Remembering Gary Gygax and My Journey into Dungeons & Dragons

A Tribute to Gary Gygax

On July 17, 2014, I penned a piece for my leisure blog, "el troblogdita", to honor what would have been the 100th birthday of Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons.

Initially, I planned to simply reproduce the article, but I decided to expand upon it. Using Gygax's birthday as a backdrop, I wanted to share how I discovered D&D and the journey it set me on, which continues to this day as my favorite game.

Discovering Dungeons & Dragons

This morning, I was reminded of Gary Gygax's birthday while retweeting a post that celebrated his life. The tweet read:

On this day in 1938, Gary Gygax, co-creator of the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, was born, alongside Dave Arneson.

A co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons...

My Love for Dungeons & Dragons

Reflecting on my childhood, I recall that throughout my years as a Scout, I only missed one summer camp—the year I spent a month in England. Specifically, I stayed in Huntingdon, where I have fond memories of the neighborhood of Nolfork and the welcoming family I stayed with.

The Summer of 1989

While I sometimes think it might have been 1988, I firmly believe it was 1989. During my stay, students from various countries organized a football tournament, culminating in a 2-0 victory over the French team. We had our fair share of interactions with the local kids, most of whom were Mods, reminiscent of Quadrophenia.

However, the most impactful part of that trip was when I was introduced to Dungeons & Dragons by Óscar, Castellanos, Paco, and Arturo, among others.

I vividly remember returning from a visit to Cambridge when they invited me to join a game. Not knowing how to play, I sat back and observed. The Dungeon Master offered to help me create a character, and without hesitation, I was designed as a "thief". My role was primarily to pick locks, search for traps, and, when necessary, relieve someone of their possessions or strike from the shadows.

The Dice Begin to Roll...

And they continue to roll into 2026.

That moment marked the beginning of a long and fulfilling journey. I continued to play role-playing games until 2002, taking part in sporadic sessions thereafter. Recently, I've rekindled my passion for the game through Roll20, allowing me to join online sessions every Friday night.

I want to take a moment to reminisce about our gaming den from 1988 to 2002. It was a terrace with a greenhouse in the center of Madrid, located at Rafael's house, our primary Dungeon Master, who alternated duties with Antonio Lence. The location was ideal for year-round gaming.

We managed to equip the space with everything necessary for role-playing, including player and master manuals, character creation books (most of which were in English at the time), and advanced guides for wizards, clerics, warriors, elves, and all their good, evil, and neutral variants.

The Lead Figurines

What fond memories! Each Saturday, we contributed a small fee of 100 pesetas, gathering to play from 4 PM until midnight, often stretching until 2 or 3 AM. We pooled our resources to purchase manuals, and I left behind my advanced manual filled with my drawings and notes when I departed from the group. We also collected lead figurines—about 400 in total, with my personal collection nearing 200 more from Grenadier, Ral Partha, and especially Mithril.

There was no better Saturday than one spent indoors while rain poured outside, watching the droplets fall on the glass roof of the greenhouse. We would turn up the gas heater, huddle together, and the only break we took was to grab dinner from Burger King or order several pizzas from Pizza Hut. Outside, the rain fell heavily; inside, we were enveloped in the concentrated warmth and animated discussions about our next moves in the adventure. Occasionally, if Luis or José Luis joined, those discussions would become quite heated.

My Favorite Character: The Paladin

Typically, I played as a Paladin, my favorite character archetype (lawful-good).

A chivalrous knight dedicated to the well-being of those around him. I took my character's responsibilities so seriously that years after he made his appearance, he died protecting some NPCs (non-player characters) from a dragon's fiery breath.

I still remember the fulfillment I felt when explaining to Rafael what my Paladin, named Faramir, was doing. I could see Rafael's expression urging me to reconsider my decision to protect them, as my demise seemed inevitable. Yet, I was steadfast. I recall the silence that fell over the room as we rolled the dice, and the previous sense of fulfillment turned to emptiness when Faramir fell, charred at the gate he was defending to save the villagers from the dragon's flames.

For those familiar with such matters, the type of breath indicated that it was a red dragon.

A profound silence ensued.

I stepped outside to smoke on the front terrace, still proud of Faramir's actions but deeply saddened by his loss. It took a while before I felt whole enough to re-enter the room.

Understanding Role-Playing Games

These games stimulate the imagination, strengthen friendships, and provide joy alongside friends. Even now, after stepping back from physical role-playing, I still meet up with Óscar and maintain sporadic contact with the Lence brothers and occasionally Rafael. Nowadays, I primarily play online via Roll20 with a fantastic new group of gamers.

I also engage in Virtual Reality sessions of DEMEO with another dedicated role-player...

Role-playing is a rewarding endeavor that requires hours of commitment. It serves as a prelude to reading, cinema, fiction, and fantasy. Most importantly, it emphasizes reading, as around 80% of a role-player's time is spent on that activity.

While we do not turn our backs on reality, we navigate through it with the understanding that there are no heroes out there, and if one wishes to confront life, maturity is essential.

I learned all this through role-playing and, thanks to Efemérides, I am reminded of the two individuals who made it all possible: Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

 Updated in 2016

How far away 2014 seems now. Óscar has moved on to new friends, and we have lost touch. People often say that role-playing games can be consuming, but few discuss the impact of running. To put it into perspective, while role-playing might take up an average of 5 hours a week (sometimes more), running can consume 2 to 3 hours daily for training, and if you compete, you must factor in weekends, travel, and gym time. Role-playing might take hours, but running can even cost you friendships.

Movies about Dungeons & Dragons

My Podcasts on Dungeons & Dragons