[–] QuestionEverything 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
These were game rules being passed around on HAND-TYPED paper. I'm going to assume people borrowed a lot from each other. I remind you that CHAINMAIL likely borrowed aspects of it's rules from other dice based figurines game. Kids and adults have been playing with lead soldiers for a long time..
[–] flope_de 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago (edited ago)
Yep, this sounds like it would have been perfectly normal behavior in the war-gaming scene at the time. I always assumed Gygax' actual accomplishment was to apply the fantasy theme, and to package it all up into a marketable product that could be sold to geeks with no particular interest in war games and simulations.
[–] HoocOtt 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
Nonetheless, we must acknowledge that Gary had a singular gift for streamlining, augmenting and popularizing rules originally devised by others: certainly we wouldn’t say that Patt’s original rules could have inspired Blackmoor, and thus Dungeons & Dragons, without Gary’s magic touch and the elaboration we find in the Chainmail Fantasy Supplement.
ummm....
What about, you know, making a role playing game. One would think that would be the singular gift that Gygax contributed.