Somebody said they threw their copy of Dungeons and Dragons into the fire, and it screamed. It’s a game! The magic spells in it are as real as the gold. Try retiring on that stuff.
Meaning of the quote
This quote is saying that Dungeons & Dragons is just a game, not real magic. Even if someone burned the game, it couldn't really scream, because it's not alive. The magic powers and gold in the game aren't real either - you can't use them to become rich in the real world. The quote is poking fun at people who take the fantasy elements of the game too seriously.
About Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax, the co-creator of the iconic tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons, led an incredible life as a game designer and author. From founding the Gen Con gaming convention to designing numerous role-playing systems, Gygax left an indelible mark on the world of gaming.
More quotes from Gary Gygax
The essence of a role-playing game is that it is a group, cooperative experience.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
There is no winning or losing, but rather the value is in the experience of imagining yourself as a character in whatever genre you’re involved in, whether it’s a fantasy game, the Wild West, secret agenst or whatever else. You get to sort of vicariously experience those things.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
I wasn’t popular in the home office because I wasn’t chicken. I’m just a risk taker. I have gut instincts.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
I foresee online gaming changing when there are good audio-visual links connecting the participants, thus approximating play in a face-to-face group.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don’t need any rules.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
Of course as children, we all, in all cultures and societies, learn behavior from observation, imitation, and encouragement of various kinds. So by the suggestion made, we all ‘pretend’ most of the time.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
Outside of the mindless sitcoms that the networks thrive on, people able to think generally consider most entertainment is escape in one form or another.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
Random chance plays a huge part in everybody’s life.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
Somebody said they threw their copy of Dungeons and Dragons into the fire, and it screamed. It’s a game! The magic spells in it are as real as the gold. Try retiring on that stuff.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
Gaming in general is a male thing. It isn’t that gaming is designed to exclude women. Everybody who’s tried to design a game to interest a large female audience has failed. And I think that has to do with the different thinking processes of men and women.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
There’s a call to adventure. It’s something in the inner psyche of humanity, particularly males.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)
When AI approximates Machine Intelligence, then many online and computer-run RPGs will move towards actual RPG activity. Nonetheless, that will not replace the experience of ‘being there,’ any more than seeing a theatrical motion picture can replace the stage play.
American game designer and author (1938-2008)