UPDATE: Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Dave Arneson lost a long battle against cancer last night.
The Escapist expresses its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Dave Arneson.
In his youth, Arneson was fond of wargaming, specifically naval wargames. As a student of history, Arenson combined his passion for gaming with historical events, frequently running "what-if" scenarios for famous battles of ages past. His love for tabletop gaming led him to a fateful meeting at Gen Con in August 1969, where he met a young man named Gary Gygax.
Together with Gygax, Arneson was responsible for co-creating the influential tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, with the first edition published in 1974. While Gygax and Arenson would eventually part ways, their work would pave the way for hundreds of tabletop RPGs - and did more to popularize and define the modern High Fantasy setting than virtually anyone since J.R.R. Tolkien.
Arneson would go on to focus development on his own Blackmoor tabletop campaign, and later became a teacher of a game design course at Full Sail until he retired last year.
Since suffering a stroke in 2002, Arneson's health declined, and he struggled with cancer - a condition which suddenly worsened late last week, when he checked into a hospital with a "poor" prognosis. After some confusion with conflictingreports on the 7th, Arneson lost his fight against cancer last night with family at his side. Gygax himself passed away last March.
Sources close to the man have confirmed the sad news. "Dave Arneson, who I had the pleasure to finally meet in 2004, was a titan of creativity. His contribution to the creation of role-playing games, and through them the entire ecosystem of CRPGs, MUDs, and MMOs that grew from them, was immeasurable. The game industry would not be the same today without his work," said Alexander Macris, publisher of The Escapist.
Assuming he's actually even dead. There aren't any sources I'd call reliable, and even the sources in question are basically saying 'I heard from somebody'...
I very briefly met Mr. Arneson at one of the GenCons I attended, but alas I was volunteering at a booth and couldn't spend much time with him. I guess that was my only opportunity... but at least I said, "Hi".
Hankage: Assuming he's actually even dead. There aren't any sources I'd call reliable, and even the sources in question are basically saying 'I heard from somebody'...
hopeneverdies: Even though I never played DD I thought well that was sad. Then, suddenly he's not dead. Maybe you should double check before depressing the fans.
This was our double check. The original post made it very clear that we were waiting on a confirmation before we could tell for sure. :)
Nah, it was definitely a 3... just forgot to add his circumstance bonus for being in a hospice, making an additional will save, and being an epic-level game designer. It happens all the time, just go back a round and keep going like you never made the mistake...
Nah, it was definitely a 3... just forgot to add his circumstance bonus for being in a hospice, making an additional will save, and being an epic-level game designer. It happens all the time, just go back a round and keep going like you never made the mistake...
See, the most experience I have with DnD is Neverwinter Nights.
Nah, it was definitely a 3... just forgot to add his circumstance bonus for being in a hospice, making an additional will save, and being an epic-level game designer. It happens all the time, just go back a round and keep going like you never made the mistake...
See, the most experience I have with DnD is Neverwinter Nights.
I apologize, Max. I cannot respect you anymore.
I was afraid that Arneson really had passed for a second there. I mean, I can't celebrate two weeks in the year where I wear nothing but black and play D&D for at least two hours a day.
I was afraid that Arneson really had passed for a second there. I mean, I can't celebrate two weeks in the year where I wear nothing but black and play D&D for at least two hours a day.
Completely understandable. I actually thought about playing the real game, or DMing or whatever, mostly because I like to tell stories, but I'm not sure I want to be that nerdy. Also this is Florida. DnD players get burned right along with the blacks and the gays.
Ooh, yeah. That's an official source: 'I heard from some guy I know that spoke to his daughter.'
The family announced to friends this morning that Dave Arneson passed away last night, with his family by his side.
I feel no great need to prove anything to anybody here, save that now the Escapist is causing even more hurt and confusion amongst those who knew and loved Dave, with the "Dave Arneson is thankfully still with us" update as the latest it has on the story.
To the facts: This morning, Dave's daughter phoned two friends of mine - Rick Loomis and Mike Stackpole - with the sad news. Rick and Mike then informed others in the industry.
I realize the Escapist has more reason than ever after yesterday to double-check its sources, but for the sake of family and friends, please hurry up and do so.
Dave was truly a wonderful person, gracious and kind, and really doesn't deserve this.
Kovalic: [quote="Hankage" post="7.105716.1720550"]I realize the Escapist has more reason than ever after yesterday to double-check its sources, but for the sake of family and friends, please hurry up and do so.
I agree this whole back-and-forth is rather disturbing, but I highly doubt Dave's family and friends are watching the Escapist website for news about him.
Kovalic: [quote="Hankage" post="7.105716.1720550"]I realize the Escapist has more reason than ever after yesterday to double-check its sources, but for the sake of family and friends, please hurry up and do so.
I agree this whole back-and-forth is rather disturbing, but I highly doubt Dave's family and friends are watching the Escapist website for news about him.
No, but many are still being bugged by people who read this, who assume Dave is still alive and in Hospice.
If you Google Dave Arneson, this article is the second one to come up, and has been most of the day, after only the Wiki one. Which is good news for the Escapist, but bad for people trying to pay their respects.
Kovalic: [quote="Hankage" post="7.105716.1720550"]I realize the Escapist has more reason than ever after yesterday to double-check its sources, but for the sake of family and friends, please hurry up and do so.
I agree this whole back-and-forth is rather disturbing, but I highly doubt Dave's family and friends are watching the Escapist website for news about him.
No, but many are still being bugged by people who read this, who assume Dave is still alive and in Hospice.
If you Google Dave Arneson, this article is the second one to come up, and has been most of the day, after only the Wiki one. Which is good news for the Escapist, but bad for people trying to pay their respects.
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R.I.P., Dave Arneson [UPDATE]
UPDATE: Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Dave Arneson lost a long battle against cancer last night.
The Escapist expresses its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Dave Arneson.
In his youth, Arneson was fond of wargaming, specifically naval wargames. As a student of history, Arenson combined his passion for gaming with historical events, frequently running "what-if" scenarios for famous battles of ages past. His love for tabletop gaming led him to a fateful meeting at Gen Con in August 1969, where he met a young man named Gary Gygax.
Together with Gygax, Arneson was responsible for co-creating the influential tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, with the first edition published in 1974. While Gygax and Arenson would eventually part ways, their work would pave the way for hundreds of tabletop RPGs - and did more to popularize and define the modern High Fantasy setting than virtually anyone since J.R.R. Tolkien.
Arneson would go on to focus development on his own Blackmoor tabletop campaign, and later became a teacher of a game design course at Full Sail until he retired last year.
Since suffering a stroke in 2002, Arneson's health declined, and he struggled with cancer - a condition which suddenly worsened late last week, when he checked into a hospital with a "poor" prognosis. After some confusion with conflicting reports on the 7th, Arneson lost his fight against cancer last night with family at his side. Gygax himself passed away last March.
Sources close to the man have confirmed the sad news. "Dave Arneson, who I had the pleasure to finally meet in 2004, was a titan of creativity. His contribution to the creation of role-playing games, and through them the entire ecosystem of CRPGs, MUDs, and MMOs that grew from them, was immeasurable. The game industry would not be the same today without his work," said Alexander Macris, publisher of The Escapist.
Game on, Mr. Arneson. Requiescat in pace.
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