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Gary Gygax

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Gary Gygax

Unread postby icycalm » 11 Dec 2020 12:51

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gygax

Wikipedia wrote:Despite his commitments to his job, raising a family, school, and his political volunteerism, Gygax continued to play wargames. It reached the point that Mary Jo, pregnant with their second child, believed he was having an affair and confronted him in a friend's basement only to discover him and his friends sitting around a map-covered table.


Wikipedia wrote:By 1974, Gygax's Greyhawk group, which had started off with himself, Ernie Gygax, Don Kaye, Rob Kuntz, and Terry Kuntz, had grown to over 20 people, with Rob Kuntz becoming the co-dungeon-master so that each of them could referee groups of only a dozen players.


Wikipedia wrote:TSR's annual D&D sales increased in 1982 to US$16 million, and in January 1983, The New York Times speculated that D&D might become "the great game of the 1980s"


Wikipedia wrote:Gygax's frustrations at work, and increased prosperity from his generous royalty cheques, brought a number of changes to his personal life. He and Mary Jo had been active members of the local Jehovah's Witnesses, but others in the congregation already felt uneasy about Gygax's smoking and drinking; his connection to the "satanic" game of D&D caused enough friction that the Gygaxes finally disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses. Mary Jo, continuing to resent the amount of time her husband spent "playing games", had begun to drink excessively, and the couple argued frequently. Gygax, who had started smoking marijuana when he lost his insurance job in 1970, started to use cocaine, and had a number of extramarital affairs. Finally in 1983, the two had an acrimonious divorce.


Cocaine & Dragons

Wikipedia wrote:At the same time, the Blumes, wanting to get Gygax out of Lake Geneva so they could manage the company without his "interference", split TSR Hobbies into TSR, Inc., and TSR Entertainment, Inc. Gygax became the President of TSR Entertainment, Inc., and the Blumes sent him to Hollywood to develop TV and movie opportunities. He became co-producer of the licensed D&D cartoon series for CBS, which led its time slot for two years.

Gygax, newly single, took advantage of his time on the West Coast, renting an immense mansion, increasing his cocaine use, and spending time with several young starlets.


Sex & Dungeons

Wikipedia wrote:Because he was occupied with getting a movie off the ground in Hollywood, Gygax had to leave the day-to-day operations of TSR to Kevin and Brian Blume. In 1984, after months of negotiation, he reached an agreement with Orson Welles to star in a D&D movie, and John Boorman to act as producer and director. But almost at the same time, he received word that back in Lake Geneva, TSR had run into severe financial difficulties and Kevin Blume was shopping the company for US$6 million.


John Boorman made Excalibur. This would have been a cool movie. Gygax must have loved the movie, it's a masterpiece. This is Boorman looking like an English knight:

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Wikipedia wrote:Sync magazine named Gygax number one on the list of "The 50 Biggest Nerds of All Time".


But

Wikipedia wrote:From an early age, Gygax hunted and was a target-shooter with both bow and gun. He was also an avid gun collector, and at various times owned a variety of rifles, shotguns, and handguns.



https://groovyhistory.com/gary-gygax-du ... ns-creator

Jacob Shelton wrote:His Insurance Job Inspired Him To Emphasize The Role Of Chance In D&D


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Fun fact: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons was released in 1978, the year of my birth.

The Ultimate creator was born in the year of Advanced.
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icycalm
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