A Quest through 50 Years of Dungeons and Dragons

Last year marked the incredible 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)! For half a century, this imaginative roleplaying game has become something of a cultural phenomenon, with over 50 million people worldwide inspired to gather around a table, roll some dice, and work collaboratively to tell an epic story.

Dungeons and Dragons was originally developed by American game designers Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. They drew inspiration from traditional wargames, the epic fantasy worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, and the simple joy of storytelling. They used these ideas to construct something completely original and new, Dungeons and Dragons.

D&D's reach quickly extended beyond the U.S. When the founders of the British company Games Workshop first heard about the game, they liked it so much they bought six copies to play in the UK. They soon secured the exclusive rights to sell the game across Europe, helping kickstart the game's success in Europe.

Critical Hits and Critical Fails

At the heart of D&D are the dice, particularly the iconic D20 (the twenty-sided die). Every major action, such as swinging a sword or persuading a grumpy guard comes down to a simple roll of the die. Understanding these terms is key to the D&D experience. Here is a run down of some of the most common phrases you might hear whilst playing D&D:

A.C/D.C – A.C stands for Armour Class, and this describes how heavily armoured your character is. D.C stands for Difficulty Class and describes how challenging an event or action is.
Advantage/Disadvantage - This is when you roll 2 20 sided dice at the same time. When you roll with advantage you get to use the higher number from both dice, and for the disadvantage you use the lower number.
B.B.E.G – this is an acronymn and stands for Big, Bad, Evil Guy/Gal.
Critical fail/Natural one - A one is the lowest you can roll and means a spectacular fail.
Critical Success/ Natural 20 - This is when someone rolls a 20 on their D20. This is the highest number they can effectively roll, and it means instant success.
Roll for Iniatitve – Where players roll a D20 for their character, usually at the start of combat. They then add their dexterity modifier. The player with the highest total goes first.

The Satanic Panic of the 80's

Have you heard about The Satanic Panic of the 1980s? It was a period of widespread fear and moral outrage surrounding D&D. Fundamentalist groups and activists genuinely feared the game was a corrupting force, proclaiming it promoted "demonology, witchcraft, murder, satanic rituals," and that it would make young players unable to differentiate between the realms of fantasy and reality. In 1983, an organization called Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons (BADD) was formed as it was perceived to be capable of placing curses on people (the irony is that one of the main aims of D&D is to triumph over evil) This societal outcry very nearly led to the game being banned!

A Cultural Phenomenon

The success of Dungeons & Dragons has been truly astonishing. The game goes beyond a simple roleplaying game. It is a platform for social interaction, and team work. Players can develop skills such as creativity, imagination and even social skills. The concepts, creatures, and camaraderie of D&D have gone beyond the tabletop, influencing pop culture in a profound way.It has served as the inspiration for television series (like Stranger Things or Legend of Vox Machina), a variety of video games, books, podcasts and web series (Critical Role) and even recent blockbuster movies (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves).

Robert Wardhaugh is the Dungeon Master for a game that has been ongoing since April 25th, 1982, and it's still going! Imagine the sheer volume of lore, memories, and legendary moments that have been packed into his continuous saga. That's definitely dedication!

The Adventure Continues

From the first 100 hand-assembled copies in a basement to an international sensation influencing movies and television, the legacy of D&D is undeniable. For five decades, it has reminded us that the best adventures are the ones we create together, fuelled by imagination and the roll of a twenty-sided die.

You can also browse our massive selection of D&D products, including the latest Rulebooks, campaign modules, dice sets, and miniatures instore or online now. We have some great starter sets, such as Heroes of the Borderlands or the Welcome to The Hellfire Club. Plus, we even have fun, unique items like dice advent calendars for you to explore!