Dungeons & Dragons

The 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons logo

Dungeons & Dragons (abbreviated as D&D) is a paper-and-pencil role-playing game (RPG). Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson created Dungeons & Dragons in the year 1974. It was first published by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TSR). The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997.

It is normally played indoors with the participants seated around a tabletop. A typical Dungeons & Dragons game consists of an "adventure" in a fantasy world or "campaign setting". Typically, each player controls only a single character. The results of the characters' choices and the overall storyline for the game are determined by the Dungeon Master (DM) according to the rules of the game and the DM's interpretation of those rules.

Many optional accessories are available to enhance the game, such as expansion rulebooks, pre-designed adventures and various campaign settings. Commercially published campaign settings are Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Dragonlance, Eberron and Dark Sun. Pre-made adventures (previously known as "modules") have been published throughout the history of Dungeons & Dragons.

Editions of Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons Version History
noting key rule publications

YEAR	GAME
1974	Original Dungeons & Dragons Men & Magic Monsters & Treasure The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures
1977	Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual	Dungeons & Dragons (Basic) Basic Set (blue box) (levels 1–3)
1978	Players Handbook
1979	Dungeon Masters Guide (Core rulebooks complete)
1981		Dungeons & Dragons (B/X version) Basic Set (magenta box) Expert Set (light blue box) (levels 4–14)
1983		Dungeons & Dragons (BECMI version) Basic Set (red box) Expert Set (blue box) Companion Set (teal box, levels 15–25)
1984		Master Set (black box, levels 26–36)
1985	Unearthed Arcana (a "fourth core rulebook")	Immortals Set (gold box, levels 36+)
1989	Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Player's Handbook Dungeon Master's Guide Monstrous Compendium
1991		Dungeons & Dragons (RC) Basic Set (Black Box; levels 1–5) Rules Cyclopedia (levels 1–36)
1993	Monstrous Manual (Replaces Monstrous Compendium)
1995	Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (2nd edition revised) Player's Handbook Dungeon Master Guide Player's Options DM Options
2000	Dungeons & Dragons (3rd edition) Player's Handbook Dungeon Master's Guide Monster Manual
2003	Dungeons & Dragons (v. 3.5) Revised editions of the core rulebooks (compatible with 3rd Ed. via errata)
2008	Dungeons & Dragons (4th edition) Player's Handbook Dungeon Master's Guide Monster Manual
2010	Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Rules Compendium Dungeon Master's Kit Monster Vault Heroes of the Fallen Lands Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms
2014	Dungeons & Dragons (5th edition) Basic Rules (PDF only; limited player options) Core rulebooks: Player's Handbook Dungeon Master's Guide Monster Manual

Appendix

Gallery

The 4th edition logo.