The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine

ALSO INSIDE SKEPTIC

in this issue

Quest for the Truth About Dungeons & Dragons

• the power of pretending: experimenting with fantasy and roleplaying
• inventing wargames; simulating battle
• D&D history, origins, popularity
• mysterious disappearance of James Dallas Egbert
• D&D satanic panic: a dangerous tool of the Devil?
• criticisms, banning; was Dungeons & Dragons dangerous?
• confronting cults; hunting witches & demons
• from folklore to fiction…to folklore
• D&D’s triumphant return

from the Introduction

Hello!

In this issue of Junior Skeptic we’ll sharpen our pencils, pick up our magical swords, and dare to delve into mazes of mystery. We’ll roll the dice and imagine couragous heroes doing battle with evil monsters. Millions of people have enjoyed fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Fans discover the joy of storytelling and take epic journeys into the imagination. But critics have claimed that D&D is dangerous. According to them, the game can drive players insane. Criminals have sometimes blamed D&D for their crimes. Other writers claim that the game lures innocent children to become Devil worshippers. Could any of this be true? Let’s find out!