Does anyone else think we should start a fund to build a mausoleum for E. Gary Gygax (who died Monday), based on the layout of the Tomb of Horrors? I mean, building a gelatinous cube and the sphere of annihilation would be a challenge, but it would be so worth it. Plus, Lake Geneva could use a tourist attraction. So what if it would kill 98% of the people who went into it.
Image thanks to Mad Irishman, and
is probably © Wizards of the Coast
Update: It also appears that EGG’s death is causing a number of people to break out their old, original D&D books to play “tribute” games. I suspect that people might wind up seeing how much better the original was in some ways (worse in others, of course). For example, people who have never played a D&D game that didn’t involve feats may be in for a surprise. It would be cool if this brought more people to the idea that simple rules sets are often better, and bail out on all these systems that are built around micro-rules, such as feats and charms and spells and so on, that really exist as a driver to sell more books.
For those itching for some original AD&D goodness, but who don’t
have the books and can’t find them in a torrent somewhere (*cough*),
there is an alternative. The Old School Reference &
Index Compilation (OSRIC) is an open license version of what are
basically the original AD&D rules, legally sanitized to remove
“artistic representation” and trademarks owned by TSR Wizards
of the Coast. Happy hunting.
Update 2: Looks like someone actually is building a Gary Gygax Memorial. Sadly, just a bust of the man, not a full on tomb.