D&D General The real Queens of D&D

[DarkCrisis]

A certain someone declaring themselves the “Queen of D&D” and how IMO that was laughable.

But who are the real Queens of D&D? Those who not only contribute it to it but molded it and shaped it.

People like Jennell Jaquays and/or Margaret Weis who made some iconic modules. Or in Weis’ case also wrote and still writes some of the most iconic D&D fiction and campaign worlds.

Or perhaps Gary Gygaxs daughter (Cindy?) who apparently named the game. And didnt one of his other daughters help play test it?

Or perhaps Lorraine Williams? The Dark Queen? Without her you wouldn’t have 2E and through several mismanagements and company being sold a couple more times you wouldn’t have 3rd ed which changed the industry and later 5th Ed as you know it.

Who else?

 

[Retreater]

You got most of the frontrunners. However, here are some additional names I would consider above the current "self-proclaimed" queen.

Darlene - who created the map of Greyhawk
Lisa Smedman - module writer and novelist
Rose Estes - creator of the Endless Quest book series

 

[Dioltach]

For me, the only Queen of D&D is Takhisis.

 

[John R Davis]

My mum who lets us huddle round the kitchen table and roll odd dice for hours on end every Sunday!

May she rest in peace

 

[Mannahnin]

Jennell Jaquays and Darlene, for me. Two towering creatives from back in the day who are still relevant and influential now.

 

[overgeeked]

All the women who’ve put up with the “boys’ club” crap without murdering the guys.

Still curious who said that. If you’d rather not derail the thread, I’ll take a PM with the answer.

 

[GuyBoy]

Jennell Jaquays for me.
Honourable mentions to Cindy Gygax and Darlene.

 

[Richards]

Iggwilv?

Johnathan

 

[Shiroiken]

Rose Estes - creator of the Endless Quest book series

Thanks to her "Greyhawk" books, she's the Dark Queen... right behind Lorraine Williams

 

[Retreater]

Thanks to her "Greyhawk" books, she's the Dark Queen... right behind Lorraine Williams

Those Endless Quest books really got TSR in bookstores and jumpstarted the novel line - if I remember the history.
I do understand not liking some of what they did. But I think both of them played a role in prolonging TSR's existence so it would still be around to be purchased by WotC. Had Gygax kept up the mismanagement even one more year, I think TSR would've died. If TSR collapsed by 1990 (for example), there would've been little interest in bringing D&D back at all. At the best, it would be in a position like Palladium.

But as I pointed out in the original thread, my vote is for Jennell Jaquays. She's a great writer, one of the earliest contributors to the game, a surprisingly talented visual artist, and a seemingly decent human being to boot - long active in equality movements. Her DMing advice was some of the first practical tips I recall reading.