Culture | Twenty-sided dicing with death

How did “Dungeons & Dragons” win?

The role-playing game, celebrating its 50th birthday, continues to inspire players and Hollywood creators

Dungeons & Dragons merchandise
Photograph: Matthew Ryan Williams/New York Times/Redux/eyevine

WHEN “STRANGER THINGS” returns for its final season next year, hundreds of millions of people around the world will be abuzz with talk of Demogorgons, the Mind Flayer and Vecna. As a result, they will also be talking about “Dungeons & Dragons” (D&D). The hit television show, which often features its young heroes playing D&D, draws its lore and monsters from the fantasy role-playing game, in which the goal is to form a party of adventurers and go on quests.

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