Memories of Dave Arneson

[Finarvyn]

With Dave's passing I think that the "health update" thread has become somewhat obsolete. I thought it would be nice to start a new thread where folks can talk about the good things that Dave meant to us.

Maybe stories of playing with Dave, for those lucky enough to have done so. Perhaps thoughts on how Dave or his gaming visions have influenced your game.

If you posted something in the other thread, feel free to copy it and repost it here. These memories can help keep the spirit of Dave alive on these boards.

[harami2000]

Apr 9, 2009 13:03:23 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

I thought it would be nice to start a new thread where folks can talk about the good things that Dave meant to us.

Nice idea, thank you.
Before the campfire gets going, a nice low-key tribute in heartfelt vein from Rich Burlew; www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0644.html . Not forgotten (regardless of edition, it was, and is fun....).

Apr 9, 2009 13:03:23 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

Maybe stories of playing with Dave, for those lucky enough to have done so. Perhaps thoughts on how Dave or his gaming visions have influenced your game.

Play on...
*settles down to listen*

[gsvenson]

That was neat. Thanks for sharing the comic strip. It really gets the idea across about what changed in Dave's basement back in 1971 when Dave was first putting this together...

[Deleted]

I'll try to post my thoughts as a high schooler in the mid1970's when I was first exposed to D&D. I can't right now, though. Dave couldn't have picked me out of a police lineup but I've nonetheless lost a dear friend.

[grodog]

I never gamed with Dave, and only met him in person twice, once in passing at GenCon 2004 at the Kenzer Booth, and once at GenCon 2007 (the 40th anniversary show). I was going to have lunch with Erol Otus to talk about some projects we were working on, but we had somehow missed our rendezvous, and eventually RJK and I bumped into each other and decided to get some lunch in the food "court" outside the dealer's hall. Once Rob and I finagle a table, it turned out that we were right next to Erol, so we invited him over to join us. Within a few minutes Dave was wheeled over by his GenCon staffer to Erol's now-empty table. Dave and Rob immediately reconnected, and Rob introduced Dave to Erol and me. Then we had a nice lunch together, hanging out and talking about life, writing, sailing, art, creativity, and such. Not much in the way of gaming was discussed, which was a nice refuge from the rest of the show---a quiet hour of peaceful conversation while the dealer's hall, auction, and thousands of gaming events whirled around the hurricane eye of our lunch.

[thegreyelf]

I've only had the honor of meeting Dave once, at Gen Con last year, but he was a perfect gentleman and very kind and patient even though he was clearly in poor health and quite tired. I shook his hand and thanked him for everything he'd done for the hobby. He half-smiled and said, "Thank YOU for playing."

My only regret is that I listened to the guys at his booth when they earlier told me he wouldn't sign my OD&D books and would only sign "something you buy at this booth." So I did buy the Dungeons of Castle Blackmoor for D&D 3.x and had him sign that.

Dave later told me in discussions on these message boards that it simply wasn't true that he was only signing stuff bought at the booth, and offered to sign the OD&D books for me if I mailed them to him with return postage; he even PMed me his home address. I never sent the booklets because I was afraid of them getting destroyed in two consecutive trips through U.S. Mail. But I think that speaks to the kind of guy he was. "Sorry about the miscommunication, Jason*. If you mail the books to me I'll be happy to sign them and mail them back to you."

In retrospect I kind of wish I'd risked them getting damaged in the mail.

*[yes, he even bothered to address me by my proper name]

[coffee]

I met Dave twice, both times at The Source Comics and Games.

Each time he cheerfully signed the books I brought. He seemed quite amused when I showed up with a copy of his Dungeonmaster's Index, like he hadn't seen a copy in a long time.

I really wished I'd had a question for him, but I could never think of a thing to ask.

[codeman123]

I wish i had the opportunity to have met him. i remember at gencon 04' i heard he was hanging around but never could find him to my dismay. I still hold this man in very high regard and wish that i could have thanked him for all he has done. Farewell Dave you will be missed...

[sham]

Someone correct me if I am wrong on this, but as far as I am aware Dave Arneson created the concepts of dungeon crawling and sandbox style play wherein the actions of the players define the world.

Dave's pre-D&D games included fundamentals such as experience and levels, hit points, randomization (dice and tables).

Perhaps Dave cannot be solely credited with inventing D&D, but based on the above it was certainly his idea. An idea which had a different name and required another author to transform it into a published, playable game.

That's my take on it anyway. Dave Arneson's brain child was Blackmoor which became D&D. Without Blackmoor there would have been no Greyhawk and subsequently no D&D.

[havard]

Great idea for a thread Fin,
it is always interesting to read about people who have talked to or gamed with Dave. I am happy to have met him briefly, back in 2003 at GenCon. We didnt have a chance to chat as much as I would have liked to, but he came across as a really nice person.

I am sure others have much more interesting stories, but I just wanted to share mine.

Havard