D&D master Gary Gygax was a nerd's nerd

SFGate ^ | 3/6/08 | Peter Hartlaub

[Teflonic]

He will always be remembered and his dream will live on. Haven't played in years but will be picking up the new 4th edition rulebooks in June to start a new gaming group in his memory.

[Paleo Conservative]

What was the cause of death?

[Red Badger]

Dragon fire............

[coydog]

No, it was... Magic Missile!

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

He failed his saving throw vs. Death.

[AppyPappy]

Died a virgin, no doubt.

[The KG9 Kid]

RIP again, Gary.

Without your initial idea so long ago, we would have never downed Illidan in Black Temple and wouldn't be wearing 4/5 Tempest Regalia and Cowl of the Illidari High Lord.

[Tanniker Smith]

Set both of your 20-sided die to 0-0

I noticed -- but that still didn't make any sense. Now, percentile dice can be set to 00, but that usually indicates 100, not 0.

[Teflonic]

He was in poor health and I read that he had suffered a fall recently.

[KarlInOhio]

Died a virgin, no doubt.

His six kids are all scratching their heads at that comment.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

You guys are too funny, I wasted many nights worshiping satin, uh... playing D&D!!!

[Mr. Jeeves]

Died a virgin, no doubt.

He was married and had six kids.

[bolobaby]

I know - this obviously wasn’t written by even a semi-nerd.

[AppyPappy]

Sounds like he knew how to fling his Magic Missile

[Domandred]

Three of cinema's greatest directors, two U.S. presidents and one Beatle have died during my time at The Chronicle, and I don't remember their passings generating more buzz in my inbox than that of Gygax.

Gygax's legacy is much greater then a lot of people would care to admit, or realize.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“Died a virgin, no doubt.”

I think his wife, six children (three boys, three girls), and various grandchildren would be surprised to find out about that.

I got hooked on D&D at age 18 -— awaiting shipment to basic training. (I was in “red” zone or whatever they call the B.S. when you are hanging around for two weeks waiting for slots to open and periodically getting shots.)

[KarlInOhio]

You guys are too funny, I wasted many nights worshiping satin, uh... playing D&D!!!

That's one strange religion.

[Teflonic]

You're right he should have said 10 sided die but of all the tribute articles I read today this one stood out. This line hit home:

But, in 1974, when D&D was invented, and later in the 1970s, when Advanced Dungeons & Dragons became immensely popular, it was a unique form of entertainment made by intelligent outcasts for intelligent outcasts who previously had little or no foothold in popular culture.

[Stimpson_J_Cat]

Dude!!! No freakin way!! Level 9 Cloak of sorrow, ACTIVATE!!!

[KC_Conspirator]

I should add that I am a 7th level paladin on my resume, just in his honor.