Does anyone have any idea of the production values on these reissues? What kind of paper (glossy or regular) and the type of binding (thermal hardcover or sewn) ???

Probably printed using the exact same paper and binding as the 4th edition books, though you would hope it was higher quality and the cover is not the only thing "premium" about them.

And why does this say July for pre-order? The Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and this book are all supposed to be released together on April 17th, which is still the date listed on the WotC site.

Likely because the DMG was probably more then twice as large as the PHB and the Monster Manual page count wise.

In fact those other two books are a bit useless without the one that has like 90% of the rules in it...

Assuming it's not just an error, or they all got pushed back, etc. :D

And why does this say July for pre-order? The Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and this book are all supposed to be released together on April 17th, which is still the date listed on the WotC site.

We heard that the release date for all three books has been pushed back to the July date. No idea why.

-Lisa

Well, Paizo can't be the only company that has to deal with Chinese printing delays. That or they wanted to save them for GenCon, the original D&D convention.

Well, here is the official word from WotC, directly from their website and Facebook page:

A quick update for those as excited as me (or more excited) about the 1E core book reprint and premium treatment. The process behind re-mastering the original materials unfortunately pushed back the release date a bit. But have no fear - I do have a date for you. We're looking to get out the 1st Edition Premium Players Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide on July 17th, 2012.

Why are people buying these? Are they going to go back and play AD&D, or is it just for nostalgia, as collectors items?

I'm curious, because I have these books and I have no interest in buying them again...

People are buying to play, nostalgia, collectors, and the money goes towards a Gary Gygax statue memorial fund. It's AD&D 1st edition, a legendary game of magic and monsters.

Why are people buying these? Are they going to go back and play AD&D, or is it just for nostalgia, as collectors items?

I'm curious, because I have these books and I have no interest in buying them again...

Every few years I purge my RPG collection, so I dont have any of my AD&D books anymore. I'm sure I won't play it again, although I might browse the DMG, just for nostalgic reasons.

The is few books in my RPG library that has been read and reread than the 1st Ed DMG.

To this very day, as James over at Grognardia put it "Anyone who owns and adores Gary Gygax's AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide knows well that one of its appeals is that, no matter how thoroughly you think you've read it, the next time you pick it up you'll find some little tidbit you're pretty sure you've never read before. Case in point: today, I chanced upon a line at the end of the description of the cloak of poisonousness that I can't recall ever having read.

'After its effects are known, a small label saying "Nessus Shirt Company" might be seen at your option.'

"Another fine example of Gygaxian drollery!"

From Greek Myth to The Count of Monte Cristo to Hitler plots to a beloved edition of the DMG.

Thanks for this, tales and artifacts of Vecna, tables for Wanton Wenches, breakable Staffs of the Magi, and all the rest Gary!

The Iconics' Grandparents.

In this age of snobbery confused with being 'sophisticated', I wonder how many will sneer at the books which made Paizo possible...

*sneer*

I love the books, I'm just doing that to be contrary.

Meh, I'll look for it at Half Price Books for a cheap collectible.

In this age of snobbery confused with being 'sophisticated', I wonder how many will sneer at the books which made Paizo possible...

Well said. +1

'After its effects are known, a small label saying "Nessus Shirt Company" might be seen at your option.'

"Another fine example of Gygaxian drollery!"

From Greek Myth to The Count of Monte Cristo to Hitler plots to a beloved edition of the DMG.

Thanks for this, tales and artifacts of Vecna, tables for Wanton Wenches, breakable Staffs of the Magi, and all the rest Gary!

Sure enough, there it is in my aged 1st DMG! Thank you baron for bringing this to my attention. Gary rocks!

Any idea if this and the other two will be available for the July Paizo product shipment?

From what I remember, WoTC said they'd be shipping in mid-late July. I think we'll be lucky to see them in the August shipment, to be frank. (though I tend towards pessimism on such things).

I will forever believe the AD&D DMG is one of the finest RPG books ever published.

I *still* use mine for reference purposes.

Of course, since I have something like 3 or 4 of them, I probably won't be getting yet another copy, especially since I'm guessing that my original DMGs will outlast this new "high quality" one, given what contemporary publishing standards are.

Just got done paging through these three beautiful books. I can't believe how familiar they still are - some corner of my brain somehow still remembers where the passage on Monty haul campaigns is, the full page paladin picture...brings back very fond memories.

I bought the originals as they came out - one year between each release. It's embarassing to think that I stress nowadays when a paizo shipment shows as "pending" for a day or two.. :/

I got a chance to play in a 1E game (Temple of Elemental Evil) at Gencon and the GM had all three of these books. First, yes, they're extremely well made and look great. Second, yes, my "muscle" memory somehow was able to almost instantly flip to the Saving Throws and THAC0 charts without even thinking about it. It was.. oddly amusing how quick and easily things returned to my memory. On a related note, playing in that game reiterated in my mind how much more important the GM is than the actual rules. While there are many "holes" in the AD&D rules the GM who ran the session made it exceptionally memorable.

Sorry, that was a short tangent :)

And yet not something that's any different now.

Even with several orders of magnitude more rules, the GM is still more important to enjoyment of a contemporary game than the rules are.