David Ewalt
Author of Dice and Men
Discussion
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
Hello, everyone! My name is David, and I'm the author of a book called Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It. I'm also a contributing editor to Forbes Magazine, where I've written about games and the tech business for a decade, and edited some of the magazine's most popular lists, including the annual "Fictional 15" and "30 Under 30 in Games." Let's talk about why D&D is so important, the future of the game industry, what you like to play, or about anything else!
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Russ Frushtick
@russfrushtick
VR: Will it ever hit the mainstream and if so, how long do you think it'll take?
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@russfrushtick VR will absolutely go mainstream, and it will do it soon. I recently saw some projections that said by 2020, VR viewers will be in one in four homes --that includes mobile VR products like Samsung Gear and Google Cardboard, not just the high-end headsets like Vive and the Rift, but it's still a very strong start.
Lukas Fittl
@lukasfittl · Product Hunt
@dewalt I'm curious about your perspective on computer games. To me it feels like there's a bit of D&D in many computer games, but that the essence of why its awesome is still best suited for offline, in-person, play.
Whats your take on offline games vs playing in the digital world?
Can one 1:1 translate a game's concept to an online version? (like many table top and board games are translated today)
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@lukasfittl I'd argue that there's a bit of D&D in almost every computer game. The creators of D&D invented many concepts that you see everywhere in video games, from hit points to characters that persist over time and level up. But yes, there's something about D&D that just can't be replicated in a digital game. It's the feeling you get when you can see and smell and feel the other players, creating a shared experience that requires close physical connections. When you get that, it lights up your brain like few other activities can.
None of this means that digital games can't be amazing and fun and provide an excellent translation of a physical experience. But none of them will ever quite replicate the experience of crowding around a table with your friends.
Lukas Fittl
@lukasfittl · Product Hunt
@dewalt Awesome, thanks for the great answer! :)
Hash_tag_jeff
@jeffumbro · Book Marketing and PR - get in touch
@dewalt What do you think of Peter Molyneux and do you think Curiosity accomplished anything that will be remembered ten years from now?
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@jeffumbro I think Molyneux is one of the most talented and interesting video game designers working, which is why it's particularly frustrating to see projects like Curiosity (and Godus, and Fable, and I could go on...) fail to live up to their promise. I hate to say it, but I think Curiosity's legacy is going to be as a reminder to consumers that they should be wary of big promises, and to think twice before they crowdfund new games.
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
@dewalt Hey David, thanks for doing this :)
Who was the most interesting and unexpected person you came across playing dungeons and dragons?
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@bentossell D&D is one of those hobbies that seems to cater to interesting people --it would be impossible to choose a single person who stands out. I've met a billionaire who escapes corporate culture by pretending to be a barbarian on the weekend; a librarian who uses D&D to get kids excited about books; a single mom playing the game as a way to bond with her kid; countless people, each with their own story to tell. The great thing about D&D is that you get to connect with those people in a really unique way, bond with them quickly, and learn who they really are.
One of the most "unexpected" people I met was Lorraine Williams, the woman who ousted D&D creator Gary Gygax from his company, TSR. A lot of people in the hobby really see her as a villain for that, so I was surprised to find her a sympathetic character.
Teresa Hammerl
@colazionearoma · Socialmediapreneur
Hi David, how did you become a contributing editor to Forbes Magazine?
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@colazionearoma The secret to getting a good job in journalism is to develop subject matter expertise --there's lots of people out there who can write, but not so many who know what to write about. I landed my first job because I was a computer nerd; I knew all about tech, so I got hired by an information technology magazine. Working there, I learned about the companies that make tech, and that got me a job at Forbes. I worked there for nine years before I published my book. Now I write for lots of different outlets, including Forbes, and I'm working on new book projects.
Erik Torenberg
@eriktorenberg · Former Product Hunt
What are some of the most interesting gaming stories happening today?
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@eriktorenberg Virtual reality is probably the most exciting thing happening in gaming right now; I've had some incredible experiences recently on the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Another big story is the explosion of interest in e-sports, and the big crowds that show up to watch live video game tournaments. And I'm continually excited to see the amazing work being done by independent game developers, particularly those making "serious" games that make people's lives better, in addition to being fun.
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
Hey David! Do you play dungeons and dragons? Can you tell us about your character in the game? :)
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@ems_hodge Ooh, an opportunity to shamelessly plug my book, Of Dice and Men! My cleric Weslocke is an important character in that story, since I use anecdotes from real-world games to help illustrate the story of D&D's history and impact.
Lately I've been playing in a new campaign, and my character is a second-level rogue named Stingray. He's a former carnival performer who uses whip tricks to fight monsters.
Vignesh Selvasundar
@nextgenguy · Managing Editor, Techzei
@dewalt I've never played D&D apart from watching the cultural references on The Big Bang Theory. Where do I start(None of my friends play, but would be interested if I teach them). Really looking for some help here.
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@nextgenguy I get this question a lot, so that means there are a lot of people out there looking for games, and plenty of places where you could start! You might look into the D&D Adventurer's League, which is an organized play program run by D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast: They sponsor weekly games at stores around the globe, and each session is designed to provide an easy introduction to the game. There are also lots of existing D&D groups looking for new players; they tend to advertise on places like Meetup and Reddit. Or you could hit one of the many tabletop game conventions held around the country --they welcome new players and don't require a major time commitment, you can just show up, play one game for a couple hours, and see if you like it.
UGEplex
@ugeplex
Hi David. I was wondering if you're continuing to update your book, Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It? If so, how do owners of the physical book get the updated content? And, are you already working on a follow-up book along the same lines?
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David M. Ewalt
@dewalt · Writer, gamer, primate.
@ugeplex I do have some new updates to the story I told in Of Dice and Men, and they'll all be shared online where anyone can get them. The best way to find out about updates is to subscribe to my newsletter and follow my social media accounts -- you can find links to all that stuff on my web site, davidmewalt.com.