9-5 Gaming: Master Gygax

or: gamers don't actually go to hell

from JoeUser Forums

On Tuesday March 4th 2008 Gary Gygax passed at the age of 69.

Some have remembered him as the father of role-playing games. Those some are correct, he was.


The first dungeon, basement, dork of us all created what has now been known as GenCon 0. 20 people he put in the basement to try out some games he had written and developed. This took place in 1967. GenCon celebrated that event the next year on the same date. If you don't know what GenCon is stop reading this now and never look back.


If you clicked on this knowing who Gygax was and wondered what I had to say about it then you are pretty close, even though you are not supposed to be reading this far.

The reason he is the father of RPGs and not Tolkien or even his partner Don Kaye is due to consistency. Tolkien gave us some of the most memorable stories ever that became the basis of RPG story telling. Kaye helped Gygax build the foundations that would allow the most imaginative people out there better live their dreams and fantasies. Gygax adopted these young ideas, got them through the angsty teen years, and put them through College. They have since grown up and had kids of their own who are having their own kids that are even more socially acceptable than decades ago when this all first started. LoTR (again if you don't know this one and are still reading it is your presence that wakes me in a cold sweat at night) is now main stream. You can argue because it is a great story telling. I will tell you it is because visionaries like Peter Jackson have a twenty sided die hidden on thier person most times of the week.

Gygax will be missed greatly. Like any father he wasn't always right (see Isle of the Ape) but he nurtured us and took care of us the best he knew how (see The Temple of Elemental Evil). For a moment here you might say that I am still poking fun but in the end I have great respect and admiration for his works. I will miss him.

As one small side note from a dork gamer to the "real" world. Should a scoff or a snicker come out of you at any part of the news of his passing, or the mention of D&D remember this:

Despite your accomplishments it is a fairly good chance that 4.7 million people won't remember you so fondly when you are gone. That number is only growing too.


Thanks Dad.


Alex

My Chi is remembered by only three at all times.

gaming
5,478 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Having roled my share of 1d20 and volunteered as medic support for GenCon in Milwaukee, I feel not only qualified to read your entire post, but comment also. ;~D

Gary Gygax may not be a household name, but there are few households where his legacies can't be found.

Not many people can honestly say they invented an entire genre.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've DM'ed countless people through countless campaigns for many years. And although my playing stopped, my love for the game that Gary made never has.

I have all of my original books, many of the modules, and picked up the 2nd edition just to check it out many years ago. I have my dice stowed away - along with plenty of memories. I don't know how many hours I spent in middle school, high school, college, and after college playing Dungeons & Dragons. The adventures and places in my imagination that I visited will never go away.

Whether it be the halls of Valhalla, the caverns of Arcadia, the cogs of Nirvana, the black hills of Hades, or just plain ol' heaven - take care and happy adventuring, Mr. Gygax.
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Para I am pretty sure you are more than qualified, frankly far more than me. I didn't mean for that to be an elitist rant on how some can mourn and others can't. I apologize to any whom thought that.

It's a sad day and a sad week. This Saturday I am drinking and Nerding out just as hard as I can in tribute.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
9-5: No problem, I didn't take it as an "elitist" thing, but I know that Gary Gygax is only a household name in certain households. So I took it more as an invitation for those who not only know the name, but have played the game. ;~D

I wrote my own tribute to him. Glad to see someone else did too.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
En Espirito Santo Pax Gary Gygax.

I have played and DMed, as well as written modules from scratch (try doing this on a weekly basis!).