Dungeons & Dragons (DND) is now honored by The Strong Museum of Play, inducted for National Toy Hall of Fame. The table-top RPG was first published in 1974 and has been an influence to stories, to movies, and to video games. This is a good day for game developers as DND has been a very good source of ideas when creating video games.
Aside from being a basis to today's popular TV series Stranger Things, Dungeons & Dragons has inspired a lot of video games, this is why it is important that new developers start appreciating this analog game masterpiece. The Strong Museum of Play also maintains a Video Game Hall of Fame along with a plethora of video game memorabilia.
As reported by Gamasutra.com, Nic Rickets, museum curator, talked to the press saying that DND paved way for older children and adults alike to immerse and experience into imaginative game play, "More than any other game, Dungeons & Dragons paved the way for older children and adults to experience imaginative play."
Rickets also emphasized that it was groundbreaking and carved a path for other kinds of tabletop games which borrow a lot of its unique game mechanics. He also added that DND's awesome mechanics have lent to computer applications back then (now known as video games) and it has most influenced World of Warcraft's success. "...most importantly, Dungeons & Dragons' mechanics lent themselves to computer applications, and it had a direct impact on hugely successful electronic games like World of Warcraft."
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy-game-tabletop designed by Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax. In 1974, Tactical Studes Rules, Inc. decided to publish the game. Now Hasbro's subsidiary, Wizards of the Coast, has been publishing the game. DND's inspirations were miniature wargames customized with Chainmail game as its initial ruling system. It is also recognized as the pioneer of the modern RPG and RPG games industry.
Instead of the traditional military formation, DND's unique trait is that it assigns specific characters to each player. The characteristics come from imaginary adventures bound by fantasy settings. A crucial part of the game is a Dungeon Master who acts as the referee and storyteller, while upholding the setting where the adventures happen, and also plays as an inhabitant. The players then solve challenges, gather treasure, gain knowledge, and engage in battles. Experience points are earned per encounter and in turn increases each characters' powers over a series of rounds.
Today, Dungeons & Dragons will be forever showcased in a permanent display at Rochester, New York beside all other honored toys. As a kid, I admired games like these because it gives the players a sense of being powerful in our own little fantasy world. I wasn't really an active kid, I just sit on a corner with my playing cards or a drawing pad. What was your most memorable DND experience? Have you played it by the way? Hit us with your thoughts via the comments section below. This is a good day for DND and video game fans alike. Let me end this by saying out loud my most memorable quote from the game, "I cast detect evil!"
