Interesting post over at Grognardia today regarding Gail Gygax

[The Little Raven]

So, while we should support Ms. Gygax, I wouldn't be too hasty to villify those who don't see the personal side right now. I urge you to consider the body of their posts, not just what you don't like in the here and now, because these are people I truly respect.

If they can't see the personal side of a 25-year wife coping with how to deal with her husband's legacy less than a year after dealing with his death, then they don't earn my respect, but earn my pity for their lack of empathy.

 

[Umbran]

Mark, JoeG, all of you.

Cut it out. Really. On this topic, in the holiday season? Show some decorum and respect, for the subject matter, and each other.

If you cannot be better than this... well, then you really aren't better than this. True colors time, gentlemen.

And I hope I am not incorrect to use that term. If I am - consider this your only warning.

 

[JoeGKushner]

So you're asking for a hard number, or perhaps a mathematical formula, on how long grief should last before you start badgering a relatively new widow after being married over 25 years? Make a table, roll 1d20.

1-20: Stop being a jerk.

Or, you know, try to have some empathy.

-O

I'm asking his opinion as to when he would expect a product to come out. This is based on HIM saying that it will be coming out sooner and thus being what the fans expect.

 

[grodog]

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.

I agree completely: I never said to rush any product vs. producing a quality product. I was merely saying that whenever we're able to have a date for when we'll know more (a communication date for a date, not a product date for a date), that that info may help to calm some of the general discontent.

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.

That's a given, and from my interaction with Gail at and after Gary's funeral, I'd certainly say that she's got his best interests at heart, and has a heart-felt appreciation for Gary's fans that the limited communications from Gygax Games to date don't really convey.

 

[JamesM]

(I think the Grognardia piece was actually a more dispassionate analysis and I wasn't as offended as I am with some of the other arguments).

If anyone has interpreted my original post as being anything other than trying to piece together what we know about the situation and what it means, they've gravely misunderstood what I wrote. Indeed, if anything, the whole point of my piece was that Mrs Gygax did the right thing by addressing, even obliquely, to the rumors swirling about regarding the recent actions of Gygax Games. I think this speaks well of her and bodes well for the likely disposition of Gary's gaming legacy.

 

[eyebeams]

You know, if I was a famous creator my plan for my work after death would probably involve compiling a few definitive works *and* helping my wife make lots of money.

WRT Castle Zagyg, I think it would be great to explicitly incorporate the experiences of people who went through it. I'd love to see quotations from play experiences in sidebars throughout, as well as asides about how such and such a thing was interpreted.

 

[Ranger REG]

I agree completely: I never said to rush any product vs. producing a quality product. I was merely saying that whenever we're able to have a date for when we'll know more (a communication date for a date, not a product date for a date), that that info may help to calm some of the general discontent.

Screw those who need to be calmed. Sometimes you can't give a date after looking at Gygax's notes and how to organize them. Let's give Gail and her crew some room to compile her husband's notes.

And for those above who need to be calmed but know they will die tomorrow, at least they can ask Gary IF they're worthy to meet him there.

 

[Gentlegamer]

WRT Castle Zagyg, I think it would be great to explicitly incorporate the experiences of people who went through it. I'd love to see quotations from play experiences in sidebars throughout, as well as asides about how such and such a thing was interpreted.

Yes, I would love to see it in an "annotated" format, with notes from Rob Kuntz, Ernie Gygax, Terry Kuntz, Skip Williams, and any others that played in Castle Zagyg

 

[timbannock]

Yes, I would love to see it in an "annotated" format, with notes from Rob Kuntz, Ernie Gygax, Terry Kuntz, Skip Williams, and any others that played in Castle Zagyg

I'd say that's the only thing I found "missing" from Upper Works. I loved reading Gary's intro in each book and how he made changes and why. But I wanted so much more of that.

Hearing the players tell the stories of their characters would be great, and might show some of the more specific changes between the various versions of the castle.

If I run through the Upper Works and there's still no announcement on what's coming down the pipeline (or, if I don't like what's announced, which I doubt will be the case), I've already researched grodog's site and various forums to find any info I could. Any chance I could find something similar in other works, I've noted it so that I can just transfer those things in as needed if my PCs delve deeper.

Example: the Black Reservoir = the submerged areas of World's Largest Dungeon (might as well get some use out of this monster of a book!!)

Gary always was saying "make it your own," and I think that CZ has endless possibilities. But like you guys said, hearing the players' experiences of Gary's sessions would be fantastic.

 

[JohnRTroy]

There was an update from Gail herself on the Gygax Games board

Greetings Seekers,

I am reading your posts and working towards and end - my goal is to make sure Gary's intellectual property is safeguarded and protected. This takes time, more time than I anticipated - it's not that nothing is going on, I just can not disclose confidential information.

We all want to see Gary's work continue and rest assured, I am working towards that!

I appreciate your patience and understanding. We all miss him and want to keep his memory alive! I am dedicated to just that.


Gail Gygax

Looking back on this thread, I wanted to thank most of the people at ENWorld for being a lot more understanding and respectful of Gail than many of the "die-hard" fans. I think in the scheme of things Gary would be most appreciative of that over all other tributes to him.