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poltr1 ([personal profile] poltr1) wrote2004-10-15 08:53 pm

D&D turns 30.......

....and it's featured on American Public Radio's Marketplace, of all places. Here's a link to the streaming audio feed of tonight's show.

While it mostly talked about the ups and downs of TSR since the first set of books were published in 1974, the acquisition by Wizards of the Coast, and even had an interview with E. Gary Gygax, it included audio clips of people playing the game.

Saturday, October 16th, is Worldwide D&D Game Day. Visit the Dungeons & Dragons home page to find out more about the 30th anniversary celebration. Bookstores and game stores around the world will be holding open games. Check this page to see the list of venues.

I guess it's finally cool to be a geek, especially one who role-plays. I've been away from the fold for a while.

I first heard of the game in early 1977. There was an article in the Sunday Courier-Express weekly magazine about a game store in North Buffalo called The Articles of War, along with the folks who frequented the shop and gamed there. It wasn't until later that year that I actually got to play the game, in the high school wargamers' club.

I played a lot in high school, and I remember taking a bus to Ulbrich's Office Supply and Bookstore in the fall of '79 to purchase the 1st edition AD&D books. (My regular gaming store, Hobbies Militaria, didn't have evening hours.)

Like a lot of things, D&D went by the wayside when I started college. But I was soon to pull them out again, as there were a few guys in my fraternity who gamed regularly. (I told you we weren't your typical fraternity!) I remember getting together one cold Saturday afternoon at an off-campus house to start an adventure. I don't remember if we ever finished it, or if it was a one-shot adventure.

There wasn't a gaming club at my school until about 1986. I wasn't very active in it. By then I had some other gaming friends outside the fraternity. While most of the group disbanded, I still remain in contact with a few, like Dan and Jody (who married in '96). (Namedropping and plug: Jody is the about.com guide at roleplaygames.about.com.)

I played a little bit in Dayton, with the SF/fantasy group I was with at the time. One of the members lived down the hall from me in the same apartment building, so one day, we had a split session.

But it's been a while since I felt I had time to roleplay. Those were great times.