For a certain sort of fan, the crowdfunding pitch was impossible to resist. Here was a chance, it announced, to support a documentary about the immortal saga of the legendary game that all but revolutionized modern life. No pressure.

In an era of potent concern over internet pornography, cyber-bullying, and drugs, it is hard to imagine a board game being controversial. But, 30 years ago Dungeons & Dragons was the subject of a full-on moral panic, writes Peter Ray Allison.

Ethan Gilsdorf looks back on four decades of pen-and-paper role-playing tradition.

This summer, as Dungeons & Dragons sees its fifth release in its more than 40-year history, the gaming industry has never been bigger. Board games are a $1 billion dollar a year industry, with games such as Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride its crowning jewels. Collectible card games, like Magic the Gathering, represent hundreds of millions more. And almost every video game you can think of--whether it’s World of Warcraft, Yahoo Fantasy Football, or Grand Theft Auto--now contains...

Many centuries before Dungeons & Dragons was even a glimmer in the eye of Gary Gygax, ancient Egyptians were rolling a d20 die.