Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsinat the age of 69. Gygax went well beyond the role of game developer and became an icon to gamers.
Gygax designed the original D&D game with Dave Arneson in 1974, and went on to create the Dangerous Journeys and Lejendary Adventure RPGs, as well as a number of board games. He also wrote several fantasy novels.
He will be remembered as the greatest DM of all time by His fans. Gary Gygax's work helped to refine creativity, learning, communication, strategy and logic in a way that few other tools or experiences (including school) were able to accomplish.
I am at a loss for what to say as i am in total shock. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to His wife Gail and to all HIs family and friends. May You rest in the Mother's embrace Gary.
I am putting a few comment from some fans here just to let you know how people really feel about the man.
They're going to wonder at the legions of people in various modes of dress, from lawyers to pimply-faced geeks to Vin Diesel, that will stop by and pour out a tube of dice on his grave.And then they'll realize they have to have someone go out and clear up the piles before they can mow. A lawnmower hitting Gygax's grave will cause a 30' radius spray of polyhedrons, doing from 1d6 to 3d6 damage depending on the horsepower of the mower.
The world has lost a great person! I am one of those that have been loyal since the inception. Even though I haven't rolled the bones in a long while, it seems that in a way the world has just became a little less imaginative. This was a person that greatly influenced a generation to a higher intelligence. The "Game" was always a learning experiment in sociology, It stimulated debate, and greatly sharpened ones ability to complete complex mathmatical equations without pencil or paper ( To not be seen as a rooky ) This is indeed sad news! <50crckt51>
I can't begin to express how much joy D&D has brought me in the few years that I have played it, and a candle burns behind my dice right now. Have fun touring The Planes, Gary - you've earned it. < Cole>
Rest in peace Dungeonmaster. You were a phenomenon... < Katherine>
For those of you that might like to extend condolences to Gary's family, drop an email here InMemoryOfGaryGygax@gmail.com They'll be forwarded to Gail Gygax later on this week. < Jim Hague>
“We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” ~Chuck Palahniuk~
I thought this quote was very fitting because even though the great DM did not live forever He did create something that will.
