Comments on: RIP Gary Gygax

By: Caroline Middlebrook

Caroline Middlebrook — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:32:37 +0000

I’ve never played any of the traditional board RPGs but I’ve been a fan of the online spinoffs like Everquest for many years. I imagine my little gaming career would have been quite different if Gary hadn’t been around.

By: Bats in the Belfry

Bats in the Belfry — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:19:04 +0000

Gary was a great guy. I was fortunate enough to have met Gary and Gail a few times when I was a child. My aunt and her husband were close friends. They were very nice and even gave me a few trolls (still in the packaging) with the solve your own story books.

He is very loved and missed.

By: Rick Cockrum

Rick Cockrum — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:07:48 +0000

I heard about this while I was driving. I immediately called my wife.

We spent hours upon hours playing in the early 80s. We haven’t played in years, but I still have my dice, books, and character sheets for my favorite characters. I wouldn’t give them up for anything. They’re some of those memories that you don’t lose, not because of playing the game per se, but because of the worlds of imagination you build up, the relationships you develop with the people you play, and the effect that role playing has on your day to day personality.

You learn a lot about being you playing a game.

By: Jalaj

Jalaj — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:54:47 +0000

Pray his soul rests in happiness and peace.

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:12:08 +0000

I’ve never played D&D but we’ve all played games that evolved from it. This man is a pioneer.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:51:55 +0000

Seeing Gary Gygax’s name took me back two decades ago when the only enthusiams I had at high school were chasing girls and playing D & D at lunchtime and after school. Thinking about those days has brought back some bittersweet memories.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:34:21 +0000

@Chuck,

I know, I called a few of old D&D buddies and left messages. I haven’t played D&D in at least 15 years but it still hit hard. I have a huge collection of vintage stuff, and I took it out tonight and showed it to my 5-year-old son and I explained to him that the guy who invented many of the concepts he knows from video games died today. I showed him the maps of Greyhawk and Dragonlance and he asked me how you played the game. I told him that you played it entirely in your imagination. He smiled the biggest smile I’ve ever seen and then he asked me if I’d teach him someday. No doubt, I will. Long live the geekdom!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:50:08 +0000

Just found out shortly before reading this . . . and I can’t explain why, but it’s really shaking me up. I think like has been mentioned, even though I don’t play D & D much now it was a huge part of my life growing up as a misfit. Happy trails, Gary.

By: david

david — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:45:06 +0000

“Brought joy to a lot of misfits”–if that were my eulogy I think I would be exceptionally happy.

By: Mark Silver

Mark Silver — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:08:41 +0000

Wow, Steve. Thanks for finding this- I might not have seen it. I spent so much time of my geeky childhood playing D&D- Gary Gygax is such a familiar name, and yet one I haven’t thought of in probably 20-25 years…

Definitely- thanks for the memories Gary- and I hope the adventure you’re on now is the best yet.