Dungeons & Dragons (nonfiction)

Game of Dungeons & Dragons in progress.

Dungeons & Dragons (abbreviated as D&D or DnD) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TSR).

The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro) since 1997. It was derived from miniature wargames with a variation of the Chainmail game serving as the initial rule system.

D&D's publication is commonly recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry.

D&D departs from traditional wargaming and assigns each player a specific character to play instead of a military formation. These characters embark upon imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting.

A Dungeon Master serves as the game's referee and storyteller, while also maintaining the setting in which the adventures occur and playing the role of the inhabitants.

The characters form a party that interacts with the setting's inhabitants (and each other).

Together they solve dilemmas, engage in battles and gather treasure and knowledge.

In the process the characters earn experience points to become increasingly powerful over a series of sessions.

In the News

1960: Nikolay Basov publishes guide to Fantasy Voronoi diagrams, which will influence a generation of Dungeons & Dragons players.
Squad of polyhedral dice ready to play some Dungeons & Dragons.