🎲🐉 The TTRPG Legacy of Deities & Demigods, Gamma World, and More

Honoring TTRPG designer and author James. W. Ward, who passed away March 18th, 2024. James was one of the very first employees at TSR and his legacy includes Deities & Demigods, Metamorphosis Alpha, Gamma World, Greyhawk Adventures, and so much more.

*TIMESTAMPS*
0:00 Introduction
3:25 Metamorphosis Alpha
4:40 Gamma World
7:03 Gods, Demigods & Heroes
19:09 Deities & Demigods
26:37 Greyhawk Adventures
30:30 The 2E Era
32:30 Fiction
34:20 Later Years
35:13 Wrap-Up
36:43 Bonus Content

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[andypanda]

I grew up on Star Frontiers, D&D and Gamma World. He contributed to some of finest hours spent with my big brother in my life.
Thank you James.

[KabukiKid]

Jim Ward was kind enough to reach out to me (on a D&D forum) around 15 years ago wishing to send me a book. I was hugely flattered and was curious. He sent me a signed hardcopy of his newest Metamorphosis Alpha version, at the time. I was so honored and he said he just thought I would like it. He just liked my goofy posts and knew I liked his work. He was simply being kind to a fan and I will cherish that book forever.

[TallDude]

This is off the D&D topic, but as we age, these sad moments will keep happening to us: writers, actors, musicians etc., along with friends and family. We must remember them and how they made us feel.

[Game.Master.Allen]

Thank you for this tribute to James. His contributions to the hobby are priceless. I'm sure Gary and his friends are welcoming him at the game table in the great halls.

[KultAF]

Thank you mr ward for helping to give all of us a great hobby.

[cavemanbum]

DM of 40+ years here. I read James Ward's "Pool of Radiance" back in 1989, and that novel spawned my love for D&D fiction that lasted for many years. The novel was integral in defining how I run and play priests in my D&D games, and I'll be forever grateful for Ward's work. RIP. 😢

[douglasaustin]

Thank you for making this video. Jim was such a kind person. I exchanged several posts with him on FB over the past few years. He was so approachable, answering questions and giving updates on the projects he was working on. He was a legend. 🥃 to James. You will be missed.

[Gaurelin]

Our hobby is in its 50th year. While this is something wonderful, and worth celebrating, it also brings with it the irony that it is just old enough that we are losing the last of the first generation of TTRPGers. This was a very nice tribute, Martin.

[danielrowan]

DRa1 - Thank you for this lovely tribute to an icon of the D&D luminaries. As far as I can tell, based on interviews of Mr Ward that I’ve seen, he was as kind and charming a soul as one could hope to encounter. His love and devotion to DnD and TTRPG was very evident. His passing is a great loss but his life in the game was a great boon. He will be sorely missed.

[chicketydee]

A toast to James and a toast to you for your good advice!

[neutraljump]

Kalevala was a collection of finnish folklore and oral tradition put into one epic. Before Elias Lönnrot journeyed Finland's countryside by foot and ski to collect all the stories in the early 1800s, we didn't have any of them in written form, not in verse anyway. It's not a minor part of our cultural identity. So it's awesome to see it mentioned in anything, even more so in DnD :)

[paulelephant]

What a great channel this is! Let's remember those who make our life worth living!

[agilemonk]

I absolutely loved James Ward. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family with their loss of such a wonderful man. ❤. Thank you, Martin. This is the best tribute I have online for him. Love you brother. 😊

[PatriceBoivin]

The Mansion of Mad Professor Ludlow was fun to read, I'm glad you mentioned it.

[AnthonySimeone]

Excellent tribute, Martin. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim at Gary Con 2023. He was very open and enthusiastic, and genuine. Rest in peace.

[KevinWallbridge]

To James. I'm sure when the distillery burned it seemed pretty apocalyptic at the time. Apocalyptic whiskey seems an appropriate toast for the creator of Gamma World.

[Satori]

Fantastic video, one of the best Dnd channel out there, by far. And love the chill vibe at the end :)

[jimamos]

Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ward at a local comic con twice. First time, he had signed my copy of the 1E Deities and Demigods. Second, he was running a game and I played in it; 4 character, mine was next to last to pass on.

[lostonwallace]

Still have Metamorphosis Alpha, Gamma World, the original Deities & Demigods, Greyhawk Adventures, etc. James Ward written books have always been a part of my roleplaying experience, so I was very sad to hear of his passing. This was a nice tribute to Jim, Martin. Thank you!

[crimfan]

Finnish seems obscure but the Kalevala was super influential. Both Tolkien and Moorcock were highly influenced by it and it is one of the settings in DeCamp and Pratt’s Incompleat Enchanter stories, which were very influential for Gygax and his circle.

Mordenkainen is basically a reskin of a wizard from the Kalevala as I recall.