jeffhall's review
4.0
The first volume of Shannon Appelcline's Designers & Dragons is genuinely impressive, offering up a detailed (but not overly detailed) look at the origins of the RPG industry. He profiles both the biggest players (TSR, GDW, Chaosium) as well as smaller players (Midkemia Press, GameScience, Grimoire Games) and comprehensively documents the many linkages between all of these entities.
What I really enjoy about this book is that Appelcline approaches his subject from a business angle, dissecting the successes and failures of each company. In a small industry largely powered by hobbyist entrepreneurs, where budgets were always limited, it's fascinating to read the details of how each of these organizations managed to make their companies work, even if most of them only lasted a short time.
What I really enjoy about this book is that Appelcline approaches his subject from a business angle, dissecting the successes and failures of each company. In a small industry largely powered by hobbyist entrepreneurs, where budgets were always limited, it's fascinating to read the details of how each of these organizations managed to make their companies work, even if most of them only lasted a short time.
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