What's in the 30 years of D&D book?
- Thread starter Krug
- Start date
atom crash
First Post
"Thirty Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons"
it's a broad overview of the game -- where it came from, where it is now. it's got chapters on each edition and overviews of the major campaign settings (i don't recall seeing Al-Qadim or Hollow World in there, but i flipped through it rather quickly on Friday), and examples of the covers and interior artwork of several books and modules.
it also has short, one-page essays -- more like testimonials, or "what this all means to me" type write-ups -- from game designers and celebrities who game (including Wil Wheaton, no big surprise there) drawn up like pages from the Monstrous Compendium, and of course an introduction from Vin Diesel (again, no surprise there; i find it funny how Vin Diesel is always held up to show that gamers aren't all geeky misfits).
it's an excellent introduction to the history of the game for people who are new to gaming, or to D&D. i flipped through the book with my girlfriend, who has only started gaming since v3.5, and gave her a running commentary on previous editions and incarnations of D&D/AD&D.
for those of you already familiar with the history of the game, you already know more than this book is going to give you. it's got some nice artwork in here, but there's nothing in here that hasn't seen print before.
it's a hefty book with a hefty price. if i had to spend my own cash on it, i probably wouldn't have. still, it's not a bad book to have on your coffee table when your non-gaming friends come over.
it's a broad overview of the game -- where it came from, where it is now. it's got chapters on each edition and overviews of the major campaign settings (i don't recall seeing Al-Qadim or Hollow World in there, but i flipped through it rather quickly on Friday), and examples of the covers and interior artwork of several books and modules.
it also has short, one-page essays -- more like testimonials, or "what this all means to me" type write-ups -- from game designers and celebrities who game (including Wil Wheaton, no big surprise there) drawn up like pages from the Monstrous Compendium, and of course an introduction from Vin Diesel (again, no surprise there; i find it funny how Vin Diesel is always held up to show that gamers aren't all geeky misfits).
it's an excellent introduction to the history of the game for people who are new to gaming, or to D&D. i flipped through the book with my girlfriend, who has only started gaming since v3.5, and gave her a running commentary on previous editions and incarnations of D&D/AD&D.
for those of you already familiar with the history of the game, you already know more than this book is going to give you. it's got some nice artwork in here, but there's nothing in here that hasn't seen print before.
it's a hefty book with a hefty price. if i had to spend my own cash on it, i probably wouldn't have. still, it's not a bad book to have on your coffee table when your non-gaming friends come over.
Last edited:
Panthanas
Explorer
I picked it up at Waldenbooks last Saturday. I've read some of it. It starts out with an introduction from Vin Diesal, and also has a number of, recollections is the best way to put it, from other 'celebrities'. The recollections are about one page each and are throughout the majority of the book and have been interesting to read since they give you a good idea as to the extent D&D permeates our society.
It talks about the beginnings of the game, about GenCon, has a little about the history behind the majority of the 'official' campaign settings from Greyhawk to Planescape. The book then takes us into 2nd Edition, the PHB Reference guides (Complete such-n-such Handbook), the historical sourcebooks (the green cover books), and then the 'Black Box' set.
That’s about as far as I have read, but from flipping ahead, it looks like the authors talk about the TSR/WotC deal, 3rd Edition and finally the last section is called "Into the Future".
The book has a lot of pictures/art that dominates the entirety of the book. It is printed on good quality high gloss paper. I've enjoyed it up to this point even though I already knew a majority of the content that is presented. I do have to say that it is kinda pricey even with a coupon and my "Preferred Reader" card, but it is a nice coffee table book none the less.
It talks about the beginnings of the game, about GenCon, has a little about the history behind the majority of the 'official' campaign settings from Greyhawk to Planescape. The book then takes us into 2nd Edition, the PHB Reference guides (Complete such-n-such Handbook), the historical sourcebooks (the green cover books), and then the 'Black Box' set.
That’s about as far as I have read, but from flipping ahead, it looks like the authors talk about the TSR/WotC deal, 3rd Edition and finally the last section is called "Into the Future".
The book has a lot of pictures/art that dominates the entirety of the book. It is printed on good quality high gloss paper. I've enjoyed it up to this point even though I already knew a majority of the content that is presented. I do have to say that it is kinda pricey even with a coupon and my "Preferred Reader" card, but it is a nice coffee table book none the less.
Panthanas
Explorer
Wycen said:
Thats the reason I put the ' ' around the word 'celebrities'.
Henry said:
Other names include:
-Chris Prynoski (Founder and owner of West Hollywood's Titmouse, Inc. an animation studio)
-Cardwll Kerr (Senior System Designer for D&D Online)
-Ben Kweller (A musician)
-Wil Wheaton (Of ST:TNG Fame Also does a column in Dungeon magazine)
-Sherman Alexie (Poet, author, and screenwritter.)
-Ralph Sanchez (Former production Exec for MTV)
-Mark Tremonti (Member of the band Alter Bridge
-James Merendino (Writer/Director of SLC Punk
-John Rogers (Creator of Jackie Chan Adventures for WB Kids)
-Nik Davidson (Also works on D&D Online)
-Ken Troop (Again, works on D&D Online)
-John Frank Rosenblum (Television Writer/Producer)
-Feargus Urquart (Presedent of Obsidian Entertainment)
-Laurell K. Hamilton (Author of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series)
-Sharyn McCrumb (Author)
-Dave Meyers (Music video and commercial director)
-Ed Robertson (Founding member of the band Barenaked Ladies)
-Ed Del Castillo (Presedent of Liquid Entertainment)
-David X. Cohen (Executive producer and head writer of Futurama)
-Genndy Tartakovsky (Brought SW: Clone Wars to Cartoon Network)
-Mark Haimes (Production Exec at Dreamworks S.K.G.)
-Tom DeSanto (Writer/Producer on X-Men, X-Men 2, and Apt Pupil)
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