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A History Of Pen & Paper RPGs

Posted by simoniker on from the from-70's-geeks-to-00's-geeks dept.

Thanks to Skotos.net for their column discussing a brief history of tabletop role-playing games, as the author, aided by resources such as the Pen & Paper RPG database, charts the evolution of the RPG from 'character modelling' in the earliest titles ("...the purpose was to create statistics, abilities, and rules which could be used to depict a character"), through 'character development' in the original 1974 Dungeons & Dragons ("Instead of having static characters, players were offered ways for their characters to evolve and change"), right up to the 'story telling' emphasis in the '80s and beyond ("player investment in individual characters was dramatically reduced in exchange for telling better stories.")

2 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. RPGs are Satanic by Dancin_Santa · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    And they encourage youths to delve into occultism and ultimately drive them to suicide.

    Just thought I'd point that out in case you weren't aware.

    1. Re:RPGs are Satanic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Thank you Mike Wallace. But next time I want a superficial analysis, I'm watching Dateline, they blow stuff up.