Celebrating Gary, Community, and Cap'n Nemos
Last year Gary Gygax, the co-inventor of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons died. The children of that game, and its brothers and sisters (among them Call of Cthulhu and Traveler) had kept me socially engaged for many an hour. And while I have seldom played more than twice a month in twenty years, I have played one tabletop, dice and paper role playing game or another continuously for over twenty five years. Gaming comes alive for me, not through first person shooter perspectives, amazing graphics and surreal soundtracks, but through the company I keep.
Everyone needs an out from their daily life, something, heck anything more than aimless internet cruising, sordid chat room visits and mindless television; alone, always alone. So I called a bunch of folks and invited them to play. A motley bunch of veteran gamers and total newbies we have managed to hack our way through the Village of Hommlet, aiming towards that fabled prize – The Temple of Elemental Evil. We use only first edition rules and modules written by Gary. All rules deputations are considered and adjudicated in the spirit of Gary. We commemorate the fun he built into his life by building it into our own. And in so doing, find ways past this kinetic entropy of post-modern life, towards authentic community.
My friend and i are the only ones left that play D&D from our group. We only use 1st edition rules and we have been playing for 29 yrs. I love the fact that trhere are still “purists” out there that enjoy the basics of the old rules. I have found that the new editions are too general and the classes aren’t as specific as the old. My buddy and I now only play over the net as he has been living in California and I am in ontario, Canada. Whenever he is home or I have a chance to go out there we do get together for some rolling. We owe Gary a huge debt. Long live EGG.
Dig it Seth! I’ve been playing and running games for years, but have learned so much by attending to the wisdom of the man himself – praise EGG!
Very beautifully put, Mike!
My old Michigan crew and I are still playing about once a month, even though we’re all a little older and greyer.
I’m very much enjoying your facebook posts on this — thank you for organizing it!