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I'm writing an engine for Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (Red and Blue Box) First Edition (1E) in Python and would like to be able to read from an existing database of what is in the players and experts guide books.

I'm looking for all the numerical data and spell data for all the classes and monsters.

I figure that something like this exists, and after plenty of Google'ing, I've found some for later editions, but not for the older ones.

It's fine if it is in some other format, but I'd like to be able to make it into a local, offline database format (like SQLite).

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When you say you've found such databases for "later editions", which do you mean? Are you thinking of 3rd edition? Because if you are, those databases for 3rd edition only exist as a licensing anomaly that doesn't apply to earlier or later editions. I'm skeptical that there are any such databases for BX D&D. – SevenSidedDie Nov 8 '10 at 1:12
Actually, because you can't actually copyright game rules, raw lists of HD and whatnot are probably legal. I seem to remember dbs like that from my 2e days. – mxyzplk♦ Nov 8 '10 at 1:53
@mxyzplk No, you're right, but I was thinking of more than just the legal side. I'm still dubious as to a the existence of a ready-to-slurp database, just because 3rd is an anomaly in how free people feel to spread and spindle the SRD. It may be legal for BX, but it hasn't been encouraged in the same way. – SevenSidedDie Nov 8 '10 at 7:13
@mxyzplk - WoTC does consider some monster names "Product Identity". IANAL, and I am not sure what that means legally for lists of monsters from pre 3rd containing those certain monsters. – Pat Ludwig Nov 8 '10 at 20:23
While such data sources are out there and available, they are a violation of copyright law and in the past TSR was well known for sending out Cease and Desist orders to owners of websites they found with such data on them. In 3/3.5, only the data from the basic rulebooks (PHB/DMG/MMI) is available via the d20 SRD. Any other data (MM2, MM3, Forgotten Realms, etc) was not part of the SRD and not legally available via other sources, tools, etc that did not license such data from Wizards. – BBlake Nov 8 '10 at 20:45
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Overview of D&D retro-clones

Check out the retro clones on that link. Most everything there was created while at least thinking of the legal aspects of what could be used without problems. As a plus, the materials can generally be downloaded in several readable formats which you should be able to write a simple parser for.

  • AD&D -> OSRIC
  • D&D Red(Moldvay) -> Labyrinth Lord
  • OD&D -> Swords and Wizardry (should work for D&D Blue(Holmes) as well)
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