Roll for initiative as Karen and Blake discuss the history of roleplaying games and the Monster Manual with Jon Peterson. Jon Peterson (@docetist)  is the author of PLAYING AT THE WORLD A HISTORY OF SIMULATING WARS, PEOPLE, AND FANTASTIC ADVENTURES, FROM CHESS TO ROLE-PLAYING GAMES. He was also a contributor to the recent retrospective volume looking at the game DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ART & ARCANA: A VISUAL HISTORY. His latest book is the official D&D cookbook (for real and actual food) titled HERO'S FEAST. Mentioned in this episode: Painting miniatures  H. G. Wells' Little Wars  E. Gary Gygax  Dave Arneson  TSR (now Wizards of the Coast) Telengard (computer RPG) PLATO computer system Mazes and Monsters  Backlash against D&D from Patricia Pulling  The "steam tunnel" case of James Dallas Egbert III. The D&D Cartoon  Dungeons & Dragons today