Does anyone know where and when the title "Dungeon Master" appeared? I had thought it was in one the OD&D supplements, but they all seem to use "referee".
Check the early Dragon magazines. Maybe even Dragon's predecessor, Strategic Review.
It's in Eldritch Wizardry. I found a nice summary of the history of the term here (https://dungeonsdragons.fandom.com/wiki/Dungeon_Master#History).
And here is the referenced letter from Dragon #5, in March of 1976:
QuoteDear Mr. Kask:
I would like to tell you about the massive campaign that I have been working on. It is situated on the hypothetical world of Loera, a world of infinite possibility in fantastic adventure. Although it is not our own Earth, it is only about eleven light years from our world, and therefore most of the culture is a parallel of our ancient cultures.
However, the scope and size of the campaign is so much that I cannot create and run it all. Theremore [sic], I am putting it on a national basis so as to get the entire campaign running. I need fifty-five DungeonMasters with time, and good judgment, who are willing to run an area about 600 by 600 miles. Each DM would gather up about twenty players, fill in any needed terrain and dungeons, and run that section, sending me monthly reports to keep the campaign up to date. Those who are interested, write to this address: Keith Abbott, 5305 Lake Harbor Road, Muskegon, MI 49441.
I hope that this campaign will prove to be a melting pot of ideas — sort of a DungeonMaster's union. And although I may get the help that I need from the fifty-five, I am planning to expand, so any and all applications will be filled, providing that I receive the mailing address of the applicant. I will then send an introductory letter to explain the campaign further, and if they are still interested, I will send a supplement to use with the Loeran campaign. I hope that the Loeran campaign will be successful — it's a world of ideas.
May your treasures always be plentiful, Keith A. Abbott
Quote from: Zalman on February 02, 2022, 04:25:49 PM
It's in Eldritch Wizardry.
You're right, though it also uses the term referee as well.
I notice that the first edition of Tunnels & Trolls, printed in 1975, uses Dungeon Master. Since Eldritch Wizardry was printed in 1976, T&T was using the teerm officially before D&D was, though I don't doubt it existed before that.