As a kid in the 80′s, my mind was blown away by this game inside a red box – it was called Dungeons & Dragons. Since then, I was proud to be called a “geek” or a “nerd”. This game allowed me to create awesome characters and for me to fashion epic stories about fighters and magic-users delving inside dark dungeons, saving the world and fighting off evil.
Thanks to Gary Gygax (me in a photo with him below) and Dave Arneson, the game has influenced most of popular culture as we know today. World of Warcraft, online games, novels, board games, CCGs or even movies would have never existed without the creation of this most wonderful game (and geeks worldwide would never have an annual pilgrimage to GenCon or PAX).
Every time there is mention of Hit Points, Armor Class, Leveling Up, XP, skills, character class – we owe to D&D.
From its humble beginnings in the 70′s as a “mod” to miniature war gaming, D&D is now a titan in the TRPG (Tabletop Role-Playing Game) industry. Now there is a resurgence in the hobby as well as board games.
I leave you with a nice video which will complete my “train-of-thought” narrative above.
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To D&D – ONE BIG THANK YOU!
I will never be where I am today without you!
You’ve turned a thin, scrawny kid the power of believing in dreams… of harnessing the best resource in the world – one’s imagination.
The game influenced a lot in our society. Including me. I owe this game big time!
You will always have a special place in my heart.
Peace All!
GM T
