Rest In Peace, Dungeon Master*
*headline gacked from news story here, posted in
fanthropology by
dragonscholar, because I can't think of a better way to express it.
Gary Gygax, the creator of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, died today.
He created a genre of fantasy adventure that spawned not only dozens of RPG worlds and spinoffs but also books and movies and more, which are all still alive, well, and bringing joy to millions today. Those of you who play (or have played) already know what I mean when I say this man's creative contributions and influence can hardly be overestimated. For those of you who don't, think of the geeks in your life--how they're always a little out of step with the real world, how their heads are always just a little bit in the clouds. This world--these fantasy/futuristic/historic worlds that Gary Gygax made concrete and accessible to us--is where we are. They are the strange magical places where we can be heroic, where we can be evil geniuses and radiant paladins, and from whence we draw sustenance to deal with real life.
"What's the main difference between the D&D world and this world?" I asked my brother once. "Well," my brother said, "one sucks, and one doesn't."
As I posted elsewhere, I want heroic celebration of this man's life, something befitting a warrior and a mastermind. A blazing funeral pyre, poured out libations and sacrifices to rulers of the Seven Heavens and Nine Hells, raucous drinking and a retelling of all the adventures, to remind ourselves that Gary Gygax still lives on in song and legend . . .
Please see these other tributes as well, here at Penny Arcade and Order of the Stick.
"3d6 six times for your stats. In order."
*sniff*
* * *
And no, Ma, it's not satanic--though there never was a shortage of worry on that count. That's one of the more amusing parts of D&D's history. When I was in 9th grade, I did my research paper (possibly one of the first papers I wrote that had, like, multiple pages) on why D&D encouraged creativity and other desirable mental and imaginative skills, and was emphatically not connected to devil-worship.
. . although I do have a really clear memory of sitting in a circle of players chanting "Demon lord! Demon lord!" But that was because our adventuring party was huge and very strong and we wanted a real challenge. And, if I recall correctly, when we did encounter the Astral Dreadnought (not a demon lord, exactly) we killed it before each of us had even gotten a chance to attack.
Ah! Memories!! Thank you, Mr. Gygax, for everything.
fanthropology by
dragonscholar, because I can't think of a better way to express it.
Gary Gygax, the creator of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, died today.
He created a genre of fantasy adventure that spawned not only dozens of RPG worlds and spinoffs but also books and movies and more, which are all still alive, well, and bringing joy to millions today. Those of you who play (or have played) already know what I mean when I say this man's creative contributions and influence can hardly be overestimated. For those of you who don't, think of the geeks in your life--how they're always a little out of step with the real world, how their heads are always just a little bit in the clouds. This world--these fantasy/futuristic/historic worlds that Gary Gygax made concrete and accessible to us--is where we are. They are the strange magical places where we can be heroic, where we can be evil geniuses and radiant paladins, and from whence we draw sustenance to deal with real life.
"What's the main difference between the D&D world and this world?" I asked my brother once. "Well," my brother said, "one sucks, and one doesn't."
As I posted elsewhere, I want heroic celebration of this man's life, something befitting a warrior and a mastermind. A blazing funeral pyre, poured out libations and sacrifices to rulers of the Seven Heavens and Nine Hells, raucous drinking and a retelling of all the adventures, to remind ourselves that Gary Gygax still lives on in song and legend . . .
Please see these other tributes as well, here at Penny Arcade and Order of the Stick.
"3d6 six times for your stats. In order."
*sniff*
* * *
And no, Ma, it's not satanic--though there never was a shortage of worry on that count. That's one of the more amusing parts of D&D's history. When I was in 9th grade, I did my research paper (possibly one of the first papers I wrote that had, like, multiple pages) on why D&D encouraged creativity and other desirable mental and imaginative skills, and was emphatically not connected to devil-worship.
. . although I do have a really clear memory of sitting in a circle of players chanting "Demon lord! Demon lord!" But that was because our adventuring party was huge and very strong and we wanted a real challenge. And, if I recall correctly, when we did encounter the Astral Dreadnought (not a demon lord, exactly) we killed it before each of us had even gotten a chance to attack.
Ah! Memories!! Thank you, Mr. Gygax, for everything.