Co-Creator of Dungeons & Dragons dies at 69.
(Alternate Titles: "Gygax rolls a 1, failing his saving throw vs. death" / "Gygax Departs Prime Material Plane at 69, last seen pursuing Tiefling through doorway")
Farewell, Mr Gygax.
Whilst I haven't done the "Pen and Paper / Tabletop" thing in years, were it not for your work creating Dungeons & Dragons, CRPG's like Nethack, Angband, Planescape: Torment, the Baldur's Gate series and not forgetting the classic Gold Box AD&D series would likely never have eventuated in the forms that helped shape my love for videogames and continue to steer the vision of my own pet project. Let's not go forgetting that Dragonlance was created as an AD&D setting, either.
I still remember my primary school having the original four coloured boxed sets, and borrowing them at the tender age of 9 to take home, read the rulebooks and marvel over the odd shaped dice. I never actually played the original D&D games, starting on AD&D after playing some of the Gold Box computer series, but I knew the rules like the back of my hand.
I'd like to blame you for the fact that I'm such a nerd, for all those hours I spent poring over Players Handbooks, Dungeon Master's Guides, Monster Manuals and the various gameworld sourcebooks that arose out of the AD&D period, but I think we know it's not really your fault. It's just the way I rolled - natural 20's all the way.
Never met you, never knew you. I still feel compelled to say thanks for the good times.
Farewell, Mr Gygax.
Whilst I haven't done the "Pen and Paper / Tabletop" thing in years, were it not for your work creating Dungeons & Dragons, CRPG's like Nethack, Angband, Planescape: Torment, the Baldur's Gate series and not forgetting the classic Gold Box AD&D series would likely never have eventuated in the forms that helped shape my love for videogames and continue to steer the vision of my own pet project. Let's not go forgetting that Dragonlance was created as an AD&D setting, either.
I still remember my primary school having the original four coloured boxed sets, and borrowing them at the tender age of 9 to take home, read the rulebooks and marvel over the odd shaped dice. I never actually played the original D&D games, starting on AD&D after playing some of the Gold Box computer series, but I knew the rules like the back of my hand.
I'd like to blame you for the fact that I'm such a nerd, for all those hours I spent poring over Players Handbooks, Dungeon Master's Guides, Monster Manuals and the various gameworld sourcebooks that arose out of the AD&D period, but I think we know it's not really your fault. It's just the way I rolled - natural 20's all the way.
Never met you, never knew you. I still feel compelled to say thanks for the good times.