A moment of silence for Gary Gygax
by Dave Young · 03/04/2008 (2:09 pm) · 28 comments
This is some of the saddest news I've ever heard:
Gary Gygax dies at 69
When D&D 3rd Edition came out, I stood at GenCon and approached him in his booth at a time when no one was there just to have an extra minute with the man who really did change my life.
When I look back pretty much to age 4 or 5 when I played D&D in the back of a station wagon with a handful of borrowed 6 siders from Monopoly and some loose leaf paper, battling troglodytes and kobolds and lizardmen because I had seen my big brother play with my friends, to the RPG Series Course I am writing, this man has touched my life deeply.
If it wasn't for his contribution and pioneering in role playing games and stirring the pot, crusading for free thinking and one of the greatest recreational past times the world has ever seen, I would probably not be a coder today. I've sat behind thousands of hours of gaming sessions with that raw spirit of adventure and wonderment he instilled in me, and strived to manifest it to my players as a Game Master.
In having discussions with parents as to why D&D was OK for their sons to play, in using it as a therapy tool to walk friends through difficult times, to exploring relationships and building lifelong friendships. I don't think the guy knew how big a ripple in the pond he made.
I really can't understate the impact the man has had on me personally and on our industry. Some of the first computer games were role playing games, in the days when we went down to our local IBM shop to pick up floppy disks of Mines Of Moria and Gorp...
So back to that moment when he gave me a few (forgotten...) words of DM inspiration and signed a book I will now treasure more than ever..
Rest in Peace Gary, you're about to begin the big Monty Haul campaign now. Save a seat at the table for me.
Gary Gygax dies at 69
When D&D 3rd Edition came out, I stood at GenCon and approached him in his booth at a time when no one was there just to have an extra minute with the man who really did change my life.
When I look back pretty much to age 4 or 5 when I played D&D in the back of a station wagon with a handful of borrowed 6 siders from Monopoly and some loose leaf paper, battling troglodytes and kobolds and lizardmen because I had seen my big brother play with my friends, to the RPG Series Course I am writing, this man has touched my life deeply.
If it wasn't for his contribution and pioneering in role playing games and stirring the pot, crusading for free thinking and one of the greatest recreational past times the world has ever seen, I would probably not be a coder today. I've sat behind thousands of hours of gaming sessions with that raw spirit of adventure and wonderment he instilled in me, and strived to manifest it to my players as a Game Master.
In having discussions with parents as to why D&D was OK for their sons to play, in using it as a therapy tool to walk friends through difficult times, to exploring relationships and building lifelong friendships. I don't think the guy knew how big a ripple in the pond he made.
I really can't understate the impact the man has had on me personally and on our industry. Some of the first computer games were role playing games, in the days when we went down to our local IBM shop to pick up floppy disks of Mines Of Moria and Gorp...
So back to that moment when he gave me a few (forgotten...) words of DM inspiration and signed a book I will now treasure more than ever..
Rest in Peace Gary, you're about to begin the big Monty Haul campaign now. Save a seat at the table for me.
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#2
03/04/2008 (2:28 pm)
Amen...not a thing I can add that would be more appropriate other than Rest In Peace. 
#3
I didn't do too well with those guys initially, not knowing the "inner' rules of the game and not really knowing what I was doing. A lot of snickering went on behind my back as I demonstrated my naivety of the game. Eventually I got better at it and went on to play AD&D every Sunday in a hall we hired. Next I went on to Call of Chthulu(not Gygax) and spent many weekends lost in fantasy and role play. It saved me, I would say from a life of shyness and nerdery. I am now a fully fledged outspoken geek instead :) See you in the next adventure Gary.
03/04/2008 (2:31 pm)
Rest in peace Gary - he brought a lot of fun to my childhood. I discovered Dungeons and Dragons when I was in high school and it was an interesting path into games for me. I wanted to play D&D with my mates and I had to earn the rite of passage. They wouldn't tell me how to play, I just turned up every week with my character sheet and tried to glean precious information from them until I 'fit in' - hey I didn't know about the Player's Handbook - sheesh!I didn't do too well with those guys initially, not knowing the "inner' rules of the game and not really knowing what I was doing. A lot of snickering went on behind my back as I demonstrated my naivety of the game. Eventually I got better at it and went on to play AD&D every Sunday in a hall we hired. Next I went on to Call of Chthulu(not Gygax) and spent many weekends lost in fantasy and role play. It saved me, I would say from a life of shyness and nerdery. I am now a fully fledged outspoken geek instead :) See you in the next adventure Gary.
#4
03/04/2008 (2:46 pm)
This is extremely shocking. A moment of silence at least. 
#5
Clear skies Gary.
I got into D&D when I was 12, and haven't looked back over the last 16 years. He provided me with countless hours of fun, and truly gave us the RPG idea.
03/04/2008 (3:10 pm)
/saluteClear skies Gary.
I got into D&D when I was 12, and haven't looked back over the last 16 years. He provided me with countless hours of fun, and truly gave us the RPG idea.
#6
03/04/2008 (3:13 pm)
Thanks Gary. Thanks for all the wonderful adventures and friendships I experienced through your simple set of rules "for Fantastic Medieval Wargames... playable with paper and pencil and miniature figures". 
#7
03/04/2008 (3:24 pm)
Respect to GGygax. RIP. 
#8
I had some of my best gaming moments ever, playing his various games back in the day.
R.I.P.
03/04/2008 (3:27 pm)
Very Sad :( I had some of my best gaming moments ever, playing his various games back in the day.
R.I.P.
#9
03/04/2008 (3:57 pm)
Sad, sad news indeed. 
#10
I was mentioning to dave earlier, its sad that alot of these folks that those age 25-35 grew up with are starting to die, and were loosing a huge portion of our childhood, folks that shaped the world in more ways then you think. you dont think WoW was based on lord of the rings do you.
RIP Gary
03/04/2008 (4:28 pm)
People who dont play DnD but play other games, rpgs and computer games, should realize that this man essentially created the rpg/gaming worlds that you see around you today. He was a remarkable icon. I was mentioning to dave earlier, its sad that alot of these folks that those age 25-35 grew up with are starting to die, and were loosing a huge portion of our childhood, folks that shaped the world in more ways then you think. you dont think WoW was based on lord of the rings do you.
RIP Gary
#11
What Gary and Dave did for the game industry is (IMO) equivalent to what The Beatles did for the music industry. I never had the opportunity to meet Gary, but I was honored to have Dave as my teacher in school.
Rest in peace Gary, and thank you for laying the foundation of my dream.
03/04/2008 (5:04 pm)
I never played a DnD (unless you count a game or two that used a rule set such as Baldur's Gate). However, I recognize and fully appreciate what Gary did for the industry that I have dedicated my life to.What Gary and Dave did for the game industry is (IMO) equivalent to what The Beatles did for the music industry. I never had the opportunity to meet Gary, but I was honored to have Dave as my teacher in school.
Rest in peace Gary, and thank you for laying the foundation of my dream.
#12
03/04/2008 (5:41 pm)
He will be missed... 
#13
Thanks Gary, for so much fun, and imagination.
03/04/2008 (6:33 pm)
Very sad... I got into D&D about the age of 10 until about 15. I remember being absolutely enraptured during some D&D campaigns with my best friend. "Castle Amber" - that was my favorite module.Thanks Gary, for so much fun, and imagination.
#15
I got into D&D when I was about 6 years old...My Aunt had started playing at MIT and had brought it back with her at Christmas...
I still have all my old books...Players handbook was first after the original little box set...that led to 7 more books..tons of Dragon mags....and more......
kept playing all the way through high school...after I got married and my kids got old enough I taught them...just so they could stretch their imagination....and we could spend some time together......
Some people called me a geek because I played...I never cared...That game kept me sane at times and I know I still got the friends I made playing....my sisters friends are all flakes..my wifes are too..they always get blown off...but mine never let me down.....just something the game taught I guess......
03/04/2008 (10:11 pm)
Sad Day indeed.....I got into D&D when I was about 6 years old...My Aunt had started playing at MIT and had brought it back with her at Christmas...
I still have all my old books...Players handbook was first after the original little box set...that led to 7 more books..tons of Dragon mags....and more......
kept playing all the way through high school...after I got married and my kids got old enough I taught them...just so they could stretch their imagination....and we could spend some time together......
Some people called me a geek because I played...I never cared...That game kept me sane at times and I know I still got the friends I made playing....my sisters friends are all flakes..my wifes are too..they always get blown off...but mine never let me down.....just something the game taught I guess......
#16
03/04/2008 (11:18 pm)
Go well Gary, you will be missed, but your contribution won't be forgotten. 
#17
03/04/2008 (11:24 pm)
It's unbelievable how many hours I would spend reading D&D rulebooks, monster manuals, and episodes that I would never even play as a kid. Gary Gygax definitely left his mark on a lot of us. 
#20
03/05/2008 (2:36 am)
Gary Gygax has brought me great momments of dream and fantasy. It is really a sad news.
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