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Know your roots have changed; 4E launches a new world
Even while creative maestro Metzen experiments with making World of Warcraft unique among its fantasy peers, there's not much denying that WoW has some pretty solid roots in, and respect for, Dungeons and Dragons. You can see proof of that in the patch notes from 2.4, which were dedicated to pen-and-paper legend, Gary Gygax. Many of us cruising Azeroth have some experience with good old D&D. WoW has pretty strong, deep roots in D&D, and those roots changed with the newly released 4th edition. What's new in the 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons? The class system is radically different, spells work differently, healing works differently, and fights work differently. Okay, it seems everything is pretty much different. But there's one big change that will probably make more than a few folks happy: no more Gnome PCs. Gnomes are now monsters, and not available for play in the core rules. A lot of the speculation about these changes is that D&D might be trying to distance itself a little from the World of Warcraft juggernaut. It's a good thing Blizzard isn't still following its roots. I'm looking forward to my Gnomish Death Knight in Wrath of the Lich King.
Off the Grid: Gygaxian game design
Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column about card games, board games, and everything else non-digital.The passing of Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax means the passing of one of gaming's most notable and influential designers. The legacy of Gary Gygax, however, is more difficult to discern than most realize. After all, the evolution of D&D is credited to both Gygax and co-designer Dave Arneson -- not to mention Gygax's other games, both before and after the golden age of his company Tactical Studies Rules. So what kind of designer was Gary Gygax?Gaming was already social when Gygax came on the scene. He was only one of a growing force of war-gamers. But it was Gygax that made gaming personal, with his own designs uniquely focused around the role of the individual. Instead of controlling the army, Gygax wanted to control the soldier. Instead of manning the fleet, Gygax wanted to man the ship.
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup remembers Gary Gygax
In a touching tribute to Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax, a handful of webcomics took it upon themselves to remember the visionary. Here are some of our favorites (note: not involved in voting process): Penny Arcade XKCD Dueling Analogs Order of the Stick Achewood And now for something completely different, our picks for the week's other best game-related webcomics. Be sure to vote for your favorite! Overstaffed (Awkward Zombie) Communications Degree (VG Cats) This is How I Roll (2P Start) Our Crucial Pamphlet (Penny Arcade) The Treachery of Base Building (Truck Bearing Kibble) Without You I'm Incomplete (Exploding Dog) A Few More Games I'm Glad Were Never Made (Dueling Analogs) Soylent Smash (GamerPALs)
Pen and paper roleplaying pioneer Gary Gygax is dead
Gary Gygax, who has long been attributed as the father of Pen and Paper roleplay gaming via the co-creation of the classic Dungeons and Dragons system alongside David Arneson, died this morning at his home in Wisconsin of an apparent heart attack. We here at WoW Insider would like to pay tribute to him, and recognize his contributions to our gaming lives. Even if the World of Warcraft is not a pen and paper game, pen and paper games were where many of us first gathered with friends to slay dragons, orcs, and all kinds of creatures, and a good number of us who now play games like World of Warcraft first cut our teeth on gaming with a six sided die. The same can be said for many game designers, I'm sure, and it is probably fair to say that we might not even have MMORPGs to play without PnP for the genre to spring from. I myself will have my weekly pen and paper game this Thursday, and even if the system we use isn't Dungeons and Dragons, I'll be rolling in his memory. Among some of the most memorable quotes from the impromptu message board eulogies I've heard was from someone who said, "He's in chaotic good heaven now." Another said, "As long as people gather around a table to roll dice and slay dragons, Gary Gygax won't be truly dead." I couldn't say it better myself. Godspeed, Mr. Gygax. May your memory live on.
D&D creator Gary Gygax dead at 69
The Associated Press is reporting that Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons, is dead today at age 69. He had been suffering ill health for several years, according to his wife.Dungeons and Dragons birthed the idea of the modern RPG as we know it -- conventions such as hit points, character classes, leveling and countless others were shaped by the pen and paper game, if not outright stolen from it. The seminal game was an explicit influence for countless video game developers, from Ultima's Richard Garriott to Deus Ex's Harvey Smith.We'll be sure to keep you updated with funeral details and other ways to pay your respects as soon as we hear about them.
