RIP Gary Gygax

[insomniac]

Hey. I've been off the site for a while, and I'm sorry for that--been a move, a job, a lot of things taking up time I've been meaning to spend getting back into the game here.

What got me to finally come post here was that I learned that Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and father of the role-playing hobby, passed away this morning at the age of 69.

Without the hobby he made, I cannot imagine much about my life, or my friends, that would not have been deeply different. I started playing these silly make-believe games at the age of nine and never stopped. I never met the man, but I owe him a lot.

Somewhere in Elysium, a god of gaming has come home. (Because no tribute to Gygax would be complete without being embarrassingly geeky.)

RIP Mr. Gygax, and my condolances to his family and friends.

[Uathach Blackmantle]

Here here.

RIP Mr Gygax, and thankyou for helping to create a game that has brought so much joy to so many fans of fantasy world wide. Your famil and friends have my condolences.

[exile]

I've held off posting here until now because I honestly didn't know what I could say. When a pop icon dies, it’s always difficult to know what the appropriate response is. These are people who have affected us indirectly for years, been welcomed into our homes and made a part of our lives even if they possess no knowledge of it. Gary Gygax was not a typical pop icon, but then I would guess none of you reading this message are typical either.

And I’m happy about that.

At the very least I can say that if Mr. Gygax had not created his game, it is unlikely any of us would have met online. For this rich and dynamic story which makes my days more exciting and for the many interactions we’ve had outside of ‘character’ I am thankful.

[celticguy]

Order of the Stick has a memorial as well. I'd post a direct link but I can't access the site right now.

[Niemz]

I think it's cool he was still DM'ing at age 69!

[Stix]

Honestly, Niemz, you don't think you would be?