Robert McNees
Game designer Gary Gygax, who co-created Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson, was born #OTD in 1938.
He had some lame views about women being able to enjoy RPGs (and who knows what else). But he’s not the boss of enjoying D&D, so I hope you enjoy it with especial relish today.
Robert McNees
Gygax claimed to be a biological determinist. Based on his limited experience, he decided women just didn’t enjoy D&D. (Though, he added, they were just as good at it as men.)
If you also find this ridiculous, I encourage you to cast “Speak with Dead” and let him know.
Robert McNees
Anyway, most people don't know this, but back in 1978 Gary Gygax also invented posting on social media.
Image: Dave Trampier
Robert McNees
Gygax created a cherished part of my childhood. Pouring a cup of coffee and digging in to some 1st edition books, modules, and maps this evening.
Robert McNees
A good premise for a low-level adventure would be set in a college for magic where students use Magic Mouth as a version of social media. The wall where they post is cursed with a sort of magical contagion that causes them to become obsessed. First they neglect their studies, then taking care of themselves, then even eating. The party has to break the curse, and figure out who is behind it. No one in the party can be a magic-using character.
Fayedray
@mcnees thank you citizen of earth
Robert McNees
@darrelplant Nice!
Darrel Plant
Robert McNees
@cra1g @darrelplant Not weird at all! I think that preference I s the basis for the whole OSR movement.
Craig Froehle
@darrelplant @mcnees Is it weird that the red-cover Basic rules are still my favorite version of D&D? I mean, strip out every truly non-essential rule and that's the way I've preferred to play the game since 1980. And yes, weird views aside, the development of the modern RPG should go down as one of the greatest inventions in entertainment history.
Robert McNees
@avram I’d never heard that story! Is it right that she's still publishing it?
Avram Grumer
@mcnees In 1975, Gary Gygax phoned Lee Gold, editor of the #ttRPG-themed apazine Alarums & Excursions, expecting her to be a man. Gygax spent most of the conversation incredulously sputtering “You’re a woman!” over and over.
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