"Remus Shepherd" <re...@panix.com> wrote in message

> johan.g.lar...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Mar 4, 3:02 pm, jdnic...@panix.com (James Nicoll) wrote:
> > >         Gygax, co-creator of D&Dm, co-founder of TSR (once a
> > > significant publisher) and author of the Gord the Rogue [1] sword
> > > and sorcery novels, has died.

> > IMHO, D&D was one of those neat optional side-roads history took.
> > Table-top wargames were going to happen, storytelling in general was
> > going to happen, and I think the same holds for computer games. But
> > tabletop role-playing might not have, except for the efforts of a
> > fellow who liked to tell stories _and_ fight miniature battles.

> > I wonder how computer games would be different if GG hadn't created
> > D&D. Conanesque fantasy would surely be a smaller niche, but would
> > there be any larger effects?

>    Go read Slashdot.org and their announcement of this news.  A lot of
> computer programmers are giving D&D credit for their ability to understand
> rulesets, alter environments, and think creatively.

>    D&D had enormous impact on our world, and I don't know what popular
> culture, including movies, games and literature, would look without it.

>    How much of D&D's influence was due to Gygax is arguable, but he's
> definitely an icon for an entire generation of gamers and dreamers.

>    Godspeed, dungeonmaster.