RIP Erick Wujcik

[stevekenson]

Erick Wujcik passed away on Saturday from complications of pancreatic cancer. I didn’t really know Erick, and he certainly didn’t know me; our professional paths never crossed. He was well-established as a name in the RPG industry long before I was ever published, and began transitioning to greener pastures by the time I was becoming established myself. Still, he had an impact on my gaming, and therefore my career.

I first became aware of Erick back in my first years of attending the GenCon Game Fair. He did a seminar on diceless roleplaying—a pretty radical concept for both the industry and the early 20-something me. I found Erick’s ideas and the stories about his own games in which he applied and refined them fascinating. It made me think about roleplaying, and game design, in a different way. I attended other seminars he gave on game design and gamemasters over the years as well, and found them just as interesting.

So, in addition to your body of work, which is an achievement that speaks for itself, thank you, Erick, for leading me down a few unexplored paths and lighting the way for me to follow them on my own. Rest in peace.

Comments

[jkusters]

I was at DunDraCon when Eric and Mike Pondsmith (?) were hyping Amber. I of course bought it as soon as it was available. What a remarkable system, and this was what, 15 years ago or something? I've been a fan of his since. A beautiful light in the game design world, and one that will be missed.

JOhn.

[sadrx.livejournal.com]

Damn. Sad news. I grew up on TMNT and Other Strangeness. Not his pinnacle of achievement, but it held my attention for several years. I still have the books, but I haven't played it in a decade.

[athanasios.livejournal.com]

I played a lot of his stuff as a youth. I played a lot of TMNT and Palladium RPG. It is sad that he has gone. Ironically, I got choked up when I went to Erick Wujcik's blog and the last entry was about Gary Gygax. Made me sad.

[stiobhanrune.livejournal.com]

Oh no...

I loved his work... My friends and I are totally Amber-obsessive...

That sucks...

Blessings on your journey, Erick...