How D&D Shaped World of Warcraft

As someone who’s played D&D for most of my life, but hasn’t really played much WoW, I’m fascinated by how similar they both are. Not just the obvious things like classes and dungeons, but in the way they came to be.

Both games started out very tactically—either moving pieces on a battle map or building and managing a virtual army. But both eventually took a leap beyond tactics: they became about heroes. About telling stories and exploring worlds together.

It’s striking how much of WoW echoes D&D’s DNA. Classes like Warrior and Mage, the idea of forming parties to tackle dungeons, and even the thrill of loot drops all come from the same roots. More than that, they share a spirit of adventure. The best moments aren’t about winning—they’re about the stories you create with friends, the bonds you form, and the memories you carry with you.

For me, that’s what makes both games so timeless. They remind us that whether you’re rolling dice at the table or raiding in Azeroth, the real magic is in the stories you share.

Want to dive deeper? Check out the video I put together—it covers more of the parallels and how these two worlds connect.

Cheers,
Brian