Respect to Mr. Gygax and Mr. Arneson

[Stone Angel]

Jeez oh Pete you guys this started out as a new poster trying to say "hey I appreciate that you pioneered a great hobby, that I personally enjoy", you don't like that tuff!

Now it has turned into quoting, sarcastic smilies, and just altogether bad form. What a great community you make this look like. I told you this would get ugly.

The Seraph of Earth and Stone

 

[Mythmere]

Here is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

If Gygax had remained with TSR, DnD would be dead.

There would be no OGL.
There would be no 3.0 or 3.5 edition.
There would be no nice DnD games from Bioware, and Black Isle
There would be no TSR
There would be no WoTC buyout
There would be no Hasbro takeover
There would be no DnD books on the shelves.

Gygax is a dinosaur who nearly destroyed DnD.

It's a shame to see the disrespect people have for creative geniuses. All of the above points are probably true - Mr. Gygax doesn't seem to have been a very good businessman. But in terms of his creation, which is the game itself, I owe him for hours and hours of some of the best fun I've had.

 

[Trainz]

Jeez oh Pete you guys this started out as a new poster trying to say "hey I appreciate that you pioneered a great hobby, that I personally enjoy", you don't like that tuff!

Now it has turned into quoting, sarcastic smilies, and just altogether bad form. What a great community you make this look like. I told you this would get ugly.

It's sad really, the level of immaturity that can appear on those boards.

I guess it's to be expected with public boards. If anything, it's an image of humanity as a whole. The good and the bad.

 

[Krieg]

This is exactly the sort of fawning I'm talking about. We must never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever criticize Saint Gary because he started the game.

Where exactly did I state (or even imply for that matter) that Gary was above reproach?

I would love to have that pointed out for me as I seem to be unable to find it myself. Surely you would never make a leap in logic with no factual basis in order to carry out an ad hominem attack. Since that couldn't possibly be the case I must be mistaken in believing that I never said that Gary was not to be criticized. Please assist my failing memory in identifying where I said such a thing so that I may be properly chastized.

Planesdragon tried to draw a parallel between himself, Gary & their respective levels of arrogance in regards to how their opinions are received. It was a ridiculous analogy and deserved the short shrift it received.

There are only a handful of individuals who's contributions to the hobby are irreplaceable. Like it or not Gary is one of those individuals.

Yes he is human and not without faults or inadequacies. However there appears to be a misconception that speaking about Gary without belittling his accomplishments is tantamount to fawning over them.

Fortunately there is a signifigant gap between the two extremes within most of us are capable of existing.

I can respect Gary without agreeing with everything he says, likewise I can disagree with his opinions without slandering him.

I do not fawn.

That would require an acknoweledgement that the center of the universe lies somewhere else.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Here is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Translatioon: Here is a bunch of lies and slander I'm gonna post.

If Gygax had remained with TSR, DnD would be dead.

Huh? How so?

There would be no OGL.

Whoopee.

There would be no 3.0 or 3.5 edition.

Yay!

There would be no nice DnD games from Bioware, and Black Isle

Hmmm, We had games from Black Isle long before WOTC took over. Maybe if Gary had stayed, we'd have more games like the gold box series.

There would be no TSR

Explain, please.

There would be no WoTC buyout
There would be no Hasbro takeover

Both great things to not have happen imo. No disrespect to Peter Adkison intended.

There would be no DnD books on the shelves.

Bull. There might not be any 3e books, but so what?

Gygax is a dinosaur who nearly destroyed DnD

.

That is just plain untrue.

 

[dead]

Now it has turned into quoting, sarcastic smilies, and just altogether bad form. What a great community you make this look like. I told you this would get ugly.

That's usually the way around here.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hey, kids! Cut it out.

Or no ice cream when we stop for gas.

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

 

[dead]

An EGGy Situation

D&D was always a very crusty system. Even to this day, with 3E, we can see crusty elements (I do anyway). But, all-in-all -- in all its crusty imperfection -- it was Great!

Thanks Gazza and Davo!

I've enjoyed every product Gary has released for D&D and AD&D. However, his RPG products outside of D&D haven't *wowed* me as yet. I still haven't taken a look at LA; maybe this is good.

But, even with his opinions on OGL, Gary still supports the gaming community and d20 with his own supplements (Slayers Guide to Dragons, Troll Lords Publications, etc.) and Dragon/Dungeon articles. So he's not that much of a monster. It's not as if he's refusing to participate in d20/OGL.

I'm very neutral about his opinions; but I certainly find it very interesting how heated some people can get about this debate.

 

[abeltda]

I guess this has turned into "We hate Gary and Dave" thread. Funny how one thing leads to another.

 

[Ashwyn]

I guess this has turned into "We hate Gary and Dave" thread. Funny how one thing leads to another.

It's the circle of, well, not life, but something.

I'm very neutral about his opinions; but I certainly find it very interesting how heated some people can get about this debate.

Same here, on both accounts.