Editing Hack and slash (section)

===Role-playing games===
The term "hack and slash" itself has roots in "[[Tabletop role-playing game|pen and paper]]" [[Role-playing game|role-playing games]] such as ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (D&D), denoting [[Campaign (role-playing games)|campaigns]] of violence with no other plot elements or significant goal. The term itself dates at least as far back as 1980, as shown in a ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' article by [[Jean Wells]] and [[Kim Mohan]] which includes the following statement: "There is great potential for more than hacking and slashing in ''D&D'' or ''AD&D''; there is the possibility of intrigue, mystery and romance involving both sexes, to the benefit of all characters in a campaign."<ref name="Wells/Mohan">{{cite journal
 | last1 = Wells | first1 = Jean | author-link1 = Jean Wells
 | last2 = Mohan | first2 = Kim | author-link2 = Kim Mohan
 | title = Women want equality - and why not?
 | journal = Dragon #39
 | volume = V
 | issue = 1
 | pages = 16
 | publisher = TSR Hobbies, Inc.
 | date = July 1980
 }}</ref>

Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to [[role-playing video games]], usually starting in ''D&D''-like worlds.<ref name="DND">{{cite web |author=David Myers |title=The attack of the backstories (and why they won't win) |url=http://www.loyno.edu/~dmyers/F99%20classes/AttackOfTheBackstories.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201202321/http://www.loyno.edu/~dmyers/F99%20classes/AttackOfTheBackstories.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2008 |website=Loyola University New Orleans}}</ref> This form of gameplay influenced a wide range of [[action role-playing game]]s, including games such as ''[[Xanadu (video game)|Xanadu]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Hack and Slash: What Makes a Good Action RPG?|work=[[1UP.com]]|date=18 May 2010|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9030743|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110629035402/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9030743|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2011|access-date=2 March 2011}}</ref> and ''[[Diablo (series)|Diablo]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kruse |first=Cord |date=5 September 2008 |title=Diablo III: Timeline, Expanded RPG Elements, iTunes D3 Music |url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16949 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606161326/http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16949 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |access-date=7 October 2008 |website=Inside Mac Games}}</ref>