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.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Gary, you got that right.

Pure unadulterated wisdom....

A hard-learned lesson gained from two marriages lasting in total now well over 40 years.


Gary

 

[Prince of Happiness]

A hard-learned lesson gained from two marriages lasting in total now well over 40 years.


Gary

Gygax, HM, Married Lv. 40

 

[Anson Caralya]

I did not see the new Casino Royale film, but as I know it was nothing at all like the book, and I am an Ian Fleming fan, I do not intend to see it.

Gary, I'll echo what others have said: the film is one of the most faithful adaptations, very solid. The embellishments were primarily in the action sequences and some modernization. Now, I think it would be very cool if they were to make a Bond film now set in the '50's, but failing that, this one was good.

As long as we're talking, why did you drop the downside for psionics in the AD&D PHB? IIRC the supplement which introduced them carried a cost in spells if the character was a magic-user, strength if a fighter, etc., which balanced out the power of psionics.

And something else that's been on my mind for the last 25 years:

Keoghtom: 77 hp, 77% uniform magic resistance, 78 class levels
Murlynd: 135 hp, 35% uniform magic resistance, 36 class levels

Did you have some relation between these characteristics in mind when statting the quasi-deities, or did I just spend too much of my teenage years poring over Dragon? Heward doesn't fit the pattern, so it's probably just me, but thought I'd ask.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

What I liked about the film was that James Bond was more of a complete bastard than he has been in any Bond flick of the last three decades.

Gary, do you think you might oversee a C & C book with the character class concepts you had previously planned to do before leaving TSR? I'd love a chance to see what the montebank might have been like, for example.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Gary, I'll echo what others have said: the film is one of the most faithful adaptations, very solid. The embellishments were primarily in the action sequences and some modernization. Now, I think it would be very cool if they were to make a Bond film now set in the '50's, but failing that, this one was good.

As long as we're talking, why did you drop the downside for psionics in the AD&D PHB? IIRC the supplement which introduced them carried a cost in spells if the character was a magic-user, strength if a fighter, etc., which balanced out the power of psionics.

And something else that's been on my mind for the last 25 years:

Keoghtom: 77 hp, 77% uniform magic resistance, 78 class levels
Murlynd: 135 hp, 35% uniform magic resistance, 36 class levels

Did you have some relation between these characteristics in mind when statting the quasi-deities, or did I just spend too much of my teenage years poring over Dragon? Heward doesn't fit the pattern, so it's probably just me, but thought I'd ask.

Well, as I might have mentioned before, a lot of people urged me to see the Conan films, but as a real REH fan I really did not enjoy them in the least. In fact, seeing them irritated me as they were not at all true to the spirit of the tales and character of Conan.

As for your questions, I fear must disappoint you. After all these years, over 20 since I have ceased playing the AD&D game save for rare occasions, and never being concerned with the rules since 1984, there is no way, save perhaps under hypnosis, that I can recall the circumstances regarding the change in Psionics (which I never allowed in my campaign anyway) ot the reasoning behind what sttributes U assigned to those quasi-deities. I can state with certainty though that I intended those three to associate together.

Ciao,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

What I liked about the film was that James Bond was more of a complete bastard than he has been in any Bond flick of the last three decades.

Gary, do you think you might oversee a C & C book with the character class concepts you had previously planned to do before leaving TSR? I'd love a chance to see what the montebank might have been like, for example.

I might assist in the development of some new character classes for the C&C system if the Trolls ever begin such a project. However, time is most precious, and I do not think I would spend a great deal of it thus. If I could fine my old notes in the Jester, Mountebank, Mystic, and Savant I would gladly pass them along to Steve and company. There was another possible class I was considering adding, but blamed if I can recall it now

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Jemal]

*Several days old, but just got a chance to notice it*

I know you get this alot but I have to say, thanks for your excellent work in this hobby. I've been gaming with your rules since Chainmail, boxed set days and despite having my books burned on four separate occasions by well-meaning people and being threatened with an exorcism I've hung in there and am still enjoying this hobby.

Yeah, hearing stuff like that from all sorts of people makes me once again LOVE Saskatoon.. The worst I or any of the MANY gamers I've gamed with recently have had happen is badmouthing and name-calling. Easier than what I had to deal with when I was a 'nerd' in school.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

*Several days old, but just got a chance to notice it*


Yeah, hearing stuff like that from all sorts of people makes me once again LOVE Saskatoon.. The worst I or any of the MANY gamers I've gamed with recently have had happen is badmouthing and name-calling. Easier than what I had to deal with when I was a 'nerd' in school.

The trick I learned was to be more mean and ornery as any of the clique's jocks, have friends in all the groups, sometimes be a hood, and then when you are with your best friends in the nerds they have confidence...and are left alone, even accepted by others. Of course that was way back in the early 1950s. This did get some non-nerds gaming, playing chess

Cheerio,
Gary

 

[Mycanid]

GOOD MORNING colonel!



Sorry, just had to say a cheery hello - even if it isn't morning where I am.

Back to thread at hand, eh?

 

[Col_Pladoh]

GOOD MORNING colonel!



Sorry, just had to say a cheery hello - even if it isn't morning where I am.

Back to thread at hand, eh?

Thanks, but...

The sun is below the yard arm here, and I am about to be served my ration of grog.,,maybe a double ration to fight off this vile cough and sore throat I have had for several days now.

Cheers,
Gary