nearly fifty teenage suicides and homicides: Tipper Gore, Raising PG Kids in an X-Rated Society (Abingdon Press, 1987).
intense occult training through D&D: Jack Chick, Dark Dungeons (Jack T. Chick LLC, 1984).
I think I understood their motivations: Allen Rausch, “Gary Gygax Interview—Part I,” GameSpy, August 15, 2004, http://pc.GameSpy.com/articles/538/538817p1.html.
Perhaps most surprising about TSR’s management: Stewart Alsop II, “TSR Hobbies Mixes Fact and Fantasy,” Inc., February 1, 1982.
I was pretty much boxed out: Allen Rausch, “Gary Gygax Interview—Part I,” GameSpy, August 15, 2004, http://pc.GameSpy.com/articles/538/538817p1.html.
paid half a million dollars: Paul La Farge, “Destroy All Monsters,” Believer, September 2006.
I fully expected to be dismissed: Ciro Alessandro Sacco, “The Ultimate Interview with Gary Gygax,” Dungeons.it, undated, retrieved from http://www.thekyngdoms.com/interviews/garygygax.php.
11: Death or Glory
I began to become uneasy: Ciro Alessandro Sacco, “The Ultimate Interview with Gary Gygax,” Dungeons.it, undated, retrieved from http://www.thekyngdoms.com/interviews/garygygax.php.
I was so sick of the fucking company: David Kushner, “Dungeon Master: The Life and Legacy of Gary Gygax,” Wired.com, March 10, 2008.
13: The Inn at World’s Edge
The very first LARP: “The Pre-History of Dagorhir,” Dagorhir.com, http://www.dagorhir.com/dagorhir/history.htm.
14: D&D Next
By involving you in this process: Mike Mearls, “Charting the Course for D&D,” Wizards of the Coast website, January 9, 2012, http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20120109.
Imagine trying to organize a basketball team: Ethan Gilsdorf, “Players Roll the Dice for Dungeons & Dragons Remake,” New York Times, January 1, 2012.
Too little, too late: Houstonderek, comment on David M. Ewalt, “ ‘Wizards’ Announce New Dungeons & Dragons,” Forbes, January 9, 2012, http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2012/01/09/wizards-announce-new-dungeons-and-dragons-an-inside-look-at-the-game/.
Allow me a momentary guffaw: James Maliszewski, “Quelle Surprise,” Grognardia, January 9, 2012, http://grognardia.blogspot.com/2012/01/quelle-surprise.html.
The D&D player is a business manager: Khaver, comment on David M. Ewalt, “ ‘Wizards’ Announce New Dungeons & Dragons,” Forbes, January 9, 2012, http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2012/01/09/wizards-announce-new-dungeons-and-dragons-an-inside-look-at-the-game/.
INDEX
Abel (wizard), 3–4, 5, 20, 23
Acererak (evil wizard), 144
Adams, Richard, Watership Down, 107
addiction, stages of, 153–54
Adventure Games, 152
Adventurer Conqueror King, 242–43
Adventure Time, 129
Against the Giants, 102n
Agius, Alex, 17–19, 24
in D&D Next/Ewalt campaign, 228, 252
as Jhaden, 17, 19, 29, 74, 83, 89; see also Jhaden
Ahlissa (cleric), 65
Alex II (“Deuce”), 23
Alka the Seltzer, 81
Allison, Javi, 242–43
Allison, Tavis, 242–44
All the Worlds’ Monsters, 137, 139
Amazing Stories, 163
American Revolution, 44
Anderson, Poul, 140
Anthony, Piers, Xanth books, 13
Aragorn, 11
Ardhi campaign, 223–24, 226
Argosy, 62
armaments, rule book for, 19
Army, U.S., Simulations Division, 43
Arneson, David, 57, 59–61, 63
and Blackmoor, 60–61, 64, 65, 66, 70, 100, 111, 135, 136, 244–46
collaboration with Gygax, 64–67, 69
and D&D, 71, 93–94, 113, 148
and dungeon crawl, 243, 245
and Dungeonmaster’s Index, 135–36, 137
and First Fantasy Campaign, 136–37
innovations introduced by, 65, 66
and lawsuits, 150–52
leaving TSR, 104, 113–14, 132, 150
as slow writer, 110–14
and Tactical Studies Rules, 72, 94, 150
as TSR research director, 102
Arrogant Nerd syndrome, 86
Asimov, Isaac, Foundation, 135
assassins, 100, 145
atavism, 31
author’s new campaign, see D&D Next
author’s ongoing story, see Vampire World
Avalon Hill, 56, 57, 59, 62, 70
Avatar, 10
avatars, 77
Babeal (wizard), 20–21, 25, 27, 75
backgammon, 34, 97
Backhaus, Wilf, 134
BADD (Bothered about Dungeons and Dragons), 159, 160
Baggins, Frodo, 9, 68
Bagnulo, Michael, 81
Bag of Tricks, 80
balrogs, 90, 141
barbarians, 11
bards, 15, 76n
Barker, M. A. R., 99
Barsoom fantasy world, 92
Battle of the Five Armies, 141
Beauteponce (dwarf fighter), 252
Beek Gwenders, 102n
beholder, 137–38
Bemelmans, Ludwig, 33
Bemelmans Bar, New York, 32–33
Berry, Chuck, 228
Bismarck, Otto von, 41
Blackjack (soldier), 82
Blackmoor, 60–61, 64, 65, 66, 70, 94, 111, 136, 244–46
Blackmoor supplement, 100, 102, 111–12, 135, 143
Blade Barrier spell, 25, 27, 77
Blade Runner, 27, 82
Blue Book, 62
Blue Rider, 136
Blume, Brian, 72, 92, 94, 98, 162, 165, 168, 169–70
Blume, Kevin, 98, 162, 163–64, 165, 168, 169–70
Blume, Melvin, 72, 98
board games, 33–35, 56, 57
Bogost, Ian, 182
Boot Hill (RPG), 99
Boromir, 11
Bradley, Ed, 159
Braunstein (war game), 57–58, 243
Breedbate, Keek, 102n
Broderick, Matthew, 81
Brothers Grimm, 62
Brothers of the Swamp, 101
Bryant, Brandon, 20–21, 83–84
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century A.D., 165
Bumble the Wizard, 197, 199
Bunnies & Burrows, 107, 149
Burroughs, Edgar Rice, 92, 108
Calculus for Dummies, 134
Campbell, Joseph, and monomyth, 121
Capone, Al, 141
Carpenter, Gail (Gygax), 170
Carr, Mike, 64, 105
Carter, Howard, 35
Carter, John, 92, 108
Castle Greyhawk, 65–67
catalepus, 236
catoblepas, 138
causation and correlation, 26
Cavaliers and Roundheads, 72
Caves of Chaos, 209
Chadwick, Frank, 107
Chainmail (war game), 61, 64, 95, 107, 111
Chaosium Inc., 137
chaturanga (ancient chess game), 36
chess, 35–39
author’s attempts to learn, 37–39
development of, 35–36
Dragon Variation, 39
Duchamp’s obsession with, 114, 115n
Guioco Piano, 39
history of, 36
King’s Gambit, 39
modernization attempts, 40
openings of, 38–39
religious extremists vs., 160
rules of, 40
Sicilian Defense, 38
as space game, 39
Spanish Game, 39
Tri-Dimensional Chess, 37
and war games, 40–42
Chick, Jack, 160
Chivalry & Sorcery, 134
Chronicles of Narnia, The (Lewis), 24
Chuttlesworth, Professor, 197
Circus Eternal, 196–97, 198
City State of the Invincible Overlord,
109
Civil War, U.S., 56, 59
Clark, Chris, 234
Classic Dungeon, 243
Classic Warfare, 99
clerics, 11, 23–24, 69, 133, 145–46
Cloak of Resistance, 186
Clue, 8, 34
Cole, Ryan, 144, 228, 252
Collins, Leonard, 82
Complete Divine sourcebook, 76
computer technology, 173–74, 182
Conan comics, 18
Conan the Barbarian (film), 27
Conan the Conqueror, 59, 62, 140
Conflict (war game), 57
Connery, Sean, 185–86
console games, 183
Cook, Zeb, 219
Craigslist, 31
Cthulhu, cleric of, 86
Custer, George Armstrong, 112
Cyberpunk 2020, 27, 82
Cyborg Commando, 171
D&D Experience, 209
D&D Next/Ewalt campaign, 219–30
advice sought for development of, 236–38
constructing the world of, 223–24
David’s pilgrimage for, 232–33, 237–38, 242, 247, 251
fifth-edition rules used in, 219
Fracture, 225, 226, 227, 228
goals for, 242
Harry, 225–26, 228
Mad Marv, 219, 221, 222–23, 225–26, 227
Player’s Handbook, 252
play test of, 252–53
plot twists in, 228–29
sketching the design, 219–23
writing the story of, 224–28
Dagorhir (LARP), 185
Dangerous Dimensions/Dangerous Journeys, 171
Dark Dungeons (Chick), 160
Darkness spell, 87
Dawn, 7, 9, 13
Dear, William, 156
Death in Wretched Swamp, 234, 236
de Camp, L. Sprague, 140
Delleb (lesser god), 203
Demogorgon, 106
Descent into the Depths of the Earth, 102n, 143
Dewey (mage from Keer), 186–87, 190
dice:
historic relics, 34
in war games, 40
Different Worlds, 122
Dille, Flint, 165
Diplomacy (war game), 63
Dispel Magic, 87
displacer beasts, 138
Doctor Who Experience, 184
Doctorow, Cory, 117–18
Don’t Give Up the Ship!, 64
Doom, 174
Dragon Dice, 174
dragons, 60, 140
Dragon, The, 104, 106–7, 112, 132–33, 134, 137, 139, 141, 149
Dringle, Fnast, 102n
DriveThruRPG, 235
Drow (elves), 144
druid high priest, 59
druids, 23, 106, 145
Duchamp, Marcel, 114, 115n
Dumple, Redmod, 102n
Dungeon!, 99, 105, 243–46
Dungeon (hobby shop), 105
Dungeon Geomorphs, 133
Dungeon Hobby Shop, 142
Dungeon Master (DM):
advice for, 107
creativity of, 136, 147, 205, 224
experience points awarded by, 22
of Greyhawk, 69
and new games, 143
problem-solving skills of, 124
revenge of, 61
roles of, 5–6, 8, 13, 16, 18, 100
storytelling skills of, 129–31
of Vampire World, see Harris-Warwick, Morgan
Dungeon Master’s Guide, The, 32, 146–47, 148–49, 177, 205
Dungeonmaster’s Index, 135–36, 137
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D):
accessories, 109
Advanced (AD&D), 134, 137–39, 143, 145–49, 150–51, 155, 173, 210, 219, 239, 248
author’s obsession with, 114–15, 120, 122, 123–24, 131, 153–54, 181, 183
author’s return to, 73–75
Basic Set, 24, 133–34, 147, 150, 155, 161, 164, 233
Blackmoor supplement, 100, 102, 111–12, 135, 143
breaking down a door in, 214–15
campaigns, 7, 10, 23
cartoon, 163
as cerebral game, 123
character classes in, 10–11
“Cliché” opening of, 32
combat in, 18
Companion Set, 233
competing products, 107–8, 134–40, 151, 173–74
Computer Labyrinth Game, 155
conception of, 107, 136
cumulative victories in, 22
customization of, 205–6
D&D Experience, 209
d20 System, 180
defined by performance, 30–31
described, 4
development of, 70, 155, 246
dice used in, 10, 19, 133
distributors of, 96–97, 104, 161
downturn of, 173, 174
Dungeon Geomorphs, 133
educational benefits of, 123–26
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) (cont.)
Eldritch Wizardry, 105–7, 112, 132
European distribution of, 97, 102
Expert Set, 161, 233
extensions of, 206
fading interest in, 30
fanbase of, 208
female players, 183–84
Fifth Edition, 202–18, 235, 252
as first fantasy role-playing game, 91, 133
Fourth Edition, 180–81, 206, 208
Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes, 109–10
Greyhawk supplement, 95–96, 100
growth of, 24, 95–96, 100, 104–6, 139, 150
heroic quests in, 9
hit points in, 18
Immortals Set, 233
infinite playability of, 95–96
influence of, 182
In Search of the Unknown, 133
introduction at Gen Con, 71–72
as life-changing event, 31
The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, 102
mail-order purchase of, 94, 96
Master Set, 233
media interest in, 157, 160
minis in, 19
Monster Manual, 88, 137–39, 141, 143, 145, 149, 150, 205
Monster Manual II, 151–52
and novelty products, 155, 163
numbers of participants, 32
open-source content license, 180
“Original Collector’s Edition,” 134n
overview, 5–6
player characters (PC) in, see player characters
Player’s Handbook, 75, 87–88, 145–47, 150, 205
play tests of, 93–94, 207, 209–17, 252
popularity of, 139, 155, 161
prejudice against, 26, 73–75, 156–60
primary conflicts written into, 8
profitability of, 100, 157, 160–61
publishers of, 32, 70–72, 95
“Red Box,” 164, 233
resurgence of interest in, 30–31, 179–81, 183
as role-playing game, 4, 121–22, 128
and royalties, 150–52
rules/rule books of, 8, 10, 18–19, 29, 72, 75, 92, 94, 95, 96, 104, 105–7, 109, 110, 132–34, 136, 138, 155, 164, 204–6
sales of, 91–97
Satanic spirits evoked by, 158, 160
scenarios, 100–102
as social game, 30, 85
storytelling in, 7–8, 128–31, 206
Swords and Spells, 109, 112
as therapy, 122
The Temple of the Frog, 100–102, 143
Third Edition, 180
TSR’s copyright to, 150
universal rule set, 204
Version 3.5, 180
video games, 173, 180
Weapons of Legacy rule book, 19
winners absent from, 9–10
as worldwide phenomenon, 24, 102, 104, 149, 155
Dungeons & Dragons Entertainment, 162–63
Dungeons & Dragons Summit, 202–18
Dunkelzahn (dragon), 27
dwarf, 146
Dwellers of the Forbidden City, 219
>
Egbert, James Dallas III, 155–58
Egg of Coot, 61, 136
Eldritch Enterprises, 234–35
Eldritch Wizardry, 105–7, 112, 132
Electronic Arts, 182
Electronic Entertainment Expo, 181
elementals, 141
elf, 146
elf wizards, 80
Elmore, Larry, 164
Elvis (mercenary), 82
Empire of the Petal Throne, 99
En Garde!, 107
Erdős, Paul, 238
Ernst, Garrison (pseud.), 107
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (film), 161
Evangelist, 76
evokers, 20
Ewalt, Kara, 74, 114–15, 154
Facebook games, 183
Faffle Dwe’o-mercraeft, 102n
Fafhrd (Leiber), 140
Fage the Kexy, 102n
fantasy fiction books, 174
Fantasy Game:
(later Dungeons & Dragons), 70, 111
(later Greyhawk), 65–70
fantasy games, 6, 33, 59, 60, 62, 64, 67, 91, 120–21, 133, 158, 183
Fantasy Games Unlimited, 107, 134
fantasy literature, 6, 26
“Fantasy Supplement” rule book, 61
Fargrim (dwarf), 212, 215, 216
FBI, and Top Secret, 161
Fellowship of the Ring, 68, 90
fighters, 11
fighting man, 133, 145
fireballs, 21
fire dancing, 20
First Fantasy Campaign, The, 136–37
Flennetar the Paladin, 245
Flying Buffalo Inc., 108
Fogerty, John, 141n
Foucault pendulum, 221–22
4D Interactive Systems, 152
Franco-Prussian War, 41
Frank Mentzer’s Lich Dungeon, Level One, 234
Frederick Wilhelm III, King, 41
Futurama (TV), 172
Game Designers’ Workshop, 107, 135, 171
gamemen, historic relics, 34
game of passing (senet), 35
games:
alternate reality in, 118
board, 33
in history, 33–35
open-ended, 126
rules of, 33
as social glue, 117–18, 120–21
Games Workshop, 97, 165
gaming conventions:
characteristics of, 44–45
D&D Experience, 209
Gary Con, 232, 233–34, 238
Gen Con, 30, 63, 71–72, 91, 109
Historicon, 44–54
Origins Game Fair, 144, 219
Gandalf, 11, 90
Ganubi (bard):
in bar brawl, 3–4
on board ship, 14–15, 16–17
Church of Ganubi, 76, 177–79
death of, 175–76
and desert city, 120, 122–23, 126–27, 129–30, 167–68, 170–71
as freedom fighter, 5
and ghoul attack, 173, 175–76
hat of disguise, 16–17
and invisible demon dogs, 76–77, 89
meeting in Kyoto, 16, 23
Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Page 26