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Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

Part One: Dungeons & Dragons: The History of Some Great and Terrible Nerdery

Jul 1, 2024
Ed Zitron, an expert on Dungeons & Dragons, discusses the cultural impact of D&D, evolution of war games, and the origins of role-playing games. The podcast also explores the history of D&D, its creation process, and the unique workplace culture of the game's creators.
01:07:56

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Evolution of role-playing games from wargaming emphasized narrative and player input.
  • Professional play-by-mail gaming in the 1970s offered immersive experiences for payment per turn.

Deep dives

Evolution from Wargaming to Role-Playing Games

In the evolution from wargaming to role-playing games, pivotal developments emerged, like the game Coventry that relied on players' narratives and personality assignments in feudal East Asia. These games shifted from simulation-based to narrative-based, allowing players to vote on changing rules, resembling early message board interactions. As play-by-mail gaming gained popularity, players engaged in storytelling within complex scenarios, setting the stage for the fusion of science fiction and fantasy fandom with wargaming.

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