Dave Arneson's Health Takes Final Turn • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Dave Arneson's Health Takes Final Turn
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jamesmishler
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:43 pm

This is from Finarvyn on the Original D&D Discussion board (4/5/9 at 12:06 PM CST):

I got this message yesterday from Bob (Robert the Bald) Meyers regarding the health of Dave Arneson. As everyone knows, Dave is co-creator of our favorite hobby game and has been a frequent poster here.

David's cancer has unexpectedly worsened just this week, to the point that he is in the hospital. He is heavily sedated and not doing well. He is not expected to live for more than a couple days, if that long.

This one came in today. Bob's original plan was to hold off on an announcement, but I convinced him that it would be nice to get the information out right away. My hope is that Bob can track down an address so folks here can send cards and flowers to demonstrate to Dave just what he has meant to our community.

I will see what I can do about getting an address, and will post this on your forum.

Clearly, this is devastating to Dave's family as well as his gaming friends. Updates will be posted here as I get them.

A terrible loss for our industry. I never had the opportunity to really get to know Dave, but every time I met him at a show he was always kind and showed an obvious love for games and an appreciation of his fans. He will be missed.

NOTE: Dave's family has expressed the wish that he not be disturbed at the hospital, and that their privacy be respected during this trying time. Please do NOT make any attempts to contact Dave or his family!!!

James Mishler
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Last edited by jamesmishler on Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Plaag
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 3:26 pm

Damn

ShaneG.

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g026r
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:20 pm

Well, this sucks.

"Reader, Carthegena was of the mind, that unto thoſe Three Things, which the Ancients held Impoſſible, there ſhould be added this Fourth ; To find a Book Printed without Errata's."

bclarkie
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:59 pm

Damn, I didn't even know he was even sick, let alone having cancer. I knew that he had dealt with some major health issues in the last several years, I just didn't know it that bad.

Sadly, Dave had actually just joined here a few weeks ago and put an add in the Classifieds looking for a Woodgrain set:

profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1866

viewtopic.php?p=128296&highlight=#128296

"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -Neitzche

bbarsh
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:34 pm

Terrible news. Best wishes to his family, of course. But still a loss for us all.

And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

Blackmoor
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:37 pm

Another great man on death's door :cry:

Games can get you through times of no money but money can not get you through times of no games!!

bombadil
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:50 pm

Awful, just awful. The "sedated" detail is telling.

Are you sure he was looking for a woodgrain? That was not my understanding, but maybe I was mistaken.

Let mirth prevail!

mdr003
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:12 pm

I emailed Dave when I saw the post, as I had a copy of the article he wanted. I scanned it and sent it over to him.

He told me that his daughter was compiling a compendium of his work, putting together a collection of all his published work. Most of it was done, but he was missing a few early articles.

And he wanted a current value for the woodgrain because he had two he was considering putting up for sale. Both came out of the very first print run; one he used for his gaming and is worn, but still intact, and includes a digest sized notebook with plenty of his campaign notes. The other he never used, just put away for safe keeping. Apparently it's in factory fresh condition.

Here's part of the email he sent me after I sent him the scan:

As to the Brown box, I was checking to see what it was worth for my kids. It' all going to them anyway and they can decide. I just wanted to check around first. I think that I will open the discussion in a few days. Call it idle curiosity.

Yeah it contains the original dice, Chainmail, and the first four supplements. All in good-excellent shape. TSR actually sent me two. One is still in good shape the other was my 'playing; copy and is well 'loved'. But intact!

For the record, I initially told him a regular 1st print brown box would be worth $3-5k. Then after he told me more about them, I said it would be hard to put a value on two with that kind of heritage, and advised him to open a thread on the Acaeum to get more learned thoughts.

Regards

Mike

Demand of them whither they should comme to devide the worlde with the Emperour? And as they answered, he tooke up his shirte behinde and shewed them his buttocks, sayenge unto them, drawe your Lyne throughe the middest of *this* place.

bclarkie
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:24 pm

bombadil wrote:Awful, just awful. The "sedated" detail is telling.

Are you sure he was looking for a woodgrain? That was not my understanding, but maybe I was mistaken.

Ahh, my bad. I kind of took it from his post that he possibly looking to buy one. It appears as Mike pointed out he was just looking to determine value.

"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -Neitzche

Gnat the Beggar
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:37 pm

A thread relating truly sad news indeed.
My thoughts go out to him and to his family and closest friends.

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jamesmishler
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:38 pm

NOTE: Dave's family has expressed the wish that he not be disturbed at the hospital, and that their privacy be respected during this trying time. Please do NOT make any attempts to contact Dave or his family!!!

James Mishler
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stratochamp
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:12 pm

it is terrible to hear of our gods dying, but their written words will outlive us all. my heartfelt wishes to his family.

JasonZavoda
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:46 pm

stratochamp wrote:it is terrible to hear of our gods dying, but their written words will outlive us all. my heartfelt wishes to his family.

I'm sorry to hear this, may his days be without pain. My own belief is that there is more to come after this lifetime. May we all meet those we love and care about once again.

Alexander
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:28 am

Very, very sad...

grodog
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:00 pm

mdr003 wrote:For the record, I initially told him a regular 1st print brown box would be worth $3-5k. Then after he told me more about them, I said it would be hard to put a value on two with that kind of heritage, and advised him to open a thread on the Acaeum to get more learned thoughts.

That's basically the same info that I gave him as well, Mike.

Which article had he asked about??

Allan Grohe (grodog@gmail.com)
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dndgeek
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:50 pm

First Gary, now maybe Dave. :cry:

Thanks for giving me one of my greatest joys, guys. I'll see you in Empyrean.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Albert Einstein

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mdr003
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:57 pm

grodog wrote:
That's basically the same info that I gave him as well, Mike.

Which article had he asked about??

Howdy Allan -

It was an article that appeared in the first issue of Little Wars. It was on the age of sail warfare I think.

Regards

Mike

Deogolf
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:37 pm

Very sad news!

Eulaliaaa!!!

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