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Post by geneweigel on Mar 11, 2008 9:05:07 GMT -5
The Plaza is sold out? Well that IS another negative.  Just kidding! Seriously, last year I had sort of a legitimate business reason to go. Now business promotion would be in bad taste considering. Going around hawking my book: COME ON! GARY WAS GONNA READ IT! COME ON! I've got the guys that I was going with considering other options though. I am not at liberty to disclose the other options because then the cat would be out of the bag so to speak but most are just other "unique road trips". In regards to my past commentaries about Jim was that he pulled the Greyhawk expert card after GG was gone from TSR and he played that card really bad which set the stage for "Cook Hawk Wars" and then "Sgt Bland Hawk" in response (plus the later "editioning" of Greyhawk). Gary was fine with Jim however Gary never read (or wasted money) on anything from Greyhawk once it was out of his hands, He just had a vague notion that Jim did something not so great after he stuck it out with the then turned creatively bankrupt company. Believe me I tried to give Gary the highlights of Ward's latter TSR endeavors but he never wanted to hear it. He preferred to forget it and carry on. Blah, blah, blah... Anyway you have to look at his body of early work Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World with a positive "Tang"*, that was good stuff. At least until he updated them in th 90's so thats why I'm ambivalent in regards to Jim Ward.*See Ward's GREYHAWK ADVENTURES hardcover. |
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dcas
Warlock
Duke of Pennsylvania, Knight Commander
Posts: 481
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Post by dcas on Mar 11, 2008 14:35:19 GMT -5
You should go if you think you'll regret not going.
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Rhuvein
Magician
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Posts: 228 
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Post by Rhuvein on Mar 11, 2008 19:36:17 GMT -5
In regards to my past commentaries about Jim was that he pulled the Greyhawk expert card after GG was gone from TSR and he played that card really bad which set the stage for "Cook Hawk Wars" and then "Sgt Bland Hawk" in response (plus the later "editioning" of Greyhawk). Gary was fine with Jim however Gary never read (or wasted money) on anything from Greyhawk once it was out of his hands, He just had a vague notion that Jim did something not so great after he stuck it out with the then turned creatively bankrupt company. Believe me I tried to give Gary the highlights of Ward's latter TSR endeavors but he never wanted to hear it. He preferred to forget it and carry on. Blah, blah, blah... Anyway you have to look at his body of early work Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World with a positive "Tang"*, that was good stuff. At least until he updated them in th 90's so thats why I'm ambivalent in regards to Jim Ward.*See Ward's GREYHAWK ADVENTURES hardcover. Well, I don't know a lot about post Gygax Greyhawk and I'm not one to dismiss it just because someone else contributed something. I've read a few good things about some of the stuff, but I generally don't have any interest in it. With regard to Jim, if I were to guess, I'd say Jim or anyone still at TSR after Gary left - would most likely be more interested in keeping their job and getting a paycheck than worrying about whether or not Gary or anyone else approved their work. And I'd think Gary would understand this perfectly. And judging by the very close friendship that continued from back then to Gary's passing, I'd say that Gary either didn't care what Jim did or understood why he did it (and again, I really don't know what he did. But I'm now interested in his work). I do know what I've seen and read about Gary and Jim. Gary has certainly talked up Metamorphasis Alpha and his love of that game for years. I've been hoping that Jim would run some sessions at the LG CONS. Might be time to put a bug in his ear.  |
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 11, 2008 23:05:15 GMT -5
There was a long period of antagonism betwixt the two but it had nothing to do with my reasons. It had something to do with a public TSR battle. I know that at the turn of the century there was some forgiveness for Jim from Gary. So that feud had to run at least a decade or more there.
I was unaware of the feud and had my own aesthetic grounds for disliking latter end Ward stuff regardless of Gary's personal qualms and ultimate resolution.
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 11, 2008 23:13:12 GMT -5
Don't assume that I dismissed it like some automatic authority it took years to "dismiss" that Ward book for me. I just never used it because its clunky as hell. If thats dismissing then I want my money back 5 times over! Make no mistake I was a non-dismissing Ward apologist like you wouldn't believe! Til I just gave up one day on him after the early 90's GAMMA WORLD was so soulless! |
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 12, 2008 0:04:36 GMT -5
You should go if you think you'll regret not going. I popped my own balloon (the notion that I was "anybody" in the D&D spectrum) earlier today so I think my time would be better spent being creative with those who directly appreciate my real efforts and knock off all this pretensious "public D&D connoseur" bullshit that I put on. Can you imagine what I would say if asked to comment on Gary's career at a memorial? I'd probably get thrown out by security by the time I got to the mid-80's! |
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dcas
Warlock
Duke of Pennsylvania, Knight Commander
Posts: 481
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Post by dcas on Mar 12, 2008 0:20:58 GMT -5
Dude, just go and run a game.
That's what I would do if I could.
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 12, 2008 9:17:44 GMT -5
I don't have the means to get there now so its now out of the question. They were all downstairs watching BEOWULF when I came in and said I was starting the new rules at the next game session regardless if they're finished or not. The response was a unanimous "YES!" Well, a unanimous "YES!" in that they were completely wasted ! Anyway they've nixed going already it seems so thats that. |
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GT
Wizard
Duke of Indiana, Knight Commander
Posts: 2,032
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Post by GT on Mar 12, 2008 9:59:04 GMT -5
I'll be there, 'cause I gotta give my condolences to Gail (and Ernie and Luke if they're around) in person. This tore me up in the same way that John Lennon's and Joe Strummer's deaths did! A true icon of my generation (and others) no longer around. And a personal friend in this case... No more trading puns or me annoying him with questions on esoterica!
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ghul
Enchanter
Posts: 272
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Post by ghul on Mar 12, 2008 10:21:43 GMT -5
Well said, GT. I'll be there for those very same reasons -- and to game, just like Gary would've liked to have seen us do. Adn for a couple of pints as well... --Jeff T. |
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GT
Wizard
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Posts: 2,032
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Post by GT on Mar 12, 2008 10:29:01 GMT -5
I'll save some Bass for ya...
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Rhuvein
Magician
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Posts: 228
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Post by Rhuvein on Mar 12, 2008 11:05:14 GMT -5
Don't assume that I dismissed it like some automatic authority it took years to "dismiss" that Ward book for me. Oops. Sorry Gene, if I wasn't clear. I didn't mean you dismissed it, I meant myself. In others words, while I prefer Gary's Greyhawk certainly, I'm not the type to dismiss something without either looking at the book, or perhaps reading other people's assessment of same. Incidentally, because I like you, I'm going to send you one of my prized GH items . . The Adventure Begins by Roger E. Moore!!! And yes it's in shrinkwrap!! Heh, no need to thank me!  |
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Rhuvein
Magician
Beware . . Mjolnir
Posts: 228
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Post by Rhuvein on Mar 12, 2008 11:08:27 GMT -5
I'll be there, 'cause I gotta give my condolences to Gail (and Ernie and Luke if they're around) in person. This tore me up in the same way that John Lennon's and Joe Strummer's deaths did! A true icon of my generation (and others) no longer around. And a personal friend in this case... No more trading puns or me annoying him with questions on esoterica! I've notice you've been quiet, GT and understand (to the degree that I can). Condolences are to be offered to you and really everyone who knew Gary longer than I did - which is many of you here. |
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GT
Wizard
Duke of Indiana, Knight Commander
Posts: 2,032
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Post by GT on Mar 12, 2008 11:18:38 GMT -5
Yeah... the whole "poop" over at Rob's board and Gary's passing on have put a bit of a damper on even my exuberant nature; but I'll get over it (it helps to try to convince Scotty that I have the "right of it" on Monkish heirarchy! ) Then, I'll hoist another one to Gar-Bear and say: "See... I told ya there's hope for Mr. Gregg!" ^__^ |
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Post by xelloss on Mar 12, 2008 13:18:32 GMT -5
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Post by grodog on Mar 13, 2008 21:33:49 GMT -5
I'm still planning to attend, and I have 6 rooms reserved at the Plaza at the moment, which I'm likely to be releasing several of very soon: originally several friends locally and from the UK were going to attend LGGC, not sure if they are now. I'll confirm, and then free up the extra space.
Gene: I'd love to see you and Bill attend, and it would be fun to play and hang out. Don't worry about Rob.
Jeff: were you at Gary's funearl? I saw a guy who looked a lot like you, but was someone else I thought??
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 14, 2008 0:23:34 GMT -5
Gene: I'd love to see you and Bill attend, and it would be fun to play and hang out. Don't worry about Rob. On an insane perfect scenario I'd still like to go. I've lost the business angle totally there is absolutely no reason for a personal appearance by me. The highlight of the last trip was telling Gary that now that he's pinned out in the smoking lounge he's going to answer my "toee spider map is the true demonweb" theory once and for all. He answered with a growing smile that the introduction to Q1 was a fabrication on his part. THERE NEVER WAS A MAP OR AN ADVENTURE! (Solely because of him being stretched on business matters at the time. The fact that it looked like a spider, he explained was a coincidence: 8 radiating spider legs/4 element paths with symmetrically mirrored map plans) So how can I ever one up that? Frankly, losing sir Gygax is emotionally charging for me so in all honesty I'm still all over the map about doing something in his memory. I think I need to get that "I'll show em all" attitude back but I've found that it doesn't work well with austere functions.... BTW, as you may have guessed by now I have no reverence for the dead so thats another major problem! |
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ghul
Enchanter
Posts: 272
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Post by ghul on Mar 14, 2008 7:31:30 GMT -5
No, wasn't me, unfortunately. But I'll see you in June, dude. We will have some good times. We'll game, we'll drink (and toast Gary G.), we'll talk shop -- good times will be had!
Best,
--Jeff T.
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Post by xelloss on Mar 16, 2008 0:46:44 GMT -5
Hey, Gene, since you're the Duke of New York, does that also make you A #1??? Sorry, couldn't resist... ;D ;D ;D -Mark |
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 16, 2008 19:31:24 GMT -5
No, not in that "big man" sense! I'm more like the Borgnine "Cabbie" around here. |
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Just kidding!
