Writing About Dragons and Shit Ep. 158: Spilling the Tea with Ben Riggs
May 30, 2025
Ben Riggs, author of 'Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons', dives into the tumultuous history of D&D, including its narrow escape from obsolescence in 1997. He shares insights into the legacy of co-creator Gary Gygax and stresses the importance of diverse voices in gaming narratives. The conversation also covers the challenges of researching D&D history and navigating cultural biases, along with funny anecdotes from conventions and podcast evolution, highlighting the ongoing fight for inclusion in the gaming world.
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Serendipitous Long-form Research Journey
- Ben Riggs started researching D&D history with the idea of writing one article that expanded into a 100,000-word book due to new, surprising information.
- His research was fueled by stories from old D&D people and expanding support from his editor and sources.
Impact of Gygax's Views on D&D
- Gary Gygax's sexist and bio-essentialist views negatively influenced early D&D design and limited the game's diversity.
- The game's revival and growth came with expanding beyond the initial nerdy white male demographic into diverse player groups.
Bold Truths Over Lukewarm Neutrality
- Nonfiction writers must boldly tell the truth and have clear opinions.
- It's better to polarize and have some critics than to be lukewarm and ignored.
