Your spouse doesn't like D&D? Neither did Gary's.

[Henry]

If I had a wife like that, I'll begin to wonder at what I married. If my wife acted that way around me, I would seriously consider getting help on how to deal with a selfish wife.

I will not comment on another person's marriage here, but there's one thing that this story doesn't put into perspective, that I received from the 25th anniversary boxed set: Gary had quit a job at insurance sales to work full-time on gaming . (I do not know if it was by the time of Rob's narration or not). If someone with a family of several children has quit a full-time job to follow a dream that is completely new and untested, regardless of ultimate outcome, then it can paint quite a different picture than someone who is merely intent on hampering someone else's dream. Who was right or wrong is none of our concern, really - but remember no one has the whole picture here, exept Gary and his family, and frankly, in my opinion it's not that respectful to discuss it (the right or wrong issue, not the story, mind you).

But what this DOES give us (and things I love about stories from D&D's early days) is putting a human face on the participants, to see WHY they did what they did, and how they came to certain conclusions. Rob's and Skip's stories especially paint a "younger" perspective on stories, the perspectives of the secondary figures in a story of the rise of a fad into an almost cultural movment.

 

[Voadam]

I guess I've gotten lucky. My wife wasn't a gamer really when we met (like 10 or 11 years ago), but she is now. My daughter too (she's 9). Both have helped playtest stuff Ive written (Tome 2, Tome 3, parts of the City of Brass).

Both are highly supportive and stuff, and the wifey doesnt mind when Im up til 3am or 4am typing away on the PC. She's gone to GenCon with me the last two years and helped push out Necromancer Games product.

Tome 3? Allright.

 

[Old One]

Hehe...

Like many of you, my spouse is not a gamer. Hmm…that may be too political. What I’m trying to say is that my wife doesn’t like D&D. She doesn’t understand it. She doesn’t want to. I’m fine with that. She’s nice enough to be an ‘enabler’ for my addiction, and that’s all I ask. After all, I don’t understand her need to shop for antiques. Different strokes.

D

Hah!

I e-mailed D about this just the other day...seeking support for anti-gaming attitude of my otherwise pleasant wife. Alas, he indicated that Mrs. D would be of no help...I guess I need to find her a good hobby !

~ Old One

 

[RFisher]

i'm pounding my keyboard at work right now IYKWIMAITYD

Thanks, guys. Now I have to explain to the whole office why I was laughing so loud. "Um...I just ran across the funniest piece of Java code...no I can't show it to you because...while laughing...I accidentally deleted it...& committed the change to CVS..."

 

[Mystery Man]

Wasn't she (Gygax's Ex) the one who wanted to make that series of soap opera role playing games under the DnD label? Or am I thinking of someone else here?

 

[mythusmage]

URBAN LEGEND

Lorraine Williams (the new head of TSR with the ouster of Gygax and the Blumes), being new to RPGs, thought they were a neato-keen thing. And being a hard-core soap opera fan thought a soap opera RPG would be a big seller.

IN REAL LIFE

Williams had been on the board of directors of TSR for a few years before gaining control of the company. She knew about D&D. She took control because she thought she could do a better job than the previous administration, and because she thought TSR would be a money-maker, and give her a leg up on her competition in the Dille Family Trust (the Buck Rogers people).

I have no idea who was behind the All My Children RPG, and I'm not about to speculate.

BTW, the first soap opera RPG published was Dallas from Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI), who also gave us Dragonquest and Universe (Currently the property of Wizards of the Coast). Which means that Wizards is now the proud owner of the only two licensed soap opera roleplaying games ever published.

 

[molonel]

I will not comment on another person's marriage here, but there's one thing that this story doesn't put into perspective, that I received from the 25th anniversary boxed set: Gary had quit a job at insurance sales to work full-time on gaming . (I do not know if it was by the time of Rob's narration or not). If someone with a family of several children has quit a full-time job to follow a dream that is completely new and untested, regardless of ultimate outcome, then it can paint quite a different picture than someone who is merely intent on hampering someone else's dream. Who was right or wrong is none of our concern, really - but remember no one has the whole picture here, exept Gary and his family, and frankly, in my opinion it's not that respectful to discuss it (the right or wrong issue, not the story, mind you).

I agree. Relationships and divorces are messy, messy things, and throwing darts at this woman's picture doesn't really accomplish much. Leave it be.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I guess I've been very fortunate.

My wife is a gamer, and has been before I met her. Further, she supports the fact that I write professionally, even though it really doesn't bring in much money. (Of course, the fact that I have health issues that make it difficult to hold down a job I can't do from home enters into her acceptance as well, but still.)

My parents, too, very much support what I do. They were not happy when I changed majors to Creative Writing back in college, and they've admitted that they never thought I could make a go of it, since it's such a hard thing for people to break into. They have, however, admitted to being wrong on that score, and they are both proud of what I do. (My mom, who cannot stand fantasy, has a collection of almost every book I've ever worked on, and looks for excuses to tell people that her son's a writer. )

 

[Henry]

A related note:

My wife is not a gamer; Lord bless her, she's tried for me, several times, but it's just not that much fun for her. However, she recognizes why I like it, and what it does for me, and she encourages me every chance she gets. She has different passions (hers is dogs - it's why we have nine), but recognizes the same traits run in all people no matter what your hobby. NASCAR fans can quote a dozen drivers' win-loss records for the past ten years, and can quote the death date for Dale Earnhardt; Baseball fans can tell you about the career stats of a dozen different players; My wife can herself tell you the facts and temperaments about every dog breed she has ever owned. She realizes what the heck's so weird about me carrying on a discussion about the implications of power attack on High Armor Class opponents?!?!?!

If I quit my day job to go full-time author, she might have something to say about it, especially in this day and age, but as long as my responsibilities to home and hearth and family are well met, then I can game my little heart out.

Awesome, awesome woman.

 

[mythago]

If I had a wife like that, I'll begin to wonder at what I married. If my wife acted that way around me, I would seriously consider getting help on how to deal with a selfish wife.

One excellent way is to stop thinking that it's your wife's job to support your dreams, while your job is merely to dream.

(This is in no way a comment on the former Mrs. Gygax, or Gary Gygax, for that matter; as Henry said, it's a little pointless and rude to speculate on what did or didn't happen during their marriage.)