As we start edging our way to the close of 2008 – many will remember it as the year of the great economic meltdown (thanks Fannie and Freddie!) or perhaps that we all in non-America hold to the hope of a new world order promised by incoming presidency of Obama – but 2008 was also the year of the final roll of the 20 sided dice by Gary Gygax.

Gary was the father of Dungeons and Dragons. It seems that his passing has unexpectedly divided the strange, passionate, and colourful roleplaying community over his legacy. Tributes galore can be found across the internet but two articles in the fabulous online magazine Slate take two very different positions on the Gygax legacy.

The first article out of the starting blocks hailed Gygax, the second published yesterday is less flattering and instead puts forward both GURPS creator Steve Jackson and Runequest creator Greg Stafford as more worthy roleplaying innovators.

What are the thoughts of fellow Voodoonistas out there? Gary or Steve?

Or is this kinda like comparing the ‘father and the son’, one who created and the other who refined it.

And of course the other not so big question is – why does Saturday persist in posing these sorts of questions as a post when clearly they belong in the Goatary forum. Is it that he just is too bone lazy to take the extra click to the forum, or is it simply because he has forgotten his password and doesn’t want to once again go cap in hand to Midnight for yet another reset.

You be the judge as you roll your D20′s in honour of the last Palladin affectionatly known as Gaz who reached out for a cleric with a healing hands spell just a tad too late. HP – negative.