Gone to the big dungeon in the sky

[Swift]

From CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/03/04/obit.gygax.ap/index.html)
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- Gary Gygax, who co-created the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons and helped start the role-playing phenomenon, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva. He was 69.

He had been suffering from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm, said his wife, Gail Gygax.

Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval characters and mythical creatures. The game known for its oddly shaped dice became a hit, particularly among teenage boys, and eventually was turned into video games, books and movies.


Sorry you missed that last saving throw. I had lots of fun thanks to you.

[Doodler]

Never a damned cleric when you need one. The flags over Greyhawk Keep are at half mast.

[Moose]

So long, Gary. Tonight, I will quaff something colorful from the relevant random loot table in your honor.

/ (Hey, if you're not gonna be using that vorpal sword anymore, can I have it?)

[Ilya]

I met Gary Gygax once. Thanks for all the fun all-nighters!

Happy last roll, Master!

[Paul Beardsley]

I've got a job interview tomorrow for a maths teaching job. I've packed my D20s because they often impresses interviewers - I've had job offers partly as a result of them.

It's rather sad to learn that the person who got me into that has died.

[RalofTyr]

"He failed his Saving throw." was my first thought.

[Celestial Mechanic]

Wow! First Brett Favre announces his retirement, and now the passing of Gary Gygax. Two crushing blows in one day! Wisconsin will be draped in black for weeks. But we'll bounce back somehow.

[Ilya]

I wonder if role-playing gaming is one of those "accidental inventions" -- I know there is a specific term for this, but can't remember it. Things which very easily might never have been invented. Tabletop wargames were pretty much inevitable -- and had been around since 19th century. Storytelling and dramatic role-playing were certainly inevitable -- and had been around since prehistory. Computer games* were also inevitable IMO. But the idea of role-playing a statistics-based character -- THAT I think was a purely accidental invention, and we can all thank Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson for it. Of course, once it was invented, expanding the concept from the pseudo-mideaval setting of D&D and into every setting imaginable was easy... but someone had to think of it first.

In any case, if there is an afterlife I hope Gary ends up in Valhalla. Let the drinking begin!

* By "computer games" I mean games that take place in a computer-generated environment, as opposed to computer playing a game such as chess.

[Kadava]

"accidental inventions" -- I know there is a specific term for this, but can't remember it.

Serendipity?

[BigDon]

Man, I can't think of anything to say. I've been playing his game as a refferee for about 32 years. I didn't think I wasgoing to cry, but hey he had a major effect on my life. Most of my extended friend network are gamers or former gamers.

[Jens]

ITabletop wargames were pretty much inevitable -- and had been around since 19th century.

Depending on how you define wargame, you might be able to say the 19th century BC. :) (Well, at least the 6th century BC)

[Noclevername]

Goodbye, Gary. I'm... (rolls dice) ...sad to see you go.

[Maksutov]

So long, Gary.

Hope your next roll (or rôle) is a lucky one!

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7774/gygaxfuturamahc9.th.jpg (http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gygaxfuturamahc9.jpg)

[Swift]

Man, I can't think of anything to say. I've been playing his game as a refferee for about 32 years. I didn't think I wasgoing to cry, but hey he had a major effect on my life. Most of my extended friend network are gamers or former gamers.
I think gamers everywhere need to have a moment of silence, or maybe everyone agrees to make August 1 a Global Gaming Day and we all role one for Gary.

[Sticks]

:(

I still have some AD&D books at home

[Gillianren]

And I just got a new, fancy six-sider Saturday, too. (Olympic Cards & Comics, which also sells a lot of gaming supplies, just moved to their new location; Gaby, the proprietor, had six-siders with the store logo made and was handing them out. She's awfully happy about the whole thing.) I haven't even gotten a chance to use it yet.

I don't play much D&D; I actually prefer GURPS, if you get right down to it. But GURPS has its roots in D&D, too.

[Kaptain K]

Believe it or not, I first learned it from LOLCats

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/dndkittehmorn128491548670347053.jpg

[Swift]

Believe it or not, I first learned it from LOLCats

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/dndkittehmorn128491548670347053.jpg
That photo is obviously fake. Real D&D players would never drink ginger ale.

[korjik]

That photo is obviously fake. Real D&D players would never drink ginger ale.

Old timers. Over the decades I have gone from gallons of Mt Dew to a diet Dr Pepper or two. I could see some going to Ginger Ale. Hey, it cant be all bad it has Ale in the name :)

[KaiYeves]

I think gamers everywhere need to have a moment of silence, or maybe everyone agrees to make August 1 a Global Gaming Day and we all role one for Gary.
Where do I get the dice? I've never played, as I'm not the fantasy type. But I'm all for meaningful observances.

[Fadingstar]

Reading this thread made me hunt out the old dice (sigh). Those were the days when you gamed by the seat of your pants!

[RalofTyr]

I bet he's rolling in is grave right now.

[davidlpf]

I bet he's rolling in is grave right now.
in a twenty sided coffin.

[Moose]

Where do I get the dice? I've never played, as I'm not the fantasy type. But I'm all for meaningful observances.

Your local comic book shop would have some, or would know where to get 'em. Store chains that specialize in things like pool tables and board games often have 'em, (where I got my current set.)

[Mister Earl]

I am... *rolls dice* overjoyed over the news of Gary's death.

Meh... stupid critical failure rolls :(

[Ilya]

I think gamers everywhere need to have a moment of silence, or maybe everyone agrees to make August 1 a Global Gaming Day and we all role one for Gary.

Why August 1? Was that Gary's birthday?

[Swift]

Why August 1? Was that Gary's birthday?
I randomly picked a date that was far enough in the future that one might organize such a thing. I was also hoping someone might suggest an appropriate date, like his birthday, or the launch date of D&D.

His birthday was apparently July 27, so that's one idea.

I also had the idea of June 20 (6/20 or 20/6 depending on your location) to signify a D6 and a D20.

[Noclevername]

Why August 1? Was that Gary's birthday?

August 1st my birthday, actually.

[geonuc]

I also had the idea of June 20 (6/20 or 20/6 depending on your location) to signify a D6 and a D20.

That would be better, I think.

I never played D&D, but have other RPGs.

Gary made a positive contribution to the quality of human existence.

[geonuc]

Where do I get the dice? I've never played, as I'm not the fantasy type. But I'm all for meaningful observances.

There are, of course, online sources, as well. Such as ...

http://www.rpgshop.com/default.php?cPath=_30&

[RalofTyr]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/ultimate_game.png (http://xkcd.com/license.html)

[Kullat Nunu]

Speaking of multifaceted dices, here's one 20-sided dice (http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/06/what-version-of.html).

Only about two millenia older than D&D, used by Romans.

[Kaptain K]

Singular - Die
Plural - Dice

[BigDon]

The Romans used it to play a game whereby they were in a furturistic industrial society. The earliest rules were printed on three small scrolls with titles like "Armies and Industry" "Education and Finance" and "Papers and Passports". It was pretty crappy and died out for two thousand years after all the local forests were cut down to produce the additions, scenarios and expansions.

What!? It's that big wheel o' time thing. Honest. Would a life long Dungeon Master decieve you?

[korjik]

The Romans used it to play a game whereby they were in a furturistic industrial society. The earliest rules were printed on three small scrolls with titles like "Armies and Industry" "Education and Finance" and "Papers and Passports". It was pretty crappy and died out for two thousand years after all the local forests were cut down to produce the additions, scenarios and expansions.

What!? It's that big wheel o' time thing. Honest. Would a life long Dungeon Master decieve you?

:D

[korjik]

The Romans used it to play a game whereby they were in a furturistic industrial society. The earliest rules were printed on three small scrolls with titles like "Armies and Industry" "Education and Finance" and "Papers and Passports". It was pretty crappy and died out for two thousand years after all the local forests were cut down to produce the additions, scenarios and expansions.

What!? It's that big wheel o' time thing. Honest. Would a life long Dungeon Master decieve you?

A little known fact is that the split between the eastern and western empires was actually an unresolvable difference when the IV edition rules were released. :)