Playing at the World

This book explores the conceptual origins of wargames and role-playing games, detailing how gamers transitioned from simulating wars to simulating people.

It delves into the history of conflict simulations, fantasy literature, and the social context of 1960s-70s America that led to the creation of Dungeons & Dragons.

The book is based on extensive archival research, including primary sources from eighteenth-century strategists to modern hobbyists, and provides a deep dive into the culture and individuals that shaped the role-playing game genre.