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Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 11:03:38 AM

LadyRainfire

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Dungeons & Dragons co-creator dies at 69

By EMILY FREDRIX, Associated Press Writer 9 minutes ago

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.

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 12:53:07 PM

BitaTruble

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As a huge fan of old school D&D I'm so sorry to read of Gary's passing. I have some of the earliest books, the old leaf pamphlets which already hold a cherished place in my D&D collection. I will treasure them all the more now.

RIP Gary .. and thanks for the D 20's and all the good times I've had and which are yet to come as a direct result of your creativity and love of gaming.

Celeste

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 12:54:34 PM

KindLadyGrey

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Sadness :*(

My kingdom for a wishing ring. . .

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 1:01:43 PM

faerytattoodgirl

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dying at 69? wink wink

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 1:10:52 PM

mhawk

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i know alot of us grew up on D&D and it being most likely the first RPG we got into as well.i still remember the first d20 i picked up was when i first played D&D.all of us in the gaming world are sorry to hear about Gary's passing and will hold on to the wonderful memories he helped create for us in the game.where's a good Rez spell?

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 1:15:33 PM

silvermuse

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If it hadn't been for gaming Master and I wouldn't have met and wouldn't be in business together as we co-own an rpg company (d6 not d20)

He'll be missed.

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 1:56:59 PM

bipolarber

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It took a special kind of imagination to take a game system that started out for playing "fantasy railroads" and turn it into a true cultural phenomenon. Although the non-electronic gaming world continues to try and find new ways to entertain us, (such as Magic) Gary's system remains the one RPG that is both highly social, and also engages the imagination to it's hilt. (Hell, I think D&D is better for your imagination than old time radio was for the generation of WW II.) On top of that, he was a great guy. I've been on the edges of the FRPG and LARP worlds for better than two decades now, and I can't think of anyone ever saying anything bad about him.

Man, if I were to become a millionare, I think I'd use him as my role model.

He's going to be missed.

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 5:17:08 PM

Lucullus

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Big D&D fan. It's a shame, but its great to see his legacy is living on.

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 7:19:17 PM

LadyRainfire

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Yes, it saddened me considering that I've played on the system for 25 years. The gaming world has lost one of its original stars that took RPG's out of the dark and bright light of a large audience.

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/4/2008 10:49:21 PM

DomKen

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This hit me pretty hard.

I've been around gaming since the late 70's and have known Gary since the early 80's. We weren't close or anything. He almost always recognized me at GenCon when I saw him and he treated my rather amateurish free lance submissions with a gentle editorial style that ran counter to everything said about him by others. Seeing him get the star treatment at GenCon last year after all the years where he was effectively banned from the convention was heartwarming.

I've just about stopped playing pen and paper games except for my annual trip to GenCon but I think it is time to put forth some effort and get a group together.

I'll miss him.

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RE: Creator of Dungeons & Dragons game dies - 3/5/2008 9:34:57 PM

Feric

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Yes, I read that in today's paper. I am very saddened.

I started playing D&D when it first came out, and have remained a steady player ever since. The news that the creator has passed into the Forgotten Realms means that he has undertaken a great quest, and that the treasure he encounters will be great indeed!

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