Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games - Softcover
Synopsis
Explore the conceptual origins of wargames and role-playing games in this unprecedented history of simulating the real and the impossible. From a vast survey of primary sources ranging from eighteenth-century strategists to modern hobbyists, Playing at the World distills the story of how gamers first decided fictional battles with boards and dice, and how they moved from simulating wars to simulating people. The invention of role-playing games serves as a touchstone for exploring the ways that the literary concept of character, the lure of fantastic adventure and the principles of gaming combined into the signature cultural innovation of the late twentieth century.
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Review
"A must-read for gaming geeks." - Wired
"Highly recommended for role-playing game enthusiasts." - Games Magazine
"The first serious history of the development of Dungeons & Dragons... there's much here to fascinate even readers with only a cursory interest in the game." - Village Voice
"Playing at the World is a must for gaming and popular culture history collections." - Midwest Book Review
"Playing at the World is the best book I've ever read about games and gaming - not the personalities that play, but the history of games. The author is an absolutely meticulous researcher, and you will learn more about where role-playing games came from than you ever knew before - because I did, and I was there at the beginning, and I still learned more!" - Tim Kask, early TSR employee and original editor of Dragon magazine
"If you are a roleplayer, or a gaming historian, or a fan of D&D, you have to read this book. That simple." - Jeff Grub, former TSR staff designer, author of Manual of the Planes
"I'm a bit embarrassed thinking of how many times I've talked about the history of D&D, thinking I knew the story - now I realize how little I knew. Playing at the World applies a higher standard of research than any other work on the history of role-playing games I've seen. Check out this awesome book!" - Peter Adkison, founder and former CEO of Wizards of the Coast, owner of Gen Con
"At long last, the cultural phenomenon of Dungeons & Dragons gets the in-depth historical study it deserves in Jon Peterson's Playing at the World. Here, compellingly told, is the fascinating story of the prehistory and origins of the first and greatest role-playing game, and how a group of unlikely American nerd-gods imagined something new and brought it into the world." - Lawrence Schick, editor Deities & Demigods, author of White Plume Mountain and Heroic Worlds
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. Seller Inventory # voaV.0615642047.G
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: HM Books, Kingston, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Covers show some light scuffing and shelf wear. Probably the best book on the history of RPGs. Seller Inventory # mon0000015243
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: Salish Sea Books, Bellingham, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. 2. Good; Softcover; 2nd Edition; Moderate shelfwear to the covers; Very light thumb-soiling to the right textblock edge, otherwise unblemished textblock edges; The endpapers and text pages are all clean and unmarked; Excellent binding; This book will be shipped in a sturdy cardboard box with foam padding; Medium-Large Format (Quatro, 9.75" - 10.75" tall); 3.1 lbs; Black and white covers with title in white lettering; 2012, Unreason Press; 720 pages; "Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games," by Jon Peterson. Seller Inventory # SKU-1460AE00609224
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Minor shelf and handling wear, overall a clean solid copy with minimal signs of use. Binding is tight and structurally sound. Clean interior pages. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1869432248
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: Salish Sea Books, Bellingham, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 2. Very Good Minus; Softcover; 2nd Edition; Clean covers with minor edgewear; Unblemished textblock edges; The endpapers and all text pages are clean and unmarked; The binding is excellent with a straight spine; This book will be shipped in a sturdy cardboard box with foam padding; Medium-Large Format (Quatro, 9.75" - 10.75" tall); 3.1 lbs; Black and white covers with title in white lettering; 2012, Unreason Press; 720 pages; "Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games," by Jon Peterson. Seller Inventory # SKU-1374AE04309034
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: Salish Sea Books, Bellingham, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 2. Very Good Minus; Softcover; 2nd Edition; Light wear to the covers; Unblemished textblock edges; Small crease to the top right conrer of the first few pages, otherwise the endpapers and all text pages are clean and unmarked; The binding is excellent with a straight spine; This book will be shipped in a sturdy cardboard box with foam padding; Medium-Large Format (Quatro, 9.75" - 10.75" tall); 3.1 lbs; Black and white covers with title in white lettering; 2012, Unreason Press; 720 pages; "Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games," by Jon Peterson. Seller Inventory # SKU-0390AB05209014
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Published by
Unreason Press, San Diego, 2014
ISBN 10: 0615642047
ISBN 13: 9780615642048
Used
Soft cover
Seller: Arty Bees Books, Wellington, New Zealand
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Reprint. Third printing, June 2014. Paperback in tidy condition. Minor bumping to corners. Contents tight and clean with no inscriptions or markings. This is a heavy book so please check postage with bookseller. Explore the conceptual origins of wargames and role-playing games in this unprecedented history of simulating the real and the impossible. From a vast survey of primary sources ranging from eighteenth-century strategists to modern hobbyists, Playing at the World distills the story of how gamers first decided fictional battles with boards and dice, and how they moved from simulating wars to simulating people. The invention of role-playing games serves as a touchstone for exploring the ways that the literary concept of character, the lure of fantastic adventure and the principles of gaming combined into the signature cultural innovation of the late twentieth century. Seller Inventory # 027215
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: Salish Sea Books, Bellingham, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 2. Very Good Minus; Softcover; 2nd Edition; Covers are clean and glossy with minor scuffing to the top of the spine; Unblemished textblock edges; The endpapers and text pages are all clean and unmarked; The binding is excellent with a straight spine; This book will be shipped in a sturdy cardboard box with foam padding; Medium-Large Format (Quatro, 9.75" - 10.75" tall); 3.1 lbs; Black and white covers with title in white lettering; 2012, Unreason Press; 720 pages; "Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games," by Jon Peterson. Seller Inventory # SKU-0474AH10008254
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Playing at the World
Published by
Unreason Press, San Diego, 2012
ISBN 10: 0615642047
ISBN 13: 9780615642048
Used
Soft cover
First Edition
Seller: Kestrel Books, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Thick 4to(10"tall)colour pictorial wraps. Very Good but for minor edgewear, some curling of corners. First Printing stated, 2012. VERY RARE THUS. Seller Inventory # 12611
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Quantity: 1 available
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Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games
Seller: Salish Sea Books, Bellingham, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. 2. Good++; Softcover; Light wear to the covers; Unblemished textblock edges; Very light wrinkling to the top right corner and top edge of the last 50 pages, otherwise the endpapers and all text pages are clean and unmarked; The binding is excellent with a straight spine; This book will be shipped in a sturdy cardboard box with foam padding; Medium-Large Format (Quatro, 9.75" - 10.75" tall); 3.1 lbs; Black and white covers with title in white lettering; 2nd Edition; 2012, Unreason Press; 720 pages; "Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games," by Jon Peterson. Seller Inventory # SKU-0430AE02909043