Dave Arneson
In 1960, a young Dave Arneson received the board wargame Gettysburg from his parents. This Avalon Hill product sparked a lifelong obsession with miniature military games. He taught his friends how to play and soon they began designing their own rulesets together. The group experimented with naval wargames, which became Arneson's favorite genre. His college history classes at the University of Minnesota incorporated role-playing historical events. These academic exercises allowed him to deviate from recorded history in ways similar to what-if scenarios found in wargames. By the late 1960s he joined the Twin Cities Military Miniatures Group in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Future game designer David Wesely was among its members. Wesely later asserted that Braunstein games created by Arneson laid foundations for modern role-playing games on a one-to-one scale basis.
October 1970 marked the departure of David Wesely to service in the Army Reserves. Arneson and fellow players in the Twin Cities imagined alternate settings for Braunstein games. They developed a fantasy version set in the medieval Barony of Blackmoor. This land contained fantastic monsters and required quests for magic and gold. Players led armies against evil forces and delved into dungeons beneath Castle Blackmoor. A Kibri kit model of Branzoll Castle represented the physical dungeon space. Arneson drew heavily upon Chainmail rules written by Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren published in spring 1971. He developed his own mix of rules including adapted elements from Civil War Ironclad game revisions. The gameplay featured hit points, armor class, character development, and dungeon crawls. Details appeared briefly in issue thirteen of Domesday Book newsletter in July 1972. Later expanded forms emerged as The First Fantasy Campaign published by Judges Guild in 1977.
February 1973 saw Dave Arneson and Dave Megarry travel to Lake Geneva to meet Gary Gygax. They provided a demonstration of Blackmoor and Dungeon! Rob Kuntz described Arneson as referee while Lake Geneva players included Gygax himself. Gygax almost immediately began a similar campaign called Greyhawk after playing in Blackmoor. The two collaborated by phone and mail on rule sets. Playtesting occurred through various groups and contacts. Guidon Games and Avalon Hill rejected publication attempts initially. Brian Blume eventually provided funding required to publish original Dungeons & Dragons set in 1974. Initial print run numbered one thousand copies selling out within a year. Sales increased rapidly in subsequent years. Further rules released in 1975 included Blackmoor supplement featuring monks, assassins, and Temple of the Frog adventure scenario. This became first published role-playing adventure intended for other people to run professionally.
Arneson formally joined TSR as Director of Research at beginning of 1976 but left before end of year. He pursued career as independent game designer instead. In 1977 despite no longer being employed there he published Dungeonmaster's Index booklet indexing all D&D properties. TSR agreed to pay royalties on products but claimed Advanced Dungeons & Dragons significantly different product when launched in 1977. They refused payment for AD&D sales. Arneson filed first of five lawsuits against Gygax and TSR in 1979. March 1981 brought resolution via confidential agreement reached out of court. Both parties credited as co-creators on packaging from that point forward. Arneson received 2.5% royalty on all AD&D products providing comfortable six-figure annual income over next twenty years. Lingering tensions remained between them despite financial settlement. Wizards of the Coast paid undisclosed sum in 1997 freeing up D&D from owed royalties allowing retitle to simply Dungeons & Dragons.
In 1977 Arneson published Dungeonmaster's Index despite leaving TSR employment earlier that year. Early 1980s saw establishment of Adventure Games company staffed largely by friends involved in American Civil War reenactment group. Miniatures games Harpoon released 1981 followed by Johnny Reb in 1983. New edition Adventures in Fantasy role-playing game appeared same year. Several Tékumel related books published due to friendship with author M.A.R. Barker. Company proved profitable but workload became excessive leading sale to Flying Buffalo in 1985. Arneson owned part of Flying Buffalo wanting them handle remaining stock and intellectual property after shutting down operations. Mid-1980s reconnection occurred while Gary Gygax served as president of TSR. Blackmoor briefly relinked to D&D through DA series modules set 1986, 1987. Three of four published modules credited Arneson as co-author though editing staff reworked manuscripts conforming to Mystara campaign setting. Planned fifth module never reached publication stage before projects dropped entirely.
Living in California during late 1980s gave Arneson chance to work with special education children. Upon returning to Minnesota he pursued teaching opportunities speaking at schools about educational uses of role-playing games. Multi-sided dice helped teach math concepts to students. Beginning in 1990s he worked at Full Sail University teaching multimedia subjects including computer game design until retirement the 19th of June 2008. Class Rules of the Game taught students how accurately document create rule sets balanced between mental challenges for players and physical ones for characters. He wrote adventure DNA/DOA first published for FASA fantasy/cyberpunk game Shadowrun released same year 1989. Computer company 4D Interactive Systems founded by Arneson in Minnesota since dissolved. Consulting work continued with various computer companies throughout period. Columns appeared in Computer Gaming World magazine discussing opinion genre reviews covering titles like Romance of Three Kingdoms Zork Zero Citadel Adventure Crystal Keep Uncharted Waters Renegade Legion Interceptor spanning 1980s early 1990s.
Arneson died the 7th of April 2009 after battling cancer two years duration. Daughter Malia Weinhagen stated biggest thing about dad's world was wanting people have fun life. Industry awards recognized part creation Dungeons & Dragons other role-playing games. Induction into Academy Adventure Gaming Arts Design Hall of Fame occurred 1984 named Charles Roberts Awards Hall of Fame. Pyramid magazine named him one Millennium Most Influential Persons realm adventure gaming 1999. Featured famous game designer king hearts Flying Buffalo 2008 Famous Game Designers Playing Card Deck. Wizards of Coast temporarily replaced front page Dungeons & Dragons section website tribute three days death image originally appeared online. Order Stick #644 Dork Tower the 8th of April 2009 Activision Blizzard posted tribute website patch 3.1 World Warcraft Secrets Ulduar released the 14th of April 2009 dedicated Arneson Turbine added memorial altar Ruins Threnal in-game item Mantle Worldshaper reward finishing quest chain narrated Arnesion himself description reads comforting inspiring presence surrounds holding cloak arcane runes run edges fine cape masterfully drawn silken lining incredibly detailed map place named Blackmoor.
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Common questions
When was Dave Arneson born and when did he die?
Dave Arneson lived from 1947 until his death on the 7th of April 2009 after battling cancer for two years. He retired from Full Sail University on the 19th of June 2008 before passing away.
What game did Dave Arneson create that became Dungeons & Dragons?
Dave Arneson created Blackmoor which served as a foundation for modern role-playing games alongside Gary Gygax. Their collaboration led to the original Dungeons & Dragons set in 1974 with an initial print run of one thousand copies.
How much money did Dave Arneson earn from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons royalties?
Dave Arneson received a 2.5% royalty on all AD&D products providing a comfortable six-figure annual income over twenty years following a confidential agreement reached out of court in March 1981. This financial settlement credited him as co-creator on packaging from that point forward.
Where did Dave Arneson work during the 1990s and what did he teach?
Dave Arneson worked at Full Sail University teaching multimedia subjects including computer game design until retirement. His Class Rules of the Game course taught students how accurately document rule sets balanced between mental challenges for players and physical ones for characters.
When was Dave Arneson inducted into the Academy Adventure Gaming Arts Design Hall of Fame?
Dave Arneson was inducted into the Charles Roberts Awards Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also named one of the Millennium Most Influential Persons in adventure gaming by Pyramid magazine in 1999.