What does Wisconsin have to do with the story of the worldwide sensation, Dungeons & Dragons?
When Gary Gygax was writing the rules for a new wargame-inspired game in his Lake Geneva basement, he probably didn’t know the game would go on to thrill players for decades to come. The fantastic characters and settings, 20-sided dice, and possibilities for collaboration that defined (and still define) Dungeons & Dragons have changed the world.
Let's take a look
Questions to consider
In the early days of Dungeons & Dragons game history, what did players use to help them play the game? What do you use to play the games you enjoy?
How did Dungeons & Dragons get its start? What does Dungeons & Dragons history have to do with Wisconsin?
What made Dungeons & Dragons different from other tabletop games? What did it have in common with other games?
Meet the historians
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 5 cards to read.
Taylor L. Bailey
Public Historian
I get to look at things and moments in history and teach others about them!
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Public Historian
I find and share stories from the past that have shaped our present, and love showing people how cool history is!
Sergio González
Public Historian
I research and teach about the history of Latinos in the Midwest.
Nick Hoffman
Public Historian
I get to share our fascinating history and culture with the world!
Cat Phan
Digital Archivist
I take care of photos and videos and sound recordings so they last for a long time into the future!
Quote from a historian
“The infrastructure was in place to let a new idea take hold. It happened here and it was because of this amazing constellation of people.”
Victor Raymond
Episode credits
Producer
David Boffa
Hosts
Taylor L. Bailey
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Sergio González
Nick Hoffman
Cat Phan
Special Guests
Victor Raymond
Catie Pfeifer
Research and Writing
Taylor L. Bailey
David Boffa
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Kurt Griesemer
Ryan Hendricks
Megan Monday
Catie Pfeifer
Cat Phan
Videography
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ryan Hendricks
Editing
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Translation Services
Rev
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Graphic and Motion Design
Danielle Riseley
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Additional Production Support
Marian Herzog
Brandon Ribordy
Curt Sorensen
Terrance Volden
Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society
Special Thanks
Kathy Bissen
Connor Ciecko
Beth Gallagher
Marci Glaus
Horticultural Hall
Gen Con, LLC
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin