Farewell, Gary Gygax. We'll miss you.

Gary Gygax has died. Gygax was one of the co-creators of Dungeons and Dragons, and like many gen-X nerds, D&D was a big part of my youth. In fact, I think it's fair to say that I spent more time reading his words than I spent on any other single author to date. Gygax's books were more than just game rules. They were intelligently written, clever, and funny. They provided an outlet for exuberant teen-aged imaginations, and they served as tangible evidence that there were people like us "out there" in the grown-up world.

I formed my closest friendships over D&D, and I still keep in touch with those guys, more than 20 years later. I'm not saying those friendships wouldn't have formed without D&D, but 1200 hours (by my best estimate) of imaginary adventures together can't help but to have deepened the bonds between us. For that, Gary Gygax will always have my gratitude.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gygax personally, but from what I know of his public persona, I like to think that he's enjoying a well-earned rest in Arvandor, or maybe the Happy Hunting Grounds. Wherever he is, we'll miss him.