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A review by thecanadagoose
Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: A Visual History by Michael Witwer
4.0
Let's start with the fact that Dungeons and Dragons is the archetypal tabletop role-playing game, and inspired every role playing game that came after it. [b:Art & Arcana|37880631|Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana A Visual History|Michael Witwer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523484062l/37880631._SX50_.jpg|59524789] gives a complete and comprehensive history of this amazing game. Like it's title suggests, it's not just a history (although, this is very thorough with lots of interesting facts) but also shows the evolution of the artwork over the years.
Each chapter takes you through each edition of D&D, from the original release (written by [a:Gary Gygax|137917|E. Gary Gygax|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Dave Arneson|245682|Dave Arneson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1474258778p2/245682.jpg], through to the current 5th Edition owned by Wizards of the Coast. We find out about the inception of the game from the world of miniature wargaming, and the slow but steady expansion into the widely played game of today.
It is not just a tome celebrating the successes of the game, included are the many problems that D&D faced as it tried to stay afloat as a business. From the issues faced with the media believing the game promoted Satanism, to the internal struggle felt by a fledgling business; the book follows the whole of the game's history, all of the lows and all of the many many highs.
This isn't just a random collection of pictures; each section is specifically selected to lead you through the development process of the game, with many pieces of artwork from the period. You can see the evolution of the artwork over time, which flows in line with the fortune of the company. The artwork is beautiful and intricate, and even people who have never played a game of D&D in their life will be able to enjoy it. There are also specific double page spreads on the artistic evolution of famous monsters and characters, which was one of the sections I most enjoyed.
This is a brilliant and nostalgic book, and there is something here for anyone who has ever played a game of D&D. The artwork is phenomenal, and is joined by a detailed and interesting history of a game that has held many generations captivated. Well worth a read!
Each chapter takes you through each edition of D&D, from the original release (written by [a:Gary Gygax|137917|E. Gary Gygax|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Dave Arneson|245682|Dave Arneson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1474258778p2/245682.jpg], through to the current 5th Edition owned by Wizards of the Coast. We find out about the inception of the game from the world of miniature wargaming, and the slow but steady expansion into the widely played game of today.
It is not just a tome celebrating the successes of the game, included are the many problems that D&D faced as it tried to stay afloat as a business. From the issues faced with the media believing the game promoted Satanism, to the internal struggle felt by a fledgling business; the book follows the whole of the game's history, all of the lows and all of the many many highs.
This isn't just a random collection of pictures; each section is specifically selected to lead you through the development process of the game, with many pieces of artwork from the period. You can see the evolution of the artwork over time, which flows in line with the fortune of the company. The artwork is beautiful and intricate, and even people who have never played a game of D&D in their life will be able to enjoy it. There are also specific double page spreads on the artistic evolution of famous monsters and characters, which was one of the sections I most enjoyed.
This is a brilliant and nostalgic book, and there is something here for anyone who has ever played a game of D&D. The artwork is phenomenal, and is joined by a detailed and interesting history of a game that has held many generations captivated. Well worth a read!