TSR Rob Kuntz Recounts The Origins Of D&D

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In this interesting article from Kotaku, Rob Kuntz relates a history of early TSR that differs somewhat from the narrative we usually hear. It delves into the relationship between Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson (D&D's co-creators) and the actual development of the game, which dates back to Arneson in 1971.

Dungeons & Deceptions: The First D&D Players Push Back On The Legend Of Gary Gygax

Everybody calls Rob Kuntz last, he says. Those who want to know about the history of Dungeons & Dragons start with co-creator Gary Gygax’s kids, one of Gygax’s biographers, or D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast. As they’re wrapping things up, they might get around to dialing up Kuntz, a...

kotaku.com

 

[Hussar]

Huh, when I click the link, nothing happens.

 

[Parmandur]

Huh, when I click the link, nothing happens.

Here's the original story, some interesting tidbits from Kuntz I hadn't heard before, though it seems to match my impression of early D&D days:

Dungeons & Deceptions: The First D&D Players Push Back On The Legend Of Gary Gygax

Everybody calls Rob Kuntz last, he says. Those who want to know about the history of Dungeons & Dragons start with co-creator Gary Gygax’s kids, one of Gygax’s biographers, or D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast. As they’re wrapping things up, they might get around to dialing up Kuntz, a...

kotaku.com

 

[darjr]

I kinda don’t get it. I mean this is the story as I understood from recent times. And I don’t think it’s really that disputed except in minor details.... maybe?

 

[Hussar]

Fascinating read. Good find.

 

[Hussar]

I kinda don’t get it. I mean this is the story as I understood from recent times. And I don’t think it’s really that disputed except in minor details.... maybe?

I think that those of us who are deep into the weeds like we are, probably have gleaned a fair bit of the details over the years. OTOH, outside of us, I think that it's Gary Gygax=D&D. I mean, you have Gygax in all sorts of pop culture references, but, I can't recall ever seeing a single reference to Arneson.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Quote from the article:

One day, he was flipping through a copy of a neighbor’s Playboy magazine when he saw something that captivated his 13-year-old imagination:

Spoiler: No. Something else!

an advertisement for board games.

 

[doctorhook]

This was a good read.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I think that those of us who are deep into the weeds like we are, probably have gleaned a fair bit of the details over the years. OTOH, outside of us, I think that it's Gary Gygax=D&D. I mean, you have Gygax in all sorts of pop culture references, but, I can't recall ever seeing a single reference to Arneson.

Gary really was the Stan Lee of D&D, with all the good and bad that comes with that compairison.

 

[Hussar]

That's a fairly apt description.