Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, was first published by Tactical Studies Rules Inc. in 1974. The publication of Dungeons and Dragons is regarded as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the entire role-playing game industry. Since its creation, an estimated 20 million people worldwide have played the game.

Dungeons and Dragons is a game in which a group of players develop characters that embark upon imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting. During each game, the Dungeon Master—the game's referee and storyteller—provides descriptions of the characters' surroundings and other additional information. Characters earn experience points as they solve dilemmas, gather treasure and engage in battles.

Dungeons and Dragons is the most popular and best-selling role-playing game. However, the game received negative publicity at the height of its popularity in the 1980s when it was implicated in a teen suicide and a number of murders. The game was also linked to devil worship and witchcraft.

The commercial success of Dungeons and Dragons led to lawsuits concerning the distribution of royalties between Arneson and Gygax. In the 1990s, both creators sold their royalties to Wizards of the Coast.