This post is getting to be sort of a tradition. I expect I'm getting long in the tooth and there's more reason to fret about small things. Perhaps I like to gloat that I've been playing and thinking about the game five years longer than Gygax could, and four years longer than Arneson. That's going to offend some people. It's simple math. Granted, I didn't invent the game, so that's on me ... but I'd argue that my best insights have been gained during these last five years and I think that's very important.
Too, I didn't have "inventing the game" to rest my laurels on.
Oh well. All anniversaries are the same. We observe the day, a bunch of people say "congratulations," like I won a lottery or something ... I just don't understand the word congratulations. It always feels to me like an award, like I was chosen from a bunch of people who also did 39 years and given a plaque. Whereas to me, I've always been here, always writing, always thinking, always designing my game. September 5th is 39 years minus a day. September 7th will be 39 years plus a day. Does the 7th, 8th and 9th count as congratulations worthy? I've never been very clear about that tradition.
Basically, I put my head down a long time ago and I've taken a moment to lift it and notice what day it is. No biggie. Hopefully, I'll lift my head around this time next year and notice it again. I don't think I've done anything more special today than I have for the other 14,235 days since I got started. I think I'd prefer to hear something like, "You're a nut job to keep at it this long," or "Christ, man, you're a machine." Or maybe just, "Well done. You didn't quit." I don't know. Something that acknowledges that this wasn't luck, this was effort.
Okay. I've ranted. I can start day 14,236 now.
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| According to this page, these are students depicted in the 1980 Yearbook of Libertyville High School north of Chicago. They are described as the D&D "people." It is as close a depiction of my own people than I am ever likely to find. |
I wouldn't congratulate you for playing it, thinking about it, or even writing about it (as clearly any Tom, Harry, or Dick can write about it), I congratulate you for improving it.
ReplyDeleteLots of people play and write about dnd. Most don't stick with it for very long. All sorts of barely worked upon projects fill the junkyard of the internet. Your works are not luck, they are effort. Consistent efforts over a long time.
ReplyDeleteI applaud you for sticking with the tabletop rpg hobby for so long, and for having produced works of writing that will help others to play and run better.
I will say congratulations for the memory. I can only remember "summer of 89" and that I learned later that it was 2e... then realized it was a mashup of 1e/2e about 15 years later when I found some of the character sheets used.
ReplyDeleteSome would make next anniversary a bigger event yet, you know, with a surprise party and some balloons?
I'm just glad you kept playing: Jomo is right in saying you improved the game. But better yet is writting and allowing us to improve our own games.
Thank you all.
ReplyDelete