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Gary Gygax describes this book in its foreword as “integral to Dungeon Mastering a true AD&D campaign”.
Lets flip through TSR’s Deities and Demigods, released in 1980, and written by James Ward and Robert Kuntz. #dnd
Lets flip through TSR’s Deities and Demigods, released in 1980, and written by James Ward and Robert Kuntz. #dnd
So, this is not by any means an original copy of mine. In fact, I’ve never owned Deities and Demigods for any edition of the game. Never been my favorite aspect of it, not really all that interesting to me. This copy was gifted to me a few years ago by my bromance, @Highmoon.
Well, I guess I do own this one. You know what I mean. This one is in mint condition btw. 
Lets get this out of the way. This version is in fact the one with the Cthulhu and Melnibonean mythos included. Later prints removed those.
We’ll take a look at those.
We’ll take a look at those.
Those meaning the mythos. Not the print runs. #context
Wondering where gods like Corellon, Larethian, Moradin, and Gruumsh first came into the game? This book.
This is basically a monster manual about the gods, but without really intending to provide adversaries for the pc’s to fight...
It’s laid lit like other AD&D books of the time, giving the PHb, DMG, MM, and this some nice consistency.
Out, not lit. 
Tis me! Tis all of us!
This is good. Once we get past the first few pages of “gamey” stuff, we get advice on role playing the gods, along with the relationship they have with their clerics.
Clerics had it rough! Lots of talk about ultimate sacrifices and what not. 
Things like Omens, Immortality and Divine Ascension within the context of the game are presented before getting to the actual mythos. Really interesting reading.
We then get into the matter at hand. The gods. If you are familiar with the monster manual format, then this book will be instantly recognizable.
I guess my first question here would be to ask about the intent? I guess it’s to provide options so DMs aren’t building their own pantheons, but the game had such a heavy pseudo-Medieval European vibe, who the hell was using a Native American mythos?
The occasional magic item.
“Possibly the greatest of all Indian heroes”! He apparently discovered Maize. Hiawatha.
Arthurian Heroes! I am digging the fonts here. A for effort.
I give you King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and Merlin.
Excalibur is a +5 sword of sharpness. He is (in 5e terms) resistant to slashing and piercing damage due to it.
Babylonian Mythos!
Disclaimer: we may have gotten some of this wrong.
Disclaimer: we may have gotten some of this wrong.
Bear with me it’s a long quarantine.
Here is Gilgamesh, a bit on the nose, grabbing the bull by the horns.
The Celtic pantheon! Here’s a familiar face still around today. Oghma!
Central America representing.
Cool art.
Is it me, or are these somewhat unusable?
The chinese mythos entry starts off with a few magical items.
Alright. Cthulhu mythos, one of two mythos removed from the book in future printings.
I am surprised the old man only has an AC 2. But then, he’s got 30 fucking attacks. So there’s that.
There is no acknowledgment to Chaosium here regarding the Lovecraft license, so this is a true 1st print run copy of Deities and Demigods.
Lovecraft had and still has a huge influence on this game.
If he is released, anyone and everything within 100(!) miles must save vs. death or go insane a number of months equal to their INT. Okay.
The Egyptian mythos section includes hieroglyphs for DMs to use in maps and handouts. That’s pretty cool actually.
Finnish, Greeks...
Where there no cyclops in the 1e MM?
The authors had a hard time with the Indian Mythos.
Elric. The second “forbidden” mythos in the book.
A bibliography is appreciated.
Someone make a 5e one, go!
The Gray Mouser
Includes a bit of world lore.
And random tables to use if you play in the world of Nehwon.
Phew. Stopping for tonight. You get the idea behind the book..... here’s a few favorites.
