since a very polluted cloud was arguing this point :
from Jim Ward on FB :
"Setting the Record Straight
I never claim to be an expert in AD&D. While I have read through 5E and written some product for it, I don’t know it well. I was around when AD&D and 2E were made and I have studied them carefully and written a ton of product in those lines.
I admit to being an expert in general role-playing. I wrote the first science fiction role-playing game in Metamorphosis Alpha. I wrote the first Apocalypse role-playing game in Gamma World.
I’ve worked happily on lots of other game companies. Troll Lords let me write a third version of role-playing deities in OF GODS AND MONSTERS. I also wrote what I think is a fun horror campaign world for C&C in TAINTED LANDS.
Fifty or sixty products later I met Stephen Lee. He has a brilliant concept in his LOST 77 WORLDS. I had the pleasure of writing the basic rules and the advance rules in a great apocalyptic campaign world. After writing a few things, I talked him into doing a fantasy set of rules in DRAGONSCALES. I love that line. In both of those systems we use the original concept of drawing playing cards instead of rolling dice and so far the many play-tests have worked great. We are contemplating doing a horror campaign using a novel called LONG CLAWS that I think could be wonderful. Stephen has a facebook page for both the Lost 77 Worlds and Dragonscales.
If that wasn’t enough a pair of amazing writers called me wanting a fantasy campaign that they want to give away to help promote their novel line. Nick Cole and Jason Anspach created the FORGOTTEN RUINS and I had the pleasure of doing those rules and two tournament adventures for that line. It’s in editing right now and will release when the novels come out. They have a facebook page.
Forty some years later Chris Clark and I just finished writing THE STARSHIP WARDEN. It’s a 600 page book filled with detailed maps of the 17 starship levels, the dome, and 16 between levels. It took two years to write and will be a product in the Troll Lord line with a kickstarter in October.
That brings me up to date with Stephen Dinehart. He makes theme parks for a living. He asked me to make a fantasy/apocalypse campaign set of rules we are calling GiantLands. With the rules he plans on making a theme park using the role-playing concepts. He has a facebook page.
Why in the world am I bothering to post all of this almost ancient history? I’m noting a lot of wrongful critique of Gary Gygax and it irritates the hell out of me. The man had his faults just like all of us, but he created an entirely new genre of gaming. When ignorant people spout off about what he did and didn’t do, I feel the need to act. I make it my mission to post when I read such ignorant comments trying to show people what really happened in those long ago days. So, I just thought I would put some of my efforts on the record to make them harder to ignore when I pass away. No brag, just facts."
Rick Meyer: May I ask is this in reference to the Kotaku article that came out today?
James M. Ward I read the article. Many events in it are factual. However, I saw the Arneson notes. They are not near what Gary created. If Arneson created a complete game, one would think he would have published it. I have lost all respect for Mr. Kuntz because of his comments in this article. Gary treated him like a son and this is how he repays the man. Shame on him.
