Dungeons & Dragons has had a long and colorful history that spans decades, and one of the men who conceptualized the game in the 1970s has become celebrated over the years as the "Father of the modern role-playing game." Gary Gygax played a major role in the creation of D&D, turning one of his own treasured pastimes into a multimillion-dollar phenomenon that's still going strong nearly 50 years later.
The impact Gygax had on the gaming industry runs deep. Not only was he responsible for introducing the world to a hobby he held close to his heart, but he took that hobby to the next level and, in essence, created something so epic that it left a permanent and evolving mark on gaming culture. But who was Gary Gygax, and how can gamers honor him on July 27, which has become an international holiday in celebration of the original Dungeon Master?
Who Was Gary Gygax?
Dungeons & Dragons wasn't actually created until the 1970s, but hobby gamer Gary Gygax was definitely dreaming about it when he founded Gen Con in 1968. An avid player of strategy wargames, he created an organization of clubs for others who shared his love for tabletop games called International Federation of Wargamers (IFW). Along with childhood friend and fellow gamer Don Kaye, Gygax founded the company TSR (Tactical Studies Rules).
A year later, Gygax joined forces with Dave Arneson and launched the very first incarnation of Dungeons & Dragons, which would change the way people game forever. In 1977, they released an expanded version of D&D called Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Over the years he developed numerous expansions and modules that grew and evolved the game. Gygax was also an avid fiction author, creating the world of Greyhawk.
Gygax founded Dragon magazine, which coupled fiction with useful information about TTRPGs, especially D&D. Gygax left TSR in 1986, but continued to independently create and contribute to the gaming community. He developed Dangerous Journeys, Lejendary Adventure and also had a hand in the Castles and Crusades RPG, meant to combine concepts from D&D Third Edition with the original AD&D.
Gary Gygax left an unforgettable mark on the world. Each year on July 27, Gygax's birthday, fans pay tribute to the father of the modern RPG. Both those who knew and loved him and those who fell in love with gaming through exploring his creation understand that without his contributions, the gaming industry would be little more than a pale shadow of the epic and glorious monster it has become.
How to Celebrate Gary Gygax Day
July 27 is just around the corner, which means it's time to start planning epic adventures that honor Gary Gygax. Of course, there are no official rules when it comes to celebrating one of the gaming industry's most outstanding contributors, but there are plenty of ways to honor the father of the modern RPG.
Participating in or running a mini-game with an epic end boss, for instance, is one way to exercise the kind of creativity a man like Gary Gygax would appreciate. Gygax could even be incorporated into the game as an NPC, like a battle-hardened warrior, wizened Sorcerer or shopkeeper the party encounters on their way to their destination. Launching a new ongoing campaign is another great way to pay homage to D&D's founding father, as a continuous game will keep the spirit alive as long as the campaign is running.
Check local game shops to see if they might be having a celebration all their own. Some may have mini-games going on throughout the day, or an ongoing adventure that welcomes outside viewers. This is both a good way to celebrate Gary Gygax and a great opportunity to meet other gamers and potentially find a new adventuring party to make memories with. If there aren't any local game shops, check around online. The internet has become a rich haven for players seeking parties, and resources like Roll20 often have open games ready to welcome potential players.
There are also ways to honor Gygax and his enduring legacy outside of playing D&D. Gygax was also an avid fantasy fiction writer, so in the event that endeavoring into a game isn't in the cards, adventuring through the pages of one of his epic stories is a perfect way to pay tribute to the father of the modern RPG. While it may not be easy to find one of those old stories out in the wild, that in itself has the potential to become an incredible adventure all its own.