Business Wars The Many Deaths of Dungeons & Dragons | Wizards and Witch Hunts | 1
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Dec 3, 2025 Explore the origins and rise of Dungeons & Dragons as Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson turn handwritten rules into a cultural phenomenon. Discover how a missing child caused a media frenzy, casting D&D in a dark light and boosting its popularity. Hear about TSR's attempts to simplify the game and the financial strain they faced amidst wild expansion efforts. Experience the split among fans and the challenges posed by competitors like Magic: The Gathering that threatened the game's legacy.
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The Tunnel Search That Sparked Panic
- William Deere investigates the disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III and links it to Dungeons & Dragons players in steam tunnels.
- The tunnel-search detail helped national reporters frame D&D as a dangerous influence on youth.
D&D Created A New Game Category
- Dungeons & Dragons combined storytelling, math, and role-play to create a new category of game: the role-playing game.
- That hybrid design later influenced video games and modern social gaming experiences.
How A Basement Demo Changed Everything
- Dave Arneson brought a prototype of a character-driven fantasy game to Gary Gygax, who immediately saw its potential.
- Arneson's basement demo and mailed rules convinced Gygax to publish and iterate the game.
