Gary Gygax (1938-2008)

I think it's safe to say that if it weren't for Gary Gygax, many of us would have never crossed paths, you would not be visiting this or any of the multitude of gaming sites out there, and all of our lives would hold a little less wonder and excitement. I cannot put into words the joy his creation brought into my life, nor thank him for the resulting friendships developed over the years because of it. The best friends I have are still the guys I started gaming with in 6th grade, and I cannot imagine what my life would be like without them. I pulled out my original boxed set last night and reread it, and once again I felt the awe and excitement that grabbed me as a ten year old so many years ago. For me personally, the highest praise I ever received (or will ever) for Fat Dragon came from Gary when he sent an e-mail about a year ago praising E-Z Dungeons, and his words of encouragement will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life. I believe every gamer owes Gary a debt for his hard work, creativity and generosity, and I can think of no better way to honor his memory than to keep playing and keep exposing new players to the wonders he created. If the measure of a person is the joy and happiness they give to others, then Gary was certainly one of the greatest of his generation. Thank you Gary and Godspeed.