Thanks to Scott Fayer for this info).

  • Seventh (1988):  States "7th Printing, April 1988" on copyright page.  Otherwise identical to Sixth print.  (Thanks to Rick Blumer and Michael Deaton for this info).

  • Eighth (1990):  States "8th Printing, April 1990" on copyright page.  Otherwise identical to Sixth print.  (Thanks to Jason Parise for this info).


Auction Commentary

Contrary to rumor, the first two printings of Deities & Demigods were never recalled or "banned".  They're far more common than most people seem to believe; an estimated 10,000 - 15,000 copies of these prints are still in circulation.  However, due to the hype of the removed pantheons, a First or Second printing currently fetches more than any other AD&D hardcover manual (though recent prices have been falling).


Current eBay Auctions



Deities & Demigods
(1st - 3rd print)



Deities & Demigods
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Legends & Lore
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Legends & Lore
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