Interesting post over at Grognardia today regarding Gail Gygax

[Ranger REG]

True, but at least having a date for a date would help with knowing how long folks will need to be patient---it can only help, if providing such a thing is do-able at all at this point.

Meh. When it comes to RPG products, I'd rather they do a thorough job even if it takes years, over getting a half-assed rushed job product just because one has to meet a deadline and actually worth no more than a dime than its current sticker price.

Regardless if the material existed, perhaps still in note forms, that's up to Gail to do with her husband's stuff, the stuff she inherited upon his death.

 

[Treebore]

I'm honestly sorry that you had needy, ungreatful, unreasonable customers — but choosing to become one of those customers because things didn't work out for you does not seem to be a very spiritual choice. Perhaps, instead, you could show Gail Gygax the respect and consideration that you wish your own customers had shown you?

No, I came to accept that business is business, and personal is personal, and learned that the two are separate. I also learned that if I wanted happy customers I had better be responsive. Leave them in the dark and they leave.

Like I said above, I now realize what I want, and the fact I can't have it. Gary is no longer here to write for me, and I have finally come to accept that.

Now if Gail's company creates a product worth buying, I'll buy it. I won't be buying it because it has Gary's name on it. Gary is gone, and only he can create and write like he did. I don't want imitations, good or poor. So I have all I am going to have from Gary.

So Gails company will have to stand on their quality, Gary's name will have no impact on me any longer.

 

[JohnRTroy]

I won't be buying it because it has Gary's name on it. Gary is gone, and only he can create and write like he did. I don't want imitations, good or poor.

Well, there are unpublished manuscripts that are 100% Gary. I hope we can see The Key of Sand, Maladicted Plateau, and Well of Souls. I hope Gygax Games can get Gary's chess variants book published as well.

In other words, don't assume everything published by Gygax Games is interpreted through a co-author. Castle Zagyg, yes, that will be true. But there's other stuff Gary had that just hasn't seen print yet.

I will gladly confirm whether or not future Gygax Games products are "pure Gary" based on my own knowledge, if anybody is skeptical.

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Well, under the circumstances, Mrs. Gygax doesn't *need* to "run a business" or do much of anything--if she so chose. She has every right to grieve; every right to retire; every right to not do *anything* with Gary's IP's.

Having said that--she seems to be moving in some direction to have Gary's IP's developed further. Who, or what company she selects for this task is also entirely up to her. When they produce anything, and what form it takes--is also in many ways entirely up to her. *SHE* is Gary's wife. *SHE* is the sole owner of everything that belongs to Gary Gygax. She will do what she feels is best.

As a customer, and fan of Gary Gygax of many years now--for myself, I am content. Gary gave us the gift of his imagination--which we have to this day as D&D, among other works. That is enough.

This game is not the most important thing in life. AT ALL. Mrs. Gygax has nearly 30 years of marriage with him, children to love, family to console, a home to look to--and many other things, all in addition to her own wrenching, agonizing soul and grief over the loss of her dear husband.

If Mrs. Gygax orders something produced of Gary's works, so that yet still another gift can be given to the public?

Outstanding. I look forward to it greatly!

If Mrs. Gygax chose to do nothing, but retire and let Gary's legacy remain as it is--like a bright star shooting across the sky, to shimmer in the silence of Gary's passing...

That, too, is ok. I respect Gary Gygax and honour his contributions and memory, to accept that that would be enough.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[Treebore]

Well, there are unpublished manuscripts that are 100% Gary. I hope we can see The Key of Sand, Maladicted Plateau, and Well of Souls. I hope Gygax Games can get Gary's chess variants book published as well.

In other words, don't assume everything published by Gygax Games is interpreted through a co-author. Castle Zagyg, yes, that will be true. But there's other stuff Gary had that just hasn't seen print yet.

I will gladly confirm whether or not future Gygax Games products are "pure Gary" based on my own knowledge, if anybody is skeptical.

True. Unfortunately I am not a fan of Gary's novels. I tried out the Gord series and found it lacking, so do not feel a need to try out any more of his novels. For me its all about the role playing games, the memories his works gave me and am sure they will continue to create for me.

Still, I only bought and tried LA because it had his name on it and a lot of his flavor, but I still think the LA system sucks, so despite having his name on it, and being written by him, I didn't buy any more, just like I did with Mythus.

So I was never a fan who bought it because his name on it, well I was, but I only kept buying more if I liked it. With Mythus, LA, and his Gord novels I felt no desire to buy more. With Castle Zagyg I did. With his World Builder series I did.

So for me Gygax Games will be just another RPG company. They won't have any favoritism shown to them by me because of Gary's name. I'll have to hear others say how good or bad their Castle Zagyg is before I will check it out. I will no longer buy it sight unseen. So if they do good work I'll buy it, but if not I won't. If Gary wrote it I would buy it sight unseen and decide for myself. Now if people say it is crap like they said about Yggsburgh I won't buy it for myself and find out for myself that they are wrong. Now I will take their word for it and not find out if I think they are wrong or right for myself.

That may not seem like much, but any small business owner who "knows" business realizes such a thing does make a difference in their sales.

At this point I do wish Gail would "retire" the whole business and leave it be. Its a fine legacy as is. If they continue to do good works in Gary's name, that will be better, but far from necessary.

 

[JoeGKushner]

It sure appears that she is "getting things on track" to do so. Given her loss, and considering whatever happens it might be judged relative to previous attempts, I think the benefit of the doubt is in order for awhile.

And I'm not arguging that. However, that wasn't your initial statement. Timely and what not. What's your definition of "for a while." Six months? Nine months for Gen Con? Or are we just going with vague sweeping statements?

 

[Mark]

And I'm not arguging that. However, that wasn't your initial statement. Timely and what not. What's your definition of "for a while." Six months? Nine months for Gen Con? Or are we just going with vague sweeping statements?

I find putting pressure on a widow to be unseemly. As someone without a dog in this, you ought to just knock it off.

 

[The Little Raven]

I find putting pressure on a widow to be unseemly.

This, a million times over. It took my grandmother almost five years to come to terms with the death of my grandfather.

 

[jdrakeh]

No, I came to accept that business is business, and personal is personal, and learned that the two are separate. I also learned that if I wanted happy customers I had better be responsive. Leave them in the dark and they leave.

But. . . Gail Gygax isn't leaving anybody in the dark She is issuing updates and, while it's true that they aren't coming as fast or as frequently as you'd like, they are coming. Given the circumstance and the legalities that are undoubted,y involved, this should be understandable.

That said, your association of "business" with an obligation to harm one's own company legally, fiscally, or both in order to placate unreasonable demands from unreasonable fans is misguided. No business has an obligation to put the demands of rude, unreasonable, fans above their own well being.

Granted, a business can choose to do this, but there is no obligation to do so, nor is it a necessity of owning or operating a business. Indeed, the idea that satisfying unreasonable demands at the risk of legal liability is required is the very definition of bad business.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Although I never met Gary in person, I am glad to read several EN Worlders defending his widow. Needless to say, I do not think that Ms. Gygax has any obligation toward any of us.


RC