 March 4, 2008 - 10:04am | It is not exactly Star Frontiers news but, sadly I write that it appears official that Gary Gygax has passed away. Here is the the notice from the Troll Lords forum: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4373&mforum=trolllordgames Rest Peacefully. You will be remembered fondly. <insert witty comment here> |
 March 4, 2008 - 10:22am | Oh No! I've very sad to hear it. I think a lot of us started out on D & D, and will remember fondly the first time we played the D & D boxed set (the one with the red dragon on the box--I remember it well!), or cracked open the AD & D books. He started something wonderful--his work with TSR led to many other games, including our own beloved SF. So yes, we owe him much. He will be missed and mourned by so many. |
 March 4, 2008 - 11:25am | It is because he was at the start of things that I will mark the moment of Gygax's passing. His style and mine are very, very different, so I haven't gotten much out of the things he personally has done, but it's thanks to him (among others) that we have this wonderful hobby at all. If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. -- Carl Sagan |
 March 4, 2008 - 11:44am | Thank sucks...He was working on another game. Loved his books and all of his contributions to the hobby. Confucious Says: Man with one chopstick go hungry. Man who eat many prunes get good run for money. Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement. |
 March 4, 2008 - 1:31pm | Go to the Seven Heavens, Great Dungeon Master. First Tom Moldvay, now Gary... This has been a tough couple of years for the founding dynasty of TSR. I can't tell you all enough of what this man meant for me. I remember opening my D&D Basic Set in second grade at age 8. It took me months to understand the game. By 5th grade, I was reading the hardcover AD&D books under my desk in class when I was supposed to be reading something else. We played in all seasons, during lunch, during recess. My friend's father said that we had to get our "fix" of the game. We played it until our fingers bled. In 3rd grade, my reading level was one below that of an average 3rd grader. By 6th grade, I was one below the BEST reading level, and was later in AP English, at the top. Gary Gygax and his prose were a huge part of my academic and intellectual awakening. His game engaged my mind, exploded my vocabulary, and manifested a love of history in me that will stay with me until I join him. I always wanted to shake his hand and express my gratitude in person, but like so many other things in life, the stupidity of "being busy" prevented that and now it is too late. But at least anyone who reads this humble eulogy can recognize the effect he had on not just this fan, but on millions around the world. God Bless and Thank You Gary Gygax. |
 March 4, 2008 - 3:02pm | Gygax was actually head of the committee responsible for the decisions that turned Alien Worlds into Star Frontiers, and was also credited in the playtesting. Just because he wasn't directly involved with the game's creation or design doesn't mean he didn't have a hand in it. Also, he is pretty much responsible for the reason we're playing RPG's like this today. Sure someone else could have thought of it later, but without Chainmail and GG's founding of TSR (he may be credited with co-founding, but his brain is the one that started it all), we wouldn't even be playing this game right now as it exists today if it weren't for him. If we were playing it at all (I wouldn't, but others would), it would be the rules-heavy dredge it was to start with. Though the decision was based on marketing to new players, I think it was the right decision. I've seen what this game would have been, and it's scary. |
 March 4, 2008 - 3:12pm | Rest in piece Gary..... Yeh I think we all started on D&D. Kind of a gateway Roleplaying game. I got hooked on D&D back in 5th grade. scored a few modules from a friend. Next thing you know we were hitting the harder stuff like D&D expert. started staying up all night just to get a fix. Next thing we knew we were strung out on AD&D. Started buying all the books. Experimented with Gamma World, Top Secret, and Star Frontiers. Then we start hitting gaming conventions and trying all kinds of roleplaying games. Even hitting a few wargames. My parents tried to get me help, but it was no use. I had started going to a weekly gaming session. I would even go to the local game store and jump into a Battletech or 40k game in secret. I was out of control. Strung out on Traveller and Rolemaster. Broke up with a girlfriend over games. She wanted to play a board game, 'Life' I think it was. I just couldn't get a buzz off something that weak anymore. I suggested we play a quick game of Space Hulk. She freaked out. I had to leave her, she just couldn't accept my game habit. We'll I cleaned up a little bit. Got a job. Kept it to a once a month Rolemaster session. I now have a wife and 11 year old son. I thought I had the habit under control. Then I found Starfrontiersman. I had almost forgot about it. I tried a game with my son. He got hooked in spite of his XBOX360. My wife even tried it. Now I am back up to a game session a week. With spare time devoted to writing the adventure and coming up with new weapons and gear articles for Star Frontiers. So, we are a family of Roleplaying addicts. At least we are together. At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
 March 4, 2008 - 5:20pm | Farewell, brother! 3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
 March 4, 2008 - 5:30pm | Gygax's passing is a sad day for all RPG'ers. My friends and I spent many weekends and summers playing Dungeons and Dragons, Star Frontiers, Gamma World, and other games. But AD&D was our first and favorite. I remember those times fondly as do my friends. Rest well, Gary. |
 March 4, 2008 - 8:02pm | How the heck do you thank a person who was responsible for changing your life in such a profound way? There's just too much to say. So I'll keep it simple: "Thank you Lord for the life of Gary Gygax. His work was a blessing to me and many others. Amen." "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." -- George Bernard Shaw |
March 4, 2008 - 10:01pm | May the Xagyg nebula keep his memory. |
March 4, 2008 - 10:11pm | For a nice memorial piece to read on Gary, check out the Wikipedia page. |
 March 4, 2008 - 11:06pm | I've posted about this on several other boards and I'm just too burnt-out with sorrow to step up and say something appropriately eloquent. After it all, I think it's just enough to know that he was one of those very special people who's flame will burn eternal. RIP. |
 March 5, 2008 - 5:31am | Order of the Stick has a nice tribute as well. http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html Time flies when your having rum. Im a government employee, I dont goof-off. I constructively abuse my time. |
March 5, 2008 - 2:28pm | That link isn't working for me. |
 March 7, 2008 - 8:00am | I never really played D&D, only for about 3-4 months as a kid. I actually played my first game in school in my Gifted and Talented class in the 5th grade. Got the basic set for my birthday. My parents, however, were some of those that were leery of the whole thing at the time. I was more interested in science fiction at the time anyway so I started playing SF and the rest is history. Here's a comic tributing Gary Gygax's passing that got posted last night: http://xkcd.com/393/ Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
March 7, 2008 - 12:26pm | ROFLMAO  Now THAT is a tribute. ROFL *gasp!* I need air! ROFL |
 March 16, 2008 - 6:03pm | AHH!!!--Crap. I think I will miss one of the founders of use the mind when you play a game. Got all the orginial AD&D hardbacks and I --WILL NEVER GET RID OF THEM. Peace Gary! Sergeant |
March 16, 2008 - 10:14pm | a great man ahead of his time, and obviously will be greatly missed by all as he touched so many with his works. |
 April 28, 2008 - 9:53pm | I think Gary Gygax should be put in the history books. |
 April 29, 2008 - 8:08pm | Bummer, I have very fond memories of my OD&D campaigns. Just did a rewrite of Keep on the Borderlands for "expert" level characters that my wife and I are play-testing. |
May 13, 2008 - 4:12pm | Bummer, I have very fond memories of my OD&D campaigns. Just did a rewrite of Keep on the Borderlands for "expert" level characters that my wife and I are play-testing. Keep on the Borderlands is one of my favorite D&D modules o fall time.... At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
 February 24, 2013 - 3:29pm | This you tube video has Gary talking about the origin of his name and how it meant "giant" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ0raag8TD8 Rather ironic that he became a giant. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
