TSR Q&A with Gary Gygax

This is the multi-year Q&A sessions held by D&D co-creator Gary Gygax here at EN World, beginning in 2002 and running up until his sad pasing in 2008. Gary's username in the thread below is Col_Pladoh, and his first post in this long thread is Post #39.

 

[StupidSmurf]

Heh!

As I recall I made Origins I through III, but then attended no further of them.

As an avid board wargamer and military miniatures buff too, I could never understand the provincialism of others complaining about one form of play or another.

I recall an RPGer looking at me in shock when I was discovered in the basement of a MDG con site playing Napoleonic miniatures rather than D&D One of the former LGTSA members quit and wouldn't speak to me because of the Chainmail Fantasy Supplement games I used to run, and the early rap on GenCon was that it was all miniatures with little board wargaming.

Cheerio,
Gary

My first con ever was Origins II. After that, I could tell people "Why yes, I went to Johns Hopkins University, thank you very much!" I went to Origins II through IV, took a long break, then ended my drought by going to Gen Con 18.

Incidentally, that very fall after Origins 78, I was introduced to D&D.

I could never understand the provincialism either. What I find particularly amusing in a disturbing sort of way is how people in a hobby that can be so misunderstood by 'outsiders' can just as easily attack other people who participate in a related hobby. It's like the folks who left Europe for America, looking for religious freedom, and then turning around and persecuting those in their midst who wanted to worship differently. The more things change, the more they remain the same, eh?

PS: Hope I didn't violate any TOS by bringing up religion :\ Not sure what the boundaries are. Still kinda new here.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

I would give a slap on the haunches, and send it on it's mare-ey way then. Sorry to saddle you with such low-grade punishment.

I bridal at such tacky horse puns, for shoe! So I'll nail down a few obvious ones to prevent a bit more of such ne-ferrious stuff. Maybe this will call a halter to equine puns, although likely it will start a race in which the loser will be sulkey. This isn't the place to show coltish humor.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[StupidSmurf]

I would give a slap on the haunches, and send it on it's mare-ey way then. Sorry to saddle you with such low-grade punishment.

You won't make a foal out of ME with your un-bridled jokes! My mane goal is to keep myself stable during these exchanges.

 

[gideon_thorne]

And yet he trots out more. Perhaps we need to determine who can go the distance with a gallup poll?

I bridal at such tacky horse puns, for shoe! So I'll nail down a few obvious ones to prevent a bit more of such ne-ferrious stuff. Maybe this will call a halter to equine puns, although likely it will start a race in which the loser will be sulkey. This isn't the place to show coltish humor.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[StupidSmurf]

And yet he trots out more. Perhaps we need to determine who can go the distance with a gallup poll?

I'm just champing at the bit to see who would win. Maybe I'll fix myself some Arabian coffee, lace it with some Captain Morgan spiced rum, sit back, and watch the photo finish. Who will pony up the next joke?

 

[francisca]

And yet he trots out more. Perhaps we need to determine who can go the distance with a gallup poll?

Neigh. This bit has worn me out. I'm done horsing around.

 

[francisca]

And yet he trots out more. Perhaps we need to determine who can go the distance with a gallup poll?

BTW, got my C&C books along w/ Yggsburgh this past weekend. Your work is top-notch, Peter.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

You won't make a foal out of ME with your un-bridled jokes! My mane goal is to keep myself stable during these exchanges.

I am the pun stud, and I'll make asses out of those who think to make hay in this pasture. It's a cinch!

Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

And yet he trots out more. Perhaps we need to determine who can go the distance with a gallup poll?

I'll swing on that gait...canter stop me, as I am too fur-along.

Gary

 

[francisca]

I am the pun stud, and I'll make asses out of those who think to make hay in this pasture. It's a cinch!

Gary

Yup. I'm lucky to show in this race. Nothing to get my jockey shorts up in a bundle, however.