Do-It-Yourself – Ernest Gary Gygax ( July 27, 1938 -- March 4, 2008) was an American writer and game designer, best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) with Dave Arneson, and co-founding the company Tactical Studies Rules with Don Kaye in 1974. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of the role-playing...
I never played D&D, but D&D is the grandfather of most modern RPGs, which I have played and enjoyed greatly.
R.I.P. Gygax
I was huge into D&D. I got to actually play with one of my childhood heroes, David Hargrave who created an awesome subset of d&d called, Arduin Grimoire. David passed away in 1988 I believe, which was only a couple of years after I got to play at his house.
So, even though I didn't personally know Gary Gygax, I feel like old friends are dying..
I played D&D for decades, and have passed that love onto my daughter. This is very sad news indeed. Many of my long term, dearest friends were the guys I played D&D with in high school, and we had some great times playing his game.
I agree. Some of my enduring friendships from childhood are with my fellow adventurers. I started in 1976 or 1977, can't quite recall. We began with Basic D&D, didn't realize OD&D existed until a bit later, and then AD&D books started coming out.
Great game. While I like WoTC and some of what they've done, I'll always have a soft spot for the 1E AD&D.
I also started in 1977 at the age of 10. I played basic edition, Arduin, and everything since then. Im considered a "grognard" - one who prefers the old, "traditional" versions of the game.
WoTC is about to release 4th edition. Ill be interested to see what they do with the game, although Im not sure I like what Ive heard so far. But we will see.
A toast to Gary Gygax who is responsible for bringing together nerds of all ages from all over the world in competitive camaraderie.
Thanks Gary
Say hello to Aphrodite for me.
( I would resurrect you but it would cost me too many experience points which I will need for the army of ogres I must vanquish with my plus 2 broad sword in order to rescue the Princess from the clutches of the evil wizard)
I guess he'll finally get to meet Satan .
That was totally uncalled for!
Take your religious slander somewhere else and let the rest of us treasure the memory of a great man.
R.I.P. Gary
That's my opinion and I am entitled to it .
If you're so willing to show your ignorance, sure, go ahead.
But please respect the memory the rest of us have for someone who apparently hasn't touched your life in any way.
I guess I don't get it. What does Gary have to do with Satan? I met him numerous times and he's quite a nice fellow across the board and has brought joy and built community among many, many people in this world.
Or was this some kind of uneducated, narrow-minded, evil-influenced attack from those kinds of people that claim to be following Christ's example but more often than not break down community, spread hatred and division and do Satan's work?
On the contrary there GG , since you don't believe in religion this shouldn't offend you anyhow . Maybe it was a compliment . And no Dionys it's not an uneducated statement . There have been numerous reports throughout the years of people living out the fantasy of D&D and actually slaying each other with actual swords . It's the product that Gary peoduced that let to a deeper look into the occult for many people to find new and gory characters and in turn brought about a new reverence for Satan and/ or Satanic works . Just my observasion in my lifetime from many different outlets .
"Just my observasion in my lifetime from many different outlets ."
except for having actually played D&D...
And to say nothing of the fact that some of the bloodiest wars in history have been fought over religion. How you can equate Dungeons & Dragons with a "new reverence for Satan", boggles this mind...
I agree with what you say as well GregD , about war and religion . There have been many reports that the fantasy that has been brought about by D&D has led some people to search out new and more fantastic characters , one of those outlets being The Occult . I'm making a statement . Not condoning it . These facts are in many various psychiatric reports . It was on national news in the late 1980's . I also stated how some people took this game to the next level and slew each other , or others with actual swords . Commited murder as it were . I've spoke with many people on the subject of D&D . And we have a go around about this and other topics related to the game . No big deal . Sorry you took such offense , it's just conversation .
"There have been many reports that the fantasy that has been brought about by D&D has led some people to search out new and more fantastic characters , one of those outlets being The Occult . I'm making a statement . Not condoning it . These facts are in many various psychiatric reports ."
Erm, no they're not. I'd very much like to see any kind of report that shows this.
In fact, I don't think there's any kind of claim to this outside religious websites. So please, stop making these wild and spurious claims without any kind of proof.
And try reading something that might challenge your world perspective from time to time. You know, you might actually learn something.
Here's a good start:
You are absolutely right, I don't believe in religion, but others do and when you besmirch Gary Gygax's name in such a way others might think that you are right (which you're not).
And, as I also wrote below, please produce some of these reports of people slaying each other with swords because of D&D. I think you'll find just about... none.
Besides, how can someone who doesn't believe in the christian god (or any other god for that matter) get a "new reverence for Satan and/or Satanic works" as you say? That doesn't make any sense, except in *your* fantasy world.
Psychiatric reports are privileged info between client and counselor . The slayings were on national T.V. and in most newspapers and Time Magazine . You are entitled to "your" opinion and I respect that . And my statements were not directed , directly at you . It is a broad and general statement that I made .
Yet you have access to these psychiatric reports?
Also, if these slayings unequivocally stem from the playing of D&D and were "on national T.V. and in most newspapers and Time Magazine," I'm sure you won't have any problem producing links to these events (i.e. youtube/google clips, newspaper articles and Time articles).
Or are you talking about the D&D hysteria back from the 80's which has been proven utterly untrue?
Also, have you ever had any personal experience with D&D?
Have you tried playing it?
Is your faith so weak that you don't think you'd be able to withstand what you probably think will be the "massive satanic forces unleashed" by such a game?
Wave the flag . Hail to the Chief .
I have to prove nothing , I just got off the phone and mentioned how agitated you were getting to the other person about this D&D stuff and the first thing they mentioned was about the deaths that were attributed to this game . You want the facts , you look them up and prove me wrong . You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that . I am not attaking you personally as you have me . Later .
The only thing I'm getting "agitated" about is you spreading lies.
Again, you're the one claiming many people have been killed because of D&D and that it's been all over the news. I simply asked you to prove that. That's pretty fair, don't you think? You make an assertion so you should provide facts to back that up. If it's true it should be pretty easy for you to do, shouldn't it?
Anecdotal evidence from your friends doesn't pass the test here, please provide hard evidence and proof.
But you can't, because it doesn't exist.
I once again refer you to these two sites to start your investigation:
http://www.theescapist.com/faq_myths.htm
http://www.theescapist.com/basic_gaming_faq.htm
Also, I'm not really attacking you, I'm attacking the lies you spread. You might think we're all entitled to our opinion, which we are, but when you start spreading lies I'm not just going to let it slide.
A sad time indeed. I can say that not only have I played the game. But I have read every book that came about cause of the game. I have read just about every series TSR has put out with the other series. Still favorite character of all time from this is though, had nothing to do with D&D. But still love going back to read about, Talin, Flint Fireforge and most of all Fizban.
Thanks to Tracy Hickman and Marget Weis being part of that first group to play all this. Gygax creation will live on.
The world is a bit sadder of a place with the passing of Ernest Gary Gygax. I can still remember creating my first character for a D&D game, only to see him die in his first fight. But I have made numerous friends over a D&D game since then, including some who people would never believe would be the type to play Dungeons & Dragons. It takes all kinds.
May all of Mr. Gygax's rolls be crits in that big D&D game in the Seven Heavens.
As for a better tribute than mine, see Wednesday's edition of the webcomic Order of the Stick here: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html
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Thanks for all the memories Mr. Gygax....
This is truly a sad day. So many years of entertainment gained from this mans brilliance.
I'm casting a saving throw to avoid being a little choked up about his untimely death.
Crap! 6!
:(
RIP Mr. Gygax, you gave us geeks so much...you made the creatures of Tolkein, Mythology, and Nightmares come to life. You spawned countless imitators all the way from Vampire the Masquerade to LARPs. You inspired a new genre that saw its first mainstream glimmer in Final Fantasy and is burning bright in World of Warcraft.