Sad News for Gamers

Gary Gygax died today. I never played the original D&D, although a friend did give me his old original books (I've forgotten why), but I've certainly played 2nd and 3rd edition, and any number of other role playing games that probably wouldn't exist if it hadn't been for D&D. As a gamer geek, I am sad. Sure, D&D in it's many incarnations has been criticized for being too complicated (THAC0 anyone), too aimed at teenage boys, and responsible for too many bad fantasy books that sound suspiciously like novelizations of D&D sessions, but it was the original role playing game and I have a fondness for it. So, thank you, Gary, wherever you are, for giving us sci-fi/fantasy fans yet another fun geeky hobby for our weekends. One with really awesome dice. Perhaps I'll see if I can find those old books and see if my gaming group can figure out how to run an original D&D game in tribute.