It has come to my attention that Erick Wujcik has died, June 7, 2008, of pancreatic cancer.

This has little to do with me or Valdron.  I never met the man.  I read one of his articles on diceless role playing, but by the time it was published game theory was already well beyond what he was arguing (he failed to distinguish between drama and karma mechanics, which Tweet had already done and Edwards popularized).  I believe I discussed some issue with him on a forum somewhere else, but do not recall the details at this point.

Yet that does not mean that his work was not influential on mine.  Even though there was no direct impact of Erick’s work on Multiverser, his Amber Diceless Role Playing System was groundbreaking and is still a major concept in diceless role play. He is also known for creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles role playing game, and so bringing many young people into the hobby through that connection.  His work undoubtedly influenced the many freeform role play communities on the Internet, and before that on America Online and Quantum Link, and through them many came to grips with role playing without fortune mechanics.

Thus it seems appropriate to note his passing.  I know nothing of the man’s faith or life outside his profession, but can only trust that God will treat him with mercy and justice as is appropriate.

–M. J. Young