Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It

Of Dice and Men chronicles the history of Dungeons & Dragons from its origins in the 1970s through its cultural impact today. Author David M. Ewalt combines research, interviews, and his personal experiences as a D&D player to document the game's development and influence. The book traces the path of D&D creators Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, examining how they transformed miniature wargaming into a new type of collaborative storytelling experience. Through firsthand accounts and archival material, Ewalt reconstructs the rise of TSR publishing, the game's explosive popularity, and the later corporate changes that shaped its evolution. Ewalt alternates historical chapters with scenes from his own D&D gaming sessions, providing context for how the game is actually played. He explores the various editions of the rules, the different play styles that emerged, and the communities that formed around the hobby. The narrative serves as both a business history and a cultural analysis, examining how a niche hobby grew into a cornerstone of fantasy entertainment. Through this lens, the book considers broader questions about imagination, storytelling, and how people create meaning through shared experiences.

Readers describe this as a solid introduction to D&D's history that blends personal experiences with journalism. Most appreciate Ewalt's accessible writing style and his ability to explain gaming concepts to non-players. Liked: - Clear explanations of gaming terminology - Behind-the-scenes details about TSR and Gary Gygax - Balance of personal anecdotes with research - Engaging storytelling for newcomers Disliked: - Too much focus on author's personal gaming sessions - Skims over important historical events - Limited coverage of D&D's influence on modern gaming - Some factual errors noted by longtime players Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (280+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.6/5 (90+ ratings) Several reviewers noted it works better as a memoir than a comprehensive history. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "More time playing D&D than explaining D&D's actual development." Multiple Goodreads reviews mention it serves as a good entry point for understanding gaming culture.

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🎲 Author David M. Ewalt first played D&D at age 10 and spent years investigating the game's history while maintaining his career as a technology and business journalist for Forbes magazine. 🎲 The book's title is a clever play on John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," while also referencing the dice-rolling mechanics central to D&D gameplay. 🎲 During his research, Ewalt participated in LARP (Live Action Role-Playing) events and traveled to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin—the birthplace of D&D—to interview Gary Gygax's family and friends. 🎲 The book reveals that D&D's original magic system was inspired by Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" series, where wizards could only memorize a limited number of spells that would be forgotten once cast. 🎲 The manuscript was partially funded through Ewalt's successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $13,000 from gaming enthusiasts eager to support the project.