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Post by Grumpyoldman on Mar 4, 2008 14:08:39 GMT -5
MILWAUKEE — 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.
The amazing thing is that he had a wife & 6 children. Everyone knows D&D nerds have no courage even to look at a real woman.
I guess he didn't make his saving throw....or use a potion of healing.
RIP, king of nerds.
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Post by The UndyTaker on Mar 4, 2008 14:13:19 GMT -5
R.I.P.
I didn't care much for D&D when I was younger. But I really enjoyed him on Futurama.
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Post by amxfiles on Mar 4, 2008 14:56:47 GMT -5
The guy had a pretty good sense of humor about himself considering he made the nerdiest of nerd games.
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Post by King Bálor (CM)™ on Mar 4, 2008 15:10:32 GMT -5
I hated D & D. Warhammer was my first RPG. I also enjoyed Vampire The Masquerade, Star Wars and Wraith.
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Post by uzerx on Mar 4, 2008 15:15:13 GMT -5
He died at the age of what he has never done....shame.
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Post by Raoul the Great on Mar 4, 2008 15:39:06 GMT -5
R.I.P. I didn't care much for D&D when I was younger. But I really enjoyed him on Futurama. I was remembering him from Futurama as well. Never much for RPG's but his contribution to the gaming world will not be forgotten.
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Post by Doomrider on Mar 4, 2008 16:25:57 GMT -5
I guess you can say he lost all his HP.
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Post by Death Bear on Mar 4, 2008 16:34:45 GMT -5
He died at the age of what he has never done....shame. Yep, he's never 69ed. He went straight to intercourse. You know. The only way he could have impregnated his wife six times.
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Post by bowlofpetunias on Mar 4, 2008 17:00:33 GMT -5
Having met the man a few times, I can tell you he would appreciate all the D&D related jokes. I would be shocked if Colbert doesn't mention it within the next two days.
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Post by King Shocker the Monumentous on Mar 4, 2008 17:28:20 GMT -5
Luckily, I'm a Level 12 Mourner.
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Post by bowlofpetunias on Mar 4, 2008 17:56:37 GMT -5
Luckily, I'm a Level 12 Mourner. Roll for willpower save against sadness
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