Another Greg Bell Lift

Let’s talk about Greg Bell, the artist behind some of the earliest visuals in Dungeons & Dragons. It’s no secret that Bell wasn’t exactly crafting his work from scratch—he lifted a good chunk of his art from other sources. Now, before you grab your pitchforks, hear me out: as a professional artist myself, I’m not clutching my pearls over this. In fact, I’d argue it’s not as scandalous as it might sound. Artists have been begging, borrowing, and, yes, stealing ideas since the second caveman to draw an aurochs on the cave wall did. The trick is in the spin—taking something old and breathing new life into it, giving it a creative twist that makes it your own.

Take Norman Rockwell, for instance. In his semi-autobiographical gem, My Adventures as an Illustrator, he casually admits to swiping a pirate ship straight from Howard Pyle for his family tree illustration. No apologies, no fuss—just an artist solving a problem with a little help from a predecessor. And Rockwell’s hardly alone. Comic book artists are notorious for this kind of thing. Sometimes, you’re stuck, you can’t find the perfect reference, and lo and behold, another artist has already nailed the composition you need. Why reinvent the wheel when it’s rolling right in front of you?

Greg Bell, though? He was no seasoned pro. He was a young, amateur artist thrust into the wild, scrappy early days of D&D. So, I’m inclined to cut him some slack. What fascinates me more than the act of borrowing itself is playing detective—tracking down the origins of his pilfered pieces. It’s like a treasure hunt through illustration history, and I recently stumbled across a gem I’m not sure has gotten attention. (Maybe it has, and I just missed the memo—let me know if I’m late to the party!)

Here’s the scoop: the cover for The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures, one of those iconic early D&D booklets, looks like it was lifted almost wholesale from N.C. Wyeth’s The Winged Horse, an illustration from Legends of Charlemagne published back in 1924. The resemblance is uncanny—same wing shapes, same pose. Wyeth’s work was a goldmine of dramatic storytelling, and Bell clearly saw the potential to repurpose it for the cover.

So, chalk it up as another entry on the ever-growing list of Greg Bell’s “inspirations.” Is it plagiarism or just a clever nod to the giants who came before? I’ll let you decide. For me, it’s a reminder that art—especially in those rough-and-tumble early gaming days—was less about originality and more about getting the job done. And honestly? There’s a certain charm in that hustle.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Here are some Celtic Legends

My love for mythology in tabletop RPGs started with Deities & Demigods, later I discovered its predecessor Gods, Demigods, and Heroes. This slim volume offered a brief but fascinating look at mythological figures with original D&D stats. While its scholarship may have been a bit thin, especially by modern standards, I’ve always appreciated its brevity. Mythology is a vast and complex subject, and distilling it into something gameable is no easy feat.

The real standouts in the book were the Hyborea and Elric sections—bringing the worlds of Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock into the game. However, I’ve always wished that instead of a broad survey, early TSR had released dedicated books focused on specific mythologies, diving deeper into their themes, creatures, and deities for use in OD&D.

That’s why I’m so excited about a new project from my longtime friend and game design partner, Rob Stone. Rob, a passionate scholar of Celtic mythology (and a proud Irishman), has written Celtic Legends: Faeries and Spirits, the first in a series exploring the rich folklore of the Celtic world. I’ve had the pleasure of contributing to the book’s art, layout, and design, and I can confidently say it’s a must-have for anyone looking to bring authentic Celtic myth into their games.

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Celtic Legends: Faeries and Spirits is now available! Here’s a sneak peek at a sample page:

If you love mythology in your RPGs and want a deeper dive into the world of Celtic faeries, spirits, and folklore, be sure to check it out!

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/515675/celtic-legends-faeries-spirits

Hold of the Magic Stone

 I little map for your Thursday enjoyment.

Here is an attempt at an isometric version.

The award-winning Fight On! magazine

The Old-School Renaissance (OSR) kicked off with a burst of creativity, reviving classic tabletop gaming with retro-clones and fanzines. Among them, Fight On! stood out—a gritty, passionate gem from the movement’s early days.

I came to the OSR after its initial surge. Back then, every month brought new retro-clones and zines, a wave of excitement that’s since settled. But the spirit lingers, carried by fans still playing and creating. Fight On! endures too, with a site worth checking out: 

https://fightonmagazine.com/

Early issues and solid compilations are still available. It’s a glimpse into the OSR’s raw beginnings—less polished, more real.

Tenser

 Here is Tenser from the infamous Rogues Gallery, with a bit of a cleaned up layout. RIP Ernie Gygax.

Tenser

Player: Ernie Gygax jr.

Human Magic-User 10 (Lawful Good)

Armor Class: 10
Hit Points: 56
Level: 10
Attacks: Staff +1 (1d6+1)
Move: 10

Saving Throws:
Death: 10
Wands: 16
Paralysis: 11
Breath: 16
Spells: 14

Abilities:
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 11
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 16
Charisma: 18

Special Abilities:

Can cast spells as a 10th-level magic-user
Prefers melee combat despite being a magic-user
Known for leading missions for law and good
Maintains alliances with non-human races and even some considered monsters

Tenser possesses the following magical items:

Dust of Disappearance
A Wand of Negation
A Staff of the Magi
A Ring of Protection +1
A Displacement Cloak
A Ring of Human Influence
A Wand of Metal and Mineral Detection
A Potion of Protection from Dragon Breath

This potion grants the imbiber resistance to all forms of dragon breath. Against gas-based attacks (sleep, fear, slow, paralysis, etc.), the user gains a +2 bonus to their saving throw, with results being either total success or failure. Against direct breath attacks (fire, acid, lightning, etc.), a successful saving throw negates all damage, while a failed save results in only half damage. The potion lasts for 6 to 15 rounds, and the entire bottle must be consumed for it to take effect. This potion does not protect against physical attacks or spells cast by dragons.

Dust of Dispelling Air Elementals

This dust appears indistinguishable from other magical dusts and is usually found in similar packaging—bone tubes or silk pouches. When a handful is thrown onto any creature summoned from the Elemental Plane of Air, that creature will immediately be forced to return to its proper plane. The dust may also be used to create a protective ring—if spread in an unbroken circle or from wall to wall, it causes summoned air elementals to suffer a penalty on their attack rolls. The dust cannot be blown away by the creature it affects, though other creatures or spells may disturb it. Notably, it has no effect on free-willed creatures from this plane. One handful is required to dispel a single creature, create a 10' diameter circle, or form a 50' line.

Contrary to most magic-users, Tenser has always been a lover of battle. Occasionally, he will seemingly forget his spells and charge into melee with his staff, depending on his magical protections to preserve him. In many ways, it is felt that his temperament would have been better suited to that of a fighter.

At the same time, Tenser is no fool. He has no aversion to using magic and generally chooses it first. He has gathered about him a firm power base for law and good and will readily use it when necessary. He will sometimes enchant good magic-users to go on dangerous missions to aid the cause of good. He is reported to have alliances with various non-human races and even some that are considered monsters.