Part One: Dungeons & Dragons: The History of Some Great and Terrible Nerdery
Jul 1, 2024
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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.
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.
Dungeons & Dragons, born from chaos and creativity, overcame early challenges to create a unique gaming culture.
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.
Professionalization of Play-by-Mail Games
Professional play-by-mail gaming, emerging in the 1970s alongside Dungeons and Dragons, offered a structured gaming experience for payment per turn. These games, often involving financial transactions through traditional mail methods like checks, provided an immersive and interactive gaming environment where players paid for each strategic move or action taken in the game.
Continued Relevance and Modern Adaptations
The legacy of play-by-mail games persisted into modern times, with echoes of its mechanisms found in current interactive online games. Despite its historical context involving manual handling of payment and turns, the concept of player-driven narrative and rule alterations contributed to the foundation of more elaborate and immersive gaming experiences seen today in the digital gaming landscape.
The Evolution of Role-Playing Games
Role-playing games have evolved from war games with units of soldiers to games where players control individual characters with names, changing the narrative dynamics. Starting in the 1970s, games like Western Gunfight War Game Rules set the stage for more complex and character-driven gameplay. Gary Gygax, a key figure in the development of D&D, introduced new concepts like persistent characters and open-ended gameplay, paving the way for modern role-playing games.
The Chaotic Birth and Growth of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) was born out of chaos and creativity in the early days of TSR, a company formed by Gary Gygax and others. The game faced early challenges, including corporate disputes and financial struggles, yet managed to captivate players with its innovative gameplay. Despite initial gatekeeping and corporate turmoil, D&D became the first RPG in 1974 and flourished, creating a unique and enduring gaming culture.