These questions cover the the entire history of role-playing games: the history of game companies, trends within the hobby, developments of new kinds of mechanics, and gaming's place in culture.
10
votes
1answer
111 views
What Works Inspired Paranoia?
Paranoia is obviously descended from dystopian works such as 1984 and Logan's Run with black comedy that I have sometimes heard is inspired by Monty Python's Flying Circus. For a long time I had ...
15
votes
1answer
191 views
Which cultural trope(s) does the D&D cleric refer to?
On the level of game mechanics, the classic D&D cleric melds the healer, the crusader and the witch/vampire hunter in one person. Is this a genuine D&D mish-mash or is there any ...
14
votes
1answer
211 views
Where did the Chromatic/Metallic Dragons come from?
In the AD&D Monster Manual, the Chromatic (evil) and Metallic (good) dragons are introduced. Each color of dragon has a different habitat, personality and breath weapon. (Or two breath weapons, in ...
15
votes
3answers
496 views
Why do D&D Paladins Have to Be Lawful Good?
In just about every edition of D&D (save for 4e), Paladins are required to be Lawful Good. If they stray from that, they are completely stripped of their powers. This means that evil deities can't ...
33
votes
6answers
937 views
At what point did polyhedral dice become part of D&D?
I was reading some articles the other day about Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson and the history of Dungeons and Dragons. I started to wonder: Where did these guys from Wisconsin get the now iconic polyhedral ...
9
votes
1answer
214 views
What inspired the Rakshasa other than its namesake?
Rakshasa have been part of D&D for more than 35 years, appearing in every edition. These evil magic cat-people are clearly inspired by the rakshas from Hindu and Buddhist mythologies, but they ...
6
votes
4answers
375 views
Why are dwarves medium?
In AD&D dwarves were small ("Dwarves", Monster Manual 1st edition) like halflings and gnomes. I am wondering why this was changed in the 3rd edition. Is it because of the bulk of the dwarves?
Or ...
13
votes
2answers
241 views
Why did WotC release Psionics under the OGL?
Wizards of the Coast released the core rules of D&D 3.5 under the OGL, but only added a small amount of material after that point.
Was there some historical reason that the rules for psionics ...
6
votes
1answer
207 views
Where did the option to trade rolling for a minimal success first appear?
Some games include a clearly defined method for allowing players and GMs to opt not to roll in favor of accepting a certain minimum level of success. For example, Ubiquity has its "Take the Average" ...
9
votes
3answers
307 views
When did the powers that be decide that my lanky frame warrants twenty-five square feet?
I was playing with AutoREALM the other day and noticed a lack of a five-foot-unit of measurement. There are inches, feet, yards, meters and then fathoms (apparently, six feet). This tool seems fairly ...
9
votes
3answers
482 views
Where does the stereotype that wizards can't wear armor come from? [closed]
Why are wizards and their ilk so restricted in their choice of personal armor in most fantasy roleplaying games? (...let alone novels etc.)
Sure, learning takes up a lot of time, especially about ...
6
votes
3answers
309 views
Where do the standard racial tropes for Dwarves come from? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where does the D&D concept of a dwarf come from?
In all traditional fantasy RPGs I've heard of or played, Dwarves are a mining/smithing race of short, anti-magic ...
11
votes
1answer
173 views
History of the Alignment System
Who created the alignment system?
Was it Gary Gygax & Dave Arneson (D&D)? Or David A. Hargrave (Arduin)?
Or perhaps Michael Moorcock and Paul Anderson?
Where did it come from?
In what ...
23
votes
2answers
1k views
Origin of the word “Soak” for avoiding damage
If anything ever boggled my mind in role playing, then it is the term "soak", as in "soaking damage". Soaking brings pictures of wet clothes to mind, as making stuff wet is what the word is in fact ...
11
votes
4answers
374 views
Is the use of XP as a narrative currency for both GMs and players a novel idea?
In Monte Cook's new roleplaying game Numenera, XP is used as a narrative currency not only by the GM but by the players as well. Taken from his design diaries:
Say the PCs find a hidden console ...
6
votes
2answers
156 views
When was the term “game master” first used?
Dungeons & Dragons coined the term "dungeon master" for the role of the player running the game and adjudicating the rules. When is "game master" first attested (as in, "proven to have existed by ...
18
votes
4answers
1k views
Why can't clerics use sharp weapons?
In many versions of D&D, clerics can't use bladed/edged/pointy weapons, and are instead restricted to things like staves, clubs, maces, etc. Why is this?
Is there some historical reason? Is ...
12
votes
3answers
480 views
Why can't a Cleric use a sling?
So by the book 1st Edition AD&D, clerics can't use a sling.
Other than game balance (it essentially means that other than the odd thrown hammer clerics have no ranged weapon ability which further ...
25
votes
6answers
1k views
In an even fight, how many rounds does a typical monster need to drop a PC?
Inspired by the closed question: DnD Next Hitpoint Inflation,
There have been claims of HP inflation in dnd-next, and there certainly were increased in the absolute value of HP in 4e. In order to ...
9
votes
1answer
418 views
Why did Giant Space Hamsters cause community outrage?
I remember there being a community fallout surrounding the introduction of Giant Space Hamsters, but never got the details at the time, and had an adolescent "WOW, hamsters, giant, in space, this is ...
15
votes
4answers
395 views
What's the origin of the term “gold piece”?
What is the literary or historical origin of the term "gold piece" to mean a gold coin? Was it used before D&D, or did D&D coin the term?
14
votes
4answers
2k views
What exactly is a saving throw?
Dungeons and Dragons has had the concept of a "saving throw" for a long time. What exactly is it supposed to represent in the real world? And why is it called a "saving throw"?
22
votes
4answers
450 views
Why do characters with a high prime requisite gain bonus XP?
In earlier versions of Dungeons & Dragons, a character with a high ability score in their class' prime requisite receives a bonus to all experience he earns. For example, the 1983 Frank Mentzer ...
3
votes
1answer
633 views
Optimisation analysis of AD&D 2nd edition (2e) Charisma (NPC reaction + Henchmen)
In terms of optimisation analyses, to what extent has AD&D (2nd Edition)'s Charisma stat been analysed? How is it appropriate to proceed in an optimisation analysis of Charisma?
In terms of RPG ...
4
votes
2answers
202 views
What is the earliest appearance of the D100 table from scratch?
I sometimes read DND blogs in which D100 tables appear. There's just something about that format that I like. It reminds me of lots of cool stuff like the Babylonian lists of mes. Are they recent or ...
17
votes
3answers
998 views
Where do dual-wielding rangers come from?
The classes in D&D are clearly selected as classic archetypes, either from an iconic character or frequently reccurring within Fantasy fiction.
The idea of bow-wielding rangers is a good example ...
29
votes
5answers
1k views
What's the deal with alignment languages?
In early D&D, there was the concept of an "alignment language."
The original "little brown book" D&D says only:
Law, Chaos and Neutrality also have common languages spoken by each ...
44
votes
13answers
4k views
Why does everyone carry a 10' pole?
Based on this comment over on CRPG Addict:
No adventuring party is complete without a ten foot pole.
...
Jason, but WHY? In God's name, WHAT IS IT FOR?!
What is a 10 foot pole used for ...
14
votes
4answers
578 views
What are the literary influences of the D&D Bard?
Can anyone tell me what sources, in literature, film, etc. inspired the Bard class for Dungeons & Dragons? I'm familiar with the Celtic Bards of history and legend, but the modern D&D Bard ...
24
votes
4answers
2k views
Why do Sorcerers use Charisma?
Sorcerers use Charisma as their primary Ability Score for spell-casting in Dungeons and Dragons. Wizards use Intelligence to cast, and Clerics use Wisdom. Intelligence and Wisdom make sense for the ...
24
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the purpose of old-school D&D class level limitations?
When I played 1E and 2E, race class limits was one of the first rules we decided to ignore. We decided that it would prevent us from playing (say) an Elven fighter for as long as the party might ...
85
votes
15answers
6k views
Who created the idea of Experience Points?
The idea of XP in all its many forms has been around for quite some time.
What designer had the idea of quantizing success and advancement through a numerical method? What game was it for?
The ...
3
votes
1answer
328 views
Has White Wolf ever faced bankruptcy?
I get the impression that WW is one of the few companies that made RPGs that is still financially viable without relying on some other product line (Munchkin in the case of SJGames), but that could be ...
16
votes
4answers
487 views
Was Original D&D an Historical Wargame?
At the dawn of roleplaying, the Castle & Crusade Society and Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association (LGTSA) focused on Medieval Britain, and produced the Chainmail tabletop wargame rules with a ...
14
votes
2answers
386 views
Where does the word 'grognard' come from?
I see many people online describing themselves as grognards of a particular system or style of play. Usually they're referring to their die-hard love of an out of print version of a game.
But where ...
2
votes
2answers
375 views
The first sold copy of D&D was to Chaosium's founder: were Chaosium's games influential on early D&D? [closed]
Alexander Dotor once interviewed Greg Stafford, during which Greg Stafford stated the following:
Greg Stafford: I knew about D&D. I had a friend in Lake Geneva who was
picking up abelt ...
15
votes
5answers
886 views
Where does the D&D concept of a dwarf come from?
Where does the modern D&D of a dwarf come from? I've noticed it's fairly far from the old Germanic concept of a dwarf. Where did Gary Gygax and company get the idea for the current long bearded, ...
15
votes
2answers
817 views
Were Illithids inspired by Cthulhu?
Mind Flayers seem to look a whole lot like Cthulhu. Is there any relationship/inspiration between the two?
11
votes
5answers
494 views
What was Braunstein, and why was it important to the beginning of the hobby?
I've heard of a game called Braunstein that apparently was the precursor to Dave Arneson's Blackmoor campaign. Can someone tell me what Braunstein was, and why it's important?
25
votes
6answers
979 views
What were the driving factors in the falling out between Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax?
Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson created the hobby together when they wrote D&D. But later on they had a falling out - what caused that?
(We don't need minutiae, just the biggest factors)
26
votes
5answers
4k views
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D?
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D? Also, which one came first?
10
votes
6answers
391 views
History of role-playing games
Is there a definitive book (or a website) on the history of role-playing games?
Optimally the book should be reasonably new (so Heroic Worlds doesn't qualify) and cover also non-mainstream games.
