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Author Topic: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)  (Read 2494 times)

Offline Alasandril

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Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« on: March 04, 2008, 08:36:10 PM »
Hi Guys,

Don't know if any of you have seen the announcement on the web but Gary Gygax died today.

The general gaming world owe the guy a huge debt of gratitude for inventing the game that started our hobby and being so successful with it.

Without him there probably wouldn't be D&D, TSR, Games Workshop and many other companies.

This is a massive loss to the world of fantasy games.

The man was a legend
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Offline offroadfury88

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2008, 08:44:00 PM »
Yeah, my friend texted me that early this morning.

tis a sad day :oops:
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Offline agent_templar

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2008, 08:47:44 PM »
Damn.  I feel like I should do something tonight to pay my respects.

Offline Von Breden

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2008, 09:15:55 PM »
Damn.  I feel like I should do something tonight to pay my respects.
Play a good game of D&D.

It's too bad I didn't know it earlier.

A very sad day for our community indeed.
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Offline steveb

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2008, 09:34:15 PM »
 I first encountered Gary Gygax when he and Jeff Perrin, of Rockford Illinois, co-wrote and published a set of rules called chainmail. In the back section of the book there was a fantasy section for incorporating fantasy into medieval games. I believ this was a test pilot for D&D, The rules were very interesting and easy to play. I remember going to Lake Geneva and sitting in Gary's basement next to the old furnace where he had his office and talking about fantasy. At the time he was making pencil corrections in the first run of dungeon and dragons booklets, the original 3 in a box, someone else, I believe it was one of his daughters was pasting the labels on the boxes they were put in.  Gary was a very interesting and talented man.  His passing is a loss to his family, the gaming community and the world at large.  My condolences to his son Ernie and his daughters.  steveb

Offline Gneisenau

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2008, 10:36:16 PM »
Thanks, Alasandril. I hadn't seen this.

This man may have influenced the fantasy genre more than anybody else since Tolkien by turning recipients into protagonists. A great idea. While I preferred World of Darkness to D&D, only an idiot wouldn't see the genius behind his creation.

I've no one to do a RPG session with currently, but I guess I'll watch the Futurama-episode that features him to suit the occasion.

"I greet you..." (rolls dice and looks at the result) "...heartily!"

I've always imagined he liked this very much.


Offline Rutgar of Wissenland

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2008, 12:13:27 AM »
 :Ohmy: I'm.....shocked.  I will be gaming tonight with my long standing gaming buddies and I will make sure to toast him.

Offline Resser

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2008, 12:27:09 AM »
Truly sad, slightly too young....

Offline Rufas the Eccentric

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2008, 01:34:41 AM »
A toast to a giant.  :::cheers:::

One can only hope that Heaven has a plentiful supply of dice.
Sigmar on a sling, the stuff some people come up with. . . .

Offline Dendo Star

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2008, 01:37:31 AM »
You know, I have never once played D&D. My friends aren't in the biggest hurry to draft me into a game you see - I want to play a Bard. :-D
I'm in college!

Offline Shadoweyed

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #10 on: March 05, 2008, 01:49:35 AM »
When my gaming group returns from college we shall have a grand toast to Mr. Gary Gygax in the form of a great night of D'n'D.

I tip my hat to a great designer. You got the ball rolling for a great thing.

-Shadoweyed

Offline Bede

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2008, 07:12:15 AM »
The creator of Dungeons and Dragons that led on to so many other games and systems has passed away at his home.

http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4373&mforum=trolllordgames

Offline Shadowlord

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2008, 07:54:15 AM »
I was never really a fan of his works, but there is no denying that he truly was Mr. RPG!

He will be missed.
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Offline Midaski

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #13 on: March 05, 2008, 09:49:58 AM »
The tributes are starting elsewhere .............

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html#

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Offline Captain Tineal

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #14 on: March 05, 2008, 01:17:35 PM »
The tributes are starting elsewhere .............

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html#



That was what alerted me.... for a man that I've never met, I am saddened greatly by his passing.

I missed the first edition of D&D, and only played a little of the 2nd, but it fueled my immagination like nothing else, and I had many good times playing 3rd edition.  If I had somebody to game with, I'd play tonight in his honour.

We've lost an Icon.
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Offline Count Alexander

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #15 on: March 05, 2008, 04:23:11 PM »
May his journey be swift and may Light perpetual shine upon him.

I play D&D all throughout my teenage years and during my time in the military.  There is a void today in my heart.  Gary Gygax gave myself and my friends a way to unleash our imaginations and our love for mythology.  I pray that the legacy that he leaves behind may flourish with the birth of new gamers everywhere.
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Offline Syn Ace

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #16 on: March 05, 2008, 06:21:05 PM »
White Dwarf started out as a D&D mag putting out adventures and such -- and then Citadel miniatures was purchased and started putting out fantasy minis--and from there the Warhammer/40K world/games evolved.  My friend still has the first WD issue.
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Offline Rufas the Eccentric

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2008, 01:43:41 AM »
Sigmar on a sling, the stuff some people come up with. . . .

Offline phillyt

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #18 on: March 06, 2008, 12:00:24 PM »
He will certainly be missed.  I started playing D&D in 1986 with the Basic Edition.  We went up through to the immortal edition then we got 1st.  In 1990 when 2nd came out we loved it!

I still have some of the 1st edition books with good ol' Gary Gygax written on the front.

70 isn't too bad for a guy who spent most of his life sitting on his butt with a hand full of dice :)

Hope I can make it there some day.

Phil
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Offline Obi

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #19 on: March 06, 2008, 12:49:55 PM »
Hello Athiuen and welcome to the Back Table.

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Offline clausewitz

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #20 on: March 06, 2008, 03:42:36 PM »
A hero of mine.  The world lost a touch of magic with his departure.

Gamers everywhere owe him a measure of gratitude, without him the gaming world wouldn't be quite the same.
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Offline wissenlander

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #21 on: March 06, 2008, 05:38:18 PM »
I did not know who he was until this point, which is probably somewhat sacreligious in the gaming world.  However, it is always sad when someone passes away.  It's amazing, the legacy he has created, though.  And we are all indebted to him for bringing joy (and some frustration) into our lives.
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Offline Nix

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #22 on: March 06, 2008, 08:18:56 PM »
D&D is what eventually led me to Warhammer, so I'm doubly grateful to him.

Happy trip over the Planes, Gary!

Offline phillyt

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Re: Death of a Legend (Gary Gygax)
« Reply #23 on: March 07, 2008, 02:27:32 AM »
I did not know who he was until this point, which is probably somewhat sacreligious in the gaming world.  However, it is always sad when someone passes away.  It's amazing, the legacy he has created, though.  And we are all indebted to him for bringing joy (and some frustration) into our lives.

If I hadn't had all those lst edition books with his name emblazoned on the cover I wouldn't have known him either.  I think I am only 5 or 6 years older than you, so I believe that would place me slightly before he stopped his involvment with TSR and you slightly after.  Knowing that, there isn't really anyting you should have known him for.  I for one don't know anyone who was involved with GW when it was founded 25 years ago...

Phil
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