The controversial history of Dungeons & Dragons

Ask anyone if they play D&D, and one of two things will happen: you'll get a baffled look and a denial, or an enthusiastic "Yes!" followed by a character name, class, and in-depth explanation of the most awesome thing they've ever done.

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) inspires some seriously devout fans. Why? Because it's epic. While the 21st century world might surround us with fantastic movies, endless binge-watching opportunities on your streaming network of choice, and an equally endless world of entertainment on the internet, there's something even more endless: imagination, like a group's creativity when it comes to figuring out how to hack magical abilities to set someone on fire in new and interesting ways.

Today, games like Dungeons & Dragons are a little more mainstream than they have been historically. During the 1980s and 90s, it wasn't just a matter of being called a geek or a nerd, there was a very real moral panic that raged over D&D. Some believed it was teaching people how to tap into the unknown to cast real spells and summon real demons, and honestly, if that was the case, there would be a lot more demons walking the earth and a lot more half-orc, half-elf children running around. So why, exactly, was Dungeons & Dragons condemned as a tool of the devil? It's a very strange story, indeed.