'Opening Pandora's Box' — D&D Historian Ben Riggs talks to Chaosium's MOB about the company's 50th anniversary
Posted by Michael O'Brien on 16th Mar 2025
Chaosium's Michael O'Brien talks to D&D historian Ben Riggs (Slaying the Dragon) on Chaosium's 50th Anniversary. Ben's podcast is called 'Reading D&D Aloud', so MOB shares the dedication Greg Stafford put in Chaosium's first-ever roleplaying game, RuneQuest (1978). Greg wrote RuneQuest was dedicated to D&D creators Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, "who first opened Pandora's Box", and Tunnels & Trolls creator Ken St Andre, "who found it could be opened again".
Everyone playing, creating and working in tabletop roleplaying games today appreciates that audacious first step which has now grown into a hobby enjoyed by millions.
In Ben and MOB's wide-ranging discussion they go back to the dawn of fantasy RPGs, and talk about the brilliant minds that have made Chaosium home this past half-century: