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How Gary Gygax lost control of D&D
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<blockquote data-quote="wlmartin" data-source="post: 6348704" data-attributes="member: 6679380"><p>I am sorry if i come across as defensive.</p><p></p><p>I do think there are certain creative innovators that come up with something that is so different that there is a good chance someone else would not have come up with it themselves.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Invention stories are often plagued with many people inventing something and the credit going to the one that patents it or gets there first getting the credit.</p><p></p><p>I don't think there was anyone working on roleplaying games at the time of D&D so I don't think it was a case of D&D pipping anyone to the post.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I do believe that the concept of tabletop roleplaying games was born from the early D&D games and without D&D I really don't think RPGs would have taken off.</p><p></p><p>Its like anything, there will be a small section of the world devoted to something so niche that no-one could think it was worthwhile but maybe half a dozen people. The second those people develop interest in it and enough people catch on.. then its out there and if it is creative enough to be dissimilar from anything else then it creates a genre (rather than mimicking one or fitting into an existing one)</p><p></p><p>This is what happened with D&D. It started small with a unique idea, picked up steam and an entire community and gaming concept was built around it.</p><p></p><p>Do I say it is impossible someone else would have come up with the idea.. no, but even if it was delayed by 10 or 20 years, the evolution of the game would not be anywhere close to what it is now and worse still, with the advent of globalization, it could have diluted the concept and fractured support for it.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I just dont think the "pfft, someone else would have come up with it if Gygax didn't" just doesn't hold water because</p><p>a) It would have likely taken much much longer</p><p>b) It would not have evolved into the same beast it is now</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="wlmartin, post: 6348704, member: 6679380"] I am sorry if i come across as defensive. I do think there are certain creative innovators that come up with something that is so different that there is a good chance someone else would not have come up with it themselves. Invention stories are often plagued with many people inventing something and the credit going to the one that patents it or gets there first getting the credit. I don't think there was anyone working on roleplaying games at the time of D&D so I don't think it was a case of D&D pipping anyone to the post. I do believe that the concept of tabletop roleplaying games was born from the early D&D games and without D&D I really don't think RPGs would have taken off. Its like anything, there will be a small section of the world devoted to something so niche that no-one could think it was worthwhile but maybe half a dozen people. The second those people develop interest in it and enough people catch on.. then its out there and if it is creative enough to be dissimilar from anything else then it creates a genre (rather than mimicking one or fitting into an existing one) This is what happened with D&D. It started small with a unique idea, picked up steam and an entire community and gaming concept was built around it. Do I say it is impossible someone else would have come up with the idea.. no, but even if it was delayed by 10 or 20 years, the evolution of the game would not be anywhere close to what it is now and worse still, with the advent of globalization, it could have diluted the concept and fractured support for it. I just dont think the "pfft, someone else would have come up with it if Gygax didn't" just doesn't hold water because a) It would have likely taken much much longer b) It would not have evolved into the same beast it is now [/QUOTE]
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