If you’ve ever played World of Warcraft (or any other sword and magic role-playing game), or listened to Manowar (or any other sword and magic headbanging band) your imagination owes a real thank you to Gary Gygax, who missed his last saving throw March 4 at his home in fabled Lake Geneva, WI. The “father” of Dungeons & Dragons, Gygax started the company TSR in 1973, condensed a series of rules and theories into the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons in 1974. Later, he wrote the Dungeon Master’s Guide and the Player’s Handbook. He also wrote the Monster Manual — by now there is a metal band named after every creature in that book. The impact his game has had on heavy metal music is beyond my comprehension. As I said on my Sirius show today, I hope there is a heavy metal museum someday, I hope I am on the board, and I will do my best to cast special honor on non-metal dudes like Gygax, JRR Tolkien, and other wizards whose work has meant so much for the cause.
“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,” Gary Gygax, GameSpy interview 2005.
Below, an amazing D&D guide to prostitutes, from the DM Guide, courtesy of BoingBoing.net.
Don’t forget the Fiend Folio! That was the holy grail when that came out and there was a band named after it. (don’t think they are still around though)
I haven’t played D&D for a long time but it was the shit when I was in jr. high and beginning high school…until I discovered metal, booze & pussy. 🙂
I like the metal museum idea.
When I heard about Gary’s death it was like I had lost a parent. My life would be different if he never existed.
I am 100% I would not be into metal either.