Side Quest: A Visual History of Roleplaying Games

Gr 6 Up–Dedicated gamers and newcomers alike will love this guided tour through role-playing game (RPG) history. Steenz and Sattin appear as cartoon versions of themselves to narrate, moving between personal stories and gaming history to provide an accessible and inclusive foundational graphic novel that deserves space on any Dungeon Master’s shelf. Offering glimpses of tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) beginnings in Asia, its growth through Europe and the Americas, and, naturally, the emergence of Dungeons & Dragons and live-action role-playing (LARPing), the graphic novel covers a lot of ground. The two also tackle subjects like racism and sexism with equal parts sensitivity and humor. Steenz and Sattin note key creators and characters in RPG history, including J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock and his famed character, Elric, and Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian. Back matter features a comprehensive bibliography, a glossary, and even an original, playable Dungeons & Dragons adventure. The authors’ lived experiences are engaging, acknowledging racial and gender issues from games and creators while offering positive new directions and contributions by creators of different cultures and gender identities.