Gary Gygax Passes Away

The news that Gary Gygax passed away has had me reflecting on the past today. It made me quite sad to hear of his passing.

I and many, many friends over the years have played Dungeons & Dragons (mostly AD&D of course) and enjoyed it well into our adult lives. I started playing back in the 70’s as a kid—thanks to my older brother and his friends—when the first rule sets came out in small paper bound booklets, and continued playing with friends even when in the Army. I even played it with the kids of a friend I had played it with as a teenager—it was truly a transcendental game.

Any time you can get the oddballs, jocks, popular kids, siblings and soldiers, parents and children, guys and girls together and enjoying something in common, it is a good thing.

It was such a shame, hearing preachers and naysayers claiming it was about devil worship and akin to being hooked on crack and other ridiculous assertions. The world is full of people willing to suggest anything that doesn’t fit their perception of what is proper is bad and a possible detriment to society.

Dungeons & Dragons brought out the best in everyone I knew who played it. For a lot of young people it was one way to cope with a world that made little sense growing up, parents that were not around or a less than pleasant home life.

Gary, you brought incredible numbers of diverse people a lot of enjoyment. You gave a lot of young people a way to find common ground. You brought millions together and showed them it was not only OK to be dreamers, but showed them the magic to be found in real life—by giving them the means to share their thoughts, hopes, dreams and ideas with others. Your wonderful game formed friendships and taught people how to work together and get along.

Yours was a gift of discovery and camaraderie, and it was truly magical.

Those of us who traveled the shadowy hinterlands of imagined worlds with companions that remained long after the last dice had been rolled and the pizza was all gone will not forget you. Even though we know that someday we, too, will pass on—we are not afraid. You taught us to love adventure and be bold in the face of the unknown, after all.

Rest in peace, Gary Gygax. You will be missed.