D&D creator dies

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

From AP feed

Dungeons & Dragons Co-Creator Dies at 69

By EMILY FREDRIX – 2 hours ago

MILWAUKEE (AP) — 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.

Am sad. I Spent way too many hours playing that game, in '79, '80 and on, but it did help form my notions of what it means to be on a team, and what loyalty is worth.

[Aphos]

Ah, yes...the old D&D days.  I still have my original set of D&D books.  A boxed set from the first run off of 3000.  The box is long gone, but the books are still in pretty good shape.

Sad about Gygax.  I got a lot of enjoyment out of his game.

[anthrobabe]

rest in well earned peace our leader of Greyhawk