3.04.2008
Gary Gygax 1938 - 2008
Writer and father of the role-playing game, Gary Gygax passed away on March 4th after struggling with a string of illnesses. Gygax is best known for co-creating the role-playing game (and cultural phenomenon) Dungeons and Dragons.
Gary Gygax
Though not a Pagan, or formerly connected to the Pagan community in any way, it would be entirely remiss of me to not mention the passing of the man primarily responsible for giving us a game that has inspired, entertained, and enriched so many of us. A game that created Christian hysteria over occult recruitment long before Harry Potter came along. A game that answered important questions for budding polytheists, like how many hit points does the goddess Morrigan
Certainly my own pre-Pagan days were enriched by the idea that I could inhabit a character who lived in a world filled with ancient gods, wise Druids, mysterious Witches, and a preponderance of Chaotic Good crusaders for justice. A state of affairs not too terribly removed from my current reality. While I would hesitate to blame D&D for my path to Pagandom, I do think the game opened my mind and engaged me in a way that made my interest in non-mainstream manifestations of religion more likely. So here's to the Dungeon Master, may his journey to the Outer Planes be filled with adventure.
Tributes and obituaries: Boing Boing, Salon, io9, Slashdot, Reason, CNN, BBC, AP, Cinema Blend, more...
* She has 388 HP.
Labels: Dungeons and Dragons, Gary Gygax, Passings, Satanic Panic
Comments:
Damn, I still have old 1st & 2nd ed. D&D books on my shelf. I haven't played in years, but I'll never forget. ~Good Bye Gary.
Hi! This is AD(arch-druid) Stephen W. Abbott also known as Stephen6580 on www.keen.com Some of you may already know me. I'm a Pagan elder here in Sacramento, Ca. I knew Gary for over 40 years. I found out today about his death and gave me a deep shock. I'm saddened that we lost contact in the last 20 years. I have lost so many of my friends in just a year's time. Gary loved to talk to me about my Pagan-Magickal knowledge. I wrote for one of his early D%D magazines the Druid rules and for the same magazine I co-wrote rules for Bards. He always encouraged my Pagan gaming ideas and concepts. He named a orc character after me. I shall deeply miss him. Farewell Gary You can now join our friend Dave Hargrave in the Summer land-)Otherworld. May your time in the Sacred Realm Be a Pleasant One". AD(arch-druid) Stephen also known as Stephen6580 on www.keen. com Peace! Peace! Peace! I will be playing a D%D game in his honor and memory here at my home in Sacramento, Ca. tonight. I will be posting about him on my 15 Pagan-Magickal Teaching groups on yahoo groups and my 22 blogs. Farewell my Dear friend.
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Damn, I still have old 1st & 2nd ed. D&D books on my shelf. I haven't played in years, but I'll never forget. ~Good Bye Gary.
Hi! This is AD(arch-druid) Stephen W. Abbott also known as Stephen6580 on www.keen.com Some of you may already know me. I'm a Pagan elder here in Sacramento, Ca. I knew Gary for over 40 years. I found out today about his death and gave me a deep shock. I'm saddened that we lost contact in the last 20 years. I have lost so many of my friends in just a year's time. Gary loved to talk to me about my Pagan-Magickal knowledge. I wrote for one of his early D%D magazines the Druid rules and for the same magazine I co-wrote rules for Bards. He always encouraged my Pagan gaming ideas and concepts. He named a orc character after me. I shall deeply miss him. Farewell Gary You can now join our friend Dave Hargrave in the Summer land-)Otherworld. May your time in the Sacred Realm Be a Pleasant One". AD(arch-druid) Stephen also known as Stephen6580 on www.keen. com Peace! Peace! Peace! I will be playing a D%D game in his honor and memory here at my home in Sacramento, Ca. tonight. I will be posting about him on my 15 Pagan-Magickal Teaching groups on yahoo groups and my 22 blogs. Farewell my Dear friend.
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