According to Wikipedia, table top role-playing games have been around since the 18th century and have its origins in wargaming and roots in ancient strategy games like chess. This is an interesting podcast that gives you a flavor for these types of games, in particular Dungeons & Dragons. If you were curious about these type of games, you will get some insight into what the games are about, including dispelling some myths about the games and perhaps understanding why these types of games are so popular.
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