Gary Gygax, We Hardly Knew Ye

Alternate title: Nerd Alert

Gary Gygax died yesterday at the wonderful age of 69. Gygax was reportedly in failing health and while the cause of death has not been confirmed, it's believed to be due to an abdominal aneurysm.

Who is Gary Gygax, you might say? Gary Gygax was a god among men. OK maybe not, but he was a really creative nerd who created Dungeons & Dragons, along with Dave Arneson, and served as the creative drive behind its development through his company TSR. He protected the game from all the Rules Lawyers, insisting, as it should be, that the game continue to be fun and, most importantly, of the realm of imagination.

I'll never forget when I was first introduced to D&D, playing late into the night in the cafeteria pantry after my charges had gone to bed while I was a summer camp counselor. LB, Mark and Chris were my fellow gamers. We played AD&D, and I preferred the ranger. A few short years later, TSR was bought out by WOTC, and I was skeptical. After the 3E release, however, I was ecstatic. I attended the launch at Gen Con, and LB even won and advance copy of the DMG. After the launch of 3E I threw myself into the sorceror class, with a few fighter and rogue characters on the side. Now 4E is coming out soon, and I am once more skeptical, and alas, have not been able to find a consistent gaming group in the past 2.5 years. But over my gaming years I have many fond memories of late nights, slaying dragons, arguing better rules for the magic system, drinking Mt Dew and pigging out on pizza, puzzle-solving and role-playing.

Mr. Gygax fathered an entire subculture of which I am proud to be a part.

So, in his honor, I raise my +10 vorpal mace into the air and loose a mighty battle shout: Gygax forever!

I've got the Dungeon Master's Guide.
I've got a 12-sided die
I've got Kitty Pryde
And Nightcrawler too
Waiting there for me.
Yes I do, I do.

I've got posters on the wall,
My favorite rock group, KISS.
I've got Ace Frehley.
I've got Peter Criss
Waiting there for me.
Yes I do, I do

In the garage, I feel safe.
No one cares about my ways.
In the garage where I belong.
No one hears me sing this song.
In the garage.

I've got an electric guitar.
I play my stupid songs.
I write these stupid words
And I love every one
Waiting there for me.
Yes I do, I do

In the garage, I feel safe.
No one laughs about my ways.
In the garage where I belong.
No one hears me sing this song.

In the garage.

~Weezer