[PnP] Richard Snider RIP

[Scott Adams]

    It is indeed very sad news to hear about Richard's passing.  A
    great dreamer and creator.  it is a major loss to the world that
    can't be undone.

    I may not have been a personal friend of his family or even met
    him in person but I do feel honored to be a friend.  Was honored
    to be told that in email years ago from him.  I started to talk
    to him in this list a decade or so ago.  I tried to go back to
    the email archives to see when i first did but earliest post i
    had saved is 2004.  But that was when he switched email accounts
    so I believe it was the mid '90s when he appeared here.  

    As a gamer it was a boon to walk into a dealer's room at a
    convention and find this one box set with that funny cover.
    It caught my eye.  Then I bought it and fell in love immediately.
    I never really liked the D&D systems as a GM but P&P was so
    creative and imaginative that the genre of fantasy was redeemed.

    I checked my archives and the first monthly archive of the list I
    did for my BBS was 9/97 so it has been 13 years at least I've
    been in this list.  It might have been sooner but I can't recall.

    I know Richard had some problems and we talked about them in email
    over the last couple years.  I'm glad he knew that I appreciated
    his system.  Beyond the initial work the Version 2 work created
    a storm of activity.  We had major contributions from folks like
    Wout, Alex, Burton and Paul among many others.  That was the
    great thing about this group is that it allowed and still does
    the game system to continue regardless of what the company
    wants or doesn't want.  Now the system has grown into the version
    2 reincarnation and beyond.  To Harn and Hero variants we've seen
    on the web site to games that just use the great Perilous Lands
    supplement.

    I was honored to be asked to contribute personally in version 2.
    I was never the creator that Richard was but was honored to see
    him include about 75 of my 200 spells I've done over the years
    into version 2.  It was also great to work with him on the
    version 2 beast/creature information among other small projects.

    Even in these last few years when I started (and still need to
    finish but at about 90%) my Ship project for pnp.  He helped
    with that greatly with ideas and some files.

    While I was god (games operational director) he was God in the
    real of fantasy with the big G.  From him the universe was
    created and nothing else could compete.

    I run 26 odd game systems and the best fantasy by no comparison is
    P&P.  In fact it is the only fantasy system I run with any
    long term desire.  Other genres I run like scifi but P&P is the
    best and I did let Richard know it.

    I know the list appreciated him just being here as most game systems
    on the 'net never saw their authors.  I know we all looked forward
    to his famous Christmas presents like the Western Lands.  In fact
    when we didn't get one this year I did become worried and meant
    to email him as the last email I got from him was in september
    on some things.  But I just got distracted and busy.  :<

    Sad news indeed...

    I have run my P&P PBEM game for slightly over a decade now and
    on my 4th adventure with the players.  I now feel even stronger
    to continue it even after low points when I feel tired.  If
    anything as long as we enjoy the game, the website Wout does and
    the new rules Richard will always live in our memory.

    Never fear P&P will not die even if I have to be the last person
    in the mailing list. :)  Let us keep supplementing the system
    as we do with rule variants and new modules.  We can only add
    to not really improve the system.

    Rest well Richard.  May the Monk Fly forever....

    BTW Is there an official death notice out there?  Some funeral
    homes/obit sites have guest books for folks to sign and comment.
    It would be great to go and show the family (even though months
    old now) how we felt.