Exploring Dungeons and Dragons: The History of D&D

[@ElementalDAR]

DnD is amazing. I feel it helps me to be a better writer and more creative in general. Plus my masters degree is in world religion with a focus on myth and folklore. I sure as hell ain't getting any use out of the subject I love at work so it's great to draw inspiration from all those stories to make characters and worlds.

[@timidalchemist8475]

Same here, D&D influenced me as a writer along with fantasy novels like Wheel of Time, Middle-Earth Saga, Cosmere series, Earthsea and Discworld. I thank all of these authors and the two creators of D&D for giving me motivations to creating my world and characters.

[@sadlobster1]

Same, dude; after playing D&D with some classmates of mine during Junior Year of High School, I got inspired to make my own fantasy stories. One of which was published into a book back in 2008

[@markcorrigan3930]

What are you working as?

[@brendenkennedy5538]

I imagine d&d as the "here be dragons" box

[@merrittanimation7721]

Noooo...

[@RemusKingOfRome]

DORK! .. :D .. I remember being a napoleonic war gamer in the 70s but never went over to fantasy.

[@AFreakingAxeCH]

I came here to learn not to feel

[@l_shaun_bunds_l]

😭

[@galacticyeet2732]

"I-Im not strong enough."

[@galderfendt1386]

To be contrasted with #CriticalRole is such a milestone. Thank you for mentioning our community. This is humbling. If I were a Cleric I’d say ‘Bless you’. But as I am a Wizard, all I can say is thank you for granting us this kind Wish. ~Galder Fendt, Conjuration Wizard

[@AngriestPeanut]

Galder Fendt cringe

[@elementj4830]

Love this comment!

[@l_shaun_bunds_l]

Angry Peanut why feeget?

[@Sara3346]

@@AngriestPeanut What about it was cringe?

[@adammarks6454]

Galder Fendt I’m a cleric so bless you

[@ZimMan2]

>even more cocaine that's how you know it was the 80's.

[@FIRSTNAMELASTNAME-zt4kf]

Cocaines a hell of a drug.

[@travis6778]

More like the 70s

[@KevinSigman]

This is probably the best concise overview of the history of the original tabletop RPG I’ve ever seen. All the major points explored in the 40+ year history of the game in 25 minutes.

[@sciathoir]

I told myself I wasn't gonna be super excited about this, as I was never able to get into the D&D games, but nonetheless here I am 4 mins after the upload, I'm excited.

[@justas423]

DnD is a game for everyone. You is just gotta find the parts you like. And 5e is pretty much designed to let newer players to get into the game.

[@sciathoir]

@@justas423 Well to be honest it was mostly due to a lot of my friends not being interested in the idea, to each there own, of course, that along with cost, those D&D books are expensive as hell and a used copy often tends to be a bit too used, still I really appreciate this comment, I'll be sure to follow this series closely so maybe when I do get a chance to play I'll have a bit of good knowledge

[@williancruz9657]

@@sciathoir it's very easy to find pirated pdfs online and there are hundreds of resources out there for starting to play over the internet. I'd recommend looking up RPG Discord servers and the looking for group subreddit (I believe it's r/l4g ? Idk haven't been on reddit for years).

[@feylin]

There is a great book on this very topic, "Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It " Book by David M. Ewalt very good read.

[@joshjames582]

Or, if you're brave and can stomach it, "Playing At the World" by Jon Peterson, a weighty tome indeed.

[@jaymeVos]

That was a good read :)

[@sergiomoney101]

I honestly cannot believe how detailed and unique of a history this board game could have in its development. This should be made into a documentary as its a fascinating business story and filled with drama.

[@creb4147]

I've been asked to try out some D&D with friends who say that I'd be good at it, but I don't know if I should. This video has at least taught me some backstory to the game, so I thank you for this. Perhaps I will join them soon.

[@DFX2KX]

Having a bit of historical perspective does help to let someone know what exactly it is that's being asked of them. I've never played it classic style (pen and paper), but have done so online via MUDs, and it's a heck of a thing. Also, if you've ever played KOTOR, you have played a modified form of D&D

[@werewolvesofvirginia]

I think you would like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJqrlpKiZbxgkNk.

[@sertaki]

have you tried it?

[@creb4147]

@@sertaki yea and I really like it! :)

[@sertaki]

@@creb4147 nice! :D Welcome to the fold.

[@morcova]

Not going to lie, this isn't quite the history of D&D I was thinking about when I saw the video title. Great video! RIP Gygax

[@merrittanimation7721]

D&D is something that has interested me for a while but haven’t been able to do much. It’s a fun concept.

[@huntereyeofdarkwood5417]

Merritt Animation jump on the chance Trust me I tried my first time AS a dm and made manny mistakes But it was fun and awesome Try serching discord servers or outher comunitys

[@DFX2KX]

There is software that lets you play online (either in virtual game-table form, or in the form of a MUD using DND as it's backend) that will do the aggravating math. It makes playing it a lot more approachable for the newbie. I still haven't, tho, because hearing my rommates screaming over rules in Hero System turned me off of the idea completely. I stick to MUDs.

[@bandgeekforlife406]

As a writer, I find the idea of multiple people working together in an attempt to make a coherent world very intriguing! This why I recently finished the backlog of SCP vids. While there are understandably differences in events and/or people and classifications in some stories (able to be explained by thinking of some events and SCPs occurring in an alternate dimension), it's still fascinating how much the stories and characters DO line up with each other, given the plethora of authors contributing. D&D presents as a fairly small group of people working to advance a single story during every campaign played, all over the world. I love the collaboration and creativity

[@ryanduffy45]

You should do an exploring series on Magic The Gathering since its probably the biggest it's ever been. Namely the format Commander or EDH.

[@strangerinwhite]

I know an artist that worked for the game, during the early years.

[@ryanduffy45]

@@strangerinwhite That's cool; small world. Do/did you play? And which artist?

[@EnvisionerWill]

@@strangerinwhite Which game, D&D or Magic?

[@missingone9185]

You know, your timing is really impeccable. I literally just started playing D&D with friends.

[@hugolanglois4072]

The most in depth d&d documentary. Congrats and thank you

Poor Gary Gygax...he missed that last saving throw. DM's unite!!!!

[@Bigfoot_With_Internet_Access]

What if dungeons and dragons explored you That would be strange

[@moistmaidenlover5565]

With enough lube anything could work

[@LetsTalkAboutPrepping]

Hmmmmm a table top rpg themed after a terrestrial representation of the Exploring Series library, where you have to fight through the monsters etc which are regularly Explored in different episodes

[@LetsTalkAboutPrepping]

Oh. Or like that

[@radagast7200]

@@moistmaidenlover5565 ... ah... now I finally understand why they need all of those odd dice.

[@merrittanimation7721]

Let's Talk About Prepping It would end up looking like a strange Call of Cthulu session.

[@captainkiwi77]

“WE PLAY DUNGEONS AND DRAGOOONNNSSS”

[@majik5194]

10:17 this is the most Tolkien image I've ever seen

[@qinop]

Punished Gygax: a man denied his company

[@lillymcabee8771]

To busy sucking sugar with his nose.

[@falconstarr2146]

I'm DMing my first session today. Great timing!

[@williamhayes2479]

I'll be playing my first session in the coming weeks, so really good timing.

You have to be a good storyteller to be a DM.

[@falconstarr2146]

@ The story telling was honestly the easiest part for me. Combat mechanics and worldbuilding is where I need some work.

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Check out the Runehammer channel for great beginner DM tips. For mechanics, the most important thing is "Describe, Roll, React" - players describe the intended action, roll to meet or beat a target number, then react appropriately to the result. You, the DM add details and keep the game moving.

[@thepaladinbelle]

i would legit love to see this series come back

[@mykl5768]

I remember the Moral Panic of the '80's. I saw the crappy Mazes and Monsters Made for TV movie, and watched the idiotic "60 minutes" hit job on DnD. I haven't played in decades but I owned a copy of chainmail, the basic set and I still have my AD&D rulebooks, including the Deities and Demigods edition with the Cthulhu and Elric mythos. I should start watching more games being played. Keep up with the series, live the Channel.

[@werewolvesofvirginia]

I think you would like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJqrlpKiZbxgkNk.

[@karlvik2168]

I come home from an exam, then a fucking terrible shift at work,and am greeted to this. Thanks man, you literally made my day.

[@GmodPlusWoW]

A hearty addition to the D&Dcember content. Speaking of which, if there were ever a 6th Edition, what do you guys think would be in it?

[@darkeggycj]

The Exploring Series, you should also try the Pathfinder Series, Starfinder Series, Vampire the Masqueraded, Werewolf the Apocalipse as well as any other Tabletop RPG Game. The lore is rich and interesting also thank you for taking into account the game of Dungeon and Dragons. As a Dungeon Master and player of Tabletop it feels awesome that my pass time gets a spot light in your channel. Keep up the good work.

[@TheExploringSeries]

I've played plenty of different RPGs, and typically prefer a few others over D&D, but D&D is certainly the fan favorite.

[@darkeggycj]

@@TheExploringSeries I agree with you ... again keep up the good work.

[@scott7410]

Need more DND videos. These are great

[@SuperBearNeo]

This is a dream come true...Exploring Series is doing D&D related stuff on his channel. Since your doing D&D, cover the lore from across the various editions

[@PVUser429]

D&D; here be dragons.

[@richardweaver2318]

Love your page been a fan for a while now. I am so stoked your doing dungeons and dragons videos!! I started watching your scp videos to get ideas for games I dungeon master.

[@standingonacomet2084]

I played as a kid. Back in the 80s. D&D fired up my imagination like nothing else

[@JackMValentine]

That was great, man. I'd been taking a break from SCP stuff, keeping an eye on every release but putting them in a list to binge when I felt the mood. I also subscribe to all manner of D&D related channels, I assumed this was a video from the WOTC D&D channel, super surprised when I heard your voice. Awesome work!

[@karllorant5892]

Ah man, this is hype! Awesome explanation of the IRL background to set us off :3

[@nickolausafon5458]

I'm working on and largely finished a D-n-D world build. It's a story-concept, planetary setting, and character file. I did a lot of work using the Dungeons lore and guides, and webpages. Not sure if it works as a roll playing or expansion or if it's more of a story with a non-RPG plot. I was thinking of environments, races, animals, factions, and conflict. I just had the idea of a planet settled by humans and elves but original home to "dog men". The humanoid and beast races and planes inspired a lot of this concept.

[@DFX2KX]

I think it's also worth noting that D&D inspired (and in some cases provided the rules backend for) a lot of early text-based multiplayer games. MUDs and their variants do the math for you, making it extremely practical to jump in and play (and modern virtual tables make it easy to do things the classic way as well). Also, for any of you folks who liked Knights of the Old Republic? That system is a modified 3.5. I remember discovering an open-source 3.5 ruleset somewhere and wondering why it felt oddly familiar.

[@Nelo_Wolf]

I need to play dungeons and dragons. I'm missing out on a lot

[@ThatSpecificIndividual]

It easy to find an online group, or if you have friends rope them into it.

[@Nelo_Wolf]

@@ThatSpecificIndividual I know. Thanks for the tip

[@jimevers869]

If you're interested in playing with strangers only over voice chat there is a great discord server that has a amazing community and people there would love to teach you (myself included).

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Check bulletin boards at local game stores for nearby gaming groups.

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

Pretty easy to get a group set up and going. For example, our group is loosey-goosey with rules, as we view them as guidelines. Mostly because our DM is a good friend, and he likes a good ol' power fantasy. Just get yourself a dice set, you can print character sheets online, and the reference materials are online as well. And then it's a matter of roping friends and family into going into a campaign. My cousins wanna get a campaign going.

[@pammer0]

Please, please, PLEASE continue this series, and consider Exploring the World of Darkness!

[@porkchopulator]

Man I miss playing d&d. Great video as always, Mangg.

[@werewolvesofvirginia]

I think you would like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJqrlpKiZbxgkNk.

[@EnvisionerWill]

While I have heard of D&D B/X, I believe the same group of rules is more generally referred to as BECMI, which stands for Basic Expert Companion Master Immortal, the titles of the five "tiers" of play covered by the rules, each of which was published as its own rules set (the Basic rules having derived from non-advanced D&D, Expert being its first expansion, and the other three coming later, ending with the Immortal rules that were either a prototype for or an alternative to the idea of "gods" as most of the game would use it). I used to hang out with a community that were very fond of BECMI, and were heavily involved with a gameworld known as Mystara, which may have been the original "default setting" for D&D at the time it was published, since I think Gygax didn't originally assume that anyone else's home campaign was set on any alternate version of his own Greyhawk setting. AD&D created several specific game worlds, most famously Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance but also Dark Sun and Birthright (and arguably also Ravenloft, Spelljammer and Planescape); to the best of my knowledge Mystara was never formalized to the same degree, but it sort of organically emerged and became popular with some enthusiasts, who expanded it in zines and such since it didn't get an awful lot of official products to spell it out. Interestingly, after 3E formalized the idea of Greyhawk being the default D&D world, and 4E did away with that in favor of the "points of light" pseudo-setting and eventually the Nentir Vale region, 5E made Forgotten Realms the default instead for some reason, but it also went out of its way to resurrect older settings such as Dragonlance, the 3E-premiered Eberron, and even Mystara. Most adventures published in the 5E era have sidebars about how to place their setting within other CWs, and Mystara's inclusion among these might be the first namecheck it's gotten since WOTCO bought out TSR. To the best of my knowledge, though, nobody inside or outside the corporate world has ever done any significant work on reviving Birthright, a CS that might be considered a bit less "PC" (not Player-Character or Personal Computer, but the other use of that abbrev), or else has been neglected simply because it had more of a focus on some aspects of the medieval paradigm that don't lend themselves as well to a game that is still essentially combat-focused. I'm not sure on any of these details regarding Mystara and Birthright and so forth, as the rules of AD&D have been too impenetrable for me to be able to do much research into the state of the game that far back.

[@MysticLegend31]

1985, people were already blaming games for deaths and violence 🤦‍♂️

[@adrianjuarez1162]

Yeah it's a mental health problem straight up before that we were blaming books and pictures but here in 2021 and it's still a video game violence problem it's beyond ridiculous.

[@saphcal]

[@dustinsterling3248]

I started with 3.5, I'm dyin with 3.5 lol. 2 handed berserker for life

[@saphcal]

@@dustinsterling3248 damn right

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

I played AD&D 2nd Ed from 1990 to about 2012-2014, when I transitioned to 3.5e. In that time I had modified the 2e rules to my own system, then noticed that 3rd ed. was very similar to what I came up with, so it was very easy to pick up. I've since modified that to my own "3.9e" and I have no intention of bothering with 4th or 5e. 5e looks terrible and makes me sad as a life-long player. I'm now recently looking into some OSR stuff. What do you think about the new systems that are more similar to orig. DD?

[@saphcal]

@@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself I never played any D&D before 3.0. I've only played 3.0 and 3.5

[@saphcal]

@@caiawlodarski5339 nah 5e is dumbed down for babies. 3.5 is better :) if you cant/wont memorize the rules thats on you not the game.

[@rhydsnow851]

... Only just got back into D&D and you come out with this? I always watch your SCP stuff so this surprised me!

[@eagercadet4059]

Lately I have also taken an interest in RPGs. I haven't had a game yet due to difficulties of finding enough players to get a session going. Rather unlucky, but I am certain that I will be able to play a session of D&D when I finally get a group together, but there is another RPG that has had my eye for a long time and you may of heard due to trailers for 2 video games called Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 and Werewolf the Apocalypse: Earthblood set in the World of Darkness universe, published by White Wolf Publisher. I personally hope that you may also take an interest in the World of Darkness, covering the product's history and the in game lore, particularly Werewolf the Apocalypse which is what brought me to the World of Darkness

[@l_shaun_bunds_l]

I’m glad to see someone’s suggestions were taken! Awesome TSR!

[@snapst]

Ill be honest, when i clicked on this video, i hoped you would be explaining the main ideas in each of the DnD settings and their history... but sure, this was a thing too. If you have the time on hand, i would love the narrated FR history supplemented by your take on the settings, the dungeon crawls and the high magic, low magic histories. but man, there's so much of it, that i don' t know if anyone has time for that.. cause if you took a look on each edition on dnd.. there is call of the Cthulhu to briefly overview and its lore.. anyway, thanks, the sound is really good and much more enjoyable to listen to than couple other channels.

[@handson4580]

Great video im new to dnd so its nice to have an overview of the history of dnd before it was even called that! I also like how it was more factual and not making fun of the game because "its a board game for nerds and geeks"

[@LetsTalkAboutPrepping]

Ooooh some fresh Exploring. Goodbye, Whatever goals i had today

[@wayfarerzen]

I started playing in 3 and 3.5 and would dabble in 4th. Good times. I stopped for a while when 5 hit (not because I didn't like 5, but I had to focus on other things, namely my degree) but have been getting into it again lately.

[@tylergiattino457]

Did this man say “smoking marijuana and cocaine”

[@pious83]

More like "smoking marijuana, and cocaine". A comma is a hard thing to Hear, after all.

[@casey5990]

You can smoke cocaine... it’s different than crack. Primo

[@tylergiattino457]

Casey you got that mixed up buddy

[@wizardothefool]

@@tylergiattino457 You can lace your blunt with it though

[@tylergiattino457]

@@wizardothefool that's some crackhead shit

[@pcou715]

you should make your stuff into a podcast so i can listen to your videos while driving and the images are usually just visual tools

[@dm_zemo]

Love your channel and your videos. Excited to see your thoughts/discoveries with this new series. I would specifically love for you to do a video/s on the Spelljammer setting of D&D. Also the D&D cosmos.

[@maxminer9157]

I think exploring some pieces of dnd lore would be really cool for this channel

[@justas423]

13:23 Christian Mom: That sign can't stop me because I can't read.

[@Sara3346]

Which is an even more amusing thought given the religion is supposed to be based on a book.

[@Autissm420]

you should pick this series back up for bg3!!!

[@grahamcarpenter5135]

5:33 *Laughs in Stars Without Number, Starfinder, and Iron Gods.*

[@Shortauthor]

I've been dming for three years. Love DND and I look forward to more of your videos

[@anthonyburnett8846]

Good video! I love D&D and play it all the time. Very customizable and it's your story. The possibilities are endless.

[@werewolvesofvirginia]

I think you would like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJqrlpKiZbxgkNk.

[@galacticyeet2732]

I got into D&D a few months ago and its awesome.

[@brody810.]

DND!! Holy shit I am so happy you are doing this. I’ve been playing for almost 2 years now and I love it

[@3417gekkou]

can't wait for the 2 hour vid on Drizzt

[@redskeith4737]

Not what I was expecting but happy that I watched

[@remke5137]

This is one of your best videos

[@dasdeke]

loved my 2nd edition! Great video!

[@Mcaark]

I’m not opposed to the idea of DnD, but honestly, most of the player base is what turned me off to ever giving it a try. Or, specifically, the players that were accessible to me. Also, the time required to really enjoy it, wasn’t some thing I could generally afford. Still, hopefully this series will vicariously redeem my poor interactions and opinions of it. There’s certainly lots of room for some incredibly cool stuff.

[@Mcaark]

Anıl Akbaş Not what I said at all. In fact, the people I was around tried to hard to not be neckbeards, and were hypersensitive to any criticism about things they liked.

[@petrichorrrr]

i've been interested in getting into d&d lately, so this video is very relevant, thank you :)

[@golgarisoul]

It begins.

[@weeaboobaguette3943]

Seems like the lesson to be learned is keep 100% of the shares, and 100% of the intellectual properties you exploit. And don't Sin.

[@UngiftedWatcher]

God I love dnd. Thanks for the in depth history lesson of it! Didnt know a bit that you explained!

[@tfallspark5104]

My first (and only finished) DnD campagin had me and a group of friends uncover a drow conspiracy to kill the nobels of the area we currently resided inn. I played a gnome tiefling sorcerer. I think we spendt 18 hours on that adventure. It was alot of fun.

[@spencersholden]

My dad, mom, sister, and me have started playing a d&d campaign.

[@caselee2264]

I use to game, way back in late 70's - 80's when it first, & second edition Dungeon and Dragons.

[@EnvisionerWill]

Well I thought I knew a ton about the history of D&D...but this is the first I've EVER heard of Brownstein.

[@Flummiification]

Very infirmative and great introduction!

[@kiriuxeosa8716]

Odd they named themselves "BADD" so they were a badd group and people followed this badd group...didn't their parents ever teach them not to congregate with badd people?

[@joshuasky1002]

This is a great video! Thanks for creating it!

[@MrAkrei]

Been pretty excited about this.

[@Sen81222]

Ah yes, the old "he did bad things because games" framing, as old as humanity itselfe

[@danielknapp159]

Hey, lake geneva wisconsin, my hometown.

[@Messatsu01]

I love playing the board game. Too bad my friends and I are busy living our own separate lives to sit down and play anymore.

[@chadsknnr]

Factoid: Back in the 1980s, TSR published several other RPGs aside from D&D, most notably, Marvel Superheroes! This was the first rpg made for Marvel Comics, and it's attribute and rule system was massively underrated compared to D&D . . . .

[@davidpacheco3405]

"You crazy son of a b*tch, you did it" Thank you!

[@putraramadhan8604]

OH BOI HERE IT IS

[@Scaphism_]

I'm learning dnd for my girlfriend and I was happy to see a KZbinr I watch had a few videos

[@benisjamin6583]

Wow this made so happy to see

[@pious83]

Growing up, I never went beyond the animated series and that was good enough for me.

[@17Watman]

Please do more on the Lore of D&D!!!

[@Fallenfantasy174]

As someone who utterly connects your voice to the SCP I keep waiting for something horrible and eldritch to happen to my beloved D&D.

[@buterassassin1952]

Thanks for the context

[@pyrofania]

Nice work nicely done!

[@lt.spookycarrot1925]

Congrats on 420k subs

[@blu3f00l6]

Me and my friends play dnd it’s a good way to exercise the imagination and mind

[@samuelbarritt7105]

Omg yessssss I've been wating for you to do D&D I'm so excited!!!!!

[@yaboi4503]

This is really well done ty

[@ViirinSoftworks]

I'm personally surprised that Gamma World (original, paperback collection) wasn't mentioned.

[@Athgul007]

Love to see Robert E. Howard gets some credit in the making of the game. :D

[@TheGrayGriffin1]

Hit me with that dnd lore

[@klazuthed]

DnD series? Yes!

[@xidyl200]

OH BOY HE FINALLY DONE DID IT

[@AxeFlaw123]

YES! It has started :D

[@babyboomer6272]

DO THE WITCHER DUDE!!!!!!!