I got to thinking about this recently when I saw someone on G+ comment that they are a bit of a "monty haul" DM. To my knowledge, the first place Monty Hall is mentioned by TSR in writing is in Tim Kask's foreword to OD&D Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes (1976):
Monty Hall DMing his first Gen Con game
This volume is something else, also: our last attempt to reach the "Monty Hall" DM's. Perhaps now some of the 'giveaway' campaigns will look as foolish as they truly are. This is our last attempt to delineate the absurdity of 40+ level characters. When Odin, the All-Father has only(?) 300 hit points, who can take a 44th level Lord seriously?
What about previous attempts?
First, in light of the above, in OD&D Supplement I: Greyhawk, Gary Gygax was quick to change the original XP numbers for monster slaying calling the 100 points per monster level in OD&D "ridiculous" (the XP numbers in Greyhawk would carry through to both Basic & AD&D). Next, consider this from Tim Kask's Foreword to OD&D Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry (1976):
As originally conceived, D&D was limited in scope only by the imagination & devotion of DMs everywhere. The supplements have fulfilled the need for fresh ideas & additional stimulation. But somewhere along the line, D&D lost some of its flavor, & began to become predictable. This came about as a result of the proliferation of rule sets; while this was great for us as a company, it was tough on the DM. When all players has all of the rules in front of them, it became next to impossible to beguile them into danger or mischief. The new concept pioneered within these pages should go a long way towards putting back in some of the mystery, uncertainty & danger that make D&D the unparalleled challenge it was meant to be...
From Kask's words, in addition to running "giveaway" campaigns, it would seem a Monty Hall DM took the mystery, uncertainty & danger out of the game. It isnt hard to see how this term would stick around 1976ish. As the game sold & snowballed they were seeing another type of game appear, a predictable version they didnt like, run by, what one would assume, was a specific type of DM, who among other things, gave out treasure & advancement w/o any true risk to players, i.e. a Monty Hall, now your hosting Let's Make A Deal, the home version.
As it is more commonly seen today, the term has morphed into "monty haul" & when one mashes up the meaning of the British term, "full monty" (likewise could be assumed by some a Monty Python reference, depending) w/ "haul", it sort of makes sense even if you've never heard of Monty Hall.
PS: I remember Let's Make A Deal, as well as Monty Hall's hosting it; however, I never knew his name, like Bob Barker. Perhaps Bob Barker DMs will be the new thing...
As it is more commonly seen today, the term has morphed into "monty haul" & when one mashes up the meaning of the British term, "full monty" (likewise could be assumed by some a Monty Python reference, depending) w/ "haul", it sort of makes sense even if you've never heard of Monty Hall.
PS: I remember Let's Make A Deal, as well as Monty Hall's hosting it; however, I never knew his name, like Bob Barker. Perhaps Bob Barker DMs will be the new thing...
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