I see this every day in one of the D&D groups , and this is always my answer (the drawing is mine, published in from the book Aasimar & Tiefling, Green Ronin 2003)
Bonus art, from Dungeon Magazine
I’m turning 53 and offering these at the $53 sale prices from now until June 28!
Prices are going up on everything! Except my art, which I’m marking down anywhere between $10 and $30 for these specific pieces listed here. These original pencil drawings (and a couple of inks) were produced for various D&D and other RPG books.
I’m offering them now for only $53* each! I’ll be posting new pieces weekly.
*(USD, unless you’re in Vancouver and we can arrange in person, then $55 CAD)
CONTACT ME at :
You can see more D&D art going all the way back to AD&D/2nd edition at https://torenatkinson.com/dungeons-and-dragons-original-art/ and I’ll be giving discounts on offsale stuff too if you buy two or more pieces!
Shipping to the US is typically $20 and that includes tracking and stiffening boards for maximum protection.
From Egyptian Adventures: Hamunaptra (3.5 edition, Green Ronin)
Skull & Bones (Green Ronin)
From BONDS OF MAGIC (Malhavoc Press)
From MINDSCAPES: BEASTS OF THE ID (Malhavoc Press)
From CAVALIER HANDBOOK (Green Ronin)
Cults of Freeport (Green Ronin)
From Temple Quarter (Game Mechanics/Green Ronin)
From Advanced Players Manual (Green Ronin)
From Advanced Bestiary (Green Ronin 2004)
From Minions (Chaosium, Call of Cthulhu)
From Monte Cook Presents: Year’s Best d20 (Malhavoc Press)
From Shaman’s Handbook (Green Ronin)
From Wrath and Rage: A Guidebook to Orcs, published by Green Ronin
From Spaceship Zero: The Roleplaying Game (2001 Green Ronin)
From Liber Bestarius (Eden Studios 2003)
From Black Sails Over Freeport (Green Ronin)
From MONSTERS OF THE MIND (Green Ronin)
From Book of the Righteous (Green Ronin)
From Monte Cook’s Arcana Unearthed D&D 3rd edition pencil on paper
From Bastards & Bloodlines D&D 3rd edition (Green Ronin Publishing) pencil on paper:
From Black Company (Green Ronin Publishing):
Book of Fiends (Green Ronin Publishing)
Aasimar and Tiefling: A Guidebook to the Planetouched (Green Ronin)
Mindshadows (Green Ronin)
Noble’s Handbook (Green Ronin)
From ORK! The Roleplaying Game (Green Ronin)
From Chaositech (Malhavoc Press)
From Creature Collection (White Wolf)
From Jade Dragons and Hungry Ghosts (Green Ronin)
From Creatures of Freeport (Green Ronin)
From Denizens of Freeport (Green Ronin)
from Touched by the Gods (Atlas Games)
From Thieves World (Green Ronin)
from Unholy Warrior’s Handbook (Green Ronin)
From HARP (High Adventure Roleplaying Game – Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE)
Season 16, 1978, 4 episodes
Third story in the Key to Time story arc. It’s back to Earth as the plunger of destination or whatever it’s called takes Romana and the Doctor to modern day Cornwall, England, where there’s an eeeevil sect of druids who worship standing stones that are actually silicon-based, blood-drinking, alien Ogri. The Doctor and the elderly and irascible professor Emilia Rumford learn that her partner Vivien Fay is secretly a silver space criminal, with a prison ship hidden in hyperspace. On the ship, the Doctor inadvertently releases ‘justice machines’ that put him on trial.
A nice gothic style mystery with an ingenious concept that sadly does not stick the landing, due to the jarring twist in tone from monster mystery to courtroom drama with twinkling light barristers. But, the old lady is fun (even with her odd line delivery) and there’s an important message about wearing sensible shoes on adventures.
Next up: The Androids of Tara
Every Sunday morning I livestream monster drawings from the 1st edition Monster Manual on twitch.tv/torenatkinson with the time limit of 20 minutes (ish)
Ned the nerdy neo-otyugh nibbles nervously on a nymph in a negligee. Nightly.
Ollie the orange owlbear ogles an octopus in the ocean.
A prowling pack of petite purple worms preys upon a panicking paladin
Quentin the quintessential quasit in a quarry of quartzite quiet quits his quest to quaff a quart of quicksilver
Rudy the ruddy rust monster revoltingly retches remnants of Ruddiger’s ringmail
Six stubborn stirges swarm a sorry straggler and his steed
Click here for part 1. Click here for part 2.
There were only 6 episodes in season 3!
22. DUNGEON AT THE HEART OF DAWN
Essential? Yes. This episode explains some of Venger’s backstory, and what master he serves.
Game Adaptation Friendly? It could be challenging but also interesting to take away kids’ weapons of power during the Underworld set pieces.
AD&D Monsters: Shadow demon, salamanders, duergar (possibly), purple worm
Bonus monsters: He Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken
When the kids release a powerful evil entity from the Box of Balefire, DM drains the Weapons of Power to fend it off, and escape to the Underworld. Without magic and with Venger on their heels, the kids are separated one by one as they cross the Planes of Fire to revivify DM in the Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn.
Notes: Starts off with the characters in pitch black, saving thousands on the animation budget! Frank Welker Voices: Hogar the duergar.
23. THE TIME LOST
Essential? No but as a kid’s cartoon with Nazis it’s worth a watch
Game Adaptation Friendly? No this could go sideways in many many ways.
AD&D Monsters: blue dragon
Venger uses the Crystal of Chronos to send a Nazi fighter pilot back to WWII Germany with modern jet technology to win the war for Germany, thus eliminating the kids before they’re born.
Notes: Diana has never seen an American fighter jet. Frank Welker Voices: American fighter pilot
24. ODYSSEY OF THE 12TH TALISMAN
Essential? No
Game Adaptation Friendly?
AD&D Monsters: jackalope. Bonus monster: some kind of dire camel or possibly off-model catoblepas
DM quests the kids to find and destroy the unpredictably dangerous Stone of Astra, which is in the hands of a kid that Eric bonds with named Lorn. An evil wizard frames the kids in an effort to acquire the artifact.
Notes: this is Eric gets a friend episode. Frank Welker voices the wizard Korlock
25. CITADEL OF SHADOW
Essential? No
Game Adaptation Friendly? No
AD&D Monsters: orcs. Bonus monster: flying bat-thing
Sheila frees a girl Kareena from her magic prison, and there’s two magic Ring of the Heart and the Ring of the Mind that can send the kids home, but Kareena has a connection with Venger.
Notes: Frank Welker voices an orc
26. CAVE OF THE FAERIE DRAGONS
Essential? No
Game Adaptation Friendly? Quite possibly! But I haven’t tried it yet.
AD&D Monsters: Faerie dragons, giant ants
Tasmira, queen of the Faerie Dragons, is held prisoner by the evil warlord King Varen, who desires their treasure. Aided by the sassy little dragon Amber, the gang must free her and help her people find a new home.
Notes: Presto makes a reference to the 1950’s giant ants movie “Them!”
27. THE WINDS OF DARKNESS
Essential? No
Game Adaptation Friendly? Quite possibly! But I haven’t tried it yet.
AD&D Monsters: brontotherium. Bonus monsters: furry pet, darkling.
BONUS EPISODE: REQUIEM
Essential? Tough call. Considering it’s not official, I would say it’s strictly not essential. But if you want closure, watch it.
Game Adaptation Friendly? Ask me later.
AD&D Monsters: Hydra, bronze dragon, lizard men, shadow demon. Bonus monster: amoeboid
This was to be the final episode of the series and a script was written but it was not officially produced. A radio play of the script was released with the DVD box set, including the original voice of Sheila, Katie Leigh. In 2020 a fan-made animation was released on Youtube which you can see here.
Click for PART ONE (Season 1)
Click for PART THREE (Season 3)
This season the episodes begin to focus on individual characters a bit more, giving them connections with other kids they meet during their travels. There are 8 episodes.
14. THE GIRL WHO DREAMED TOMORROW
Essential? No
Game adaptation friendly? I haven’t tried to run it but it seems problematic.
AD&D Monsters: bullywugs, lizard men, hydra, cockatrice. Original monsters: bat-winged tentacle monster
Bobby’s true love episode. The kids meet another refugee from the D&D ride on Earth, Teri, with an ability of prophetic dreams. DM tells them a portal home lies within within the Maze of Darkness. Teri dreams that she will be reunited with Bobby in America and DM confirms it will happen. Venger wants the secret of Teri’s powers. For some reason Bobby destroys the portal after Teri passes through it.
Notes: Sheila spanks a lizard man, and We learn former pupils of DM died in the maze!
15. TREASURE OF TARDOS
Essential? No
Game adaptation friendly? No, for multiple reasons
AD&D Monsters: plesiosaurus, orcs, shadow demon. Original monsters: demodragon
Venger has created a two-headed horror Demodragon in an effort to trick Queen Sulinara of Tardos Keep into giving up their treasured dragonsbane. Venger would use the plant against Tiamat, but DM sends the kids to help. Somehow they avoid dying.
16. CITY AT THE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT
Essential? No
Game adaptation friendly? I think this could work if you’re willing to separate a PC from the rest of the group.
AD&D Monsters: hook horrors, possibly a modified Type III Demon
King Ramuud, posing as a caravan merchant from Kadish, has lost his daughter Aisha to a creature called the Night Walker, who enslaves kids in his city where time is stopped. When Bobby is also taken, the kids go to rescue him.
Notes: Schoolmate Jimmy Whitaker says Presto does stupid magic tricks. Ramuud is way nicer than Eric’s dad.
17. THE TRAITOR
Essential? No
Game adaptation friendly? Yes, the plot is quite simple, though I have not run it myself.
AD&D Monsters: orcs, shadow demon. Original creatures: Cloud bears.
In this Endor/Ewok/Care Bears ‘ripoff/homage’, Hank and Bobby are captured by Venger, and Hank makes a deal to betray his comrades in order to save Bobby. Then he learns that the magic stones of the cloud bears are Venger’s kryptonite.
Notes: Venger uses orcs to attack the tree-dwelling cloud bears. He should have used his flying apes from episode 3!
18. DAY OF THE DUNGEON MASTER
Essential? YES!
Game adaptation friendly? Not with any regard to power balance, no.
AD&D Monsters: giant wasps, yeti, red dragon, roc, giant octopus (presumably)
Eric takes on the mantle and powers of Dungeon Master while the kids quest to the City of Darkhaven to acquire The Golden Grimoire.
Notes: They reference Star Wars. Eric has a selfless moment, Bobby is fine with leaving Uni alone in the realm this time. The animation during the climax is higher quality than the rest of the ep.
19. THE LAST ILLUSION
Essential? No
Game adaptation friendly? Probably, but I haven’t run it personally.
AD&D Monsters: Tiamat, orcs, giant squid
In this fairly dark episode, Presto connects with a natural illionist Varla, held captive by Venger in the Forbidden Tower. The kids must rescue her but Venger frames them as witches and townsfolk throw them in jail.
Presto’s love episode, with a happy ending, but we don’t know what happens to Varla for the rest of the series.
Notes: DM takes a bow at the end of the episode
20. THE DRAGON’S GRAVEYARD
Essential? YES! One of the darker episodes where the kids finally try to take control of their destiny.
Game adaptation friendly? Not sure how you would do this. Would give the PC opportunity to gain new Weapons of Power.
AD&D Monsters: frost giant, shadow demon, Tiamat
Remarkably this episode starts with the kids finding a portal home, and the kids are fed up when Venger thwarts them. The plan: to put an end to Venger, permanent-like, with the help of Tiamat.
21. CHILD OF THE STARGAZER
Essential? No
Game adaptation friendly? No
AD&D Monsters: doombat, demon
Diana falls for the extremely uncharismatic Kosar, recently escaped from a dungeon in city of Turad by the demon queen to prevent the fulfilling of the prophecy “On the Night of Starfall, the child of the stargazer shall come from a far away land to stand in the Temple of Light and the demon shall be banished.”
Notes: No Venger in this episode. Episode opens with Diana singing the end credits music. The animation is uneven in this episode, off model at times but more anime at the end
…on to SEASON THREE!
The final episode that wraps up the kids’ journey was scripted by Michael Reaves but was not professionally animated, as Mark Evanier explains on his blog. However, see the fan version here
I stream these every Sunday at 10am pacific time!
Around this time I started putting the monsters in alliterative situations!
In which I suggest only the absolute essentials for someone who might be curious about the show but not want to invest in the whole series. There are 27 episodes in total, and I’m going to suggest six, which together come to about the length of a feature film.
What are my criteria? Well written, not overly goofy, portrays the D&D game world reasonably authentically, and has heart.
Click here for Season 2 (under construction)
Click here for Season 3 (under construction)
A Marvel/TSR co-production, developed by the legendary Mark Evanier. Mark has a fun blog entry on how it all got started
https://www.newsfromme.com/pov/col145-2/
The conceit of the show, explained in the opening credits, is that six American kids are transported to a realm of sword and sorcery via a carnival ride. There they are assigned AD&D classes (ranger, barbarian, thief, cavalier, magician, acrobat) and magical “Weapons of Power” by a Yoda-like character called “Dungeon Master.” Ol’ DM basically tortures them with riddles and teases them with quests that promise to lead them back to the good ol’ US. Naturally, they never escape the realm of D&D.
Oh, and because it’s the 80’s, the mandatory cutesy mascot is in this case a baby unicorn “Uni” voiced, of course, by Frank Welker. Peter “Optimus Prime” Cullen is the voice of the recurring bad guy, Venger, who we learn secrets about in later episodes.
The score is excellent, and shares some tracks with the contemporary Marvel Spider-Man and Hulk series. The animation also at times transcends typical Saturday morning fare, with some clear “money shot” sequences, such as when a castle crumbles into a volcano and Venger’s immortal spirit towers over the heroes.
As a Dungeon Master myself, I’ll be looking at this series with my DM hat on. Are some episodes D&D adventure-adaptation friendly? Could it be a playable scenario to run with your home group? I have adapted some episodes, which I detail at length in old 2005 blog entries here and here https://torenatkinson.com/2005/04/16/part-2-campaign-adaptation/
There are 13 episodes in season 1
Essential? It’s fine but you can skip it.
Game adaptation friendly? No, too much of the plot is dependent on particular decisions a group probably won’t make.
AD&D Monsters: Tiamat. Original monsters: fire-breathing brown dragons
Presto the nerdy magician is tricked into releasing a swarm of dragons that plagued the town of Helix 100 years ago. The kids defeat Tiamat twice because she is very dumb.
Watch my commentary as a storyboard artist, voice actor, and DM:
2. THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Essential? No. As much a fan as I am of beholders, they don’t really do the monster justice, and the episode drags somewhat.
Game adaptation friendly? I can’t see how the kids could survive this in normal play, so I say no.
AD&D Monsters: beholder, giant scorpion, blue dragon. Original monsters: giant snail people, sabre-tooth cats of some kind?
The kids get mixed up with a cowardly knight, Sir John. DM leads the kids to a portal guarded by a beholder. The beholder disappointingly only shoots lazers or energy tentacles from its eyes. Venger shows up to kill John and the kids forego the way home in favor of saving John.
Notes: Frank Welker voices Sir John. My video commentary is here:
3. THE HALL OF BONES
Essential? Yes, I recommend this episode.
Game adaptation friendly? I think you could do it, except it relies on the PCs trusting Hector, which may not happen.
AD&D Monsters: Tiamat, shadow demon, troll, orcs, misc townsfolk including a bugbear and lizard man or troglodyte? Lolth demon queen of spiders! Original monsters: “simian bats”
The kids’ weapons run out of magic and must be recharged at a tomb called the Hall of Bones. Hector the pantsless halfling guides them.
Notes: Frank Welker does the “don’t stop!” background voice and Hector the Halfling
4. VALLEY OF THE UNICORNS
Essential? Yes, the new villain Kelek is cool.
Game adaptation friendly? Well, if your group doesn’t have a unicorn buddy, probably not.
AD&D Monsters: (dire) wolves; unicorns
Kelek the bad wizard wants to collect unicorn horns from the few remaining specimens. Uni learns she can teleport, although this seldom comes up in future episodes.
5. IN SEARCH OF THE DUNGEON MASTER
Essential? It’s run of the mill plot, but has some charm. Still, you can skip it.
Game adaptation friendly? Yes, I did it successfully.
AD&D Monsters: sprite, zombie, bullywugs, lamassu, earth elemental, orcs, giant snapping turtle, shadow demon. Original monster: giant snail, “Know Tree”
The mercenary Warduke captures DM to sell to Venger. In the quest to rescue him, the kids are captured and thrown in slave mines where they meet a dwarf who talks like Yoda.
Warduke was given an action figure, and years later was statted up in Dragon Magazine and given an official miniature
6. BEAUTY AND THE BOGBEAST
Essential? This is a decent character episode for Eric, so watch it if you like his character, otherwise you can skip.
Game adaptation friendly? Possibly but I haven’t tried it.
AD&D Monsters: giant metal golem, ogre mage. Original monsters: bog beasts
DM leads the kids to a portal home that opens once a year for 60 seconds, but Eric is transformed into a croaking “bog beast” by a magic flower. In order to break the spell they must seek out more bog beasts who are threatened by Kalimung the ogre mage. The kids actually make it home, but return to the realm to restore Eric’s form.
7. THE PRISON WITHOUT WALLS
Essential? It’s pretty good, but I wouldn’t say it’s mandatory.
Game adaptation friendly? Maybe, but the riddles are fairly obvious, and it requires a character to work a magic spell so probably one of the PCs should be a spellcaster.
AD&D Monsters:: shadow demon, orcs, violet fungus, shambling mound, zombies, animated statues or stone golem,
DM tells the kids that a gnome wizard trapped in ‘a prison without walls’ can help them get home, but first they must release him and free his people from Venger’s enslavement.
8. SERVANT OF EVIL
Essential? Yes. I think this ep is emblematic of the show, showcases character, has heart, and portrays the quality of D&D.
Game adaptation friendly? Yes, and I’ve run it successfully!
AD&D Monsters: lizard men, a giant, xill. Original monsters: unidentified land tadpoles, lavender serpentine prisoner, lava hydra (possibly just a spell)
With the exception of birthday boy Bobby, Venger captures all the kids, takes their weapons and puts them in the Prison of Agony. DM gives Bobby a magic amulet, and sends him to rescue his friends, which he does with the help of the fighter Strongheart and the kind-hearted giant who serves as gatekeeper
Notes: Strongheart was one of the characters in the D&D action figure line
9. QUEST OF THE SKELETON WARRIOR
Essential? No. It’s got good qualities but is annoying in places.
Game adaptation friendly? Not easily – the PCs are separated and subjected to their phobias, which can be tricky to run.
AD&D Monsters: Grimlocks, swamp hags, giant eagle AKA war bird.
A powerful artifact called the Circle of Power lies within the Lost Tower (of the Celestial Knights), and DM says it can get the kids home. Dekkion, the last Celestial Knight (presently cursed by Venger), admits the kids into the tower where their worst fears of the kids are manifest.
10. THE GARDEN OF ZINN
Essential? No
Game adaptation friendly? I say no.
AD&D Monsters: baby green dragon (?), phantom stalkers, bloodworm, choke creeper (?)
Bobby is poisoned during a monster fight and the only cure comes from the garden of an evil queen. The queen needs to wed a king to avoid losing her throne, and the successful applicant must survive the Trial of the Worm. The kids find an ally in the monstrous Sorlarz who has his own secret past.
11. THE BOX
Essential? A neat inventive concept but if you’re pressed for time it’s okay to skip.
Game adaptation friendly? Yes I think so but I haven’t tried.
AD&D Monsters: bullywugs, shadow demon, Tiamat, giant wasps
The kids must take the sorceress Zandora’s magical chest to Skull Mountain at noon and open it to find a way home. The kids actually do get home but Venger comes through as well and threatens to destroy Earth so they return.
12. THE LOST CHILDREN
Essential? This ep stands out from the rest because of the space stuff, which is cool. If you’re a Spelljammer fan you might check this out. Otherwise ok to skip
Game adaptation friendly? Yes I think so!
AD&D Monsters: shadow demon, orcs, lizard men, possibly a grimlock. Original monsters: some cloaked one-eyed humanoids and the creatures they ride
DM informs the kid about a ship and a group of kids from another planet, who they find and befriend. They must all rescue the groups elder and spaceship, held in Venger’s castle.
13. P-R-E-S-T-O SPELLS DISASTER
Essential? Definitely not
AD&D Monsters: stegosaurus, orcs, a xill, a three-headed giant/firbolg? a giant and 2 gold dragons.
Game adaptation friendly? Possibly
One of Presto’s spells backfires and sends the other kids to the house of a hairy giant, who torments his new playthings with his pet ‘slime beast’ Willy. He’s also been stealing eggs from a gold dragon’s nest.
SUMMARY: THE 3 ESSENTIALS FROM THIS SEASON:
1. Hall of Bones
2. Valley of the Unicorns
3. Servant of Evil
Every Sunday at 10am Pacific I livestream myself drawing a monster from the AD&D Monster Manual – the link is
https://www.twitch.tv/torenatkinson
SLIDESHOW! Catoblepas, Displacer Beast, Efreet, Frog (Giant), Giant (Storm), Gnoll, Harpy
Here’s the youtube playlist:
It’s my goal to draw 26 monsters from the original D&D Monster Manual, each with a 20 minute time limit. I have recorded my twitch livestream which you can find here: https://www.twitch.tv/torenatkinson
Hey, betcha didn’t know I have a Patreon? Support the stuff you love! https://www.patreon.com/torenatkinson
Want to buy some original art from me? https://torenatkinson.com/artwork/original-art-for-sale/
Also my social medias:
INSTAGRAMÂ https://www.instagram.com/torenatkinsonartist/
TUMBLR https://www.tumblr.com/torenatkinsonartist
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