ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of role-playing games

Okay, kiddo! Let's talk about the history of role-playing games (RPGs)!

Many years ago, people would play games where they would pretend to be someone else. Maybe they would pretend to be a knight fighting dragons or a princess saving the kingdom. Over time, these games became more organized and people started creating rules and guidelines to follow.

In the 1970s, a man named Gary Gygax created a game called Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). D&D was the first modern RPG and it allowed people to create their own characters and go on adventures in a fantasy world.

People loved playing D&D and it quickly became popular. Other game companies started creating their own RPGs and the hobby grew and grew.

In RPGs, players use their imaginations to create stories and characters. They also use dice to determine the outcome of actions. For example, if a character wants to attack a monster, they might roll a dice to see if they hit or miss.

RPGs can be played with just a few people or with a big group. Some people even play RPGs online with people from all around the world!

Nowadays, there are many different types of RPGs, from fantasy games like D&D to science-fiction games like Star Trek Adventures. But they all have one thing in common: they allow people to use their creativity to tell amazing stories and have fun with their friends.