View source for Dave Arneson

{{Creator
|image                = 
|caption              = 
|name                 = David Lance Arneson
|occupation           = Game designer
|nationality          = American
|home                 = 
|born                 = October 1, 1947
|birthplace           = Hennepin County, Minnesota
|died                 = April 7, 2009
|deathplace           =Saint Paul, Minnesota
|first greyhawk work  = 
|notableworks         = 
|alias                = 
|spouse               = Frankie Ann Morneau (m. 1984)
|children             = Malia Weinhagen (daughter)
|relatives            = 
|signature            =  
|sigcaption           = 
}}

'''David Lance Arneson''' (October 1, 1947 – April 7, 2009) was an American game designer and co-creator of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the first published role-playing game. Working with [[Gary Gygax]], Arneson helped establish the foundations of the role-playing game hobby that would eventually give rise to settings such as [[Greyhawk]].

== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
Arneson was born in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He developed an early interest in historical wargaming and became active in the Midwest gaming community, particularly through the Twin Cities Military Miniatures Society.

Arneson attended the University of Minnesota, where he studied history. His early exposure to experimental wargames, particularly the ''Braunstein'' games run by David Wesely, would prove highly influential on his later work.

=== Blackmoor ===
In the early 1970s, Arneson created the [[Blackmoor]] campaign, a fantasy setting which adapted medieval wargaming rules (''Braunstein'' games by David Welsey) into a new format centered on individual player characters exploring a persistent world. This campaign is widely regarded as the first true role-playing game.

Arneson introduced many concepts which would become standard in role-playing games, including the use of a referee (later called the Dungeon Master), individual character advancement, and open-ended narrative play.

=== Dungeons & Dragons ===
Arneson met [[Gary Gygax]] in 1969 and later demonstrated his ''Blackmoor'' game to him, which was based on the ''Braunstein'' rules. Gygax collaborated with Arneson to formalize more rules, leading to the publication of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' in 1974 by TSR.

While Arneson’s ''Blackmoor'' campaign was separate from Gygax’s [[Greyhawk]] campaign, the two settings developed at the same time and together shaped the early identity of the game. Elements pioneered in ''Blackmoor'' strongly influenced early ''Greyhawk'' play and design, particularly in dungeon exploration and campaign structure.

=== TSR and later career ===
Arneson briefly worked for TSR as their Director of Research at the beginning of 1976, contributing material related to ''Blackmoor''. He later left the company and pursued independent design work.<ref name="Pegasus01">{{cite journal | last = Anon. | title = An Interview with Dave Arneson | journal = [[Pegasus (game magazine)|Pegasus]] | issue = 1 | page = 4 | publisher = [[Judges Guild]] | date = April–May 1981 | url = http://www.judgesguild.net/guildhall/pegasus/pegasus_01/interview.shtml | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090321222949/http://www.judgesguild.net/guildhall/pegasus/pegasus_01/interview.shtml | archive-date = March 21, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Kask | first = Tim | author-link = Tim Kask | title = In The Cauldron | journal =[[The Strategic Review]] | volume = 2 | issue = 1 | page = 2 | publisher = [[TSR, Inc.]] |date=February 1976}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2013/10/01/remembering-dave/ | title=Remembering Dave – Black Gate | date=October 2013 }}</ref>

In 1979, Arneson brought legal action against TSR over royalties related to ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''. The case was settled in 1981, affirming his status as co-creator and entitling him to royalties on certain products.

Outside tabletop gaming, Arneson worked in computer game development and later taught game design at Full Sail University.

== Connection to Greyhawk ==
Although not directly involved in the development of the [[World of Greyhawk]] setting, Arneson’s innovations were foundational to its creation. The campaign style developed in ''Blackmoor''—including dungeon-based adventuring, character progression, and referee adjudication—was adopted and expanded upon by [[Gary Gygax]] in his [[Greyhawk]] campaign.

Early TSR publications often presented material from both ''Blackmoor'' and ''Greyhawk'', reflecting their shared origins in the formative years of the game.

== Personal life ==
Arneson married Frankie Ann Morneau in 1984;<ref>Ancestry.com. ''Minnesota Marriage Collection, 1958–2001'' [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.</ref> they had one daughter,<ref name="Minnesota DoH">Minnesota Department of Health. ''Minnesota Birth Index, 1935–2002'' [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.</ref> Malia, and two grandchildren.<ref name="pioneer">{{cite web | first = Amy | last = Forliti | title=Arneson, co-creator of D&D, dies at 61 | url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/10/arneson_obit/ | agency= Associated Press | date= April 10, 2009 | access-date=May 31, 2010 }}</ref>

Arneson died on April 7, 2009,<ref name="WotC News">{{cite web |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20090409 |title=Dave Arneson |date=April 9, 2009 |work=News |publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] |access-date=April 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411232122/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2F4news%2F20090409 |archive-date=April 11, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://grognardia.blogspot.com/2009/04/sadly-this-is-accurate.html|title=Sadly, This is Accurate|last=Maliszewski|first=James|date=April 8, 2009|website=Grognardia|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref> after battling cancer for two years.<ref name="bbc">{{Cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7994444.stm|title=Role-playing games pioneer dies|date=April 11, 2009|access-date=May 25, 2020|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> According to his daughter, Malia Weinhagen, "The biggest thing about my dad's world is he wanted people to have fun in life."<ref name="pioneer"/>

== Honors and tributes ==
Arneson received numerous industry awards for his part in creating ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and other role-playing games. In 1984 he was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design's Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.originsgames.com/awards/1983/list-of-winners | title = List of Winners | access-date = January 31, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080828203905/http://www.originsgames.com/awards/1983/list-of-winners| archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref> (also known as the Charles Roberts Awards Hall of Fame) and in 1999 was named by ''Pyramid'' magazine as one of ''The Millennium's Most Influential Persons'', "at least in the realm of adventure gaming".<ref>{{cite journal|title=Second Sight: The Millennium's Best "Other" Game and The Millennium's Most Influential Person|journal=Pyramid (Online)|url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/login/article.html?id=1306|last=Haring|first=Scott D.|date=December 24, 1999|access-date=February 15, 2008}}</ref> He was honored as a "famous game designer" by being featured on the king of hearts in Flying Buffalo's 2008 Famous Game Designers Playing Card Deck.<ref name="buffalo_dec">{{cite web| url=http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/pokerdeck.htm| title=Poker Deck| publisher=Flying Buffalo| access-date=February 11, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192820/http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/pokerdeck.htm| archive-date=March 4, 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Three days after his death, [[Wizards of the Coast]] temporarily replaced the front page of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' section of their web site with a tribute to Arneson.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/arneson_main.jpg |title=David Lance Arneson |access-date=April 10, 2009 |date=April 10, 2009 |work=wizards.com |publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329155128/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/arneson_main.jpg |archive-date=March 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }} The image originally appeared here {{cite web |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x%3Ddnd%2Fwelcome |title=DnD Welcome |access-date=April 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411215159/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Fwelcome |archive-date=April 11, 2009 }}.</ref> Other tributes in the gaming world included ''Order of the Stick'' #644,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0644.html | title = The Order of the Stick #644 | last = Burlew | first = Rich | author-link = Rich Burlew | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090411054655/http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0644.html | archive-date = April 11, 2009 | url-status = live | publisher = Giantitp}}</ref> and ''Dork Tower'' for April 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.dorktower.com/2009/04/08/dork-tower-april-8-2009-thanks-dave/| title = Dork Tower April 8, 2009| access-date = April 10, 2009| date = April 8, 2009| last = Kovalic| first = John| author-link = John Kovalic| work = Dork Tower| publisher = Dork Storm Press| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090411104723/http://www.dorktower.com/2009/04/08/dork-tower-april-8-2009-thanks-dave| url-status = live| archive-date = April 11, 2009}}</ref> Video game publisher Activision Blizzard posted a tribute to Arneson on their website and on April 14, 2009, released patch 3.1 of the online role-playing game ''World of Warcraft'', ''The Secrets of Ulduar'', dedicated to Arneson.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/patch3p10.html | title = World of Warcraft Patch Notes 3.10 | publisher = Blizzard Entertainment | access-date = April 14, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100507230142/http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/patch3p10.html | archive-date = May 7, 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Turbine's ''Dungeons and Dragons Online'' added an in-game memorial altar to Arneson in the Ruins of Threnal location in the game.<ref>{{cite web | title = DDO Release Notes: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited | url = http://ddowiki.com/page/Eberron_Unlimited_Release_Notes | access-date = January 19, 2011}}</ref> They also created an in-game item named the "Mantle of the Worldshaper" that is a reward for finishing the Threnal quest chain that is narrated by Arneson himself.  The Mantle's description reads: "A comforting and inspiring presence surrounds you as you hold this cloak.  Arcane runes run along the edges of the fine cape, and masterfully drawn on the silken lining is an incredibly detailed map of a place named 'Blackmoor'."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Item:Mantle_of_the_Worldshaper |title=Mantle of the Worldshaper |access-date=September 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111032910/http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Item%3AMantle_of_the_Worldshaper |archive-date=November 11, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On October 30, 2010, Full Sail University dedicated the student game development studio space as "Dave Arneson's Blackmoor Studios" in Arneson's honor.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fullsail.edu/news/headlines/2010-11-03-blackmoor-studios | title = Blackmoor Studios Opens on Campus | access-date = December 20, 2014}}</ref>

Since the release of the history of Braunstein in 2008<ref>{{Cite web| last = Robbins| first = Ben| title = Braunstein: the Roots of Roleplaying Games| work = ars ludi| access-date = May 14, 2015| date = 2008| url = http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/104/braunstein-the-roots-of-roleplaying-games/}}</ref> and ''Playing at the World'' in 2012,<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Unreason Press| isbn = 978-0-615-64204-8|id={{isbnt| 0-615-64204-7}}| last = Peterson| first = Jon| title = Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games| location = San Diego, CA| date = 2012}}</ref> a scholarly work by Jon Petersen, the role of Dave Wesely and Dave Arneson was restored in the broad conversation on the origins of the tabletop role-playing games. Robert Kuntz published ''Dave Arneson's True Genius'' in 2017<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Three Line Studio| last = Kuntz| first = Robert J.| title = Dave Arneson's True Genius| location = Scottsdale, AZ| date = 2017}}</ref> and gave interviews to Kotaku to detail how the gameplay of the current tabletop role-playing games was designed by Arneson.<ref>{{Cite web | last = D'Anastasio| first = Cecilia| title = Dungeons & Deceptions: The First D&D Players Push Back On The Legend Of Gary Gygax| work = Kotaku| access-date = August 28, 2019| date = August 26, 2019| url = https://kotaku.com/dungeons-deceptions-the-first-d-d-players-push-back-1837516834}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| last = D'Anastasio| first = Cecilia| title = Fantasy's Widow: The Fight Over The Legacy Of Dungeons & Dragons| work = Kotaku| access-date = November 3, 2019| date = November 3, 2019| url = https://kotaku.com/fantasys-widow-the-fight-over-the-legacy-of-dungeons-1833127876}}</ref> In 2019, the documentary ''The Secrets of Blackmoor'' presented interviews of the first players of Dave Arneson and acknowledged his innovations.<ref>{{Cite AV media| publisher = Fellowship of the Thing| people = Graves, Chris, Griffith Mon Morgan III, Ryan Swan| medium = Documentary| title = Secrets of Blackmoor: The True History of Dungeons & Dragons| date = May 8, 2019}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Arneson is regarded as one of the principal founders of the role-playing game genre. His work helped transform wargaming into a collaborative storytelling experience, influencing not only ''Dungeons & Dragons'' but the entire tabletop role-playing hobby.

He was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame in 1984.  

==See also==
* [[Gary Gygax]]
* [[Blackmoor]]

==External links==
* [http://blackmoorcastle.com Official website]}} of Dave Arneson.
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120210025158/http://www.dignews.com/platforms/xbox/xbox-features/dave-arneson-interview-feature/ Dave Arneson Interview]" by Harold Foundary at ''Digital Entertainment News''.
* "[http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/540/540395p1.html Dave Arneson Interview]" by Andrew S. Bub at ''GameSpy'', August 11, 2002.
* "[http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2008/03/08/slice-of-scifi-151/ Slice of SciFi #151: Interview with "Dungeons & Dragons" co-creator Dave Arneson]" by ''Farpoint Media'', February 8, 2008.
*Jeremy L.C. Jones. [http://www.koboldpress.com/interview-with-dave-arneson/ "If Their Hearts Are Pure: A Conversation with Dave Arneson"], Kobold Quarterly no.9, 2009-04-11. Retrieved on 2009-05-03. Arneson's last known interview.
*{{cite web |url=http://pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1764 |archive-date=January 3, 2011 |title=Dave Arneson :: Pen & Paper RPG Database |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103010922/http://pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1764 |access-date=January 30, 2018 }}

==References==
=== Notes ===
<references group="note" />
=== Bibliography ===
* [https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/person/arneson-david-lance-1947-2009 ''Arneson, David Lance'']. MNopedia (Minnesota Historical Society).
{{wikipedia}}

[[Category:Authors|Arneson, Dave]]