StormbringerAUS
Explorer
How much influence on GaryG and his friends on the original D&D I don't know but some things (especially Rangers) seem to point to at least a little to moderate. But other influences are without a doubt important as well.
As to D&D itself, well it would not have gotten off the ground and continue to thrive without the players and huge numbers of us have been hugely influenced and may not have gotten into the game with it. For me this is true without a shadow of a doubt, I wanted to be Aragorn or Thorin or Gandalf and not just read about them and this gave me the chance to do so.
Later of course I wanted to be Elric or the Grey Mouser but for me without Tolkien I never would have found them or D&D.
As to D&D itself, well it would not have gotten off the ground and continue to thrive without the players and huge numbers of us have been hugely influenced and may not have gotten into the game with it. For me this is true without a shadow of a doubt, I wanted to be Aragorn or Thorin or Gandalf and not just read about them and this gave me the chance to do so.
Later of course I wanted to be Elric or the Grey Mouser but for me without Tolkien I never would have found them or D&D.