Dungeons & Dragons related products
Encyclopedia
The Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy role-playing game
has spawned many related products, including magazines, films and videogames.
(later Dragon Magazine).
Although Dragon Magazine was originally designed to support the roleplaying industry in general, it has always been primarily a house organ for TSR's games with a particular focus on D&D. Most of the magazine's articles provide supplementary material for the game, including new races, classes, spells, traps, monsters, skills, and rules. Other articles will provide tips and suggestions for players and DMs. The magazine has also published a number of well-known, gamer-oriented comic strips over the years, including Wormy
, SnarfQuest
, Yamara
, Knights of the Dinner Table
, Nodwick
, Dork Tower
, and The Order of the Stick
.
Between 1983 and 1985, TSR's UK branch published Imagine Magazine
. It featured similar content to Dragon, focusing on D&D and AD&D. Imagine featured a monthly series of articles about a new campaign world, Pelinore, which were later continued in the non-TSR magazine Game Master. Some material that originated in Imagine was eventually incorporated into Unearthed Arcana
.
In 1986, TSR launched a new magazine to complement Dragon. Dungeon Adventures
, published bimonthly, published nothing but adventure modules
for Dungeons Masters. While Dungeon now publishes other kinds of material as well, Dungeons & Dragons adventures remain its main focus.
While many other magazines have partially or fully devoted themselves to supporting Dungeons & Dragons, Dragon and Dungeon remain the only two official publications for the game. In 2002, Wizards of the Coast licensed the two magazines to Paizo Publishing
. Publication of both magazines then ceased in September 2007 as the owning company opted for an online model, citing a downturn in the market for low-circulation specialty and hobby magazines. In total, there were 359 Dragon issues and 150 Dungeon issues released in print. The final 3rd Edition issue of Dragon was #362, and the final 3rd Edition issue of Dungeon was #153. The online version of the magazines are up to issue 371 and 162 respectively.
animated television series was produced in 1983. The cartoon was based upon the concept of a small group of young adults and children who get transported to a D&D-based fantasy realm by riding a magical roller coaster. When they arrive, they are given potent magical weapons and must survive against the chromatic dragon Tiamat
and a power-hungry nemesis called Venger
. They are assisted in each episode by a gnome-like creature called Dungeon Master and a baby unicorn named Uni.
A Dungeons & Dragons movie
was released in 2000 to largely negative critical reception. Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God
, a made-for-TV sequel, was first aired on the Sci-Fi Channel on October 8, 2005, receiving better critical reception, and was released on February 7, 2006 on DVD. (This sequel is also known by the alternate title Dungeons & Dragons 2: The Elemental Might.)
In 2003, a computer animated motion picture entitled Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure
was produced for DVD
, featuring the iconic characters (Regdar, Mialee, and Lidda) created for the 3rd Edition. This is an interactive movie that asks viewers to decide what actions the heroes should take at crucial points in the story, allowing hundreds of different story-telling combinations. A special edition was released later that included even more choices, two additional endings, the making of the Scourge of Worlds, and the original (linear) version of film.
The official Dragonlance
Chronicles animated movie, Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
was released straight to video in January 2008. The film stars the voices of Michael Rosenbaum
as Tanis, Kiefer Sutherland
as Raistlin, Lucy Lawless
as Goldmoon, and Michelle Trachtenberg
as Tika.
At Dungeons & Dragons Experience (DDXP) 2008, Scott Rouse announced that Wizards was in talks with Warner Bros. Television to bring a new D&D animated series to Time Warner
's Cartoon Network
in 2009.
Many unique digital games had been released and sold under the D&D license. A significant number of these games were published by Strategic Simulations, Inc.
(SSI). Most, but not all, are computer role-playing games that use rules derived from some version of the D&D rules. Many of the games were released on multiple platforms, including personal computers, consoles, and handheld devices (including mobile phones). Notable titles include:
s have been published based upon Dungeons & Dragons.
published several licensed D&D comics, including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, and Spelljammer. Also during the 80s, one-page "mini-comics" appeared as advertisements in both Marvel
and DC publications, always ending with "To Be Continued..."
After the release of the 3rd Edition, KenzerCo
, better known for the popular gaming comic Knights of the Dinner Table
, secured the licensing rights to produce official D&D comics. Using the license, they produced a number of different mini-series. One notable mini-series for this comic line entitled Tempest's Gate was authored by Sean Smith. It featured memorable iconic characters of D&D such as Zed Kraken, a powerful and influential magus.http://www.kenzerco.com/periodicals/dnd/tg.php
In 2002, Iron Hammer Graphics published the single-issue comic Vecna: Hand of the Revenent. In 2005, the license passed to Devil's Due Productions. Starting in June of that year, Devil's Due began releasing official adaptations of D&D tie-in novels, starting with Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy.
As webcomics grew, many were created around the idea of D&D, some of them even going as far as publishing actual books. Amongst the more popular ones are Rich Burlew's The Order of the Stick
and Tarol Hunts's Goblins
. The game has also been seen in several FoxTrot comic strips over the years played by Jason and his best friend Marcus.
In 2010, IDW Publishing
started publishing an ongoing Dungeons & Dragons
comic based on the 4th Edition core setting. In 2011 they also plan to release a limited series based on the Dark Sun
campaign setting, as well as another series, Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt: Neverwinter Tales, written by R.A. Salvatore and based on his famous D&D character, Drizzt Do'Urden
.
, producing the 24 track album Dungeons & Dragons
. The album was released on August 12, 2003, and received positive reviews from both the gaming and music community.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
has spawned many related products, including magazines, films and videogames.
Magazines
In 1975, TSR began publishing The Strategic Review. At the time, roleplaying games were still seen as a sub-genre of the wargaming industry, and the magazine was designed not only to support Dungeons & Dragons and TSR's other games, but also to cover wargaming in general. In short order, however, the popularity and growth of Dungeons & Dragons made it clear that the game had not only separated itself from its wargaming origins, but had launched an entirely new industry unto itself. The following year, after only seven issues, TSR cancelled The Strategic Review and replaced it in 1976 with The DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
(later Dragon Magazine).
Although Dragon Magazine was originally designed to support the roleplaying industry in general, it has always been primarily a house organ for TSR's games with a particular focus on D&D. Most of the magazine's articles provide supplementary material for the game, including new races, classes, spells, traps, monsters, skills, and rules. Other articles will provide tips and suggestions for players and DMs. The magazine has also published a number of well-known, gamer-oriented comic strips over the years, including Wormy
David A. Trampier
Dave A. Trampier is a former artist and writer who worked on some of the earliest editions of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and was the creator of the Wormy comic strip that ran in Dragon magazine...
, SnarfQuest
SnarfQuest
SnarfQuest, drawn and written by Larry Elmore, is a fantasy comic strip with sci-fi and modern elements. Its epic fantasy-adventure context, along with its black-and-white art style, quirky humor, twinge of satire, and anachronistic elements, have earned it comparisons to Jeff Smith's acclaimed...
, Yamara
Yamara
Yamara is a comic strip created by Barbara Manui and Chris Adams, and is a satire of role-playing games and fantasy settings. It debuted in Dragon Magazine with the June 1988 issue, and ran until the December 1995 issue. A Yamara collection , was released circa 1994...
, Knights of the Dinner Table
Knights of the Dinner Table
Knights of the Dinner Table is a comic book/strip created by Jolly R. Blackburn and published by Kenzer & Company. It primarily focuses on a group of role playing gamers and their actions at the gaming table, which often result in unfortunate, but humorous consequences in the game...
, Nodwick
Nodwick
Nodwick is a comic strip created by Aaron Williams, based around the conventions of fantasy role-playing games, in particular Dungeons & Dragons . It debuted in Dragon magazine issue #246 , first with short strips, and later receiving a second strip in Dungeon magazine, making fun of one of the...
, Dork Tower
Dork Tower
Dork Tower is an online comic created, written and drawn by John Kovalic. It chronicles the lives of a group of geeks living in the fictional town of Mud Bay, Wisconsin. Mud Bay's design is strongly influenced by the author's home town of Madison, Wisconsin. Topics have included role-playing...
, and The Order of the Stick
The Order of the Stick
The Order of the Stick is a comedic webcomic that celebrates and satirizes tabletop role-playing games and medieval fantasy through the ongoing tale of the eponymous fellowship of adventuring heroes...
.
Between 1983 and 1985, TSR's UK branch published Imagine Magazine
Imagine (AD&D magazine)
Imagine Magazine was a monthly magazine dedicated to the first edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and Dungeons and Dragons role playing game systems published by TSR UK Limited.-History:Imagine was published between April 1983 and October 1985...
. It featured similar content to Dragon, focusing on D&D and AD&D. Imagine featured a monthly series of articles about a new campaign world, Pelinore, which were later continued in the non-TSR magazine Game Master. Some material that originated in Imagine was eventually incorporated into Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
.
In 1986, TSR launched a new magazine to complement Dragon. Dungeon Adventures
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
, published bimonthly, published nothing but adventure modules
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
for Dungeons Masters. While Dungeon now publishes other kinds of material as well, Dungeons & Dragons adventures remain its main focus.
While many other magazines have partially or fully devoted themselves to supporting Dungeons & Dragons, Dragon and Dungeon remain the only two official publications for the game. In 2002, Wizards of the Coast licensed the two magazines to Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
. Publication of both magazines then ceased in September 2007 as the owning company opted for an online model, citing a downturn in the market for low-circulation specialty and hobby magazines. In total, there were 359 Dragon issues and 150 Dungeon issues released in print. The final 3rd Edition issue of Dragon was #362, and the final 3rd Edition issue of Dungeon was #153. The online version of the magazines are up to issue 371 and 162 respectively.
Films and TV
A popular Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons (TV series)
Dungeons & Dragons is an American fantasy animated television series based on TSR's Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A co-production of Marvel Productions and TSR, the show originally ran from 1985 through 1987 for three seasons on CBS for a total of twenty seven episodes.The show focused on a...
animated television series was produced in 1983. The cartoon was based upon the concept of a small group of young adults and children who get transported to a D&D-based fantasy realm by riding a magical roller coaster. When they arrive, they are given potent magical weapons and must survive against the chromatic dragon Tiamat
Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons)
Tiamat is the name of a powerful draconic goddess in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The name is taken from Tiamat, a goddess in ancient Mesopotamian mythology who is substantially different ....
and a power-hungry nemesis called Venger
Venger
Venger is a branded film series directed by Marc Furmie. It is seen as a possible re-invention of the BMW film series The Hire. Production on the 15-minute movie began in July of 2010 when executive producer Jesse Press arranged a commercial deal with Sydney based Mercedes-Benz dealership G Brothers...
. They are assisted in each episode by a gnome-like creature called Dungeon Master and a baby unicorn named Uni.
A Dungeons & Dragons movie
Dungeons & Dragons (film)
Dungeons & Dragons is a 2000 American fantasy film directed by Courtney Solomon and ostensibly based on the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
was released in 2000 to largely negative critical reception. Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God
Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God
Dungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Gerry Lively. It is a made-for-TV sequel of sorts to the 2000 film Dungeons & Dragons, which in turn was based on the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . The only returning actor is Bruce Payne reprising his...
, a made-for-TV sequel, was first aired on the Sci-Fi Channel on October 8, 2005, receiving better critical reception, and was released on February 7, 2006 on DVD. (This sequel is also known by the alternate title Dungeons & Dragons 2: The Elemental Might.)
In 2003, a computer animated motion picture entitled Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure
Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure
A Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure is an animated film or interactive adventure. In each scene, it allows the user a choice, and different endings or different paths to the same ending will be displayed depending upon that choice....
was produced for DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, featuring the iconic characters (Regdar, Mialee, and Lidda) created for the 3rd Edition. This is an interactive movie that asks viewers to decide what actions the heroes should take at crucial points in the story, allowing hundreds of different story-telling combinations. A special edition was released later that included even more choices, two additional endings, the making of the Scourge of Worlds, and the original (linear) version of film.
The official Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
Chronicles animated movie, Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a 2008 animated film, the first to be based on the Dragonlance campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons. It is based on the first novel in the setting, Dragons of Autumn Twilight by co-creators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, both of whom supplied creative...
was released straight to video in January 2008. The film stars the voices of Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Owen Rosenbaum is an American actor and director. He is best known for portraying Lex Luthor on the Superman-inspired television series Smallville and Dutch on FOX's Breaking In, and for providing the voice for the Flash in the DC animated universe...
as Tanis, Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland is an English-born Canadian actor, producer and director, best known for his portrayal of Jack Bauer on the Fox thriller drama series 24 for which he has won an Emmy Award , a Golden Globe award , two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Satellite...
as Raistlin, Lucy Lawless
Lucy Lawless
Lucy Lawless, MNZM is a New Zealander actress and singer best known for playing the title character of the internationally successful television series Xena: Warrior Princess....
as Goldmoon, and Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Christine Trachtenberg is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Dawn Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl...
as Tika.
At Dungeons & Dragons Experience (DDXP) 2008, Scott Rouse announced that Wizards was in talks with Warner Bros. Television to bring a new D&D animated series to Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
's Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
in 2009.
Computer and video games
Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Strategic Simulations, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher with over 100 titles to its credit since its founding in 1979. It was especially noted for its numerous wargames, its official computer game adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons, and for the groundbreaking Panzer General...
(SSI). Most, but not all, are computer role-playing games that use rules derived from some version of the D&D rules. Many of the games were released on multiple platforms, including personal computers, consoles, and handheld devices (including mobile phones). Notable titles include:
| Title | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game The Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game was an electronic board game released by Mattel in 1980.This was a simple electronic board game, with a dungeon and a dragon in it. The computer places 50 walls randomly across the board, and then two players can compete head to head. Each player tries... |
1980 | The first D&D game marketed for public consumption that contained digital electronics. This is a board game/computer game hybrid, with a D&D table-top look-and-feel. Dungeon walls, monsters, and traps manifest themselves as series of beeps from the internal computer. |
| Dungeons & Dragons Computer Fantasy Game Dungeons & Dragons Computer Fantasy Game The Dungeons & Dragons Computer Fantasy Game was a portable handheld electronic game released by Mattel in 1981.The game unit was a standalone package that featured a state-of-the-art LCD screen for its time and was powered by two watch batteries.... |
1981 | A small (2" x 3" x .5") electronic game using the mechanics of "Hunt the Wumpus Hunt the Wumpus Hunt the Wumpus is an early computer game, based on a simple hide and seek format featuring a mysterious monster that lurks deep inside a network of rooms. It was originally a text-based game written in BASIC... ." It used an LCD screen and various sound effects to inform the player of different in-game circumstances, such as proximity to pits, bats, the magic arrow or the dragon. |
| Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Cartridge Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain Advanced Dungeons & Dragons was an Intellivision game, one of the first Advanced Dungeons & Dragons games to be officially licensed by TSR, Inc.. It was later retitled to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain to distinguish it from the sequel, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin... |
1982 | Designed for the Intellivision Intellivision The Intellivision is a video game console released by Mattel in 1979. Development of the console began in 1978, less than a year after the introduction of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. The word intellivision is a portmanteau of "intelligent television"... , the first console game based licensed under the D&D license. |
| Pool of Radiance Pool of Radiance Pool of Radiance is a computer role-playing game developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc in 1988. It was the first adaptation of TSR's Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game for home computers. It is the first in a four-part series of D&D computer adventure games... |
1988 | The first D&D computer game. Designed by SSI, the same game engine would be used to develop ten more D&D games, the Gold Box Gold Box Gold Box is the name for a series of computer role-playing games produced by SSI. The company won a license to produce games based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game from TSR, Inc... series. It was "remade" by UbiSoft Ubisoft Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries.... in 2001 under the name Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor. |
| Eye of the Beholder Eye of the Beholder (computer game) Eye of the Beholder is a role-playing video game for computers and video game consoles developed by Westwood Studios. It was published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. in 1990 for the DOS operating system and later ported to the Amiga, the Sega CD, and the SNES... |
1990 | The first in a trilogy of popular games designed by Westwood Studios Westwood Studios Westwood Studios was a computer and video game developer, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded by Brett Sperry and Louis Castle in as Westwood Associates, and renamed to Westwood Studios when it merged with Virgin Interactive in... and published by SSI in the early 1990s. |
| Neverwinter Nights Neverwinter Nights (AOL game) Neverwinter Nights was the first multiplayer online role-playing game to display graphics, and ran from 1991 to 1997 on AOL.-Gameplay:Neverwinter Nights was developed to be played similarly to the Gold Box series of games... |
1991 to 1997 |
Developed by Stormfront Studios Stormfront Studios Stormfront Studios was a video game developer based in San Rafael, California which had one of the longest creative histories in the industry. In 2007, the company had over 50 developers working on two teams, and owned all its proprietary engines, tools and technology. As of the end of 2007 over... and was one of the first graphical MMORPG MMORPG Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world.... , paving the way for other games including Ultima Online Ultima Online Ultima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today... and EverQuest EverQuest EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost... . The game was a major hit, and the name and settings formed the basis for the Neverwinter Nights PC game (see below). |
| Tower of Doom Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom is the first of two arcade games created by Capcom and based on the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The game was also released on the Sega Saturn, packaged with its sequel, Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara, under the title Dungeons & Dragons... |
1993 | Two beat 'em up Beat 'em up Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes... /action RPG Action role-playing game Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat... hybrid series by Capcom Capcom is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its... . |
| Shadow over Mystara Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara is an arcade game developed and published by Capcom in 1996 as a sequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom. It was also released on the Sega Saturn, packaged with Tower of Doom, under the title Dungeons & Dragons Collection. The game is set in the Dungeons... |
1996 | |
| Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance is a 1997 strategy computer game developed by Synergistic Software and distributed by Sierra On-Line. The game is based on the Birthright campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons and is available for DOS and Windows.... |
1996 | Developed by Synergistic Software Synergistic Software Northwest Synergistic Software is a contract software developer and a former video game developer. Founded in 1978 under the name Synergistic Software, the company published some of the earliest available games and applications for the Apple II family of computers... , a subsidiary of Sierra Entertainment Sierra Entertainment Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams... and was an innovative mix of strategy and role-playing gaming, and featured realistic (for the time) 3D graphics. Unfortunately, the game was not a major success due to the decreased popularity of Dungeons & Dragons Dungeons & Dragons Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997... inspired games at that time. |
| Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate series Baldur's Gate is a franchise of action role-playing games released under the Dungeons & Dragons Video Game Licenses. It is set in the fictional campaign setting of Forgotten Realms and takes place in its fictional continent of Faerûn. It takes place mostly in the Western Heartlands, but has also... |
1998 | From Interplay Entertainment Interplay Entertainment Interplay Entertainment Corporation is an American video game developer and publisher, founded in 1983 as Interplay Productions by Brian Fargo. The company had been a quality developer until they started publishing their own games in 1988, like Neuromancer and Battle Chess. The company was renamed... , was developed by Bioware BioWare BioWare is a Canadian video game developer founded in February 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. BioWare is currently owned by American company Electronic Arts... and was the first D&D computer game to use Bioware's Infinity Engine Infinity Engine Infinity Engine is a game engine which allows the creation of isometric computer role-playing games. It was originally developed by BioWare for a prototype RTS game codenamed Battleground Infinity, which was ultimately re-engineered to become the first installment of the Baldur's Gate series... . It met with critical success and was followed by several more D&D games from Bioware, including an expansion pack, Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast is a computer role-playing game in a high fantasy setting, developed by BioWare and published by Interplay in April 1999. Released as an expansion pack for Baldur's Gate from 1998, it adds about 20–30 hours of extra gameplay to the original game... , and one sequel, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released on September 26, 2000. The game is the sequel to Baldur's Gate, and, opening only a few months after the events of the earlier game, continues the story of the player character, whose unique heritage... , and its expansion, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal is the expansion pack for the computer role-playing game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, and is the final chapter in the Baldur's Gate series. It adds a multi-level dungeon called Watcher's Keep to the game and completes the main plot... . |
| Planescape: Torment Planescape: Torment Planescape: Torment is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and released on December 12, 1999 by Interplay Entertainment. It takes place in Planescape, an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy campaign setting... . Icewind Dale Icewind Dale series Icewind Dale is a computer role-playing game series developed by Black Isle Studios. It is set in the Forgotten Realms Icewind Dale region, but takes place decades before the events described in R. A. Salvatore's books which made the area a well-known part of Faerûn.The games utilize Bioware's... and Icewind Dale II Icewind Dale II Icewind Dale II is a role-playing video game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment, released on August 27, 2002. Like its 2000 predecessor Icewind Dale, the game is set in the Forgotten Realms fantasy setting in the Icewind Dale region... |
1999 to 2002 |
Developed by Interplay's Black Isle Studios Black Isle Studios Black Isle Studios was a division of the computer and video game developer and publisher Interplay Entertainment. Black Isle Studios was a division that developed computer role-playing games, and also published several games from other developers. It was based in Orange County, California, USA. The... and also used the Bioware Infinity Engine. |
| Neverwinter Nights Neverwinter Nights Neverwinter Nights , produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames , is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial... |
2002 | This game from Bioware included the Aurora toolset Aurora toolset The Aurora toolset is a set of software tools developed by BioWare for use with the Aurora Engine, the game engine first used in BioWare's 2002 computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights... that allows users to create custom modules. Several expansion modules were sold by the distributor. |
| Neverwinter Nights 2 Neverwinter Nights 2 Neverwinter Nights 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is the sequel to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, based on the Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper fantasy role-playing game... |
2006 | |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale is an action role-playing video game developed by Bedlam Games and published by Atari. The game includes both single and co-operative multiplayer modes and is set in a Forgotten Realms environment.-Gameplay:... |
2011 | Developed by Bedlam Games and published by Atari, set to release as a downloadable game for PSN/XBLA |
Novels
Several hundred novelNovel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s have been published based upon Dungeons & Dragons.
- Fantasy Grand MasterDamon Knight Memorial Grand Master AwardThe Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award is an award given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. It is awarded to a living author for lifetime achievement in science fiction and/or fantasy. Officially, it is not a Nebula Award though it is awarded at the Nebula ceremony...
Andre NortonAndre NortonAndre Alice Norton, née Alice Mary Norton was an American science fiction and fantasy author under the noms de plume Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston...
's novel Quag Keep, published in 1979, was set in GreyhawkGreyhawkGreyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
, making it the first novel to use a D&D campaign setting. - Throughout the early 1980s, TSR printed several series of gamebooks of varying complexity under series titles such as Endless QuestEndless QuestThe Endless Quest books were two series of gamebooks released by TSR. These books were the result of an Educational department established by TSR to develop curriculum programs for reading, math, history, and problem solving....
, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure GamebooksAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure GamebooksAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Gamebooks is a series of 18 gamebooks published from 1985 to 1988. The series was initially titled Super Endless Quest as the books added a more complex game system to stories which otherwise share the same style with the Endless Quest books...
, HeartQuestHeartQuestHeartQuest was a series of six interactive novels published by TSR, Inc. for young teenagers during the 80s. The series was a spin-off from their main Endless Quest series set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons...
, and 1 on 1 Adventure Gamebooks. Most of these books were based on D&D, although some were based on other TSR role-playing games. - The DragonlanceDragonlanceDragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
product line, begun in 1984, was the first series of novels produced by TSR and has since seen more than 190 titles published. - D&D creator Gary GygaxGary GygaxErnest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
's series of Gord the RogueGord the RogueGord the Rogue is the protagonist in a series of fantasy novels and short stories written by Gary Gygax. Gygax originally wrote the novels and short stories to promote his World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. After he left TSR, Gygax continued to write...
novels, published from 1985 to 1988, was set in his Greyhawk campaign setting. A number of other novels have also been set in Greyhawk. - Numerous novels have been set in the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting by such authors as R. A. Salvatore and setting creator Ed GreenwoodEd GreenwoodEd Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
. - A number of books have also been published under the generic Dungeons & Dragons heading. They are as follows:
2nd Edition Novels
- Tale of the Comet (July 1997), by Roland J. GreenRoland J. GreenRoland James Green is an American science fiction and fantasy writer and editor. He has written as Roland Green and Roland J. Green; and had 28 books in the Richard Blade series published as Jeffrey Lord .- Early life and personal matters :Green was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, in 1944...
, (ISBN 0-7869-0654-5) - The Rod of Seven Parts (February 25, 1996), by Douglas NilesDouglas NilesDouglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game.-Early life:Niles was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and...
, (ISBN 0-7869-0479-8)
Dragon Strike
- The Wizard's Tale (October 1993), by Michael Andrews, (ISBN 1-56076-896-7)
- The Thief's Tale (October 1993), by Michael Andrews, (ISBN 1-56076-897-5)
- The Warrior's Tale (October 1993), by Michael Andrews, (ISBN 1-56076-919-X)
- The Elf's Tale (October 1993), by Michael Andrews, (ISBN October 1993)
Iconic Character
- The Savage Caves (July 2002), by T. H. LainT. H. LainT. H. Lain was a collective pseudonym used by nine separate authors writing under Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons novels imprint....
, (ISBN 0-7869-2845-X) - The Living Dead (August 2002), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-2848-4)
- Oath of Nerull (September 2002), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-2851-4)
- City of Fire (November 2002), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-2854-9)
- The Bloody Eye (January 2003), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-2917-0)
- Treachery's Wake (March 2003), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-2926-X)
- Plague of Ice (May 2003), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-2953-7)
- The Sundered Arms (July 2003), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-2974-X)
- Return of the Damned (October 2003), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-3003-9)
- The Death Ray (December 2003), by T. H. Lain, (ISBN 0-7869-3030-6)
Knights of the Silver Dragon
- Secret of the Spiritkeeper (June 2004), by Matt Forbeck, (ISBN 0-7869-3143-4)
- Riddle in Stone (August 2004), by Ree Soesbee, (ISBN 0-7869-3211-2)
- Sign of the Shapeshifter (October 2004), by Dale Donovan and Linda Johns, (ISBN 0-7869-3220-1)
- Eye of Fortune (December 2004), by Denise Graham, (ISBN 0-7869-3169-8)
- Figure in the Frost (February 2005), by Lana Perez, (ISBN 0-7869-3587-1)
- Dagger of Doom (April 2005), by Kerry Daniel Roberts, (ISBN 0-7869-3631-2)
- Hidden Dragon (June 2005), by Lisa Trutkoff Trumbauer, (ISBN 0-7869-3748-3)
- The Silver Spell (August 2005), by Anjali Bannerjee, (ISBN 0-7869-3750-5)
- Key to the Griffon's Lair (October 2005), by Candice Ransom, (ISBN 0-7869-3827-7)
- Curse of the Lost Grove (December 2005), by Denise R. Graham, (ISBN 0-7869-3829-3)
- Mystery of the Wizard's Tomb (February 2006), by Rachel Plummer, (ISBN 0-7869-3990-7)
- Mark of the Yuan-Ti (April 2006), by Kerry Daniel Roberts, (ISBN 0-7869-4033-6)
Penhaligon
- The Tainted Sword (October 1992), by D.J. Heinrich, (ISBN 1-56076-395-7)
- The Dragon's Tomb (October 1992), by D.J. Heinrich, (ISBN 1-56076-395-7)
- The Fall of Magic (October 1993), by D.J. Heinrich, (ISBN 1-56076-663-8)
2010 relaunch
- The Mark of Nerath (August 2010), by Bill SlavicsekBill SlavicsekBill Slavicsek is a game designer who served as the Director of Roleplaying Design and Development at Wizards of the Coast. He previously worked for West End Games and TSR, Inc., and designed products for Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars, Alternity, Torg, Paranoia and Ghostbusters.-Biography:Bill...
, (ISBN 978-0-7869-5622-7) - The Seal of Karga Kul (December 2010), by Alex Irvine, (ISBN 978-0-7869-5572-5)
- The Last Garrison (December 2011), by Matthew BeardMatthew BeardMatthew Beard may refer to:*Matthew Beard , American child actor best known as "Stymie" in the Our Gang comedies*Matthew Beard , English actor...
, (ISBN 978-0-7869-5793-4)
The Abyssal Plague
- The Temple of the Yellow Skulls (March 2011), by Don Basingthwaite, (ISBN 978-0-7869-5749-1)
- Oath of Vigilance (August 2011), by James WyattJames WyattJames Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
, (ISBN 978-0-7869-5816-0) - The Eye of the Chained God (April 2012), by Don Basingthwaite, (ISBN 978-0-7869-5983-9)
Comics
During the 1980s and 1990s, DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
published several licensed D&D comics, including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, and Spelljammer. Also during the 80s, one-page "mini-comics" appeared as advertisements in both Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and DC publications, always ending with "To Be Continued..."
After the release of the 3rd Edition, KenzerCo
Kenzer & Company
Kenzer & Company is a Waukegan based publisher of comic books, role-playing games, board games, card games, and miniature games....
, better known for the popular gaming comic Knights of the Dinner Table
Knights of the Dinner Table
Knights of the Dinner Table is a comic book/strip created by Jolly R. Blackburn and published by Kenzer & Company. It primarily focuses on a group of role playing gamers and their actions at the gaming table, which often result in unfortunate, but humorous consequences in the game...
, secured the licensing rights to produce official D&D comics. Using the license, they produced a number of different mini-series. One notable mini-series for this comic line entitled Tempest's Gate was authored by Sean Smith. It featured memorable iconic characters of D&D such as Zed Kraken, a powerful and influential magus.http://www.kenzerco.com/periodicals/dnd/tg.php
In 2002, Iron Hammer Graphics published the single-issue comic Vecna: Hand of the Revenent. In 2005, the license passed to Devil's Due Productions. Starting in June of that year, Devil's Due began releasing official adaptations of D&D tie-in novels, starting with Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy.
As webcomics grew, many were created around the idea of D&D, some of them even going as far as publishing actual books. Amongst the more popular ones are Rich Burlew's The Order of the Stick
The Order of the Stick
The Order of the Stick is a comedic webcomic that celebrates and satirizes tabletop role-playing games and medieval fantasy through the ongoing tale of the eponymous fellowship of adventuring heroes...
and Tarol Hunts's Goblins
Goblins (webcomic)
Goblins - Life Through Their Eyes is a Dungeons & Dragons webcomic written and illustrated by Tarol "Thunt" Hunt. It is set in a humorously stereotypical fantasy setting, and follows the lives of a party of goblin adventurers who started as monsters and declared themselves player characters...
. The game has also been seen in several FoxTrot comic strips over the years played by Jason and his best friend Marcus.
In 2010, IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
started publishing an ongoing Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (IDW Publishing)
Dungeons & Dragons is a comic book series by IDW Publishing, based based on the 4th Edition core setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.The series has so far included an ongoing series and two mini-series.-Dungeons & Dragons:...
comic based on the 4th Edition core setting. In 2011 they also plan to release a limited series based on the Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
campaign setting, as well as another series, Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt: Neverwinter Tales, written by R.A. Salvatore and based on his famous D&D character, Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Salvatore created him on a whim when his publisher needed to...
.
Board games
Several board games have been sold either under the Dungeons & Dragons trademark or in association with it:- Dungeon!Dungeon!Dungeon! is a 1975 adventure board game designed by David R. Megarry, Gary Gygax, Michael Gray, Steve Winter and S. Schwab, published by TSR, Inc...
(1975), a board game published by TSR, featured similar gameplay and genre tropes to D&D and was frequently advertised in D&D products. - Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth GameDungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth GameThe Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game was an electronic board game released by Mattel in 1980.This was a simple electronic board game, with a dungeon and a dragon in it. The computer places 50 walls randomly across the board, and then two players can compete head to head. Each player tries...
(1980) This was the first computer/board game hybrid and the first D&D licensed game that contained digital electronics. - Quest for the Dungeonmaster (1984)
- Dragons of Glory (1986)
- Dragon Lance (1988)
- Mertwig's Maze (1988) by Tom WhamTom WhamTom Wham is a designer of board games who has also produced artwork, including that for his own games.Wham worked a variety of odd jobs during his early adult life. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, he worked for the Guidon Games hobby shop in Maine where he got his first game, a variant...
http://www.tomwham.com/mertwig.html - The New Dungeon (1989)
- The New Dungeon Miniatures and Game Supplement (1989)
- Magestones (1990)
- Greyhawk WarsGreyhawk Wars (game)Greyhawk Wars is a fantasy board wargame published by TSR, Inc. in 1991. The game was designed by David Cook as a strategic simulation of the eponymous Greyhawk Wars on the fictional world of Oerth, the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Components:The...
(1991) - Dragon Quest (1992)
- The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons (1991) This game is in a way an introduction to RPG but is played as a board game. Three expansions were released for it: Dragon's Den, Haunted Tower, Goblin's Lair.
- The Classic Dungeon (1992)
- DragonStrikeDragonStrike (board game)DragonStrike was a 1993 adventure board game from TSR, Inc. based on the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Details:The DragonStrike Entertainment product, which included a 30-minute video explaining the concept of role-playing, was intended as an approach to gain new players, serving as...
(1993) used a simplified form of D&D and included an instructional video tape in which costumed actors, combined with computer-generated imageryComputer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
, played the characters and monsters from the board game. - First Quest (1994) was the name of the AD&D game that first featured an audio CD which included instructions and two quests that coincide with two of the four adventures in the included Adventure Book.
- Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1995) An introductory board version of the AD&D system via basic scenarios played with miniatures (plastic, included), and a campy/nifty CD for both ambiance and automated DM instructions.
- Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game (2000) Based upon the roleplaying system D&D here we have a typical dungeon crawl game.
- Clue Dungeons & DragonsClue Dungeons & DragonsClue Dungeons & Dragons is a board game was made in 2001. It was produced by Hasbro shortly after their purchase of Wizards of the Coast, owners of the Dungeons & Dragons license. The game contains artwork in the Dungeons & Dragons style. The character positions of the cover are in the style of the...
(2001) Standard ClueCluedoCluedo is a popular murder/mystery-themed deduction board game originally published by Waddingtons in Leeds, England in 1949. It was devised by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor's clerk from Birmingham, England. It is now published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro, which acquired its U.S...
with a D&D fantasy theme and optional wandering monsters. - Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure BoardgameDungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure BoardgameDungeons & Dragons: The Fantasy Adventure Boardgame, released in 2002 by Parker Brothers, a division of Hasbro, is based on the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons by Wizards of the Coast. The game is distributed in the European market only.-Gameplay:...
(2002) Cooperative dungeon crawl game in which a party of four heroes strives to complete adventures that the Dungeon Master puts before them (In the Style of HeroQuest). Two expansions have been released for this game:- Eternal Winter (2004)
- Forbidden Forest (2005)
- Dungeons & Dragons Basic GameDungeons & Dragons Basic GameThe Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game is an introductory version of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game packaged in the form of a board game. The current version of this game was released in September 2006...
(2004 & 2006) A simplified version of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, designed as an introduction to roleplaying, but is in essence a boardgame in the style of presentation. - Castle Ravenloft Board Game (2010)
- Wrath of Ashardalon (2011)
- Conquest of Nerath (2011)
- The Legend of Drizzt Board Game (2011)
Software
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons CD-ROM Core Rules (1996)—Collection of tools for players (ISBN 0-7869-0602-2)
- Core Rules CD-ROM 2.0 (1998)—Collection of tools for players (ISBN 0-7869-0793-2)
- Core Rules 2.0 EXPANSION (1999)—Updates for Core Rules CD-ROM 2.0 (ISBN 0-7869-1543-9)
- Dragon MagazineDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
Archive (1999)—Collection of 257 magazines and newsletters (ISBN 0-7869-1448-3) - Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas (1999)—Collection of editable maps of the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
world Toril (ISBN 0-7869-1451-3) - Dungeons & Dragons Character Builder (2008)—4th Edition Character Generator released as part of the Dungeons & Dragons Insider initiative. The free version only lets characters of level 3 or less be created.
- MasterplanMasterplanMasterplan is a German power metal band founded by guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch upon leaving Helloween in 2001.-Biography:Masterplan was formed by Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch, after the two were fired from the power metal band Helloween...
(2009)—4th Edition adventure design studio - iPlay4e (2009)—A website which provides players with an interactive character sheet
Soundtrack
The first official soundtrack to Dungeons & Dragons was produced when Wizards of the Coast teamed up with Midnight SyndicateMidnight Syndicate
Midnight Syndicate is an American musical group that has been working mainly in the genre of gothic music since 1997 and is based out of Chardon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland...
, producing the 24 track album Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (album)
Dungeons & Dragons is a studio album by Midnight Syndicate, released August 12, 2003 by Entity Productions. The album is designed as a soundtrack to the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons and was produced by Midnight Syndicate at the request of Wizards of the Coast, the company which owns the...
. The album was released on August 12, 2003, and received positive reviews from both the gaming and music community.