Pyramid Review
Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Written by Bill Slavicsek & Richard Baker
Edited by Christopher Morris
Art by Rich Tennant, Des Hanley, Hugh Jamieson, Rob Lazzaretti, Todd Lockwood, Steve Prescott, Wayne Reynolds, Arnie Swekel, Steve Tappin, Lars Grant West, & Sam Wood
432-page b&w softcover plus fold-out sample dungeon map; $19.99
The . . . for Dummies series has, for years, been taking subjects thought too impenetrable by the general public and making them easily accessible with gentle and patient guidance. Dungeons & Dragons, the poster child for a hobby thought by most to be too weird, complex, or daunting to be entered lightly, gets the business in Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies.
Quoth Drew Carey, "It's almost a good idea."
It's certainly a terrific way to market the brand, straddling as it does the hobby and mass markets with such a format. Indeed, the first 40 pages sound like a marketing tool for Wizards of the Coast, and most of the references, being other books from the Coast, cement this view. Occasionally a predictable mention of Tolkien, yes, topping a list of "novels to inspire" offered as an afterthought in the traditional Part of Tens. But 99.99% of the manual is begat of Wizards knowing on which side its bread is buttered.
And it's written by two company notables: Bill Slavicsek and Richard Baker, both of whom have had their hands in the official creative process more than once. These . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: June 3, 2005
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