Some have asked my why I am the least of fans for Gygax and why I had once vowed to punch him in the nose if I met him.  It may also explain why the only version of D&D I have enjoyed is Pathfinder, and even then, by house ruling the shit out of it.

 

I do regret slightly that I never met him, so I could punch him, but I guess that is for the best.  I am largely over the whole thing, since he is now gone, but it has made me unpopular in some nerd circles and others have been straight up hostile with me for it.  Whatever.  And since I know that most gamers don’t study martial arts as I have,  I say this,

“Come at me, bro.”

Anyway, here is that story, if you still care.

My disdain for all things Gygaxian began when I read an article he wrote back in the mid 80s in Best of Dragon I.  Somewhere, I still have that article, but it is available online somewhere if you want to validate what I say is true.  His damning statements were (paraphrased):  “I was not influenced by Tolkien in writing D&D” and “Gandalf was a 3rd level Magician, at best.”

He claimed he took everything that he wrote from the same sources that Tolkien did (older mythological works) and apparently came to the same conclusions and mostly the same names as Tolkien did.  I am not prepared to refute this, even though it is clearly bullshit.  Orcs. Orcs, coming from the Quenya “Yrch” that elves called them in disgust.  And Halflings?  Really? The society Gygax writes about just SCREAMS Hobbits.  Gorramit, Gary!

Anyway, I digress.

The second statement was the one that made me think perhaps he really hadn’t read the books or was jsut trying to pretend he hadn’t to make his point.  Like, the original Troll, he got me.

Gandalf was a frakkin’ Maia.  A saint, by Catholic terms, and the second most powerful one at that.  Only Sauron held more raw power than Gandalf.  Even Saruman, head of the Wizard order, was seduced by Sauron and led to the Dark Side (if you will pardon my cross-referencing Star Wars).  Saying he was a 3rd level magician, at best, because he didn’t SHOW his power is about as ignorant as the idea that AS WRITTEN, any version of D&D is a role-playing game. But, that last part is a discussion for another time.

Gandalf said, in the passes headed through the Misty Mountains when he used a small spell to start the campfire, that now he has shown himself  “in signs that could be read as far as the mouth of Anduin, ‘Gandalf is here!'”.  Again, paraphrased.  Any use of immortal power, as Gandalf had, was visible to anyone else that could wield that kind of power, namely Saruman and Sauron.

So, to keep everyone safe, he could not use any real power and every time he did, it risked the Fellowship.  Imagine what a beacon the fight with the Balrog must have been! All of the Maia in Middle Earth, and all of the Elven  Ring Bearers, were likely aware of the fight and its outcome.  Only when “naked, I was sent back until my task was done” did he have the ability to openly show himself, as he no longer had to protect the Ringbearer. 

In short, Gygax was an idiot and, through folks that knew him, I am informed he took credit for things that were not his creation.  I cannot confirm or deny this, so it will remain rumour until evidence presents itself.

Still, I won’t start liking him or give him respect now that he is dead.  I will revere Dave Arneson, as the real father of roleplaying, as he truly deserves it much more.  But Gygax?  As a desert person, I waste water to show my disdain for him.

*spit*

That is all.