Through Dungeons Deep: A Fantasy Gamers' Handbook

by Robert Plamondon

Through Dungeons Deep delves into the art of role-playing, showing players and Game Masters how to have more fun and excitement with fantasy role-playing games. First published more than 25 years ago, this book was an instant classic. Long out of print, the original edition sells for several times its cover price. This Norton Creek Press reprint makes the book available (and affordable) again. Robert Plamondon wrote Through Dungeons Deep after realizing that the most important part of role-playing games-role-playing-is barely mentioned in gaming systems. When it is, it is often confused with rules. But role-playing really boils down to make-believe, and the real fun in role-playing games comes from unlocking your imagination. But it's also important to carry a length of rope and wear shoes you can run in.

Genres: Gaming, Games, Nonfiction

323 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2008

Reviews

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the table of contents is a bit of a mish-mash, reflecting the author's converting it from a list of potential articles for Dragon, the book is well-written and the content remains surprisingly relevant, thanks in large part to the OSR, which has turned this into a guidebook of how to play in old-school dungeons. There's also interesting material on gamemastering and campaign design, though it's a bit more scattered and has largely been superseded by more comprehensive books on the topic.

[Shaun Hately · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little dated, but still one of the most practical books of advice for players of fantasy role playing games I have ever read. The advice for GMs is more limited and far more seems to have been written on that topic since, but what is there is still excellent.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best and most accessable books on RPG's ever written.