The D&D Companion Set was released in spring/summer 1984, following publication of the revised D&D Basic and Expert Sets, the previous year. Higher level play was to be covered in the D&D Master Set (for character levels 26-36).
D&D Companion Set (1984). Cover illustration "The Sword of Thornbane" by Larry Elmore, also used for "The Tainted Sword" (1992) by "DJ Heinrich" (Dory Watry and Kevin Stein)
The two-volume boxed set included a 32-page "Players Companion" and a 64-page "Dungeon Masters Companion"
The upcoming set was discussed in a preview article by Frank Mentzer "And Then There Were Three" in Dragon #84 (April, 1984),* in which Douglas Niles and Garry Spiegle are thanked for their special work on the project.
*also printed in Imagine #17 (August, 1984). Part 2 of the preview did not appear in Dragon, although was published in Imagine #18 (September, 1984)
Editing was by Anne C. Gray, who also worked on the Basic, Expert, and Master DM's books, as well as the Immortals Rules (as Anne Gray McCready).
Reception:
A contemporary fan's reaction was captured in Polyhedron #22:
Q. When I recently went to my local hobby shop to purchase the D&D Companion Set, I was quite disturbed to see that it was designed to go with the new D&D Basic and Expert Sets. I have flipped through my friend's new Basic and Expert sets and found them very incompatible with my second edition sets. It follows that the new D&D Companion Set will also be incompatible with my edition of the rules systems. So in order to upgrade my rules, I would have to buy two new boxes and the higher priced D&D Companion Set. Needless to say I feel that this is quite redundant and absurd. I don't feel that I should have to buy revised editions of what I already have to get the Companion Set promised years ago. What are your opinions on this?
A. There are very few rules that have been changed in the revised editions; the new sets ARE compatible with the old (that is, the "old red box"; the "blue book" edition is primitive in comparison). I closed some loopholes, and added more detail on some subjects, but was careful to change very little of the existing rules - providing more guidelines instead.
You asked for my opinions. Personally, I think you should (a) not buy revised BASIC; it's designed for beginners, and you have the old editions; (b) do buy the revised EXPERT; I put a lot of new things into it, and I don't think you'll be disappointed (and the reviews agree); and (c) do buy the COMPANION set; it's not a rehashing of old stuff. I made it the best I could, combining my ten years of role playing experience (egad, has it really been that long?) with the spirit and foundation of the original game.
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