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If you got the joke in the title of this article, then you are probably one of the countless people mourning the loss of Gary E. Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons, and the fore-father of role-playing games. Gary’s influence can be seen in both pen and paper and online role-playing games even to this day.

The first time that I played D&D was ages ago (27 ages actually) with a few friends. We played the module Keep on the Borderlands, and to my recollection, we barely knew what we were doing. That didn’t stop role-playing from becoming the game of choice in my group of friends for the next 28 years. I dropped out of role-playing about 8 years ago when I was bit by the writing bug, but some of my friends stil play on weekly basis.

Even though I don’t play anymore, those early adventures (The Tomb of Horrors, The Temple of Elemental Evil) still influence and inspire me to this day. While many people disparge D&D as a game for nerds, I challenge anyone to show me a game that let’s exercise your creativity and imagination to the extent that role-playing does. Monopoly just doesn’t hold a candle.

So, let’s raise a horn of ale to ole Gary, who has begun his next adventure into that great dungeon in the sky.

Cheers!