The man known as the "founding father of the modern role playing game," Gary Gygax passed away this morning , March 4, at 69 years-old. Gygax, known for creating the massively popular pen-and-paper series Dungeon & Dragons, was a staple in the miniature war game scene in the late '60s and helped propel fantasy writing and creativity into what it has become today.Although Gygax had been in poor health, suffering multiple strokes and a near-fatal heart attack, he was a mainstay on fantasy forums and gaming sites before his passing at his studio home at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin .
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else.," Gygax once described himself during a 2004 interview with GameSpy.
Ernest Gary Gygax is survived by his wife, six children and seven grandchildren.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-04-2008 @ 7:27PM
RudyHuxtable said...
A genius and an innovator.
His games may have scared my mother half to death, but to heck with her. I'll never forget playing through "Saga of the Shadowlord" and "Isle of Dread" way back when I was a geek... well, a newly christened geek, anyway.
All blessings, Gary.
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3-04-2008 @ 7:51PM
stinger503 said...
Gygax was hilarious in Futurama. "It's a pleasure..." rolls and reads dice "...To meet you."
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3-04-2008 @ 8:11PM
NukeAssault said...
lol yeah that was good sting.
RIP though. I may have never gotten into D&D mostly cause idk anyone that has it. But it sure had paved the way for rpgs.
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3-04-2008 @ 8:29PM
Starsmore said...
Guess he failed that Save Vs Death roll...
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3-04-2008 @ 8:43PM
John said...
That's 31 points towards my pool
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3-04-2008 @ 8:47PM
Jonah Falcon said...
Already posted the Gygax/Futurama pic at GameStooge:
http://www.gamestooge.com/2008/03/04/rip-gary-gygax-69/
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3-04-2008 @ 9:15PM
Ian Murray said...
Gary, this next roll is for you.
RIP, sir.
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3-04-2008 @ 9:36PM
CDN Crockett said...
Never played D&D, yet...........
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3-04-2008 @ 10:01PM
Richard Mitchell said...
While I never played D&D -- my brother absolutely loved it -- it's influence is undeniable. RIP Mr. Gygax.
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3-04-2008 @ 11:23PM
Ryan said...
Zero hit points remaining.
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3-05-2008 @ 12:50AM
Oorang said...
Legend
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3-05-2008 @ 12:57AM
Brian Q said...
Thanks for everything, Gary. If it wasn't for you I think a major chunk of all gaming communities would be lost, and without the creation of Dungeons and Dragons, I would not have my hero in Drizzt Do'Urden.
RIP, Gary.
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3-05-2008 @ 1:22AM
Jason L. said...
So happy to see this site and other video gaming sites acknowledging the passing of this RPG legend.
Without him, and without D&D, I have to wonder if the RPG video game and MMORPG genre would exist at all? Whatever the case, his influence and the influence of the game he co-created, cannot be understated.
I had e-mailed back and forth with Mr Gygax a couple of times over the last ten years, and he was always quite gracious, especially considering what an icon he was. If he had an ego, you wouldn't have known it. He seemed every bit a splendid human being.
He shall be missed.
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3-05-2008 @ 1:24AM
Jason L. said...
Of course I meant to say his influence cannot be overstated, not understated.
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3-05-2008 @ 5:03AM
Boff said...
R.I.P. Gary and best wishes to the Gygax family.
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3-05-2008 @ 7:40AM
Ruleroftheblind said...
Is anyone a high enough level cleric to cast resurrection? I've got a diamond worth 1000gp, all I need is a cleric!
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3-05-2008 @ 12:26PM
blakelloyd said...
Did he drop any loot?
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3-05-2008 @ 3:54PM
marnok said...
That's sad... right before he hit lvl 70....
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