December Hall of Fame Inductee – Dragon Magazine
Since its inaugural issue in 1976, Dragon Magazine has stood as a beacon of creativity and innovation in the tabletop role-playing game world. Created by TSR and under the guidance of editors like Tim Kask and Kim Mohan, Dragon showcased the talents of renowned writers, artists, and designers who shaped the industry.
In an age before the internet, Dragon was not only a link between gamers all over the world, it was the humble beginnings of fan collaboration and creation we now take for granted. For more than three decades, Dragon offered a treasure trove of content, from detailed monster ecologies and new character options to compelling fiction and community discussions. Its regular columns, such as Ecology of…, Wormy, and The Forum, became staples for readers. Legendary contributors such as Larry Elmore, Jeff Easley, and Ed Greenwood, who introduced readers to the Forgotten Realms, cemented Dragon’s role as both a tool and an art form. The magazine not only enhanced the games it supported but also cultivated a culture of collaboration and innovation that would ripple across the industry.
The magazine’s impact on the RPG landscape is profound. It inspired the creation of companion publications, such as Dungeon Magazine, and influenced generations of gamers and game designers. Its contributions to world-building and community engagement resonate today, with many of its iconic features and themes still informing modern gaming culture. Even in its later digital iterations, Dragon retained the spirit of discovery and innovation that defined its golden years.
By inducting Dragon Magazine into the ENNIE Awards Hall of Fame, we honor a publication that not only chronicled the history of role-playing games but actively helped shape it. Its legacy is one of imagination, collaboration, and a deep, abiding love for the hobby that it helped elevate to an art form. For generations of players, it wasn’t just a magazine—it was a gateway to worlds of imagination, adventure, and boundless possibility.
