Reviews
Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D by David Kushner, Koren Shadmi
jussery's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.5
Didn't love it. It was just - fine? I liked some of the art, and it was cool to get a bit more insight on how DnD started, but the story wasn't presented in the most interesting or captivating way.
jstamand's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I found it interesting to learn about Gary gygax's life and things that inspired him to create Dungeon and Dragons. It's intriguing to see how the game evolved and helped to make the baseline for lots of other popular culture products; such as world of war craft.
oliviak07's review against another edition
3.0
*Ratings Note: I would like to give this graphic novel a 3.9 instead of a 3.0.*
Given my life long love of the imagination, mythology, fantasy, adventures, lore and science fiction, role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons have always caught my interest and intrigue. Granted I did not play them when I was younger (due to the ever lovely peer pressure of the kids I felt I NEEDED to be friends with), I can indulge in the perks of being an adult and free to impress no one but myself. Hence I found a local group to join, and had to play a little catch up in order to become familiar with the game and it's origins before I take my first roll of the dice.
Youtube tutorials, and books like Kushner's "Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D" are good/great study tools!
While the GN was nothing extraordinary, I enjoyed the history of the co-creators, and learning about their lives, their methods in making the game, and the aftermath of their creation in all of its glory and horror. I also found the narration of the GN to be smart, since it reads like the narration of the DM in an actual game.
I also found the quote "But your common love of gaming overcomes your differences." (46) to be motivating in a current state of the world where we find more reasons to stay apart from one another, instead of coming together. Differences and all.
It would have been nice to have a little more, beyond the basics, of the game itself. This would help late bloomers or rookies of all ages to the game have a better grasp of the rules, roles, etc. Nevertheless, these missing pieces of the story did not completely hinder the reading experience.
I look forward to taking what I have learned about the origins of the game, and seeing if it will help me and my party when we find ourselves hoping for a 20.
Given my life long love of the imagination, mythology, fantasy, adventures, lore and science fiction, role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons have always caught my interest and intrigue. Granted I did not play them when I was younger (due to the ever lovely peer pressure of the kids I felt I NEEDED to be friends with), I can indulge in the perks of being an adult and free to impress no one but myself. Hence I found a local group to join, and had to play a little catch up in order to become familiar with the game and it's origins before I take my first roll of the dice.
Youtube tutorials, and books like Kushner's "Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D" are good/great study tools!
While the GN was nothing extraordinary, I enjoyed the history of the co-creators, and learning about their lives, their methods in making the game, and the aftermath of their creation in all of its glory and horror. I also found the narration of the GN to be smart, since it reads like the narration of the DM in an actual game.
I also found the quote "But your common love of gaming overcomes your differences." (46) to be motivating in a current state of the world where we find more reasons to stay apart from one another, instead of coming together. Differences and all.
It would have been nice to have a little more, beyond the basics, of the game itself. This would help late bloomers or rookies of all ages to the game have a better grasp of the rules, roles, etc. Nevertheless, these missing pieces of the story did not completely hinder the reading experience.
I look forward to taking what I have learned about the origins of the game, and seeing if it will help me and my party when we find ourselves hoping for a 20.
brunjact's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think there's anything in it that I can't find on Wikipedia. But here the story is presented in a coherent way and comes with nice graphics and tries to have some sort of plot.
I think D&D fans will appreciate it. I think people with an interested for D&D may enjoy it. I think everyone else will not find particular attachments with this book.
This book is a biographical introduction to the people who created D&D and how the game came about. It doesn't, however, cover many particularities of how the game actually works. One might get that idea from the title/cover.
After reading it I wish it was longer.
I think D&D fans will appreciate it. I think people with an interested for D&D may enjoy it. I think everyone else will not find particular attachments with this book.
This book is a biographical introduction to the people who created D&D and how the game came about. It doesn't, however, cover many particularities of how the game actually works. One might get that idea from the title/cover.
After reading it I wish it was longer.