The world's most popular
pen & paper Role Playing Game (RPG). Created in 1974 by E.
Gary Gygax and Dave
Arneson, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) combines role-playing with turn-based tactical combat. In a D&
D game, one player is the "dungeon master" (DM) and the rest of the players are "player characters" (PCs). The PCs assume the role of adventurers (using fantasy archaetypes such as elves, wizards, halflings, barbarians, etc) while the DM creates challenges for the PCs to overcome (such as monsters and traps).
Over the years, the D&D game has been revised and published in multiple editions. The rights to Dungeons & Dragons are currently owned by Wizards of the Coast (creators of Magic: The Gathering) and Hasbro.