Dungeons and Dragon's 30th Anniversery

Penguins right. D&D inspired alot of fantasy games out there. For example: Neverwinter Nights, Ultima Online.

Can't say for any other games, but the entire Forgotten Realms series (Ice Wind Dale, Baulder's Gate, Neverwinter Nights... etc) Are based on either 2nd or 3rd edition rules.

LOTR came before DND. DND takes much from LOTR.

Dispite of what you may believe, D&D does not have annoying dwarves that sing all day. D&D does not have wizards that just swing their swords around.

LoTR blows the nuts.

my point is that LoTR gave much of what we have for DND...