Gary Gygax has passed. RIP beloved father of RPG's. (merged)

[Evilhalfling]

What terrible news.

’T is true,’t is certain; man though dead retains, Part of himself: the immortal mind remains.
Alexander Pope

 

[Jedi_Solo]

My condolences to the Gygax family and all of his friends.

 

[Alzrius]

The most fitting eulogy I could find was this (originally from Knights of the Dinner Table #11):

The Empty Chair
Eulogy for a Gamer

There is an empty chair,
at the table this day.
A hallowed place where,
a friend once played.
The roll of his dice,
my ears long to hear.
Or perhaps it would suffice,
if he should suddenly appear.
With character sheet in hand,
and a bag of Cheeze-doodles to share.
All his friends would stand,
as he sat in the empty chair.
I hear his voice a-callin’,
and it ties my heart in a knot.
For he cries, “Though a comrade has fallen,
You must play for those who cannot.”
We conquered worlds on the run,
he and I in the name of fun.
And as others may come and go,
I make both both friend and foe.
But what I long for most,
is our past now long a ghost.

Goodbye Gary. Thank you for all that you gave.

 

[Wiseblood]

Farewell Gary and good gaming.

 

[DagazUlf]

Safe Journeys, Dungeon Master.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Bit choked up about this, like most people I imagine.

Outside of my immediate family, Gary probably was the single biggest influence in my life, and although I already thanked him for that via some swopped emails its sad to think I'll never get to thank him in person now. Although I suppose no thanks would ever be sufficient for the wonders he has given us all.

Sincerest condolences to his family.

 

[DariusOfCT]

My condolences to the Gygax family. They have my sympathy.

May Gary rest in peace and with the knowledge that he changed the lives of millions.

 

[Krellic]

Three books and a supplement called Greyhawk had an immesurable effect on my life. Let's hope Gary's legacy continues to bring a lot of FUN for decades to come.

Rest in peace.

 

[Mouseferatu]

This is a hell of a thing to wake up to.

I didn't always agree with Gary's theories and ideas about gaming. But I never forgot that, if it weren't for him and Dave Arneson, there wouldn't even be the sort of gaming we disagreed about. Without him, I wouldn't have the only career I can even imagine myself having, because that career wouldn't exist.

When I was first trying to get into this gig, I e-mailed him--out of the blue--for a bit of advice. And he was kind enough to give it.

I could say something appropriately cheesy, like "Welcome to the next adventure" or "Have fun exploring the Great Wheel," but somehow--as much as I think he'd get a kick out of it--it feels a little flippant.

So I think, instead, I'll just say "Thank you."

 

[Father of Dragons]

I started with D&D about when it first came out in 1974. It has been a part of my life for so long I suspect I'd have been an entirely different person without it. In that time Gary has always been there. I didn't know him well, but we had several spates of correspondence over the years. I'll miss him.