Dungeons & Dragons Archives

Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. It was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. better known as TSR. D&D has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997. D&D's initial publication is credited as the start of modern role-playing games as it helped popularize the genre by departing from the more-common tabletop wargaming experience. Dungeons & Dragons allows each player to create their own character and embark upon an adventure within a fantasy setting. Much of the gameplay is crafted by the Dungeon Master, who serves as the game's referee and storyteller. Characters earn experience points by interacting with the world around them. That XP allows them to raise in levels and become increasingly powerful over the course of several gaming sessions. The current version of Dungeons & Dragons, the 5th Edition ruleset, was released in late 2014.