Dragon Magazine - 20 years ago

[Monte At Home]

Wow, that was a good issue. I remember it fondly. The article on super heroes inspired me to create a super hero game of my own. Then, about three weeks later a friend bought Villains and Vigilantes and my cobbled together game was quickly forgotten.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

For Wormy's current info, see http://newshound.de.siu.edu/online/stories/storyReader$1382

Several old-timers from TSR have positively ID'd the picture as Tramp.

Holy cow. I don't even know how to react to this. Is anybody trying to get in touch with him? There has to be any number of RPG companies who'd love to get him to illustrate stuff for them.

It's weird; with all the discussion of the various artists from D&D's past since 3e/d20 was released, we've seen only a couple of those guys doing work for recent releases. Surely somebody could afford to hire these guys for a project or two?

 

[Alzrius]

Holy cow. I don't even know how to react to this. Is anybody trying to get in touch with him? There has to be any number of RPG companies who'd love to get him to illustrate stuff for them.

It's weird; with all the discussion of the various artists from D&D's past since 3e/d20 was released, we've seen only a couple of those guys doing work for recent releases. Surely somebody could afford to hire these guys for a project or two?

You're missing the obvious answer. It seems most likely he isn't doing anything game-related because he doesn't want to. From what I've read, he got into a big arguement with someone at Dragon over his comic, at which point he stopped submitting new stuff and dropped out of anything game-related altogether. The guy isn't stupid, he probably could get back into the scene easily if he wanted to. Since he hasn't, its pretty safe to assume he's happier as a cab driver than an artist. It makes no sense to me at all, but its his life.

 

[Grazzt]

...Dave Trampier is working as a cab driver in Carbondale, Illinois. Don't want anything to do with gaming, gamers, or art. Kinda sad, really, unless he's truly happy.

Actually, he has since moved on. He is no longer at the cab company in Carbondale. Not that I know where he is mind you, I just know he isn't there anymore.

 

[Moxie]

I loved the two-page Wormy where the imp (Irving I think) is having a dream that he is wandering in Hyborea (sp?) and is freezing, he then meets a winged centauress. He wakes up and finds the fire he has been sleeping in has burned down to embers. Very nice.

Thaumaturge, I still have to laugh...

 

[Dr. NRG]

Anyone out there get the lifetime subscription to Dragon way back when? I remember thinking that if I'd had $200, I would've done it. I'm just curious if people who did are still getting Dragon on that subscription today...

 

[ColonelHardisson]

You're missing the obvious answer. It seems most likely he isn't doing anything game-related because he doesn't want to. From what I've read, he got into a big arguement with someone at Dragon over his comic, at which point he stopped submitting new stuff and dropped out of anything game-related altogether. The guy isn't stupid, he probably could get back into the scene easily if he wanted to. Since he hasn't, its pretty safe to assume he's happier as a cab driver than an artist. It makes no sense to me at all, but its his life.

Yes, I've heard this all before, but this is the first time any concrete evidence of the guy has turned up in gaming circles for a long time. There is a whole different industry now, with new people. Sure, he could check into it, but what if he hasn't, and still assumes the people he fell out with are still the ones running things? What if he's unaware of his status as almost a cult figure in D&D? The guy's work showed an obvious love of what he was doing, so I doubt he stopped doing his art. Getting paid for a few projects now might be gravy for him. What if he is simply unaware of how fondly he's remembered by so many fans? I think it all bears looking into by any number of d20 companies.

And if he is aware of all this, then I guess the matter is finished. Twenty years is a long time to stay mad, though...

 

[grodog]

Scott---

Had you also tried to get in touch with him? GMTA