Just a few days ago was the 10th anniversary of Dave Arneson’s passing. Dave was one of the most important people in late 20th century popular culture. I think that may be an understatement because it is too soon to know just how much impact the role-playing game will have on pop culture. I think there is a ripple effect that has gone far beyond what Blackmoor was for that small group of miniatures war game enthusiasts in the early 70’s.

It is impossible to measure. All the major content producing industries, video games, film, television, novels are chock full of people who played D&D as teenagers and in college. Many of those people will tell you that D&D was a critical influence on their work. There are historians who became interested in history because they were looking for ideas for their games. Graphic designers and artists who got their start copying images from Dragon magazine. My game group has a professional sculptor and costume designer.

Dave and his friends in Minnesota are direct and indirect influences on all of that and  a lot more than we will ever know. I hope that as time goes on, Dave Arneson’s name will be at least as well known as Gary Gygax.