Gary Gygax on the BBC

[@heidigygax4848]

Thank you for sharing this - I had never seen it. It's always wonderful, yet bittersweet, to see my dad and hear his voice.

[@BillAllanWorld]

He was an incredible man. It's been my honor to be a small part of documenting your family's history, at Gary Con and wherever possible. Hope to see y'all next year at Gary Con!

[@brgrote]

Your dad was a giant who other giants stand on the shoulders of. I am sad for your loss, but grateful for his life.

[@prolitium4112]

Your father is and will always be a legend. Much love

[@mrswellington2448]

@heidigygax4848 was your dad autistic (or suspected to be), by chance?

[@prolitium4112]

@@mrswellington2448 What kinda question is that 😭And in the KZbin comments???

[@captcorajus]

To be able to go back and time and buy everything on that table at 0:30

[@markissleepy]

As they were panning across it, I was really filled with nostalgia - I have all those D&D books, including most of the modules they showed, the basic and expert rules, the 1st edition PH, plus a few of the non-D&D things: a Boot Hill boxed set (I think the same edition they showed although I'd have to get it out of storage to verify), and Gamma World (mine is a prior edition to the one shown I believe - I got mine in 1980 or 81 and it's still in perfect condition - I just went and looked and one of my chraracters from back then was still in the box), which was the first RPG I ever played back in 1979 when an older neighbor ran a game.

[@captcorajus]

@@markissleepy I have most of them also. I would give anything to get that collection of Grenadier AD&D miniatures though! The cost online is ridiculous.

[@trevorholman3119]

@@captcorajus Four or Five years ago I made an effort to reacquire all those mini sets, it was expensive but they've doubled in value since then.

[@Countach640]

He wasn’t the Inventor, he was the Co-Inventor. We can’t ignore Dave Arnesson. Thank you for sharing

[@BillAllanWorld]

Yes. However, you spelled Arneson's name wrong. Also, Arneson co-created Dungeons & Dragons (original), but Advanced D&D (also known as D&D 1e) was only Gygax. Granted, these are details, but there are some important points to consider. Also, if you really like the old lore, you should check out the documentary "Secrets of Blackmoor". It's about Dave Arneson and his original group, the campaign he developed, and his impact on what would become D&D.

[@anon_laughing_man]

True, but if this was all left up to Dave the game would still be called Bkackmoor, it would never have gone mainstream and none of us would have ever played D&D.

[@matthewkirkhart2401]

Seeing that table with all the box sets, modules, and then ending with the boxes and boxes of the classic Grenadier AD&D miniatures ... wow ... not gonna lie, more than a little jealous.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Yeah, if only they knew how much of a treasure trove that would be. I wish I still had all of my old stuff, but I sold a lot of it back in the 90s.

[@matthewkirkhart2401]

@@BillAllanWorld I know exactly what you mean. I have some of my stuff from the late 70s/early 80s, but a lot of it, especially the miniatures, is long gone. :(

[@stevepearce5722]

Drooling over all th e original AD&D unopened product on the tabels!!

[@craigcochrane2284]

That one table of books and supplements would probably be worth millions today...back then, it was the stuff of dreams.

[@cimerians]

Just want to hear him talk for a few hours on D&D. This was great.

[@MargaretSwift]

Great to hear his voice.. Never heard gary before

[@BillAllanWorld]

This would have been Gary in his prime.

[@thedungeondelver]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@yojishinkawa378]

Didn't expect to see you here.

[@Hibernicus1968]

Brings back fond memories. I had all the 1st edition AD&D books, many of the modules and other supplements, a subscription to Dragon magazine, and was an avid painter of the Grenadier Models official D&D miniatures (and other 25mm figures). I still have most of that stuff stashed away in boxes, and I spent many a happy hour on that hobby back when I was in high school.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Very cool! It was definitely a golden era.

[@Beast-ty1sv]

"winning is surviving" well put thank for sharing Bill stay safe

[@raidinmd]

someone asked me once am I winning D&D before, and I answered, "I'm not dead, so yes I am winning"

[@TheMarcHicks]

@@raidinmd much like life itself then, I guess.

[@JamesKeller]

This was massive! Hearing his voice again -- what a punch in the nostalgia... Huge influence on my early years in the '70s & '80s & all the way to present day. Thanks for sharing this. 🤩

[@MrAmurray73]

How times have changed. Instead of an ashtray, these days it's a phone holder on the desk.

[@thomasbintliff4525]

Wow! What a blast from the past! Thank you for sharing Bill!

[@DrewSohl]

Started playing in 1976,Summer camp up in Maine.

[@user-pg3pe4gx4p]

Gygax was a creative genius.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Yes he was. Yes indeed.

[@VhaidraSaga]

Some much good stuff in that video! Thanks for sharing it!

[@yojishinkawa378]

As a relatively young guy I sure wish I knew where to find more of Gygax just talking about DnD. Great video Bill.

[@thedungeondelver]

Actually I have an hour-long interview I did with Gary about the history of D&D, etc.; I'll be posting it (again) in March.

[@yojishinkawa378]

@@thedungeondelver Wow, I'd love to see that.

[@AuntieHauntieGames]

God, looking at that table in the first minute... I want to reach through the screen and take very good care of all of it.

[@vitjanicek7210]

I remember when I first heard about DnD. It was in the late 90's and for long time I knew this is what I love and continue loving over many many years. Now I'm here, nearly 25 years later still loving the game despite the fact that I can not play as much as I would like to. It is bad that recent years brought us some controversies between DnD players and WotC, but the legacy of the times past still lives on with the community in strong spirit.

[@tjrooger1092]

Everyone wins if they survive

[@wmsymms]

Awesomeness! All those tables loaded with all sorts of gaming paraphernalia! Plus an interview with Gygax himself. Wow, what a video clip! Thanks!

[@jameswatson5011]

Been playing since 1974. So, when they rolled across that table with all the books and modules I found myself saying OUT LOUD all the names, Shrine of Tsojancth, Demon Web Pit, Slavers A series, and of course TOMB OF HORRORS! GYthyanki on the cover, Giant series! THE BEST EVER!, etc,..... And even better than that THE BEST IS, I STILL have them ALL! Geek? Ya, but the coolest geek you will ever meet. PLAY ON!

[@BillAllanWorld]

Oh man, I'm jealous. I only have some of my old modules and books. I sold a lot back in the 90s, thinking I'd never want them or need them. Regrets...

[@deadlyDM]

That Wisconsin midwestern accent is thick in this clip of Gary speaking. Love it

[@BillAllanWorld]

Indeed!

[@PacNW]

Wow! This is fantastic! Thanks for finding & sharing this Bill! 😍

[@tjrobards]

Great share, thank you Bill!

[@NotTheWheel]

There's an allure to Old School Dungeons and Dragons that for an outsider like me is like vaulted Gold waiting to be plundered.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Superb. There are many options for playing games that are either literally old school (like AD&D, Tunnels & Trolls) or modeled after old school games (Castles & Crusades, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Old School Essentials, Basic Fantasy RPG, Dungeon Crawl Classics, etc.)

[@BX-advocate]

When it panned over the pile of classic modules I thought of how much that is all worth now vs back them. Also I wish I had all those awesome modules though I do have quite a few.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Yes indeed. It's amazing how much content they put out back in those days, and those settings and modules are still great.

[@jamesmaclennan4525]

Oh the Old Games Days at the Chelsea Town Hall...that takes me back

[@calvanoni5443]

This is one I've not seen, great stuff!

[@alzathoth]

the real father of DD&D and RPG. a true hero.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Acknowledged.

[@dra1ned]

This is from a documentary called Fields of Play (1982).

[@BillAllanWorld]

I would love to purchase the whole documentary, if it is available.

[@dra1ned]

Unfortunately this clip, I believe from the 5th episode (5 in total) is the entirety of rpg content. I was able to borrow the DVD from The Strong Museum of Play archives for a nominal fee.

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Winning in D&D? Great footage

[@davidlanier2290]

1974. Started in 1974.

[@BillAllanWorld]

I didn't make the video. It's an excerpt from the BBC. But yes, you are correct. Gygax and Arneson made D&D in 1974.

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

1:53 - Matt Mercer from the Critical Role campaign 2 intro. He just needs the leather jacket.

[@BillAllanWorld]

LoL!!

[@tonysansom]

Cool. As this was from way back, I was expecting a 'shock, horror, D&D is the devil's work' thing 😁

[@silva29]

Thank you for this.

[@BillAllanWorld]

You are welcome. Hope you'll subscribe and enjoy the other gaming content on my channel.

[@a.bettik8698]

Cigarette, large squares jacket, magnifying glasses-like glasses... sigh, Eighties

[@BillAllanWorld]

Yep, those were the days.

[@parkpunk2]

0:28 What a table!

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

People have fun with imagination . . . in classic JJR Tolken tradition...

[@TheValarClan]

Co-founder.... Still nice to see

[@BillAllanWorld]

Indeed

[@EF-fc4du]

Forever the father of the RPG.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Truth!

[@PossumMedic]

Thanks for the vid! :D

[@BillAllanWorld]

You bet!

[@cawoodpublishing]

Very cool

[@tatianaes3354]

*TOBACCO has killed the chap.* He should have been alive today, but he was gone way prematurely.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Indeed...

[@thomasciarlariello]

What about James Dallas Egbert III?

[@BillAllanWorld]

Not sure...

[@theghostwolf15]

Well that wasn't the BBC I expected

[@BillAllanWorld]

LOL!!

[@nickhayley]

at 0:34 "shits revenge"????? LOL

[@BillAllanWorld]

It's actually an old game called Snit's Revenge, but yeah, the font makes it look like s h i t ' s r e v e n g e

[@neillennon5694]

"Everyone feels that they win, if they survive". So very telling that survival was the original focus. With 5E it seems the rules are much more about character development than survival. Not saying that's entirely a bad thing, just that I don't think Gary would recognise it as the same game.

[@BillAllanWorld]

You got that right! If one of my characters lived through more than 6 game sessions, it was a badge of honor.

[@jargraroch3000]

Smoker - explains why he didn't live past 70 [typically smoking cuts 10+ years off your life].

[@craigcoletta9380]

But we get to smoke!! Fair trade.

[@thesnare100]

What convention is this?

[@BillAllanWorld]

No idea; just some convention in England somewhere.

[@12345gerrard]

This will never catch on! Lol 😆

[@BillAllanWorld]

Ha! Yeah

[@SGWinstar8844]

😀👍🏽

[@dalewilliams4451]

I can only imagine the extent by which nerds were scrutinized for being into fantasy stuff prior to the late 2000's. In the cult I grewup in the satanic panic effects were still being felt I wasn't allowed to play pokemon or yugioh or watch harry potter and lord of the rings it's absolute insanity how many actual stupid parents bought into the fear mongering of satanic panic enthusiasts. I love D&D now and I'm glad it's widespread. People like my mother still think it's satanic.

[@BillAllanWorld]

Glad you lived through it, my friend. I grew up playing D&D from the late 70s onward, and lived through the Satanic Panic. Fortunately, my parents didn't see any problems with RPGs. In fact, my Ma would often say how playing D&D made me smarter; my test scores and grades improved significantly from 1st-4th grade. Even my Dad, who had been a priest, didn't see any problems with D&D.

[@gnomeknight2311]

Caps and roabers.

[@BillAllanWorld]

That's the midwest accent coming through ;)

[@MrZacchery]

😂I created a game where some poor bastard has to create a new game for all their friends to muck up. 😅Truly amazing it didn't die off earlier in it's development, and serves as a critical indictment of the culture during it's creation.

[@BillAllanWorld]

I'm honestly not sure how to take your meaning. I've re-read this comment 3 times.

[@MrZacchery]

@BillAllanWorld 🤣 one word: grognards. There wasn't really anything else available. Nowadays we have an overwhelming selection of RPGs, wargames, and board games. I was picking on the fact that we hold such an imperfect man on a pedestal for an idea that probably had about 40 million different simultaneous instances of convergent ideas to do something very similar. "First" is a pathetic comment to make.

[@amoqueca]

Whata dumb comment. He was the pioneer, he deserves some credit no one is talking he is perfect.

[@MrZacchery]

@@amoqueca you are entitled to your opinion, but I think people are holding him to a high regard for something that someone else would have eventually created. He copied from Tolkien and Little Wars. He's not a revolutionary.

[@MrZacchery]

@amoqueca also, what's more, he didn't create it alone, and what he created needed to be revised many times by other people to make it playable to many. Dungeons and Dragons wasn't the accessible game it is now until the mid 90s.