Co-father of Dungeons & Dragons in Hospital - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Co-father of Dungeons & Dragons in Hospital

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dewman
Apr 06, 2009 17:29:32 Sad news, but I just learned that yesterday Dave Arneson went into the hospital and is not expected to emerge again.
Apparently his cancer has taken its toll.

He will be missed.
#2
RUMPLESTIX
Apr 06, 2009 17:47:59 He and his family have my prayers.
#3
wrecan
Apr 06, 2009 18:07:15 That's awful. It wasn't so long ago that we lost Gygax.
#4
apollyonschosen
Apr 06, 2009 20:21:34 This is indeed sad news. Recently a family member of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Three months later he was gone. My thoughts and prayers are with you Dave. You left quite a legacy that will live on and was quite a positive force in the lives of many.
#5
dewman
Apr 06, 2009 20:41:45 Sorry for your loss.

My understanding of Dave's situation is he has a couple of days maximum, if that. I could be wrong but that is what the information I received stated rather bluntly.

I know there is a posting at Dragonsfoot regarding it as well since I went there for confirmation before posting here.
#6
fenrir7139
Apr 06, 2009 20:44:21 My condolences to Dave's family. You'll be greatly missed, dude.
#7
toryn
Apr 06, 2009 20:47:24 This is grave news. I am honored in having the luxury of being able to enjoy his and Gygax's brainchild. Hopefully, he will pull through. May the gods watch over him and his family.
#8
ljeschi
Apr 07, 2009 2:47:29 Many blessings of good fortune for his health, and should that not be in the roll of the dice, then I wish a restful, peaceful afterlife on his behalf.
#9
Therise
Apr 07, 2009 3:13:23 I very much hope he recovers! He gave D&D its soul.

Get well soon, Dave!
#10
Ore
Apr 07, 2009 10:04:39 Confirmed... Very sad news indeed. I got to meet him at Gen Con last year and he is a great guy!

Dave Arneson Hospitalized
#11
Seeker95
Apr 07, 2009 10:33:03 I too pray for him and for his family. He has brought me 31 years of fun.

Side note: The "confirmation" post does not confirm. It simply refers to other forum posts. I share this only to stress that we don't really know anything beyond the third-party information. None of the sources have been news sources.

Note: It has been brought to my attention that some on this thread have chosen to interpret my comment as snide. I pity those who choose to take it that way, but wish to assure the rest of you that I mean nothing snide. We have few facts about Mr. Arneson's condition aside from third-party forum posts. It would be unwise for us to take action (beyond prayers) on their basis.
#12
longbottom_leafman
Apr 07, 2009 10:43:37 I happen to live very near Mr. Arneson here in Orlando. When I was in high school, he once sat in on a 12-person game I ran at a hobby shop next to his house. Afterward he complimented me on a job well-done... it wasn't till weeks later that I found out he wasn't a creepy old dude.
More recently, I played a few games set in his personal campaign world with a friend of his running the game. During the game, one of the players had a handout for this little pamphlet his cleric of Kord would pass out to everyone he met. It was poorly spelled (this paricular cleric isn't too bright) and full of low-brow humor, which apparently Dave enjoyed. So we took a break, Dave's buddy called him, put him on speaker-phone, and read him the pamphlet.
Dave laughed pretty hard and told us he'd like to sign the pamphlet. We never got around to it...
He will be missed dearly, and I'm glad I was able to meet him the few times I did. His "war stories" were nothing short of inspirational once I found out who he was.
#13
caerin
Apr 08, 2009 21:45:25 Monte Cook and John Kovalic have confirmed that Dave Arneson passed away today.
#14
lord_karsus
Apr 08, 2009 22:31:08 -Well, that's too bad.
#15
pigknight
Apr 08, 2009 22:43:50 First Gary then Dave.

At least they're immortalized in D&D.
#16
Ore
Apr 09, 2009 7:41:49 Gary and Dave among others. We just lost Erick Wujcik as well.

Not a great couple years for gaming legends.

At least Dave is at rest now, no more pain and misery.
#17
algedonic
Apr 09, 2009 9:47:36 Kind of sad that there wasn't even a mention of it on the main Wizards site, or anything else.
Remembered in death the way he was in life I guess.
#18
MattDroz
Apr 09, 2009 10:03:46
Kind of sad that there wasn't even a mention of it on the main Wizards site, or anything else.
Remembered in death the way he was in life I guess.

That's not fair. They posted a tribute to Gary three days after his death. Give them some time to put together a proper obituary.
#19
algedonic
Apr 09, 2009 10:25:04
That's not fair. They posted a tribute to Gary three days after his death. Give them some time to put together a proper obituary.

You are right, I apologize. Plus the time difference from coast to coast.

It was just a knee-jerk reaction to seeing the news posted elsewhere (including http://www.dorktower.com/2009/04/08/dork-tower-april-8-2009-thanks-dave/
) before seeing even a mention here that made me post.
#20
Seeker95
Apr 09, 2009 10:30:46 Given that the family requested that we all back off for a bit, it makes sense that the only people that would be in the know are true insiders... family friends rather than simply D&D fans.

WotC will be making its tribute in due time.
#21
keolander
Apr 09, 2009 10:48:16 Dungeons & Dragons has lost its other co-father. We are indeed a far less world for Dave having passed from it. So many from the early days of D&D have gone on: Dave Sutherland, Tom Moldvay, Keith Parkinson, Gary and now Dave. And the industry lost other greats as well like Erick Wujick and Robert Bledsoe. They are all sorely missed.

Godspeed Dave. Say hi to Gary for all of us and save us a spot by the table.

From the younger Blackmoorian Lord Lamorek Steelguard to The Master, Uther Once and Always!
#22
dewman
Apr 09, 2009 14:28:12 The main page has a tribute up.
#23
toryn
Apr 09, 2009 16:53:24 This is very sad news. At least he is in a better place now, whatever he may call it. Hopefully, he is there with Gary and hindering the gods with their creative DM minds.
#24
pigknight
Apr 09, 2009 20:14:24 Hopefully:

Dave: You walk into a room.

Lucifer: Do I see anything?

God: I want to cast a spell!
#25
datakube_dup
Apr 09, 2009 20:35:02 Blessed be in death & peace.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dewman Apr 06, 2009 17:29:32	Sad news, but I just learned that yesterday Dave Arneson went into the hospital and is not expected to emerge again. Apparently his cancer has taken its toll. He will be missed.
#2 RUMPLESTIX Apr 06, 2009 17:47:59	He and his family have my prayers.
#3 wrecan Apr 06, 2009 18:07:15	That's awful. It wasn't so long ago that we lost Gygax.
#4 apollyonschosen Apr 06, 2009 20:21:34	This is indeed sad news. Recently a family member of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Three months later he was gone. My thoughts and prayers are with you Dave. You left quite a legacy that will live on and was quite a positive force in the lives of many.
#5 dewman Apr 06, 2009 20:41:45	Sorry for your loss. My understanding of Dave's situation is he has a couple of days maximum, if that. I could be wrong but that is what the information I received stated rather bluntly. I know there is a posting at Dragonsfoot regarding it as well since I went there for confirmation before posting here.
#6 fenrir7139 Apr 06, 2009 20:44:21	My condolences to Dave's family. You'll be greatly missed, dude.
#7 toryn Apr 06, 2009 20:47:24	This is grave news. I am honored in having the luxury of being able to enjoy his and Gygax's brainchild. Hopefully, he will pull through. May the gods watch over him and his family.
#8 ljeschi Apr 07, 2009 2:47:29	Many blessings of good fortune for his health, and should that not be in the roll of the dice, then I wish a restful, peaceful afterlife on his behalf.
#9 Therise Apr 07, 2009 3:13:23	I very much hope he recovers! He gave D&D its soul. Get well soon, Dave!
#10 Ore Apr 07, 2009 10:04:39	Confirmed... Very sad news indeed. I got to meet him at Gen Con last year and he is a great guy! Dave Arneson Hospitalized
#11 Seeker95 Apr 07, 2009 10:33:03	I too pray for him and for his family. He has brought me 31 years of fun. Side note: The "confirmation" post does not confirm. It simply refers to other forum posts. I share this only to stress that we don't really know anything beyond the third-party information. None of the sources have been news sources. Note: It has been brought to my attention that some on this thread have chosen to interpret my comment as snide. I pity those who choose to take it that way, but wish to assure the rest of you that I mean nothing snide. We have few facts about Mr. Arneson's condition aside from third-party forum posts. It would be unwise for us to take action (beyond prayers) on their basis.
#12 longbottom_leafman Apr 07, 2009 10:43:37	I happen to live very near Mr. Arneson here in Orlando. When I was in high school, he once sat in on a 12-person game I ran at a hobby shop next to his house. Afterward he complimented me on a job well-done... it wasn't till weeks later that I found out he wasn't a creepy old dude. More recently, I played a few games set in his personal campaign world with a friend of his running the game. During the game, one of the players had a handout for this little pamphlet his cleric of Kord would pass out to everyone he met. It was poorly spelled (this paricular cleric isn't too bright) and full of low-brow humor, which apparently Dave enjoyed. So we took a break, Dave's buddy called him, put him on speaker-phone, and read him the pamphlet. Dave laughed pretty hard and told us he'd like to sign the pamphlet. We never got around to it... He will be missed dearly, and I'm glad I was able to meet him the few times I did. His "war stories" were nothing short of inspirational once I found out who he was.
#13 caerin Apr 08, 2009 21:45:25	Monte Cook and John Kovalic have confirmed that Dave Arneson passed away today.
#14 lord_karsus Apr 08, 2009 22:31:08	-Well, that's too bad.
#15 pigknight Apr 08, 2009 22:43:50	First Gary then Dave. At least they're immortalized in D&D.
#16 Ore Apr 09, 2009 7:41:49	Gary and Dave among others. We just lost Erick Wujcik as well. Not a great couple years for gaming legends. At least Dave is at rest now, no more pain and misery.
#17 algedonic Apr 09, 2009 9:47:36	Kind of sad that there wasn't even a mention of it on the main Wizards site, or anything else. Remembered in death the way he was in life I guess.
#18 MattDroz Apr 09, 2009 10:03:46	Kind of sad that there wasn't even a mention of it on the main Wizards site, or anything else. Remembered in death the way he was in life I guess. That's not fair. They posted a tribute to Gary three days after his death. Give them some time to put together a proper obituary.
#19 algedonic Apr 09, 2009 10:25:04	That's not fair. They posted a tribute to Gary three days after his death. Give them some time to put together a proper obituary. You are right, I apologize. Plus the time difference from coast to coast. It was just a knee-jerk reaction to seeing the news posted elsewhere (including http://www.dorktower.com/2009/04/08/dork-tower-april-8-2009-thanks-dave/ ) before seeing even a mention here that made me post.
#20 Seeker95 Apr 09, 2009 10:30:46	Given that the family requested that we all back off for a bit, it makes sense that the only people that would be in the know are true insiders... family friends rather than simply D&D fans. WotC will be making its tribute in due time.
#21 keolander Apr 09, 2009 10:48:16	Dungeons & Dragons has lost its other co-father. We are indeed a far less world for Dave having passed from it. So many from the early days of D&D have gone on: Dave Sutherland, Tom Moldvay, Keith Parkinson, Gary and now Dave. And the industry lost other greats as well like Erick Wujick and Robert Bledsoe. They are all sorely missed. Godspeed Dave. Say hi to Gary for all of us and save us a spot by the table. From the younger Blackmoorian Lord Lamorek Steelguard to The Master, Uther Once and Always!
#22 dewman Apr 09, 2009 14:28:12	The main page has a tribute up.
#23 toryn Apr 09, 2009 16:53:24	This is very sad news. At least he is in a better place now, whatever he may call it. Hopefully, he is there with Gary and hindering the gods with their creative DM minds.
#24 pigknight Apr 09, 2009 20:14:24	Hopefully: Dave: You walk into a room. Lucifer: Do I see anything? God: I want to cast a spell!
#25 datakube_dup Apr 09, 2009 20:35:02	Blessed be in death & peace.