Dave Arneson, 1947-2009
Dave Arneson, co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons, has passed away after battling cancer. Raise a tankard of ale and doff your helm in his honor.
It was Arneson who teamed up with Gary Gygax in the late 1960s/early 1970s to develop a new type of game that combined elements of medieval war simulations with fantasy storytelling. It’s tempting to say that Arneson brought the “fluff” to D&D, while Gygax was the “crunch,” but that’s really too simplistic. It is safe to say that Arneson’s ideas on storytelling, experience levels and rules flexibility shaped virtually every aspect of the RPG as an industry and an art form. Yet he never achieved the widespread fame that Gygax did, perhaps because his personality wasn’t the kind that drew attention. By most accounts, he was easy-going, good-humored and never took himself too seriously. I’ve always thought of him as the George Harrison of D&D.
Tonight, when I head over to my friend’s house for our weekly D&D session, I’ll definitely be thinking about the guy whose imagination and creativity made it possible. Thanks Dave! You brought joy to many. Fare thee well.
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April 9th, 2009 2:01 PM
BLACKMOOR!
April 9th, 2009 2:57 PM
We’ll leave a chair for him at Seder!
April 10th, 2009 8:00 AM
To another of our lads who has gone home to roll the big D20s in the sky. My crew and I will toast to his memory this coming Sunday.
April 10th, 2009 8:39 AM
Farewell, Dave. May the two warriors we sacrificed in your honor last night serve you well in the next adventure.