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Author Topic: From the Arneson Family - Updated (Read 2,310 times)
arnesonfamily
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« Thread Started on Apr 7, 2009, 4:43pm »
Quote: (originally posted 4:43pm Tuesday, April 7th) As of this writing, Dave is still with us. We have moved him into a facility where we can focus on keeping him comfortable. We have been and will continue to watch the forums and blogs and are passing along everyone's thoughts and prayers. Right now our focus is on getting Dave into the best possible position to maintain his comfort and his dignity. We will update the community as we can. We want to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers and ask that you continue to send Dave your support in whatever form that means to you.
An address has been established to receive messages to Dave.
Dave Arneson
1043 Grand Avenue
Box #257
St. Paul, MN
55105
Shortly after 11pm on Tuesday, April 7th, Dave Arneson passed away. He was comfortable and with family at the time and his passing was peaceful.
The Arneson family would like to thank everyone for their support over the last few days, and for the support the entire community has shown Dave over the years.
We are in the process of making final arrangements and will provide additional details as we work them out. We will continue to receive cards and letters in Dave's honor. We are planning to hold a public visitation so that anyone wishing to say their goodbye in person has the opportunity to do so.
Cards and letters can continue to be sent:
Dave Arneson
1043 Grand Avenue
Box #257
St. Paul, MN
55105
Visitation will be on April 20th
Time: yet to be determined
Address:
Bradshaw Funeral Home
687 Snelling Avenue South
St. Paul, MN 55105 « Last Edit: Apr 8, 2009, 5:41pm by arnesonfamily » Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
jamesm
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« Reply #1 on Apr 7, 2009, 4:52pm » I can't begin to say how pleased I am to hear this. I had been told by someone who is close to Dave that he had passed away. I am both glad that this is not the case, even as I am embarrassed that my source was mistaken. Link to Post - Back to Top Logged James Maliszewski,
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Zulgyan
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« Reply #2 on Apr 7, 2009, 5:09pm » This is good news.
I hope and pray for his betterment. Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
havard
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« Reply #3 on Apr 7, 2009, 5:20pm » Thank you for sharing this information. My thoughts are with both you and Dave in this difficult time.
Havard Link to Post - Back to Top Logged Visit my Blackmoor Website:
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chgowiz
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« Reply #6 on Apr 7, 2009, 5:41pm » The thoughts and prayers of myself and my family are with your family. We hope that David is comfortable and resting well and knows that he is cared for by a great many. Link to Post - Back to Top Logged -- Chgowiz
If you're in the dark, beware the grue!
Chgowiz's Old Guy RPG Blog - Sharing the fun of original edition D&D;, one game at a time.
lizc
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« Reply #7 on Apr 7, 2009, 8:20pm » As a former student of Dave's, I can only wish the best for him and the family at this time. I hope he is comfortable at the hospice and they are treating him well.
Liz Canacari Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
oltekos
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« Reply #8 on Apr 7, 2009, 9:13pm » I'm so happy to hear that Dave is still with us. My fiancee & I hope for all the best in this trying time for him, his family, & his friends. « Last Edit: Apr 7, 2009, 9:13pm by oltekos » Link to Post - Back to Top Logged Thank You Dave & Gary--For Everything.
L.W.S.
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« Reply #9 on Apr 7, 2009, 10:02pm » We will keep you in our prayers! Link to Post - Back to Top Logged Ever feel like someone is
watching you? It's me!
melan
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« Reply #10 on Apr 8, 2009, 12:17am » Here is to Dave, and everything he has given us - I wish him and his family the best that is possible. Celebrate the man, his life and his work. Link to Post - Back to Top Logged "D&D; is the ultimate right wing wet dream. A bunch of guys who are better than your average joe set out into the middle of nowhere where they murder and kill everything they come across in order to stockpile gold and elaborate magical bling. There are no taxes, no state and any poor people that get in your way get their village burned to the ground. It's like Ayn Rand on PCP." - Mr. Analytical
thegreyelf
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« Reply #11 on Apr 8, 2009, 7:34am » Well, I'm glad to hear he hasn't passed yet, but hospice care generally means he's very close to the end. Hopefully they're keeping him as comfortable as possible, and he has a peaceful and painless passing. Here's to Dave. Link to Post - Back to Top Logged Jason Vey, The Grey Elf
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chgowiz
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« Reply #12 on Apr 8, 2009, 7:29pm » My condolences to the Arneson family - it's good that he passed with family. He leaves behind many of us who appreciate him. If there's anything that we can do, as a community, please let us know. Link to Post - Back to Top Logged -- Chgowiz
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« Reply #14 on Apr 8, 2009, 7:40pm » My deepest condolences to Dave's family. Link to Post - Back to Top Logged --Rob C.
Long Island Gamer & Fandomaniac
Dave Arneson.
Dave Arneson, co-creator of the first roleplaying game, ''Dungeons and Dragons'', died on Tuesday of cancer, at the age of 61.

A close friend of Arneson, Bob Meyer, reported on April 5 that he had taken a turn for the worse and was admitted to a hospital.  Family later confirmed that he was in a facility "where we can focus on keeping him comfortable."  Reported at that time, the doctor indicated that he had days to live.

The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design in 1984 inducted Arneson  into their Hall of Fame.  Pyramid Magazine in 1999 named him as one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, "at least in the realm of adventure gaming".

Arneson started out as a wargamer including naval games. He soon developed some for his personal use due to the major publishers' slow release of games.  With David Wesley and the other members of the Midwest Military Simulation Association, Arneson developed the basis of modern role-playing games with individual miniatures representing one person and having non-military objectives.  

Arneson attended the University of Minnesota as a history student.  He was a founder, along with Gary Gygax, of the Castle & Crusade Society as a medieval miniature chapter of the International Federation of Wargamers.  With Gygax in 1972, he authored ''Don't Give Up the Ship!'', a naval wargame.

Arneson's ''Blackmoor'' was the first role-playing game, a genre in which players describe their characters in thorough detail and can attempt almost any action the character plausibly could.  Ernest Gary Gygax, then a close friend of Arneson, worked with him during 1972–73 to develop the extensive set of rules (in this case three volumes) that such a game requires.  This became the first edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.  With his experience with David Wesley, Arneson tried it with fantasy miniatures free style calling his game, ''Blackmoor''.  He then latched on Gygax's ''Chainmail'' miniature game and Fantasy supplement for resolution of battles.  He showed Gygax what he was doing.  Gygax got involved and started preparing a set of rules to supplement ''Chainmail''.  They shopped the game, ''Dungeons & Dragons'', around to various gaming companies but got turned down.  Gygax started a business partnership, Tactical Studies Rules, to publish the game in 1974.  The game launched a whole new category in gaming. 

Although not involved with rulebooks for later editions of ''D&D'', Arneson did create adventure modules for later editions.