On October 11, 2018,
Francis Gregory Stafford died. To gamers around the world, he was
better known as Greg Stafford, designer of such ubiquitous games as
Rune Quest and Pendragon. Now, usually I don't much care for the
names of authors and game designers in RPGs. Some names are connected
to quality, some aren't, and that's about it. But Greg Stafford's
death struck a chord with me.
That's why today, seven
weeks after his death, I feel compelled to write a few lines. Rune
Quest was among the first roleplaying games I played. At a local
convention, I played a few games and soon picked up the German
hardback edition, the monsters book, and the box about the gods (and
boy, were there many of those). I led my friends from school through
my first self-created world for quite some time, before other games
snatched my attention – Gurps and Star Wars, if I recall correctly.
It took some years for me
to discover Greg Stafford's true gem: King Arthur Pendragon. I picked
up a copy of the massive 4th edition rule book in 2004;
the German book had been sitting on my shelf for some time by then,
but I never really read it. The system soon became one of my
favourites. The passions, traits, virtues, everything breathed
arthurian epic. Being an enthusiast for medieval romance, I fell for
this game harder than Tristan for Iseult – albeit with a happier
ending.
Because of Greg Stafford,
I have had some of the best gaming moments in my life. I fell to my
death, pushed by a treacherous Lunar (having rolled a 100 to keep my
footing, no less). I spent countless afternoons among friends from
school, arguing and laughing while we played your game. I won the
heart of many a fair maiden – and when I was lucky, a hefty dowry
on top. I played Lancelot, Gawain, Arthur, and Guinevere for my
players, as well as many a villainous knight to oppose them. And just
this spring, I rode a war bison names Daisy into battle on the plains
below Dragon Pass.
I never had a chance to
meet Greg Stafford, and, sadly, I never will. A great game designer
has left the stage, one who not only had an impact on my gaming
experience, but on countless gamers around the world. BRP is a
household name among the big systems today because of Mr Stafford.
Rest in peace, good sir.
