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Originally released in 1974, many of the current generation of tabletoppers don’t know the history behind Dungeons & Dragons. To players like myself, it is a game as old as Arthurian Legends, and as mystical as any fairytale. To shed light on the origins of the popular tabletop, The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons: 1970-1977 has been released by Wizards of the Coast, and the story it tells is one for the history books.
As a history buff, I was beyond excited to read this book. I’d had the opportunity to see one of the original D&D books at the Seattle Museum of Pop Culture years ago, and the thought of glimpsing the contents left me vibrating with anticipation. Once I was pouring over the pages, it was clear this wasn’t just a book, but the opportunity to step back in time.
Key Details
Dungeons & Dragons Is The Origin Story of Pure Creativity
There is magic in The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons that doesn’t come from spells or pacts made with gods. This magic is etched in pen and ink, crafted from the imaginations of two friends.
The letters between Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson are awe-inspiring to read. These pieces of correspondence, which have never been published until this book, show the foundations D&D would spring from, and the inspirations that spurred the two men into writing.
D&D has a strong background in Medieval history. While this isn’t surprising when looking at the way campaigns of today unfold, or the importance of mythical creatures like dragons hold, the modern D&D setting isn’t nearly so Arthurian.
It was amazing to read through the footnotes of these letters, watching as Dave and Gary pieced together the first classes, races, and spells. I was also delighted to see how much inspiration the pair took from The Lord of the Rings, which had a large impact on numerous fantasy settings of the time.
It is a treasure to know that so much of Dungeons & Dragons’ history has been composed and salvaged throughout the years and that it is now available for every fan to enjoy.
Spells, Classes, and A Journey Through Classic Tabletop
One of the most exciting inclusions in this massive, 500+ page compendium, are the scans of original D&D rulebooks. Most modern players have not had the opportunity to explore these early renditions of the game, and the blocky texts reveal elements that would evolve to modern equivalents, or alternatively, stand the test of time as core aspects of gameplay.
When flipping through the spells, for example, I was shocked to see how many of them I recognized. As a long-term Wizard in sessions run by our tabletop group, I am an expert conjurer of Dimension Doors and Mage Hands.
It was incredible to see such spells listed as original concepts and how they functioned in the early ruleset.
I was also surprised to see how many races have remained the same since the game’s inception. The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons gives all of the notes that helped shape these iconic options, and most are still present in modern editions.
Reading a Piece of History
I’ll never forget that day at the Museum of Modern Pop Culture in Seattle when we walked into the fantasy section and I found the glass display case holding the original copy of the first Dungeons & Dragons rulebook. Despite my desire to flip through the delicate pages, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to read them.
The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons granted this wish. I’ve poured over every graph, table, chart, and summary with voracious delight. I keep picking the book up to flip through the pages. It’s not because I am a D&D fan, but because the opportunity to experience such an impactful part of history from the comfort of my living room is beyond imagining.
Dungeons & Dragons would set the stage not just for future tabletop games, but for the fantasy genre as a whole. Like Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, and C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Dungeons & Dragons sculpted fantasy in all elements of pop culture, and we wouldn’t have many of the games, movies, and books that exist today without it.
If I could take a class about this book, and write paper after paper, it wouldn’t be enough. It is a masterpiece of historical legacy and an inciter of pure creative chaos.
Final Score – 10/10
The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons is a book not just for fans of D&D, but for any pop culture enthusiast wanting to learn more about the origins of modern fantasy. The contents of this book depict the messy, exciting, and challenging process of creating a world.
It’s easy to think, after decades of existence, that D&D just sprang to life one day in a finished set of rulebooks, but seeing its inception broken down on notebook paper truly exhibits the effort such a creation requires.
I strongly encourage everyone to pick up and read this book. Whether you play Dungeons & Dragons or just enjoy video games, it is an eye-opening volume that highlights exactly why so many of these types of works become timeless.
Curious whats going on in the video games world of Dungeons & Dragons? Check out the latest announcement on Neverwinter with its Mountain of Flame module.
**A Sample Copy of The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons Was Provided to Bonus Action For the Purpose of this Review**
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