1976 - Tomb of F'chelrak - Part 1

1976 - Tomb of F'chelrak - Part 1

A crew of teenage wannabe adventurers treks out to the first (playable) dungeon ever published! The entire party has 3 hit points! What could go wrong?? One of the most fun sessions I've played, and the origin story of an adorable little crew! DUNGEONS NEVER DIE! explores the history of Dungeons & Dragons with one adventure from each year of the game's existence. This episode is the first of a two-parter exploring a very early dungeon created by influential designer Jennell Jaquays. Keep an eye out for part 2! Check out our history episode covering the events of 1976 to learn about the origins of the dungeon and the life of the late legend Jennell Jaquays! Credits and sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uqyg9aPCPNGttE83aFIxR6l37CbxqYbmlQxE7L8PYTw/edit?usp=sharing

The Battle for Blackmoor (Bonus - 1975)

Dungeons & Dragons has finally made it to print, and gamers are grabbing onto it! TSR has big plans. But 1975 has some shocks in store.  Dave Arneson struggles with what to do as the game he helped to invent takes flight. As TSR grows, is there a place for the mind behind the game in the future of D&D? ~ ~ ~ To delve into the dungeon mentioned here, check out our episode exploring the Temple of the Frog from 1975! References and credits here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uqyg9aPCPNGttE83aFIxR6l37CbxqYbmlQxE7L8PYTw/edit?usp=sharing

Shadowdark is Sick! (Bonus)

Our adventures are powered by SHADOWDARK - a role-playing game of grisly dungeon crawls and fantastical discovery! It's an adventure game inspired by the early days of Dungeons & Dragons, using modern design innovations to keep play fast and fun. Discover the source of that darkness in this episode: Where did Shadowdark come from? What makes it unique and a helluva lotta fun? Learn the rules of Shadowdark - it's real easy and real fun! References, sources, links, and credits:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uqyg9aPCPNGttE83aFIxR6l37CbxqYbmlQxE7L8PYTw/edit?usp=sharing

Dungeons & Dragons Nearly Never Existed (Bonus - 1974)

Dungeons & Dragons was published in 1974 and went on to become a phenomenon - but first came the struggle just to get it printed! This episode chronicles the tale of Dave Arneson, Gary Gygax, and various other Daves. These nerds built on each others' ideas to kick off a revolution - in gaming and beyond. You'll hear of wargaming, shoe cobbling, ferocious plastic dinosaurs, and duels to the death along the way. DUNGEONS NEVER DIE! traces the history of role-playing games year-by-year, playing an adventure from every year that D&D has been around! This is the first episode exploring the history of the game. For our first proper dungeon delve, jump ahead to join us deep within the Temple of the Frog! References and credits here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uqyg9aPCPNGttE83aFIxR6l37CbxqYbmlQxE7L8PYTw/edit?usp=sharing

1975 - Temple of the Frog

Thanks for checking out DUNGEONS NEVER DIE! - a podcast exploring the legacy of D&D by playing one adventure from each year of the game's history!  In our very first episode, you'll hear my friends die in the very first published dungeon! 💀 Our journey through 50 years of roleplaying adventure begins with a horrifying gauntlet! Each player has four would-be heroes to guide through the tunnels beneath a slimy temple.  Will any of these desperate, terrified, level-0 villagers make it out alive? Will any grow to become heroes? Or will all be crushed within those great, froggy jaws???  🐸