SATANIC PANIC

At the initial height of D&D’s popularity in the ’80s, conservative Americans demanded the game be banned, claiming it used demons, witchcraft, voodoo, murder, rape, satanic rituals, cannibalism and a host of other dangerous teachings.

There were unsubstantiated claims that young men who played it were driven to murder and suicide and organisations such as Bothered about Dungeons and Dragons (BADD) lobbied for an end to the game.

“The parents involved even went so far as to send documents to the police that they had to use to question teenagers who played D&D,” says Joseph Laycock, author of the book Dangerous Games, which investigated the panic.

Dr David Waldron, an Australian lecturer in history and anthropology, says people saw D&D as contradictory to the Bible and the teachings of the church because fantasy games usually involve things like sorcery and witchcraft.

“At the time adults also thought young people couldn’t distinguish between fantasy and reality,” he adds.

Ironically, many people were unaware Gary and Dave, the game creators, were themselves devout Christians. In response to the outcry, the pair removed references to “demons” and replaced them with goblins and other fantastical creatures.

Joe, who had a front-row seat to the hysteria over the game, promises his documentary will look at the warts-and-all history of the game.

“It has a very dark past. We as kids all had to endure an absolutely insane amount of slings and arrows from parents, church and friends.”

Yet Joe says the ’80s were his favourite time to play the game. “I liked it when it was dangerous and dark – I still do! That’s the version I like. I don’t want Black Sabbath marketed to four-year-olds . . . gimme biting heads off bats!

I want parents to be scared,” he jokes.

“I think that was really exciting as a kid.”