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RIP Greg Stafford, a Fundamental Personage of the RPG Industry (chaosium.com)
"The first published RPG was Dungeons & Dragons, shortly followed by some other imitative games," Greg Stafford once said. "Chaosium, however, was never content to imitate but published games that were original in style of play, content and design."
Greg Stafford died Thursday at the age of 71. Long-time Slashdot reader argStyopa shares this memorial from Chaosium's Michael O'Brien. As one of the greatest game designers of all time; winner of too many awards to count; and a friend, mentor, guide, and inspiration to generations of gamers, "the Grand Shaman of Gaming" influenced the universe of tabletop gaming beyond measure. Greg founded The Chaosium in 1975... Under his leadership, the company quickly became renowned for its originality and creativity, and was responsible for introducing numerous things to the hobby that are standards today. As John Wick (7th Sea, Legend of the Five Rings) memorably said, "The older I get, the more I hear young RPG designers say 'Never been done before!' And then I just point at something Greg Stafford did a few decades ago."
Greg's work in roleplaying games, board games, and fiction have been acclaimed as some of the most engaging and innovative of all time. There will doubtless be many valedictory messages over the coming days from the countless people that Greg inspired and enthused across his many interests and passions -- Glorantha, Oaxaca, King Arthur, shamanism, mythology and more. For now, we leave you with the words of the Myth maker himself, speaking at the 2018 ENnies Awards ceremony, his last public engagement
"When I started Chaosium in 1975... we never imagined, truly, that it would reach the magnitude that it has today," Stafford tells the audience. "It went through a long period of being some strange thing that just random geeks did... I figure when role-playing games get on The X-Files and The Simpsons, we've made it..."
""It's true that it's not us. We're a bunch of obsessive-compulsive, detail-minded game designers, people looking desperately for a job that doesn't make them wear a tie to work, artists who would've never had a market without our industry. We all do a lot of work, but in fact we're just a small handful of people, and truly the phenomenon that we have today is not due to us, but is due to you, the fans and the players. We really appreciate everything that you've done... I want to say thank you to all of you fans."
The forum at Basic Roleplaying Central has started a condolences thread.
Greg Stafford died Thursday at the age of 71. Long-time Slashdot reader argStyopa shares this memorial from Chaosium's Michael O'Brien. As one of the greatest game designers of all time; winner of too many awards to count; and a friend, mentor, guide, and inspiration to generations of gamers, "the Grand Shaman of Gaming" influenced the universe of tabletop gaming beyond measure. Greg founded The Chaosium in 1975... Under his leadership, the company quickly became renowned for its originality and creativity, and was responsible for introducing numerous things to the hobby that are standards today. As John Wick (7th Sea, Legend of the Five Rings) memorably said, "The older I get, the more I hear young RPG designers say 'Never been done before!' And then I just point at something Greg Stafford did a few decades ago."
Greg's work in roleplaying games, board games, and fiction have been acclaimed as some of the most engaging and innovative of all time. There will doubtless be many valedictory messages over the coming days from the countless people that Greg inspired and enthused across his many interests and passions -- Glorantha, Oaxaca, King Arthur, shamanism, mythology and more. For now, we leave you with the words of the Myth maker himself, speaking at the 2018 ENnies Awards ceremony, his last public engagement
"When I started Chaosium in 1975... we never imagined, truly, that it would reach the magnitude that it has today," Stafford tells the audience. "It went through a long period of being some strange thing that just random geeks did... I figure when role-playing games get on The X-Files and The Simpsons, we've made it..."
""It's true that it's not us. We're a bunch of obsessive-compulsive, detail-minded game designers, people looking desperately for a job that doesn't make them wear a tie to work, artists who would've never had a market without our industry. We all do a lot of work, but in fact we're just a small handful of people, and truly the phenomenon that we have today is not due to us, but is due to you, the fans and the players. We really appreciate everything that you've done... I want to say thank you to all of you fans."
The forum at Basic Roleplaying Central has started a condolences thread.
Respawn time is endless.
Back in the day, Thanks for many hours of enjoyment.
;)
Just my 2 cents
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
The game changed for the worst when Avalon Hill re-imagined it, but the 2nd Edition was excellent. Many weekends were spent with friends playing this game. Thanks Greg!
Clickety Click
Greg was one of the nicest guys to hang out with in addition to running the companies without being a dick (Steve Jackson's polar opposite). Of course they were stomped by the evil cash grabbing juggernauts of Games Workshop *hiss*, WOTC (Wizards of the Coast) *spit* and Hasbro *piss* but, have been able to hang out in the industry regardless. I wish the others still roving the halls of Chaosium my condolences and hope we don't lose any more too soon. A toast to one of the fallen greats!!!
"Be particularly skeptical when presented with evidence confirming what you already believe." -
No nerd ever thought that the "athletic popular kids" were smart.
You're the confused one.
Slashdot Poll:
Which is the most tiresome running "joke" on Slashdot?
1) apk
2) creimer
3) apps!
4) Cowboy Neal
Actually, people who feel the need to put other people down on the internet are self-loathing people; thereâ(TM)s nothing that screams âoeI am desperately lonelyâ like blathering your opinion to a million anonymous people, none of whom care....including me! Bye bye, now.
King Arthur Pendragon was a great piece of work.
It was a rare case where not just the 'set-dressing' impressed (for a long stretch that was GURPS selling point with their catalog of supplements), but the game mechanics alone elevated it to as close to true art as a commercially produced game could get in my estimation.
I never played the old RuneQuest, but it casts a long shadow and I've heard a lot of good about it.
And some of that RuneQuest magic got into 'King of Dragon Pass' which I find endlessly entertaining on PC or handheld device.
Sleep well maestro.
Let Us Win Glory For Our King,
Who Will Reward Us With Honors and Lands;
and the Devil Take the Hindermost!
This guy's up there with EGG and Arneson as one of the luminaries of the RPG world.
I made his acquaintance a few times, and we exchanged emails on a few subjects as I did some artwork for one of his products.
One of the most open, generous, kind men I've ever met.
RIP Greg.
-Styopa
I ended up STARTING freshman year playing lacrosse for what became a national power @ LeMoyne in college & I was also NHS/NJHS in highschool too - you CAN be both.
I always thought MORE of guys that were "both ways" & more "ecclectic" for lack of a better expression than being LIMITED to only 1 scope in labels of "jock" or "nerd" etc. - why?
MORE OPTIONS IN LIFE!
(I also got along well w/ "losers" & "druggies" too - why not - they're all people (& there were pretty girls in ALL crowds - take advantage & INCREASE your SURFACE AREA, lol))
Beware "labels" - not one size fits all.
APK
P.S.=> To be honest? I could run w/ ANY "jock" (in highschool I played w/ OR against MOST of the guys who became the D1 powerhouse @ SU & scored on SU too after) OR "nerd" - I was in the same "honors" classes, got the same OR BETTER grades @ 1 of the BEST HIGHSCHOOLS scholastically + ATHLETICALLY OVERALL in NY State (& compared to most WANNABE nerds to "TALK" a lot but do ZERO around here? I can PROVE it https://it.slashdot.org/commen... can they? NOT MANY I see (maybe a handful @ most/best))... apk
See subject: YOU are, UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous do-NOTHING "ne'er-do-well"! Your results vs. me SUCK https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... lol (& that's only 1 of 100's I can come up with)
* ... & you KNOW it!
APK
P.S.=> Do something w/ your LIFE, ok? Being FAT, STUPID, & LAZY is no way to live your life ... apk
My group of friends started with AD&D and then, rather quickly, moved on to Chaosium games and played often little else.
From Runequest (2nd. ed), which was our main game (3rd edition was quickly discovered to be crap after they outsourced it) and we branched out into almost all the others: Stormbringer, Hawkmoon, Elf Quest, Call of Cthulhu, Ringworld, and Pendragon. The rule system (basic role playing) and it's variations weren't overly cumbersome and didn't get in the way of a good adventure, and the worlds were amazing to live in.
These games enriched our lives. I can't imagine my teenage (+) years without them.
RIP, Greg and thanks for everything.
Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. - Ambrose Bierce
I've heard of Gary Gygax (DnD), Steve Jackson (GURPS), Richard A. Bartle (Hearts, Clubs, Spades, Diamonds: Players who suit MUDs), Klaus Teuber (Settlers of Catan), etc. but never this guy.
What games did he work on?
Maybe this post could have listed some of his accomplishments in more detail.
I've been playing table top RPGs since the late 80's and proper strategy board games since the early 90's and I have no concept of who he is or what "The Chaosium" is. Sure, I might know him if some of his works were mentioned but as of right now I have no clue who this guy is.
If he's so influential this slashdot article is a terrible way to remember him.
I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
I will kick your ass six ways to Sunday (which is tomorrow), bitch.
See my subject & Where have I heard THAT one before liar? Oh, that's right - a couple days ago, lol https://mobile.slashdot.org/co... + you are just SO "brave" behind your UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous post too pusscake... lol!
* Keep on DREAMIN'!
APK
P.S.=> You're SO FULL OF SHIT it's not funny... apk
FOLKS, major announcement! We have a winner: THIS bigmouthed punk UNIDENTIFIABLE 'brave' anonymous DOUCHE https://games.slashdot.org/com...
* There can be NO DOUBT now...
APK
P.S.=> Man - you've gotta LOVE the entertainment that little UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous CLOWN provides... apk
Hahahaha YOU WIN "The prize" you "brave" UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous punk https://games.slashdot.org/com... lol!
* RoTfLmAo @ U fool...
APK
P.S.=> ENJOY your 'prize' - you EARNED it for being SUCH an ENTERTAINING EFFETE puny CLOWN, lol... apk
That should be whose wizard. Just sayin'.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
... and yet you can't spell 'eclectic'. Go figure.
Role playing games are fine as long as you can tell the difference between the real world and the game. But society is working hard to de-train that ability in you, and the game developers keep piling on the killing because it gives them wood and they want gamers to have wood too. You could have wood role playing in a bedroom with another real, enthusiastic human being you happen to respect and care for but that would crush enlistment rates. And don't forget the jobs building missiles, those would be gone too. Virginia's economy would collapse.
Merely a typo, go figure & yes I noticed it myself also (& yes I was a national spelling bee contestant, for real, in elementary school too).
APK
P.S.=> It happens - I never said I was perfect BUT @ least I stand behind my words as MYSELF vs. HIDING like YOU DO "Mr. Spell Checker" (you going to turn "GRAMMAR NAZI" next?)... apk
You can't even SPELL YOUR OWN REAL NAME (or even your initials) Mr. Spell checker no balls UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous weaselboy!
* I misspelled that & again, I noticed it myself (I don't consider it a big deal unless it threw you for a loop due to your DYSLEXIA addled brain that is - it appears it may have, lol) - it even happened when I REPOSTED IT (cut & paste quick JUST TO SPITE YOU 'downmodpoint' ABUSERS) - going to give me guff on THAT too?
My apologies (not) for adversely affecting your SHORT-CIRCUITED puny brain & the hamster running on the wheel in it as your power source for it, lol!
APK
P.S.=> You're pitiful... apk
Show me your registered /. account - Let ME look through you post history & see if I can find a misspell - bet you I find TONS. Go for it.
* Let's see how that all works...
APK
P.S.=> You'll NEVER do it as you know I'll turn your OWN bs against you easily - you'll just keep "HIDING" & harassing me by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous posts like the WORM you are... apk
Halloween is coming up. It is not unusual for kids to make their own costumes from scratch, say of.... Gandalf. The Gray Gandalf, with pointy hat and sword and staff and all. Not unusual for 2018...
But this Kid here was probably the first, the first to dress up as Gandalf for Halloween, in 1965. The Ballantine paperbacks hadn't come out yet, so I based my costume on descriptions from the reviled, but still quite accurate to the first hardback printing, Ace paperbacks. As I went around trick and treating, I constantly had to explain just who Gandalf was. Gandalf mind you, not Merlin. "The Sword In the Stone" had been released recently, and what people knew of Wizards was based on Merlin. But Merlin was Blue; Gandalf was Gray.
I had my picture in the local newspaper, (The SI Advance), with the other third graders, in their costumes. Yup... captioned as Merlin.
I'm not saying that I invented modern "Role Playing"; but I would like to note that without Tolkien, it is quite unlikely that Dungeons and Dragons and Wizards and RPGs would have any cultural resonances at all. And I'm fairly sure that I was the first to Role Play Gandalf... for candy.
Oh, I later gained a little fame, just a little, because my future research in Gamma Ray Spectroscopy Optics, a subject that I'm something of a Wizard at.
So growing up is to trash people who brought joy into the lives of others eh? Thou are a sad and lonely ass indeed who shows his immaturity and ignorance proudly to the world.
Oh, mama's a callin', it's your nap time.
Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable
The only thing infantile here is you.
Trashing people for their hobbies just shows how sad and self-loathing you are.
And classic RPGs were played with a group of people in (major shock value warning) Real Life.
Too bad you've never experienced friendship, you might of become a decent person.
Enjoy your miserable life.
Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable