I didn’t know much about Dave Arneson, only that he was the co-creator of D&D and that there was some big issue about giving him the credit he was due. I’m not much of an history buff about D&D so I never got the full story.
Most of what I do know about Mr. Arneson I got from reading Wizards post about the Temple of the Frog and from Ars Ludi’s Braunstein post (thankfully included in the Open Game Table Anthology).
Having started playing D&D with AD&D, I was mostly aware of Gygax and his work in the pre-internet days.
That does not prevent me now from extending my heartfelt condolences to the Arneson family and pay him an homage that only a tabletop RPGer can do.
Today I wrote a D&D adventure for my friends. I could have linked a few unrelated combat encounters and called it a day. But I went a bit beyond that. I gave it a old-school name (Crypt of the Thief-Prince), I made a story around it all , placed the adventure in a cool locale and created unusual encounters that I think my players will enjoy.
Tomorrow, I’ll play D&D and dedicate the game to Dave Arneson, may he rest in peace.
I always feel bad when I don’t know more about these RPG greats, like I am not properly honoring my ancestors.
I’ve had an opportunity to learn much more about him over the last few days, although under sad circumstances. Everything I read makes him sound like a great man. He sounds like a man you would be blessed to get to roll dice and speak in funny voices with.
Rest in peace, Mr. Arneson.
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Anytime we get involved in creative efforts we stand on the shoulders of giants. It’s inevitable that when we reach for the tools to express ourselves we pay homage to those who have gone before us and helped define them, craft them, hone them into the powerful ideas they are now. I don’t honestly know anything about Mr. Arneson. But the words and ideas he used have influenced countless others and helped found a culture of their own.
I can’t say anything about him as a person. I’m lacking knowledge of even the most basic things about his life. But I can say he helped create an idea and it took on a life of it’s own. To my eyes it’s become a wonderful thing that I’ve used to grow closer to friends and meet new ones for most of my life.
I just wanted to say thanks for posting this. It’s good to remember that the games we play originally came from starry eyed dreamers. I think it helps us remember to dream ourselves.