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Designers & Dragons: The 80s

A History of the Roleplaying Game Industry

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Designers & Dragons: The 80s

By: Shannon Appelcline
Narrated by: Colby Elliott
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About this listen

Part two of a four-volume set!

Everything you've wanted to know about the origins of roleplaying games...

Designers & Dragons: The '80s is a comprehensive picture of the growth of the RPG industry. This second edition expands the original single book into a series of four, and we’ve added over 10,000 new words to this volume alone. Take an in-depth look at ’80s style gaming courtesy of companies like Steve Jackson Games and West End Games, plus an intro to the small (but mighty!) presses of the decade. Regardless of your gaming background, Shannon Appelcline’s meticulously researched history won’t disappoint.

In this volume, you’ll find:

  • A foreword by Mike Pondsmith, founder of R. Talsorian and creator of Cyberpunk
  • Profiles for 23 1980s gaming companies including Steve Jackson Games, Palladium Books, and Mayfair Games
  • The inside scoop behind games like GURPS, Champions, and Battletech
  • 10 things you might not know about roleplaying in the ’80s
  • An extensive bibliography and index

Meet the characters behind the characters and the gamers behind the games in Designers & Dragons: The ’80s!

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2014 Shannon Appelcline (P)2021 Last Word Audio Americas United States Game Fantasy Dragons Fiction
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Continuing the numerous interesting stories about the RPG hobby and industry. Great to have old stories confirmed, clarified, or revealed to be untrue, I learned lots of new things. For those that want a detailed overview, then I recommend this. I appreciate the information being placed into specific company histories with linked recommendations at the chapter end to make for a great approach. It also makes it easier to find information later, as opposed to being like say a history put in to a story/biography style. A high rating because it delivers on its goal and what I wanted. Clear audio, good pacing, a great performance.

Informative and detailed history of RPGs

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