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RIP Gary Gygax
Thursday, March 6, 2008
RIP Gary Gygax
A father is gone.
The world that we in the fantasy fan community enjoy, one in which wizards and warriors, elves and dwarves, magic and monsters and yes, dungeons and dragons are common parlance owes a great deal of debt to the man who placed a dragon in a wargame.
When I was 11 year old I had heard of D&D, but had never actually seen the game. Then someone in school brought out the three books and the half-dozen dice and started a campaign. That was it. Everyone in 7th and 8th grade was hooked. Every spare moment of time was taken up by D&D adventuring. Eventually this expanded into Traveler, Boot Hill, Gamma World, Time Tripper, Car Wars, and more games that I can remember. In that school being what we would call today a “geek†or “dork†was cool. It was hip. Social status was based on being the first one to have a new game, or the best game that week.
We designed our own character sheets. We drew up our own characters. We created our own gods and monsters. “The Emperor†was the All-Powerful-Force of Evil (yes, inspired by Empire Strikes Back), “Enigma†was the All-Powerful Force of Good (from the Micronauts comic book, I think). I thought of creating an All-Powerful Force of Neutrality, but kept on going back and forth on it. My character got turned into a Gollum and stretched out to 7 feet tall on a rack. Someone created an assassin with an atomic bomb. Someone else tried to use a saving throw when the bomb went off.
We drew maps. We designed weapons. We collected miniature figures and placed them on graph paper. We designed dungeons. We collected dungeon modules and dice. Our imagination was stoked and our social interactivity was very, very high.
When I left that school and moved to a public high school, I found the social situation there very different. I never was able to get back into gaming, though I still collected everything about Car Wars for some years (as I was a big fan of post-apocalyptic movies like The Road Warrior). Eventually I found the Society for Creative Anachronism and was able to live a historically-based, live action version of D&D, and for a time sneered at those who rolled dice to gain their skills, while I actually worked for it.
I never saw more than a few minutes of the D&D cartoon, but I followed the comic strip advertisements in the backs of comic books in the early 1980's. When the Dungeon and Dragons movie finally came out, I was very excited. For decades there had been films and TV shows that, to one degree or another, I felt were trying to bring the D&D world to life, and I, in turn, had tried to turn those movies into games (you can see a list that includes many of those movies at http://www.geocities.com/historicalmovies). Now someone was actually going to make that movie for real. The movie was poor, but fun. Though the acting was uneven, the writing corny, and the Wayans brother character the most politically incorrect ethnic stereotype since JarJar Binks, it was great to see all the swordfighting, the flying dragons, and lets admit it, Thora Birch in those fantasy costumes.
There was a sequel to that movie, however, Dungeons and Dragons, the Wrath of the Dragon Gon, that finally did it right. A team of adventurers was assembled to go on a quest to retrieve a magic item and save the kingdom. Each character represented a different race or class of character. There was problem-solving, trap avoiding, magic using, and exciting battle action, sometimes all at the same time. Characters of differing alignments had to learn to work together. Some did not make it, but those who did found they had grown and gained skill, treasure, or power. Gygax was interviewed in the “special features†of the DVD of that film, and admitted that he was happy with the way that film turned out.
Although he lost control of the game and company that he founded, he kept active in the industry, and obviously loved creating games. Role playing games have brought many of us together, given us a common social bond, and in many cases, enabled us to get valuable life experience. Though some make the joke about how D&D geeks are socially atrophied nerds who can't deal with the real world, it has given many lived, and our culture, a richness and vitality, a passionate escape, a source of pleasure and cause for social gathering that the world would be poorer without.
Now the father of those games is gone, and we are poorer without him.
Captain Zorikh
http://www.captainzorikh.com
http://www.bigapplecon.com
RIP Gary Gygax
A father is gone.
The world that we in the fantasy fan community enjoy, one in which wizards and warriors, elves and dwarves, magic and monsters and yes, dungeons and dragons are common parlance owes a great deal of debt to the man who placed a dragon in a wargame.
When I was 11 year old I had heard of D&D, but had never actually seen the game. Then someone in school brought out the three books and the half-dozen dice and started a campaign. That was it. Everyone in 7th and 8th grade was hooked. Every spare moment of time was taken up by D&D adventuring. Eventually this expanded into Traveler, Boot Hill, Gamma World, Time Tripper, Car Wars, and more games that I can remember. In that school being what we would call today a “geek†or “dork†was cool. It was hip. Social status was based on being the first one to have a new game, or the best game that week.
We designed our own character sheets. We drew up our own characters. We created our own gods and monsters. “The Emperor†was the All-Powerful-Force of Evil (yes, inspired by Empire Strikes Back), “Enigma†was the All-Powerful Force of Good (from the Micronauts comic book, I think). I thought of creating an All-Powerful Force of Neutrality, but kept on going back and forth on it. My character got turned into a Gollum and stretched out to 7 feet tall on a rack. Someone created an assassin with an atomic bomb. Someone else tried to use a saving throw when the bomb went off.
We drew maps. We designed weapons. We collected miniature figures and placed them on graph paper. We designed dungeons. We collected dungeon modules and dice. Our imagination was stoked and our social interactivity was very, very high.
When I left that school and moved to a public high school, I found the social situation there very different. I never was able to get back into gaming, though I still collected everything about Car Wars for some years (as I was a big fan of post-apocalyptic movies like The Road Warrior). Eventually I found the Society for Creative Anachronism and was able to live a historically-based, live action version of D&D, and for a time sneered at those who rolled dice to gain their skills, while I actually worked for it.
I never saw more than a few minutes of the D&D cartoon, but I followed the comic strip advertisements in the backs of comic books in the early 1980's. When the Dungeon and Dragons movie finally came out, I was very excited. For decades there had been films and TV shows that, to one degree or another, I felt were trying to bring the D&D world to life, and I, in turn, had tried to turn those movies into games (you can see a list that includes many of those movies at http://www.geocities.com/historicalmovies). Now someone was actually going to make that movie for real. The movie was poor, but fun. Though the acting was uneven, the writing corny, and the Wayans brother character the most politically incorrect ethnic stereotype since JarJar Binks, it was great to see all the swordfighting, the flying dragons, and lets admit it, Thora Birch in those fantasy costumes.
There was a sequel to that movie, however, Dungeons and Dragons, the Wrath of the Dragon Gon, that finally did it right. A team of adventurers was assembled to go on a quest to retrieve a magic item and save the kingdom. Each character represented a different race or class of character. There was problem-solving, trap avoiding, magic using, and exciting battle action, sometimes all at the same time. Characters of differing alignments had to learn to work together. Some did not make it, but those who did found they had grown and gained skill, treasure, or power. Gygax was interviewed in the “special features†of the DVD of that film, and admitted that he was happy with the way that film turned out.
Although he lost control of the game and company that he founded, he kept active in the industry, and obviously loved creating games. Role playing games have brought many of us together, given us a common social bond, and in many cases, enabled us to get valuable life experience. Though some make the joke about how D&D geeks are socially atrophied nerds who can't deal with the real world, it has given many lived, and our culture, a richness and vitality, a passionate escape, a source of pleasure and cause for social gathering that the world would be poorer without.
Now the father of those games is gone, and we are poorer without him.
Captain Zorikh
http://www.captainzorikh.com
http://www.bigapplecon.com
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Captain
RIP Gary Gygax + -
RIP Gary Gygax
A father is gone.
The world that we in the fantasy fan community enjoy, one in which wizards and warriors, elves and dwarves, magic and monsters and yes, dungeons and dragons are common parlance owes a great deal of debt to the man who placed a dragon in a wargame.
When I was 11 year old I had heard of D&D, but had never actually seen the game. Then someone in school brought out the three books and the half-dozen dice and started a campaign. That was it. Everyone in 7th and 8th grade was hooked. Every spare moment of time was taken up by D&D adventuring. Eventually this expanded into Traveler, Boot Hill, Gamma World, Time Tripper, Car Wars, and more games that I can remember. In that school being what we would call today a “geek†or “dork†was cool. It was hip. Social status was based on being the first one to have a new game, or the best game that week.
We designed our own character sheets. We drew up our own characters. We created our own gods and monsters. “The Emperor†was the All-Powerful-Force of Evil (yes, inspired by Empire Strikes Back), “Enigma†was the All-Powerful Force of Good (from the Micronauts comic book, I think). I thought of creating an All-Powerful Force of Neutrality, but kept on going back and forth on it. My character got turned into a Gollum and stretched out to 7 feet tall on a rack. Someone created an assassin with an atomic bomb. Someone else tried to use a saving throw when the bomb went off.
We drew maps. We designed weapons. We collected miniature figures and placed them on graph paper. We designed dungeons. We collected dungeon modules and dice. Our imagination was stoked and our social interactivity was very, very high.
When I left that school and moved to a public high school, I found the social situation there very different. I never was able to get back into gaming, though I still collected everything about Car Wars for some years (as I was a big fan of post-apocalyptic movies like The Road Warrior). Eventually I found the Society for Creative Anachronism and was able to live a historically-based, live action version of D&D, and for a time sneered at those who rolled dice to gain their skills, while I actually worked for it.
I never saw more than a few minutes of the D&D cartoon, but I followed the comic strip advertisements in the backs of comic books in the early 1980's. When the Dungeon and Dragons movie finally came out, I was very excited. For decades there had been films and TV shows that, to one degree or another, I felt were trying to bring the D&D world to life, and I, in turn, had tried to turn those movies into games (you can see a list that includes many of those movies at http://www.geocities.com/historicalmovies). Now someone was actually going to make that movie for real. The movie was poor, but fun. Though the acting was uneven, the writing corny, and the Wayans brother character the most politically incorrect ethnic stereotype since JarJar Binks, it was great to see all the swordfighting, the flying dragons, and lets admit it, Thora Birch in those fantasy costumes.
There was a sequel to that movie, however, Dungeons and Dragons, the Wrath of the Dragon Gon, that finally did it right. A team of adventurers was assembled to go on a quest to retrieve a magic item and save the kingdom. Each character represented a different race or class of character. There was problem-solving, trap avoiding, magic using, and exciting battle action, sometimes all at the same time. Characters of differing alignments had to learn to work together. Some did not make it, but those who did found they had grown and gained skill, treasure, or power. Gygax was interviewed in the “special features†of the DVD of that film, and admitted that he was happy with the way that film turned out.
Although he lost control of the game and company that he founded, he kept active in the industry, and obviously loved creating games. Role playing games have brought many of us together, given us a common social bond, and in many cases, enabled us to get valuable life experience. Though some make the joke about how D&D geeks are socially atrophied nerds who can't deal with the real world, it has given many lived, and our culture, a richness and vitality, a passionate escape, a source of pleasure and cause for social gathering that the world would be poorer without.
Now the father of those games is gone, and we are poorer without him.
Captain Zorikh
http://www.captainzorikh.com
http://www.bigapplecon.com
Captain
THE WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED! + -
We used one 8-sided die and two 10-sided dice to find the three-digit numbers that would correspond with the winners. Three members of the audience rolled the dice. The first numberthat came up was 440. The second number was 822. There were then two alternate numbers rolled in case there was any problem with the first two. The first alternate number was 105, the second was 382.
Numbers 1-211 were on paper, the rest, which turned out to be 212-811, were in the Going.com website. So HERE ARE OUR WINNERS:
#440: Jason Lowery prze: $1000 shopping spree at the Big Apple Convention
#822: (ineligible, no name at that number)
#105: Eric Montesa: $500 shopping spree of gaming merchandise at the Big Apple Convention.
The second alternate number's name will be announced if one of the winners fails to respond in 14 days.
If you are the winner, please respond immediately. We want you to use the shoping spree today. If you cannot make it to the con today, you may use it at our September convention.
Look for Captain Zorikh at the convention, he will be wearing the black uniform of the Death Star Repairman, with a "Shazam" shirt underneath, and he will be hosting the costume contest at 3:00 PM. If you cannot make it today, contact us at http://going.com/bigapplecon
Captain
Win up to $500 to spend on gaming stuff at Big Apple Con! + -
Going.com is a new website about finding things to do. It works much like MySpace, Tribe, or Yahoo. You can create a profile, post pictures, blogs, make friends, join groups, and search for events in your area by typing in keywords like "dancing," "baseball," or "comic books" (which will bring up the Big Apple Convention, of course).
All you have to do is go to http://www.going.com/bigappleconevent and RSVP by entering your name and e-mail address. This will sign you up for the Big Apple Covnention's mailing list and join you to Going.com. You will also be entered into a drawing for the $1000 shopping spree and the $500 gaming shopping spree. It does not matter if you are already on the Big Apple Covnention's e-mail list, you can stil RSVP through going.com and enter the drawing.
Winner need not be present at the drawing. The prize may be used either on June 24 or September 15-16 at the Big Apple Convention.
So go to http://www.going.com/bigappleconevent, and I'll see you at the show!
Captain Zorikh
http://www.bigapplecon.com
Captain
Gaming at Big Apple Convention Jne 23-24 + -
- Tom Tafero, Gaming Director
Board Games will include:
Puerto RicoSettlers of Catan
Arkham Horror
Tigris and Euphrates
Junta!
Twilight Imperium
Conquest of the Empire
El Cid
And Many More!
Roleplaying Games will include:
Dungeons and Dragons
White WolfMarvel
And Many More!
RSVP now at going.com/bigappleconevent for a chance to win a $1000 general merchandist shopping spree or a $500 gaming shopping spree at the Convention!
Sooz
Exploit Boston Game Night in Allston tonight! (Tues, Febr 6) + -
Full info on the event listing:
http://boston.heyletsgo.com/event.php...
Sooz
Bored? Games! Tonight in Allston (Tues, Jan 2 7-11pm) + -
For more info and to add it to your HLG calendar, here's the event listing:
http://boston.heyletsgo.com/event-964...
Sooz
Board games tonight in Allston (Tues, Dec 5) + -
See you there!
http://heyletsgo.com/event-96428
Sooz
New location for Exploit Boston Game Night + -
The lighting at Soul Fire is much (!!) better than our previous location. Food is ordered at the counter so that means you won't be stuck at the same table all night -- it'll be a lot easier to jump around to different tables and meet more people to play more games.
If you'd like to add it to your calendar at HeyLetsGo, here's the event listing:
http://heyletsgo.com/event-90516
Sooz
Exploit Boston Game Night at the Common Ground on 10/3 + -
If you'd like to add it to your wishlist at HLG, here's the listing:
http://heyletsgo.com/event.php?event_...
Andrew
RE: Exploit Boston Game Night at the Common Ground on 10/3 + -
I'm actually going to be bringing a prototype of a new game I invented to this games night. I need people to help me test-play it -- if any of you want to help, you're more than welcome to.
It's a space game with little ship counters on a hex board, and the goal is to land a ship on the other side of the board (the enemy's homeworld). People commit to actions by writing them down, and the actions are then evaluated -- in random order. If the opponent's action gets in the way, your ship may not do what you expected it to!
There are cards which allow you to influence the battle (weaken an enemy ship, use a stronger gun, and so forth).
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of this game is the fact that you can actually lose ships to friendly fire! I don't want to give anything away, though.
ACG
Emily
Bridge + -
Andrew
RE: Bridge + -
On a completely separate note -- if anyone here likes playing Scrabble, I've found that there is a relatively competitive Scrabble club which meets every Monday at the Brighton Center police station (I think it's at 7 or 7:30 or something like that). They play with chess clocks most of the time -- you have 25 minutes to play all your moves (similar to tournament Scrabble) and use the latest edition of the official Scrabble dictionary (with wonderful words like QI and ZA).
ACG