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Post by geneweigel on Mar 23, 2017 6:53:59 GMT -5
I stumbled on to then started reading these posts on a blog called Tenkar's Tavern: www.tenkarstavern.com/search/label/gygax%20memorial%20fundWhat drama! I saw people poking fun at a proposed statue by an artist who did a Henry Winkler statue a while back but I don't recall where but at least Elmore sounds classier. The Gygax-Codesigner-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is present in some of the comments in the usual authorative monotone drone. I don't know. What is the point of a statue anyway? You can't really play a game in a park. Has anyone thought this through? My advice? Have it in a fucking library. At least there is a chance for a game and it'll promote the library. |
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 23, 2017 14:33:05 GMT -5
Why not screw the statue and make a place where people could game? Wargames in particular would have to be a main avenue.
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 10, 2017 23:00:42 GMT -5
I just did a follow up and it seems Tim Kask is saying that the memorial money was spent.
I totally forgot that I contributed to this by buying 4 reprint hardcovers. What a fiasco!
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Post by GRWelsh on Apr 11, 2017 7:38:01 GMT -5
It looks like the most recent update from the Gygax Memorial Fund is: "More exciting news regarding the monument in Lake Geneva soon!" But if the money is already spent...
"And the exciting news is... we're broke!"
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 11, 2017 8:56:27 GMT -5
I've always said that whenever money is involved the truth is always stranger than fiction. A real Gygax tribute statue would have Gary being interrupted from painting classic knight and dragon miniatures by a buck-toothed, coke bottle glasses goon with a miniature that looks like a Barbie doll with football padding, goggles and a sword that looks like a surfboard.  |
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foster1941
Warlock
Duke of California, Earl of Los Angeles, Knight Bachelor
Posts: 475
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Post by foster1941 on Apr 11, 2017 12:10:35 GMT -5
Every couple years they make a big announcement that sounds promising, but nothing tangible ever comes out of any of them. First there was the Gygax Games imprint at Mongoose Publishing that was going to launch a new edition of Lejendary Adventure, there was the memorial statue, and then last year there was the deal with the Hollywood producer guy. I guess the last one is recent enough that something might still come of it, but the fact that we haven't heard a single word about it since the initial announcement doesn't inspire confidence.
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 11, 2017 12:23:13 GMT -5
Yeah, its whacky enough of a pattern if you include the D20 rumors about Gail and the ZAGYG cancellation it seems that the whole picture is one that there is no future in a Gygax legacy. Thats the way I've been looking at it. In other news, the D&D movie rumors are seeming to be better: www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?4012-Joe-Manganiello-is-Writing-the-D-D-Movie#.WO0QC6K1uUkThis is the guy who just in PEE WEE'S BIG HOLIDAY (2016) on Netflix which frankly I gave two thumbs up to. |
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Post by Scott on Apr 12, 2017 15:29:35 GMT -5
Yeah, I enjoyed the Pee Wee movie too. Joe M is a local, and you can spot him around now and then. He was recently in a 5E celebrity D&D clip making the rounds.
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 14, 2017 18:30:43 GMT -5
Yeah, I mean if someone did something that insanely funny I couldn't imagine they'd do something shitty.
Speaking of shitty, back to the Gygax Memorial thing, its really shitty that the end of Gary's life was not even a reflection of how awesome he was at his peak. I don't know who these people are really, his family, but I'm kind of glad that I didn't get to know any of them. Ernie and Luke, sure, but the rest I kept at fan distance. My cousin ran into Gary's wife at a wedding by one in a million chance and I can't even begin to relate how that happened because its weird in itself. I wish that I could relate the creepy details but not in public. Anyway every time I hear mention of his wife its in view of that circumstance which was not so wholesome. So I don't what the hell is going on here. Especially overhearing someone say she messed up Gary's return to D&D deal. So.... I'm not a Gail fan.
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Post by geneweigel on Jul 27, 2017 20:42:10 GMT -5
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Post by geneweigel on Jul 28, 2017 8:23:41 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't know what is going on here. Here is an update on Facebook about a memorial plaque at GenCon: www.facebook.com/gygaxmemorialfundI sympathize with the people who lost money a little bit. However, on the other hand, because I had handed money to my relatives constantly for twenty years just to have them turn on me for no fucking reason I... KABOOM!!! Sorry I.... Seriously, because I'm very skeptical of "memorials" I didn't give anything towards it. I'm not inherently cheap. I had bought a ticket for Gary Con then when it seemed too nerdy I bailed but I let them keep the money. That is a different case. This goes back to the question: What would a really good Gygax memorial be? It can't be any of this geek shit like "we dub this game in his honor" and play some craphole next gen, standard whats-coming-down-the-pipe or any "unGygaxy" feeling game. The whole park in Lake Geneva raises a good question. Was his heart in Lake Geneva or was his core in Chicago? I don't like Chicago, I don't know Chicago but all this guy was talking to me about was Chicago. Kuntz was the one going on about Lake Geneva being so great but Gary didn't bring it up at all except when he was doing the "bus tour" thing. So what the hell is going on here? Is it what Gary was or what people think he was? Man with a simple background not some yacht boy with a silver spoon in his mouth? Is it that nobody wants to go into the streets of a major city so their goes the local con market? There is no way a proper memorial could be done without: 1) a game being played nearby/vicinity (indoor areas) 2) adding Gygax specific creations to the imagery (EEG, drow, Greyhawk heraldry, Gord, Monster Manual, etc) 3) Informatics about what exactly this fucker created not some vague "all D&D for any and all" Is this too much to ask? |
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Post by GRWelsh on Jul 28, 2017 9:28:13 GMT -5
Evidently Alex Gygax and Larry Elmore have collaborated on making a plaque that they're going to display at GEN CON 50. I guess we'll see. I've lost interest in "announcements" from this outfit. Let me know when they actually produce something.
I'm not really into memorials... What is the idea, ultimately? To make a shrine, a destination for a pilgrimage of sorts? No thanks. Now, a pilgrimage to Lake Geneva pre-2008 to actually meet and possibly play games with EGG was worthwhile. But as far as honoring his memory, I think the best way to do that is simply play his games and/or do something creative in the same spirit. Like that illustrated Gord book idea, if that ever came to fruition.
That reminds me -- I did receive that illustrated book of EGG's life, "Rise of the Dungeon Master" and it's not bad. It is basically that same article/interview from 2008 used in conjunction with cartoon-like artwork... Nothing much new, but some of the drawings capture EGG's likeness.
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Post by geneweigel on Jul 28, 2017 10:03:37 GMT -5
The whole D&D phenomena has a huge tang left by Gygax's loss (while he was alive) so to just have that tang remain without explanation hangs that tarnish all over a memorial.
A memorial "statue" is pointless. Memorial information is what is required. A small museum perhaps is what is needed with a game area.
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Post by GRWelsh on Jul 28, 2017 13:55:00 GMT -5
Museum with gaming area is a good idea. What popped into my mind was if someone bought the house on 330 Center Street in Lake Geneva and turned it into a Gary Gygax museum, with a permanent gaming area downstairs. That would be appropriate, since that is where D&D was 'born,' so to speak. My impression is that it was born when Dave Arneson drove down to Lake Geneva to run a 'Blackmoor' game for EGG, RJK, etc. one night in November of 1972 if you had to pin it down to a discrete point.
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Post by geneweigel on Jul 28, 2017 14:26:57 GMT -5
Have a plaid shirt of Arneson's in a glass case with his copy of the Diplomacy game... Maybe the old DUNGEON HOBBY SHOP building could be bought and converted. That way it would be right on the main drag and visitors won't clog up the neighborhood where the house is. Perhaps it would make a real "Gary Con" possible because with an anchor like that you could put many ships out. A Summer con dedicated to Gygax creations sounds so much easier than this Winter crap that supports any shithole system or game. So this is my plan: Buy the DHS building as a non-profit charity or something like that calle it "EGG MUSEUM" (Gene Weigel non-for-profit 2017) then have a Summer "EGG CON", Trademark (Gene Weigel non-for-profit 2017). Then we'll have the purists run everything. If someone beats me to it just remember that I came up with this idea. Three years later... geneweigel posted: This "EGG Con" is bogus! |
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