RIP Gary Gygax

It is being reported today that E. Gary Gygax has passed away in his home.

I’ve not seen any confirmation of this news, but I’ve no reason to doubt the source. Gygax worked for Troll Lord Games and was close to several of the staffers there. They’d know well before almost anyone else. I’m considering it a good story right now, but if more details appear, I’ll list them, too. Steve Chenault of Troll Lord has confirmed the story and it’s broken in the MSM.

For those of you who don’t know who Gary Gygax is, I’ll explain. Gygax was one of the great pioneers for the role-playing game hobby that, today, involves millions of players. Some, myself included, would say that he was the elder statesman of the hobby. Chances are you know someone who did play, or still plays, his most famous invention, Dungeons and Dragons. Gygax’ imagination influenced generations of people and, even though he was out of D&D some years ago, he still kept churning out wondrous places where our imaginations could romp. this won’t come as a surprise to any of you who have read The Shack much at all, but I’m an avid gamer and I grew up on D&D. I know all about THAC0 and Hit Points and why first-level wizards needed to spend most of their time hiding behind the fighters. Gygax was a huge influence on my life and his work helped make me who I am right now. Scary, huh?

Gygax’s games were a boon to geeks, even before we knew we were geeks. We were the kids who, generally, had no friends. Thanks to D&D, though, we did. Due in large part to Gygax’ influence, I’ve met some of the most dear people to me in all the world. I met my best friends through gaming and for that I’m very grateful.

I’m also glad to see that Gygax was a Christian man, which strikes me as wonderfully ironic considering how much heat he and his games caught from poorly-informed Christians who believed (and still do in some cases) that Dungeons and Dragons was a demonic influence on our youth. I bet he got a bit of a chuckle about that later in his life.

I wish him family all the comfort that God can give them and the knowledge that their beloved Gary gave a whole lot of joy to a whole lot of people. I’m grateful for his life and his work.

Now, I think it’s time I dug out the old First Edition D&D books off of my shelf and roll up a few characters, for old times’ sake.

UPDATE: I’ve been thinking about Mr. Gygax and D&D in general since I wrote this post and I have to say that I’m more sad than I initially thought I would be. This week, two giants of my youth, men who whose lives and works are part of my marrow today, have passed. If I hadn’t felt close to my own mortality, I certainly do this week. And I’m only a couple months from turning 40, which occasionally gives me a feeling of what the hell have I made of myself. I can’t hold up something as wonderful as Expedition to the Barrier Peaks and say “That is mine”. I’d like to be able to do that one day. This requires much more thought.

If I’m a little morose for a day or so bear with me. I’m feeling a bit behind the curve.

UPDATE 2: One of the posters over at the Wizards’ site who goes by the nick of themocaw has a tribute that sums up what I hope God is letting the Father of All GMs do for a little while in Heaven.

UPDATE 3: Ace and Michelle Malkin (?!??) pay tribute.

Michelle Malkin was a gamer? I say “was” but I betcha she hasn’t lost any of her chops. I bet she can still sling a handful of dice like an old pro.

Cool.