D&D General Tim Kask, TSR's First Employee, Passes At Age 76

The very first full-time employee of TSR, the company which created D&D, passed away last night after a sudden illness.

A playtester for early versions of Dungeons & Dragons and TSR's first employee in 1975, Tim Kask worked as an editor for the company, notably for Dragon Magazine. He left TSR in 1980, protesting against the creation of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, later became a teacher, and more recently co-founded Eldritch Enterprises, along with fellow industry veterans Frank Mentzer, Jim Ward, and Chris Clark.

One of Tim Kask's D&D characters was called Kwalish. Later, Kwalish--like other characters from that period--was immortalised by TSR with the Apparatus of Kwalish.

Tim passed peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family and friends. Our thoughts go out to those who knew him.

 

[DarkCrisis]

OMG No

RIP.

Just wow

 

[darjr]

Rest in peace.

Terrible news.

 

[Marc Radle]

Wow

 

[Sacrosanct]

This news hits hard. I am blessed to have met Tim, gamed with him a few times, and had several chats with him over the past few years. He truly was an old school curmudgeon*, but he was also a good man, with good values and perspectives. He was a perfect example of an old grognard who also had progressive views--one of the most visible and popular OG gamer that was the opposite of most of the stereotypes we have. I appreciated that.

I will always cherish his friendship and support he gave me.

*For those not in the know, Tim has had a long running weekly youtube podcast called Curmudgeon in the Cellar.

 

[Azzy]

Fare thee well, traveler.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Rest in peace.

I wonder how many of his students knew that he was that Mr. Kask...

 

[doctorhook]

RIP.

Did he used to post on ENWorld, or am I thinking of someone else? I know there have been a few of the old TSR authors active here over the years.