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Gary Gygax Dies

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Hengst2404
Copy Clerk
Posts: 117
Joined: 29 Aug 2007

Well, I cannot think of a man who embodies the spirit of games, at least Role Playing games more than Gary Gygax, one of the creative minds behind Dungeons and Dragons and countless other RPG staples like GURPS. I am just trying to imagine how different RPGs would have been if not for a man like Gary. A sad day indeed.

Malygris
News Room Contributor
Posts: 4911
Joined: 12 Nov 2002

Gary Gygax Dies

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Gary Gygax, famous as the co-creator of the legendary fantasy RPG Dungeons & Dragons, has died.

His passing was first reported on the Troll Lord Games forums. Details of the cause of death were not released, but CNN noted that he had been struggling with ill health for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm, and had suffered strokes in 2004.

Gygax was involved with gaming for most of his life, forming the International Federation of Wargamers in 1966 and then in 1967 holding a small get-together of tabletop gamers in his basement that would eventually become known as the first Gen Con. But he would become best known for founding a company called Tactical Studies Rules, better known as TSR, and publishing the original Dungeons & Dragons in 1974. D&D would go on to become the prototypical tabletop role-playing game, spawning countless imitators across numerous genres and becoming a cultural touchstone for an entire generation. Gygax left TSR in 1985, going on to create to create new tabletop gaming systems Dangerous Journeys in 1992, and Lejendary Adventure in 1999.

Gygax is survived by his wife, Gail, and six children. He was 69.

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TheNecroswanson
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3806
Joined: 29 Nov 2007

Dungeons and Christwagons. (Thanks RAB)
An Epic game where the only way to gain eexperience is to confess your sins to the Inquisition. No dragons, as Satan took the form of a dragon in his battle against Michael, so rememebr all you little sinners, Dragons are all Satan. And this game even contains a PHB, DMG, and MM all in one book. It's called the Bible ye heathens.

God could you imagine? Gary Gigax must have been a genious to avert that monstrousity.
And why does it say RIP? Did he die!?

Sniper_Zegai
Muckraker
Posts: 244
Joined: 8 Jan 2008

A true pioneer of gaming, who knows what the world of gaming would be like today if not for him. Probably less L.A.R.P's going on but still.

Rest in peace dude.

Hengst2404
Copy Clerk
Posts: 117
Joined: 29 Aug 2007

Sorry, yes Gary was announced dead today at 69. He had been in failing health for some time, numerous strokes, etc.

TheNecroswanson
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3806
Joined: 29 Nov 2007

Good age to go, bad that he went. (Heh, derp, i dun made pen1s joke.) Atleast, well, atleast he'll never have to see any more mindless destruction that Wizards implements on his game.

Jack Sheehan
Copy Clerk
Posts: 57
Joined: 16 Oct 2007

Thats a real pity. Rest in Peace.

Joe
Staff Emeritus
Posts: 1124
Joined: 7 Jul 2006

Roll one out for your homie.

(I got an 11.)

krysalist
News Room Contributor
Posts: 150
Joined: 22 Aug 2007

So much for his saving throw.

(14)

Spinwhiz
Brand Manager
Posts: 777
Joined: 8 Oct 2007

That's a bummer! *gets out dice* Rolled a 17.

I wonder what will happen at the Con this year for him?

Chimaera
Research Manager
Posts: 143
Joined: 28 Oct 2005

Definitely sad news.

(12)

tendo82
Section Editor
Posts: 317
Joined: 30 Nov 2007

Whoa, dice joke overload. Easy now.

TheNecroswanson
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3806
Joined: 29 Nov 2007

He shalt be missed.

I rolled a 1.

Joe
Staff Emeritus
Posts: 1124
Joined: 7 Jul 2006

tendo82:
Whoa, dice joke overload. Easy now.

No joke, man. What better way to observe his passing than by taking part in something he helped create?

krysalist
News Room Contributor
Posts: 150
Joined: 22 Aug 2007

tendo82:
Whoa, dice joke overload. Easy now.

This is a wake, my friend. What's your dice joke going to be?

sammyfreak
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1550
Joined: 5 Dec 2007

Peace be upon him.
(2)

Malygris
News Room Contributor
Posts: 4911
Joined: 12 Nov 2002

Mountain Dew and Cheetos for supper tonight.

(6)

razor
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3022
Joined: 3 Mar 2004

I'd like to ask him if there are any girls there.

(4)

tendo82
Section Editor
Posts: 317
Joined: 30 Nov 2007

Joe:
No joke, man. What better way to observe his passing than by taking part in something he helped create?

Fair enough. D20's did blow my mind when I first saw them.

(18)

Archon
CEO & Publisher
Posts: 479
Joined: 12 Nov 2002

I'm suddenly feeling the great injustice of our society that the passing of Anna Nicole Smith will get far more press and publicity than the passing of Gary Gygax, who helped pioneer wargaming, role-playing gaming, gaming conventions, and gamer culture, and taught us what glaive, polyhedral, chaotic, myrmidon, and initiative meant. Is there any doubt that the work fo TSR in the '70s paved the way for the blossoming of video games in the '80s and '90s?

I demand an E! True Hollywood Story.

(11)

Nerdfury
Beat Writer
Posts: 144
Joined: 2 Feb 2008

Poor Gary. Having his surname mispelled by n00bs, even after death.

Ith
Paperboy
Posts: 19
Joined: 28 Feb 2008

Too early for 'saving throw' jokes?

slipgate_warrior
Anonymous Source
Posts: 5
Joined: 31 Oct 2007

It is sad that I only recently knew that he held gaming sessions at his house.

R.I.P dude

(14)

Rykan
Anonymous Source
Posts: 10
Joined: 5 Mar 2008

A sad, sad loss.

(18)

TomNook
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 920
Joined: 21 Feb 2008

That sucks.
(7)

TheNecroswanson
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3806
Joined: 29 Nov 2007

I don't think so. I think he would have enjoyed them a little.

I'm actually attending a D&D tomarrow, I think I shall remember to give him a moment of silence.

tendo82
Section Editor
Posts: 317
Joined: 30 Nov 2007

Unfortunately Gary Gygax was not blonde, female, or a train wreck. These, of course, being the elements that comprise the formula for a killer media send-off. That said, we can all take comfort in the fact that his deep influence on pop culture will undoubtedly outlast the flavor of the week that was Anna Nicole Smith.

General Ma Chao
Beat Writer
Posts: 186
Joined: 2 Jan 2008

The Wizard I am making for a session this weekend will be named Gygax in his honor. RIP Mr. Gygax and thank you for the hours of fun and creative entertainment you helped to bring us.

6

Virgil
IT Director
Posts: 1006
Joined: 13 Jun 2002

Archon:
Is there any doubt that the work of TSR in the '70s paved the way for the blossoming of video games in the '80s and '90s?

None at all. D&D provided inspiration for Adventure, eventually leading to both the Rogue-likes (down to modern versions like Diablo) and the near-defunct old-school Adventure genre. D&D spawned the Gold Box games, the Ultimas, and western RPGs in general. D&D was the grandfather of JRPGs, being console-targeted versions of the early western RPGs. And D&D was a primary inspiration for MUDs, leading straight to MMORPGs, as an attempt to capture the multiplayer experience of D&D sessions.

In many ways, Gygax is to computer games what Tolkien is to the fantasy genre.

(19)

Razzle Bathbone
Press Junketeer
Posts: 385
Joined: 12 Sep 2007

Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson were to gaming what Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were to comics.

Thanks, Gary. I'll always be grateful for what you've helped to create.

(1)

wilsonscrazybed
Red Guard
Posts: 1789
Joined: 16 Dec 2007

there is a news article on the front page where this can be discussed.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.55260

Saskwach
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 2144
Joined: 4 Nov 2007

Forget mass media, I just hope that the gaming community notes his passing. It would be truly sad if that didn't happen.

(9. Really hoping for a twenty :( )

Saskwach
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 2144
Joined: 4 Nov 2007

General Ma Chao:
I'm naming the Wizard I just created for a weekend session Gygax in his honor.

Now I'll do it too. Thanks for the idea.
Edit: Someone please edit the title to get his name right. I mean come on.

jezcentral
Copy Clerk
Posts: 57
Joined: 6 Nov 2007

5 (but I only had a d6). He filled the chasm between the Ataru 2600 and the PC, and was the cause of several friendships of mine.

Spinwhiz
Brand Manager
Posts: 777
Joined: 8 Oct 2007

There is a bigger post of this on the news thread if you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.55260

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