Rest in Peace, Gary Gygax

[GameBanshee News]

Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and father of fantasy role-playing, has passed on. Here is the post announcing his death on the forum of his publisher, Troll Lord Games:

It is almost too much to get my mind about. But I've just had news that our dear Dungeon Master has passed away. Ernie called this morning, he thought we should let the fans know. He's just sent an email out.

Gary was in his home when he gathered himself up to cross the great divide.

He was a very dear friend of mine. And I will miss him so.

God Speed My Friend.

And his obituary on CNN:

Gary Gygax, who co-created the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons and helped start the role-playing phenomenon, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva. He was 69.

He had been suffering from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm, said his wife, Gail Gygax.

Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval characters and mythical creatures. The game known for its oddly shaped dice became a hit, particularly among teenage boys, and eventually was turned into video games, books and movies.

Gygax always enjoyed hearing from the game's legion of devoted fans, many of whom would stop by the family's home in Lake Geneva, about 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee, his wife said. Despite his declining health, he hosted weekly games of Dungeons & Dragons as recently as January, she said.

"It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them," Gygax said. "He really enjoyed that."

Dungeons & Dragons players create fictional characters and carry out their adventures with the help of complicated rules. The quintessential geek pastime, it spawned a wealth of copycat games and later inspired a whole genre of computer games that's still growing in popularity.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Besides his wife, Gygax is survived by six children.

When you think about it, PC and console RPGs wouldn't even exist in their current form without Gary's influence. The Gold Box, Eye of the Beholder, and Infinity Engine games would have never been created - at least not with the ruleset we've all come to appreciate and enjoy.

[AvatarOfLight]

*takes off hat*

[Siberys]

This is sad indeed. He may have been more annoying in life as the comic book guy from the simpsons, but the man was a legend for AD&D and 1st edition.

I salute thee Ernest Gary Gygax, may you live in purgatory with 75 geeks who know the game!

[Faust]

Sad news, indeed. Rest in peace, Mr. Gygax.

[BuckGB]

Very sad. Even though he was recovering from a stroke at the time, I would have never guessed that the interview I did with him in 2004 would have been one of his last.

I'm just glad to be among the millions that have Gary (and David) to thank for creating a game that has brought countless hours of camaraderie and enjoyment around an old, wobbly table and sparked my imagination like no other form of entertainment has ever done and likely will ever do.

Rest in peace, Mr. Gygax.

[Uller]

Very very sad and the end of an era.

He was the godfather of all rpg's and I salute the man that has brought fantasy imagination to the masses.

RIP

[Pellinore]

Yes. May he rest well. I don't know if he fully understood the impact he had on the world. He created a mythos that has grown for 30+ years... Even though I had only met him once at a convention long ago, I feel like I have lost a friend. Godspeed, Dungeonmaster!

[Kheros]

The legacy he gave us will live on. Rest in Peace Mr. Gygax.