D&D Sources

[Ranis]

I'm giving a presentation on a brief history of D&D, what D&D is, and what D&D is not. Problem is, I need some really solid sources to back me up. I need a book, an article, a website (HAS to be credible), and a periodical. Now, the professor is going to understand if I can't find a periodical for D&D. She'll understand. But if I can get one, that would be superb.

So my question to you all is: Have you ever seen any very good, informative, unbiased articles in magazines like Time, National Geographic, or the like that? At this point, anything would help. The more specific you can be, the better. Thanks!

Also, I'm limited to only two powerpoint slides, so I want to put as many things as I possibly can onto them. Any knowledge any of you have about any D&D book collages, huge pictures of minis and dice, or anything in-between would be immensely helpful.

[Alex12]

Try wikipedia. I know professors don't like wikipedia, but you don't use it directly. Look at the sources for the wiki entry, and use those. Hope that helps.

[Bender]

wikipedia has much more information than you can possibly put in two slides. If you want other sources, it also has lots of references

[Ranis]

I wanted to put pictures in my slides. It's supposed to be for a visual aid, so I need something visual.

[AslanCross]

Try digging through Wizards's archives. They might have something there. Issues of D&D-related magazines might carry something as well.

[Ashtar]

Having to read it, but wouldn't it be good to look up A book which does a 30 year overview of D&D ?


An article on the BBC website

The TSR Archive with the cover of Chainmail the book that started it all. And the cover of the book where Dungeons and Dragons appears.

Time Magazine - 1977 article - Games people play also has a mention of D&D.

[Ranis]

Okay, that BBC article and this book are PERFECT. I am in your debt. Now, if I can just get a periodical and a couple of great pictures....

[Thinker]

Okay, that BBC article and this book are PERFECT. I am in your debt. Now, if I can just get a periodical and a couple of great pictures....

Why not use an issue of Dragon Magazine?

[Ashtar]

The issue of "great pictures" is always a bit hard. Since you either have pictures of geeky looking men or bad cover art from the early period ( BW / line art / cheapo ).

Would for example a nice picture of the cloth map of the Dark Sun Role playing campaign, with a few dice scattered on top and a couple of books (AD&D) arranged around be of interest? I could provide that if needed.

Yeah - Dragon Magazine should be spot on for the periodical. How did I miss that? I've got hundreds at home!

[Ranis]

Is Dark Sun a campaign setting from AD&D?

[Matthew]

You should probably look at these two Web Sites:

The Acaeum
Tome of Treasures

You can also find a fair bit of discussion on the subject at these two Forums:

Dragonsfoot
Knights and Knaves Alehouse

[RTGoodman]

It may seem sort of obvious, but for a description of what D&D is, look at the very first part of the PHB v3.5. Seriously - the entire introduction of the book tells what D&D is, what characters are, what adventures are like, and how the game is played (with what you need, what you can do [that is, everything], the use of miniatures, etc.).

You should really consider using it as well as the 30 Years of Adventure book.

[I say it's obvious, but I've known people who tried to write papers on D&D without ever referencing any of the Core books. Then they slapped themselves when reminded them that the Core books are probably the best source.]

[Ashtar]

Dark Sun, the toughest campaign setting! Dealing explicitly with (mass) Genocide, Slavery, Magic which kills nature, Gladiatorial games and all the rest of the fun.

It's my longest running campaign world (played 12 years as DM - from AD&D 2ed to Player's Option to 3.0 (homebrew).

[Ranis]

Holy Crap, yes, that would be awesome.

[Ashtar]

I'll get to it when I get home in a couple of hours.

[Matthew]

You should also check out OD&Ditties and Footprints, which are periodicals available at Dragonsfoot. In particular, there is a lengthy interview with gary Gygax in one of the mid issues of OD&Ditties, which discusses the inception and development of D&D from his point of view on the eve of 3e.

[Fhaolan]

Dragon magazine, OD&Ditties, and the like might be classified as 'trade papers' rather than 'periodicals' depending on the teacher/professor. I've run into that before. Sometimes the definitions of these terms with respect to research don't quite match common sense.

You might be wise to check before using any of these.

[Ashtar]

Please tell me what you want to focus on, I'll gladly do extra shots. I've got tons of books, the only thing that is hard to do is the light. I don't have good enough lights at home, mine are powerful but not soft enough...

[Crow]

Dear god whatever you do, don't show pictures of actual players.

[Ashtar]

Well, I've got two girls in my group, so it isn't that bad. And one of my ex-players won the "Mr. Gay" contest at my university. As long as you get no shots of the DM (me), you should be okay.

[Ranis]

Ashtar, you are an absolute saint. Could you do another, this time with 3.5 books and a gridmap? I must find some way to repay you. This is far, far better than anything a Google Image search yielded.

[Green Bean]

And one of my ex-players won the "Mr. Gay" contest at my university.

Okay, I know there's quite a story behind that.

[Ashtar]

Let me get that damn gridmap out...

It's on it's way.

Edit -- Yeah quite a story, but not for this thread, I guess...

[Ranis]

Hocrap Ashtar, can that other one have minis on it too? If not, that's totally cool, you've done far too much as it is. Thanks again.

[Ashtar]

Pictures are en cours, coming off the camera now. I don't have minis now at hand (they stayed with my ex... =( ) But I took out the original D&D black box counters to have something to show.

Pikkies coming in like 2-3 minutes tops. I've shot 44, need to select 2-3 that are good, process them and upload.

[Ashtar]

Sorry, it's late here so I don't have time to re-cut the pikkies. If you want any one in higher resolution, I've got the original files that are 2x as big.

The 3.5 Books on a dungeon map


3.5 on a battlegrid.


Bugbears, Orcs and Wolf on dungeon grid.


D&D Black box (sorry for the background, if needed I'll clean up and reshoot it).
Edit: The character sheet on the map is my first character ever created ^^, something like 16 years ago.

Map with paper minis on.


Zanzer's Dungeon (The D&D boxed set battle map).

[Quietus]

Just to throw my objective two cents in - the canvas map makes a much better backdrop than a grid-based dungeon. Easier to get into from the point of view of an outsider, and the image of "A world" is much more pleasant than the image of "A grid with a dungeon under it". If you prefer the grid map, however, that Zanzer's Dungeon one looks much better.

Also, I do agree that minis, if possible, would be a fantastic addition. The current D&D books make a better picture than the older ones, though I think the best option (In my humble opinion, of course), would be to have an image like the first one you put up, with the world map as the dominant portion in the middle, using the 3.5 books in the foreground, and other books with interesting images in the background, to provide a visual border at the top of the picture. If you can get minis on the map, so much the better.

[Ranis]

You...you are an absolute saint. I will most definitely find uses for these in my presentation. I owe you big time. Just name it.

No funny stuff, now.

[Y'Draesk]

I don't know if your report can utilize any information or source such as this:

http://www.theescapist.com/index.htm

But it is a great source. I have utilized it often as a reference source for others who were unfamiliar with RPG's and gaming, yet had plenty of bias against it due to rumors and myths.

Hope it helps!

[Zavia/GenX]

GameSpy did a 30th year anniversary about d&d with its history, interviews and stuff.

For pics, consider GenCon and other gaming convention pictures of ppl D&Ding. For decorative pics, go thru the d&d site for their artwork, like their galleries.

Also, do post your presentation notes and slides when ur done and tell us how it went ya?