Erick Wujcik
This website is dedicated to Erick Wujcik, game designer, writer, artist, originator of ideas, thinker and kind soul. Friend to countless people and an inspiration to thousands upon thousands more.
He is one of my dearest friends, so it is with a heavy heart that I report Erick Wujcik, age 56, is dying of cancer.
Until a few weeks ago, Erick was healthy and doing fine. He was enjoying his work at Totally Games, a videogame company, when he thought he had come down with the flu. When he couldn’t shake it, he went to the doctors. The prognosis was unexpected, to say the least. Pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver. There was no advance warning. It was a shock. Erick presses forward with the willful exuberance he has exhibited all his life.
We thought about letting people know after Christmas, but Erick’s time is, all too quickly, running out.
We thought it would be wonderful to give the millions of people who have loved the man and enjoyed his games, the opportunity to express their appreciation for him and his work. I have no doubt your comments and remembrances will put a smile on Erick’s face and help his spirit soar.
While this is sad news that weighs heavily on our hearts, we’d like this website, and the comments posted on it, to be a celebration of Erick’s wonderful life.
Just as you did when Palladium announced its Crisis of Treachery, let Erick know how much you have enjoyed his games and ideas. How Ninja Turtles (or Amber or whatever) turned you on to gaming or opened up your mind to new possibilities, and similar commentaries, thoughts and regards. I know your kind words and warm remembrances will put a smile on his face and warm his soul.
We’ve chosen to go with a blog style. Post as often as you’d like. Share your recollections about encounters with Erick, the first time you heard him speak or met him at a convention, what he and his work have meant to you, funny convention stories, and whatever else feels right.
The Erick I know
I’ve often said two things about Erick Wujcik, 1) that he is a true game designing genius, and 2) that he is a true Bohemian.
The game design genius. I’ve known a great many people who have claimed to be a genius at game design or covet the title, but Erick really is a genius, at least when it comes to game design. He mastered the art of storytelling and understands the dynamics of game design better than anyone I’ve ever met. Erick has created more great games that have never been completed and published than most game designers dream about.
That drives me and others a little crazy, because Erick’s quick mind leaps from one great idea to the next with the exuberance of a child lunging from one present to the next on Christmas Day. Like that child, he is enthralled with his new toy – new idea – until something else catches his attention. Unfortunately, that sometimes means his great ideas are left unfinished, but boy, are they exciting, and I’ve had the privilege of hearing many of them.
That’s the other aspect of Erick’s genius, his enthusiasm and hunger for new ideas, and desire to stretch the boundaries of convention, is contagious. He can get you (certainly me) excited and going with an idea faster than anyone I know. To Erick, there are no limits or boundaries. “Why not” and “what if” and “how about” are essential parts of Erick’s vocabulary. If you float an idea or notion of any merit, he seizes it and starts to postulate on its premise and potential. “That’s cool, but what if . . .”
I cannot tell you how often Erick and I would feed on each other, throwing out ideas and building on suggestions and excitement until we both collapsed laughing and exhausted. Sometimes those idea sessions (often impromptu) went nowhere other than fun, playful mental exercises. Other times they’d lead to new perceptions, new realms of possibility, and published works or a personal epiphany.
Erick helped me fine-tune parts of the Palladium role-playing game universal game system way back when. Not at some office (heck, we were both working out of our homes), but at a laundromat on Michigan Avenue in southwest Detroit. I was second guessing myself and frustrated. Erick had to wash his clothes. So we met at a place near my house and chatted about character creation, the elements that made them fun, which attributes were necessary, were eight too many, etc., while waiting for his clothes to wash and folding his shirts. The people around us must have thought we were crazy. So did my ex-wife when Erick would “drop by for an hour” at 8:00 P.M. to talk about a new idea or something he read, and at midnight he and I would be still be going strong, excitedly talking about . . . god only knows till the wee hours of the morning. Awesome. By then we would have moved well beyond the original reason he stopped by. I love talking to Erick about anything and everything. From game and story ideas or new concepts, to the application of psychology or technology or theology, to personal thoughts, fears, dreams and aspirations.
Erick the Bohemian. I call Erick a true Bohemian, because I don’t think I know anybody who enjoys life more deeply than Erick. He loves meeting new people, visiting new places, exploring new ideas, tasting new food, and taking in everything and everyone around him. Furthermore, his personal circumstances are always secondary to his enjoyment of his surroundings and the people in them. Erick’s sense of wonder is endless. We’re similar in that regard, as we both love new ideas and quickly see the endless possibilities they represent. But Erick simply immerses himself in them and floats along just enjoying wherever they may take him. He’s not necessarily looking to figure out how to apply them or exploit them, at least not at that moment of discovery, he’s simply adrift in them and soaking in all they have to offer.
Money, fame and recognition are nice, and Erick isn’t going to turn any of them away, but they aren’t necessities. Rich or poor, Erick has never changed. Maybe he enjoys a little more luxury, but it’s the experience of interacting with people, the exchange of ideas and sheer pleasure of experiencing something new that brings Erick joy. That, and creating and inspiring others to push the envelope and imagine beyond the known limits.
Gosh, there are so many stories I could tell, but I’ll stop here, for now. While I’m smiling, ear to ear, in the warmth of my friendship.
On behalf of Erick Wujcik and his many friends and admirers,
– Kevin Siembieda – December 22, 2007
Publisher and owner of Palladium Books® Inc., game designer, writer, artist and lucky son of gun for having Erick Wujcik as one of my dearest friends for nearly 30 years. Your light will live on, Erick, in your published works and in the hearts and minds of the multitude of people whose souls you have touched and made better for it. Love ya.
Silverlion
I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Erick, to say that his works have often inspired, and drawn me to a product is saying to little about his talents. I wish the world worked differently, its probably why I dream so vividly of game worlds, fantasy, and more. It is not to escape this world, entirely. In part it is to dream,momentarily, of how to make this world better–even if all we do is inspire others. I think Erick has done that in many ways. Given many of us the springboard of imagination, that maybe one day will make a difference.
There is so much power in “What if?”, I hope we learn to use it. Thanks, I will put you, Erick, in my prayers (and hope that doesn’t offend.)
Godspeed to the dreams of tomorrow.
Tim Kirk
Silverlion Studios
Ian Sturrock
I’ve never met Erick, and likely never will. I’ve corresponded with him, briefly, many years ago, when I was a young Amber Diceless RPG enthusiast, running games for a bunch of students and misfits and punks in my squat in Hulme. He dealt with my Amberzine subscription questions, and was enthusiastic & encouraging when I wrote to him about some of my campaign ideas. Today, as a game industry professional, I’m equally awed by Erick’s phenomenal genius for game design, and his sheer niceness in that one letter; there are few professional game designers these days who would be quite that pleasant, or take quite that much time, with an enthusiastic fanboy writing from another continent.
I count, among that first Amber Diceless group I ran a campaign for, my wife and my two best friends. It’s absolutely no exaggeration to say that it’s likely I would never have married Bridie, nor been as close to my two best friends, without that epic campaign, and that game, as those who were there at the time will know.
I believe, too, that the enthusiasm for Amber that I shared with my former boss and great friend James Wallis, was instrumental in his offering me the first job I got in the RPG industry. It was clear from my first meeting with James that we were very much on the same page when it came to the type of games that really got us excited.
Erick, you have my best wishes and my thoughts, for what remains of this life, and for whatever lies beyond.
“I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I seek not beyond death. It may be the blackness averred by the Nemedian skeptics, or Crom’s realm of ice and cloud, or the snowy plains and vaulted halls of the Nordheimer’s Valhalla. I know not, nor do I care. Let me live deep while I live, let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content.”
– Robert E. Howard, “Queen of the Black Coast”
Karrin Jackson
I’ve only met Erick once, several years ago at a memorable AmberCon Northwest. Getting to game with him was such a treat. He’s brilliant, fun, and possessed of such a wonderful energy, to say nothing of what an impact the Amber DRPG has had on my life. If my husband hadn’t answered an ad at the gaming store for an Amber game way back when, we never would have met. I’ve made a lot of friends over that game.
What a truly excellent human being you are, Erick. My thoughts are with you. Thank you for everything.
Merovaeus
Hello Erick,
I want to thank you for the interactions we shared somewhere during the first few years after you published the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game. You have always struck me as a very decent fellow, that made excellent games, and who always had time for a fan’s questions, comments, and at least once — time to theorize over just what Mister Zelazny was getting at when he wrote X or Y about our old friend Corwin.
I was motivated to take another look at my game collection, and your publication list. I have played nearly every game you have designed or touched, and have been since I was a kid of roughly 12. I remember burning the midnight oil with TMNT books cracked open and read by flashlight because my buddy George and I were up way past bedtime, even for a sleepover. I remember designing impossibly fast land vehicles using Road Hogs, and you can be sure we took those Mutants Down Under. I remember buying Amber for two reasons; It was Zelazny, and it was made by the guy who had already made or touched a bunch of other games that I loved — Robotech, TMNT, Recon, Beyond the Supernatural — Man, I even had Mechanoids.
And when life pulled me away from Pen, Pencil, Dice and Paper, Erick was still there. I still own Return to Krondor, in its original box. I bought it when it came out, I kept it because it was just that good. I’m looking at it right now. That was 1998, years later, I’m still playing Erick’s games. He was one of the minds behind Splinter Cell: Double Agent, a game that I still have in my XBox right now. As I write this, I am actively speaking with friends who are all players of Erick’s Amber DRPG, a game I have not stopped playing in one form or another since I got my hands on it back when I was just 18.
I can’t thank you enough, Erick — for the countless hours of fun, the good times shared with friends, the friends discovered because of his games, lessons learned, and perhaps more importantly, the friends I’ve managed to keep. All because of dice (or no dice), Mutants, and one arrogant Prince. I’ve held on to these books because somewhere along the way, I decided I wanted my kids to have a chance to play them and to tell their own stories. I don’t think I can pay a higher compliment than that.
Sincerely,
Brian D. Castellano
Meriden, CT.
robyn
Eric
While I never did have the honour of meeting you, I was heavily influenced by you, from my first serious RPG I bought (TMNT), through to playing AMBER through my days when I tried University.
It was you, and the games that you wrote that helped inspire me to write gaming material, and more importantly have fun while gaming.
Having both my Father and Grandfather pass away from cancer I have some awareness of what you may be going through and what may lie ahead, and my thoughts go out to you during this time, I only hope that during this time, you can live your life to the fullest.
Robyn Stott
Cairns Australia
RichardDansky
Erick:
Somewhere, I’ve got a picture of you from my trip to Shanghai. It’s on the Bund, it’s late at night, and you’re wearing that god-awful armadillo-shaped hat to humor me. It’s a terrible picture – the flash didn’t work, it’s too dark, etc. etc. etc.
Doesn’t matter. It does the job; it holds the memory, and the memory of knowing you and having had the good fortune to work with you, be it ever so briefly, is something I will carry with me always.
Thank you for your kindness to a weary and somewhat confused traveler who washed up on the shores of your studio; thank you for your generosity of spirit, and most of all, thank you for being brilliant in a way that made everyone you came in contact with better. I’m honored to have been one of those.
Best,
Richard Dansky
BWA
With the (possible) exception of D&D, TMNT was the game that made me into a gamer, and with no exceptions, it was the first game where my friends and I felt free to create, to take the rules and add other stuff we liked (mostly from Ninjas & Superspies and Mystic China), and make our own super-awesome game. So many nights of brilliant, creative fun, and I owe them all to your work. (In fact, even though I’ve outgrown TMNT, Mystic China remains my all-time favorite gaming book.)
Good luck to you, from a gamer whose life you enriched.
RPGPundit
From my Blog, today:
A little while back, at the start of the month, I mentioned that I had been devastated to learn that a good friend of mine had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
By now, some of you will have heard, through Kevin Siembieda’s press release, that friend of mine is Erick Wujcik. At the time, I had chosen not to mention him by name because it wouldn’t have been my place to do so. Now that its out in the open, I have a few more things to say.
All I can say is what I already said to Erick in our private conversations: that I appreciate so very much the conversations that he and I have had over the last few years.
Erick Wujcik is, to me, one of only two men who can really be considered the truly central innovators of Roleplaying Games, the first being Gary Gygax. In my book, no other game designers could be considered in the same league. Amber was an unparalleled innovation in roleplaying. And needless to say, it was only one of Erick’s accomplishments: TMNT was one of truly great RPGs of all time; not only one of the best iterations of the palladium system, but also one of the greatest examples of emulation of genre of any game of its time.
Erick is one of my heroes. Just a couple of days before he told me of his illness, while clicking away at the FtA!GN! sourcebook, I got to thinking about how it should have some kind of dedication. I didn’t have a doubt in my mind what it should be: “To Erick Wujcik, who taught me everything about being a great GM”.
I hope I get to talk to you again soon, Erick.
RPGPundit
PS: A parallel thread has been set up regarding this news on the OFFICIAL Amber DRPG and Erick Wujcik Forum on theRPGsite (http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=29). Erick is a moderator there and has been a frequent poster, though he hasn’t been on much lately for reasons that are now obvious. I just thought some people would like to know about this; I know Erick must truly appreciate all these kind words, but I’m also betting (and I bet Kevin would agree with me), that he’d be just as happy knowing people are talking about and enjoying the incredible RPGs he created, and especially if they’re playing them.
Andalusi
Mine is probably a common story: my early role-playing days were filled with mutant animal heroes, Veritech pilots, and intrepid psychic investigators all courtesy of Erick Wujcik. And Amber remains one of the games I’m always excited to play.
So for what it’s worth, Mr. Wujcik, you provided the keys to numerous adventures in my youth and still do so today. Number me among those who wish you the best and thank you.
Chris Aylott
I’m sorry that I won’t get the chance to meet you and say this in person, so these words will have to do.
My first encounter with your work was with the Amber game, and I have followed it ever since. I have used your ideas about balance, efficient game play, and fun in every game I’ve run or worked on since. (They’re also pretty handy in real life, as a viewpoint for evaluating people and conflicts.) You have been one of my touchstones for good design, and I will be using your ideas and being influenced by them for many years to come. Thank you.
SilverFox
Erick —
We met at Gamicon in Iowa City in the early ’90s sometime…… I played in a couple of your games, most notably the “00” one. I was blown away! I had never before and have never since experienced that level of game-mastering. We had a pretty sharp bunch playing and it seemed that no matter what we came up with, you were unfazed. I was so impressed by the obvious amount of research you had done on brain chemistry, psychology and a half-dozen other fields. That game was the only one I have ever played where I got an adrenaline rush when things started going badly for my character. I was *that* into the game. It was amazing! You inspired me to be a better GM. I will never be at your level, though. You are without equal.
God bless. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Brian S. Anderson
Lisa Padol
I met Erick maybe 3, 4 times. The first time taught me an important lesson: Use the bathroom before starting any conversation with this man.
I mean it. Time flies by when you talk to him. The conversation is fascinating, even when you disagree. And I do disagree about several things, but that doesn’t matter. The stories and the thinking is what matters.
Basically, we talked about the Amber Diceless Role-Playing Game, which I decided to review about a decade after it came out. I hadn’t realized the sheer level of animosity Erick got for attempted to part people from their beloved dice. I had a lot of trouble wrapping my brain around that.
When the game first came out, I knew enough to know I wasn’t up to running it. By the time I wrote the review, I knew enough to know that I could run it, and that my primary concern — that it all boiled down to “fast talk the gm” — was no more true of the Amber Diceless RPG than of any other RPG. And I could see the dialogue of ideas the game sparked.
Amber’s one of the few RPGs I actually playtested before reviewing. Usually, playtesting lowers my opinion of a game because the things which sound good when reading don’t quite click in play, and we flip back and forth through the book looking for the rule we know was there. This wasn’t an issue with Amber. The bumps we encountered were more philosophical in nature. I could gladly argue these for hours over drinks, but when it comes to the mechanics of the game? Not a problem. The game ran smoothly.
I loved doing that review. I loved learning so much more, not just about the Amber Diceless RPG, but about RPGs in general, and the hobby and industry I’ve come to love.
And, when you get right down to it, that means the people who play the games and the people who write the games. That these are so often the same people is a joy to me.
Nikchick
Erick, I’ve known you for nearly my entire career in roleplaying. I’m sorry that our creative reunion in the Hobby Games 100 Best book is not the first of many chances to work together but instead a final opportunity to collaborate. I had so hoped it was to be otherwise. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to know so many brilliant minds in game design but when given the chance recently to write about my pick for the best game I did not hesitate: Amber Diceless was my pick, hands down and that is entirely because of you. I have insisted that more than one of my employees take a good hard look at Amber’s innovations and advice before sitting down to work on a project for me.
However, you are so much more to me than Amber. Even before hearing the news of your illness I often thought back to your enthusiasm and generosity, the incredible community you fostered, even just your willingness to pass the time with me at a small (and otherwise boring) convention. I’m incredibly saddened by the news of your illness. I am reminded of the grief I felt when we lost Nigel Findley. I am grateful that, unlike with Nigel, we have the chance to share our feelings with you. Thank you for sharing so much of you life with us, fellow game designers and gamers alike. Know that I am wishing you peace and comfort in the coming days.
Jeremiah McCoy
Erick,
I met you something like a decade ago. You were a nice and friendly guy working in an industry I loved. Your work showed me that there was more to this hobby than just dice and dungeons. Your work has changed the industry at times. I can remember seeing a panel where every game designer on the panel pointed at Amber as what they wanted games to evolve toward. In other words you have made an impression. On a personal note, your work has given me many many hours of enjoyment. In the end making peoples lives a little easier by allowing to have more fun is something to be proud of.
Lord NorDeth
I’ve been playing TMNT since it first came out…through it, and After the Bomb, and later in life through Amber (the Diceless Roleplaying Game), I feel as if Eric has been part of my life for years (and in a way he has). As some of you know, Palladium Books is how I met my wife, and as part of the driving force behind Palladium, I need to thank Eric for his indirect involvement in us meeting. I have never had the honor of meeting him in person (every time I have tried to be at an event or Con that he was going to be at, something has come up), and now I never will, but I just had to Thank You Eric for helping a lonely, awkward teen to break out of his shell, make friends who have lasted a lifetime, and help (without ever knowing it at all) to chart the course that my life took. When I was in the Army, and posted away from home, his games (TMNT in particular) were a link to friends and home, and though I couldn’t play, re-reading them reminded me of the people I loved and cared for. When I was hurt and discharged, my time in the hospital (when I wasn’t in physio re-learning how to walk), was spent reading game books (a LOT of which were written or co-written by Eric). Let me tell you, being bed-ridden for 14 months, and physio for a total of 27 1/2 months, gives you a LOT of time to read…
So to you Sir, I offer my thanks, well wishes, and support. You are a TRUE renaissance man, who has seen the world, lived a life that most of us would die to have, and seen things that most of us have to game to experience (And thanks to you we CAN experience through gaming), and I offer you this prayer:
“Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one’s self;
But a noble name will never die,
If good renown one gets.”
…and you Sir, in the opinion of myself and others, are a man of renown, and thus will live on, through deeds and word.
Peace in Life and Death Old Friend, you have earned a rest.
David N Scott
I never met E.W. personally, but I was always happy to see his name on a new game or supplement, because it meant the book would be fast and furious and just plain fun. Plus his is one of my favorite RPG treatments of martial arts, from the genial wackiness of N+SS to the mind-bending moments of Rifts China 2.
You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers, too. 🙂 🙁
sopor
Erick, there is a list of things that I’ve seen and done that will have an effect on me for the rest of my life.
while getting married and having a child are tops of this list, some things in my “geek life” are also very important:
seeing star wars at age 6
getting into role playing at age 10
learning guitar/Bass at age 15
my first exposure to Amber diceless(and the work of Zelazny as well) at age 21
Eric while the list above is chronological its order of importance is inversed.
Amber And your Diceless game have had a profound effect on how i not only game but also how I enjoy the game.
By you stripping away the dice and heavy system it freed me to enjoy the interaction of gaming. I enjoy gaming and therefore LIFE more directly because of you!
Only my wife and daughter get better billing than that, man.
Thank you,
Mike D.
amberite
My username’s pretty much a testament to one of my longest-running obsessions.
I wrote my critical thesis on Zelazny. I initially found his work through the gaming world, via Amber DRPG. It’s my favorite system to run and to play. My best gaming memories originate with that big happy orange book, the one I carted around on a roadtrip that became a bus trip around the States just so I could do a one-shot if the chance struck, because what’s better than a night of Amber gaming?
Erick, I always thought I’d have the chance to meet you and game with you, and never got around to making it to any of your con appearances. Sorry about that. Thanks for everything.
Trip
Erick, you ran a game for me and a couple of my friends in Los Angeles just over a year ago. You posted an invite on rpg.net to run a game while you were in L.A. doing job interviews. I didn’t know anything about your credentials at the time, but when I saw a guy looking to meet up with strangers in a strange place and run a game for them, I thought, “I gotta meet this guy.” Even though I only met you on that one occasion, I wanted to tell you that we had a great time and the experience of gaming freeform really expanded my perception of what an RPG could be and how it could work, and led to some really interesting chats with my friends over the next few days. Here’s raising a virtual glass to you! Go with God, brother.
Shawn Merrow
Erick I have had a great time reading your books and playing them. Some of the best gaming I have had was with your Victim rules in Beyond the Supernatural. I feel the gaming world has been made better by your presence and will suffer a great loss when your gone. Of the people I have meet online your were one of the ones I most wanted to meet in person and I’m very sad that it looks like this will never happened. You, will be in my prayers. Your eternal friend Shawn Merrow.
dysjunct
Hi, Erick. Just another random internet bozo who never met you and doesn’t have any stories. But, simply and directly, your writing and games made my life better. Thank you for kicking ass more thoroughly and consistently than any writer in the business.
Melan
Erick, I never played any of your games, but I drew a lot of inspiration from them. Your attitude, your enthusiasm and your dedication shone thorugh. When I fell out of love with RPGs in the mid 90s, I thought I was giving up the hobby forever. Three years later, it was games you worked on which brought me back. It was because of their spirit, their exuberant character. So thank you.
And again: thank you.
Eusebi
Thank you for Amber, thank you for the first diceless system I played. It was great and a real mind opener regarding RPGs.
wilbymilstone
I have not been priviledged to meet Erick in person, but I know Erick from the role playing products that he had a hand in creating. When TMNT came onto the market, my friends and I were one of the first to play. Palladium has been a staple role playing product company in my life and I am happy that Erick was there to help produce and create some great games. Everything you have had your hands in has stood the test of time. I am now teaching my son to play.
Please remember that death is not the end of anything, it is simply a new beginning.
To the Wujcik family, I know that losing a loved one is extremely difficult, please try to remember to celebrate his life and accomplishments. Cherish all the moments, good and bad, for they are what will make all of you who you are today. May you be blessed and draw closer during this time.
James Ackison
cklutzke
Erick, I hope I’ve managed to thank you before now, but thank you again. I have so many good friends now–most of my closest friends–that I met through playing Amber Diceless. It’s the first RPG my kids ever played, and the only one I still play regularly. If the number of people brought together and building friendships over a game isn’t the best measurement of its success, then I can’t imagine what is. Beyond that, it opened my eyes to a different way of roleplaying, in which we could play session after session focusing on the characters and the story instead of dice and charts. My own RPG wouldn’t exist without the inspiration I drew from your game, and your name is already in the credits. Beyond that, it was a privilege to know you, and I enjoyed greatly the times we spent talking and playing at Ambercons and GenCons past. So, again, thank you.
-Carl Klutzke
stormdragon
Words usually fail me at times like this, so I’ll keep it simple.
I just want to say Thank You, Eric, for the countless hours of fun your games have given me and my friends over the years.
You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
You will never be forgotten.
Godspeed.
AstridTops
I’ve also posted this on the Amber List:
I met Erick in 1994 (or maybe 1995), when he was touring around Europe. My then-boyfriend-now-husband Jan Pieter had written him a letter (email being not yet available to him) to tell him how much he enjoyed the Amber DRGP, and how happy he was that it had brought him and me together. Erick responded that he knew of several other couples having found love through the Amber game, and that perhaps he should add a couple of hearts and flowers to his trump. He also gave us adresses of several other people in the Netherlands who he knew were interested in the game, and I sort of became his unofficial Dutch contact.
When he decided to tour Europe later in the year, he contacted us again to ask for a place to stay. We were, obviously, delighted to have him for a weekend. We contacted everyone we knew that would even be vaguely interested and our appartment was bursting with 14 people all eager to meet him.
We met this big, friendly person with dark curly hair, wearing an Amber T-shirt at the train station and asked him if he wanted to do and see here in the Netherlands. Well, the only thing he wanted to see was a supermarket, and the only thing he wanted to do was game the whole weekend. Apparently Erick had a thing for seeing supermarkets in every country he went to, just to see what kind of products they were showing. We scratched our head, but showed him to the supermarket, where he concluded that nearly everything there was for sale was also to be found in the US as well (stomping our national pride a bit). Having fulfilled his sightseeing desires, we had a meal and he looked suspiciously at the thick yellow liquid called vla we offered him for dessert. “My daughter would say it was mucus,” he said, but then he tried a bit and then declared: “Ah! It’s just pudding!”. Well, at least we had found him something he didn’t know…
After the evening meal he gathered his audience and started GMing. Let me tell you, that man is absolutely tireless. I went to bed myself at 2 am, and I heard the game had continued to 6 or 7 am, at which point he’d retired for his night’s rest: one hour. After that, he got up again and resumed the game. Since we all failed horribly (not being particularly used to his style of gaming), he ran a kid’s game that was a bit easier, and which most of us survived. Erick can easily handle a group of 14 players alone, a feat I’ve never see another GM do well, by going around in lightning fast turns, so that everyone gets to play as long as they can imagine what to do when their turn comes up. He doesn’t care if you wander off and do your own thing – absolute freedom to go and hang yourself with your own rope. On the other hand, he isn’t going to point you in the right direction easily either, and you’re on your own. It’s a way of working I’ve come to call the American style of Amber roleplay, that focuses on quick thinking, initiative, and problem solving without too many clues. It’s not a style I’m particularly good at, since I tend to choose roleplaying over problem-solving, and am not particularly fast to take the initiative. But somehow, if Erick’s doing it, I’m still having fun. I can still quote some lines from that second game, even if it’s been 13 years and we never wrote them down. We were howling with laughter when our token munchkin player, who wanted to be evil and powerful, got stuck in the body of a 2 year old, and yelled for a weapon. Mandor, his dad, gave him a spoon, telling him it was a knife, and a big teddybear that would regularly say “I’m Evil!”. I can still see Erick’s doofy expression, playing the teddybear and going “I’m Evil!” in nice, trustworthy, teddybearish voice.
Erick would travel on again that same night, so we took him to a pancake restaurant, gave him some speculaasjes for on the road (spicy cookies he liked), and waved him off again, the whirlwind that was Erick had moved on.
I met him again 5 years later at Ambercon NW, where he did a great improvisation game at the Sunday evening of the con. Because he had to leave at 10 or 11 pm, so some gaming could still be done before that time! I admired his character creation process. Another 12 gamers or so got settled in character with a mere 2 minutes each explaining how they developed a psychosis and got stuck into this hush hush camp. Soon of course the whole world was covered in aliens and rats, and even the virgin Mary made an appearance, Erick being the sort of GM that can make anything escalate in a matter of moments. While I had some great games that con, Erick’s game again proved one of the most memorable.
I haven’t seen Erick in 8 years. I wish I had had more opportunities to see him, game with him. The thought that now I might never do that is saddening beyond belief. I’m an atheist who can’t refer to the comfort of a next life in heaven or elsewhere. I believe we live on by the impact we have on the lives of others. I know Erick has touched many, many lives with his boundless energy and great enthusiasm, but even all that will live on amongst us in memory can never compare to this great person I’ve had the privilege to meet. All else I can say is hollow, the condition of his cancer sounds pretty serious and if it’s that far along, I don’t think much can be done.
Erick, I hope you see these words and trigger some good memories of the journeys you made and the games you played. Whatever happens, you will be in my thoughts
Mark MacKinnon
I can’t even begin to express how much of my wonderful life can be traced directly or indirectly back to Erick. He has made such a tremendous impact on who I am, what I have done, and the things that I have. Through the Amber DRPG, I:
* met Jesse Scoble, who was a best friend for many years, a co-conspirator in gaming, and a travelling companion to Japan
* met my beautiful wife, Karen, when she joined my Amber DRPG group back in 1994
* now have two amazing sons, William and Robert, who will grow up to love Amber
* wrote the anime RPG, Big Eyes, Small Mouth, in 1997 in the style of Amber
* from BESM grew the gaming company Guardians Of Order, which I ran from 1997-2005 until it’s demise
* met so very, very many great friends all across the world through Ambercon conventions — my best friends are from Amber
* started and ran Ambercon North in 1996 with Erick’s blessing, which gave me great insight and experience
Finally, through my life with Karen, I have grown and become a better person. Conservative to socialist, athiest to Buddhist, egotistical to coachable, carnivore to cruelty-free eating … my journey with Karen to “who I am” today in many ways started around the DRPG table playing NPC Corwin to Karen’s character, Duralle.
Erick, words cannot express what you and your work means to me, but I’ll try: Thank you.
Goodbye, and hello, as always.
goldfired
Erick,
I’m one of those who’ve never met you and yet on whose life you’ve had an amazing impact. I was playing online games back in 2000 when a friend there told me that I just had to try Amber games. Within a week I was hooked. I was halfway through the Amber novels, and the owner (and eager reader) of my first ever rpg book – your Amber Diceless. And I started playing, and then GMing.
Seven years later, I’m a year into GMing my third long-running online Amber game. I’ve made fantastic friends through Amber gaming, and have crossed the Atlantic four times to meet up with them – twice to play at the Black Road Con. I’ve been three times to ACUK and gained friends there too. I’ve loved and grieved over my characters, I’ve laughed and cursed and plotted (lord, how I’ve plotted!) and really, it was all thanks to you and your wonderful game which drew us all together.
I hoped, one day, to be able to thank you in person. That, sadly, now seems very unlikely, and I must thank you in the pixel instead. But my thanks are no less for that, and I will hold you and those closest to you in my thoughts and prayers.
Mel Mason
JeffreyBoman
I met Erick at GenCon in Milwaukee in 1992 (or ’93. My memory on dates is hazy) and he was promoting the Amber DRPG. I have early issues of Amberzine autographed by him from then.
Amber provided one of my most pleasant times as a GM, and I joined many PBEM games of it as well. None of them lasted sadly – but it was a major part of my life.
By association, Erick has been a major part of my life, even if we hadn’t spoken in person in more than 15 years. When GoO hyped the purchase of the game rights I was excited. Unfortunately it didn’t come to be, but it lead to me buying a more recent Amberzine directly from Erick. It speaks volumes that an out-of-print smaller press game meant so much to me.
I can’t put into words how much impact he had on my growth in life. Thank you for everything.
aclipscomb
I’ve been gaming almost 30 years. For many of those years, Erick’s work has influenced the way I game. I gleefully mined Erick’s books, as well as many others, for nifty tidbits to use in my campaigns.
Thank you, Erick, for all you’ve done for gaming, and for all of the wonderful ideas I found so helpful.
CharlieRock
I played out of some TMNT & Other Strangeness, Recon, and Ninjas and Superspies. I’ll never forget the fun I had with those books.
Thanks so much.
The price of one Erick Wujcik RPG in 1988: $9.95
The amount of fun to be had with the book: Immeasurable
Capricorn73
Dear Erick adn kevin..I ve been a serious fan of palladium since the golden days of Dungeouns and dragons…once i saw Robotech for the first time and heard there was an actuall game for it, i was hooked ever since..now al i do is game on Heroes unlimited, RIFTS, Ninja Turtles, Ninja and Superspies and Occasionally D&D..Palladium is by far the most wonderful gaming experience ive ever had as far as RPG’s Go..
Im sorry to hear that erick isnt doing so well on the inside but to be able to continue on even in teh face of adversity, thats the sign of a true soldier, marine, airman, Sailor, Officer, or Even Just your average vagabond..hehe..We are all strong inside but some of us are truly extraordinaly more So than most because we were blessed with these gifts and learned early on how to hone them..
Erick you and everyone at palladium have been an inspiration to us all and Know this, THE LEGEND WILL NEVER DIE!!!!
You may leave this world in body but your spirit and work will continue on in all of us who have been holding a piece of you in our hearts all this time.
I Salute you..
Anthony Emmel
Well, a Wujick game wasn’t my first RPG (Gamma World in 1981 was), but TMNT was my first Palladium game in 1985 or 86. RECON was my second. My first group was made of Squirrels who had been genetically-engineered, created and trained by the CIa to be assassins. They weren’t down with that, so they left with a van full of spy equipment. Wild wackiness naturally ensued.
I’m currently re-reading the Rifts Adventure Guide and find his comments so useful n planning my next game and how it’s going to go. Erick is one of the great unsung gamrs out there, imho.
I have one regret. When my wife, Ramsey, and I were at OH this year, I didn’t play in any of Erick’s games. My thought was, “Well, there’s always next time.” I did get a chance to watch him GM for a minute or two and was suitably impressed. When leaving PB late Saturday night, we stopped by a grocery store to pick up some cokes and stuff for our hotel room and ran into Erick at the store. I was al like, “Hey, that Erick Wujick!” However, I was too shy and embarassed to go say anything to him. I wish I had now. That’s my fault and my regret.
Erick, we’re all pulling for ya. Do not go gently into that good night, pal.
Tony
Sean Patrick Fannon
Erick, I am grateful for the few times we’ve had at least brief moments to meet. I am grateful that I have had many opportunities to read, enjoy, and play with your creations. I am grateful for the influence you’ve had, not only on my own growth as a game designer and creator, but upon our industry as a whole.
I’ll be looking for you on the other side one day, hopefully to sit down and do some gaming.
I hope you don’t mind if I bring my dice… 😉
erichris
Dear Erick,
I want to thank you for Amber Diceless, it completely changed how I looked at roleplaying games and opened my mind to all sorts of possibilities in storytelling. I always loved Zelazny’s series, and your system really brought it to life in a way that no other system could. I had the honor of saying hello to you at one Gen Con in the 90s in Milwaukee, and you struck me as a gamer’s gamer, someone who loves our hobby at least as much as all the people who play your games.
Anyway, I am no good at being a fan, but I wanted to send you my best wishes in whatever comes next.
Zealot
I never knew you, but I have enjoyed your work immensly over the last 20+ years.
Godspeed,
Simon
Killer Cyborg
I only got to meet Erick once, at the Palladium Open House, but I interacted with him a bit on the Palladium website. He’s a great game writer and, more importantly, a great person. The world will be a smaller, darker place without his presence, but he will be remembered forever through his work and in the hearts and dreams of everybody who enjoyed his games. He has brought joy and entertainment to countless people, on behalf of the entire god-dammed planet, I thank him for all he has done.
M.A.C.
Dear Erick;
We’ve never met, but I’m glad I have the chance to thank you for your work in opening doors to other worlds, in more ways than one. I was working my butt off for ‘bonus points’ in an Amber game when one of the other players reading my contributions said to me, “You really should get published.” I never looked at my ‘silly scribbling’ in the same way again.
Yes, I did get out there and get published: short stories, novellas, an upcoming novel. Amber DRPG remains one of my favourite games. It taught me to pitch the rules out the window and just let my mind find its own paths and its own worlds. It’s something I try to pass on to everyone who comes my way clutching their half-written novels, sketched-out comic books, and all the other ‘silly scribblings’ they try to brush off as nothing but secretly wish they could love.
Just play. And when the rules get in the way of the story, let them fall and play on. Thank you.
~An
Sol
I was a bit leery of the Amber system the first time I sat down to run it. (The gang elected me as GM because I was a big Zelazny fan.) That first session was so much fun it effortlessly lasted eight hours, and we chose to play again the very next day. That was easily the best roleplaying experience of my life up to that point. The fifteen years since have seen a lot of gaming, and I have never found a system I would rather run or play in; nothing else even comes close. We may endlessly tweak the details, or rework it a bit for different settings, but Erick’s great ideas always shine through.
In addition to creating a brilliant game, he founded a stellar gaming convention. Between the two, I have made so many good friends, and had the best of times. His has been one of the biggest positive influences on my life. And every time we met he was always unflappably nice. Truly one of the great ones.
pdboddy
To Erik,
I’d like to say thank you for your hand in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG. My friends and I had a lot of fun with that game over the years.
wraith808
Wow.
This is one of those times when I feel that I should say something to express the gut-wrenching void that I’m feeling inside, but don’t know how to do so. I really haven’t felt this way since my father died of cancer a couple of years ago. In many ways, there are analogues.
I’ve never met you, and I don’t know you. But you gave birth to a wealth of imagination I had in me for a long time, but never got to express. All I knew about was D&D and comics. I loved comics, but D&D never really inspired me. I knew there had to be something. One of my fave comics at the time was TMNT.
Then I saw your RPG. Since then, I’ve written, played, and gm’d so much in so many different worlds that it’s pretty incredible. If you could make an RPG about TMNT, then I could do one about anything! Then my group disappeared and I wasn’t able to find anyone interested in playing. I played a few things online, but nothing was the same; the virtual dice just didn’t do it.
How about doing away with dice? I was introduced to ADRPG through a good friend, and I haven’t looked back. I mean, I played in free-form RPGs online before, but they were little better than Cowboys and Indians, and soon enough someone would yell bang and the target wouldn’t fall down. But to find a diceless ruleset- again, based on a book that I had read, and thought pretty ungameable. Since then, I’ve played in several Amber games, come up with my own rules variantions, come up with my own diceless rules-sets, gone to AmberCon, the Black Road, and along the way met so many people.
All thanks to you. You freed my imagination from the bonds that I placed on it, and I’ll always be thankful.
I’ve so wanted to meet you, but it appears that I won’t in this life. But there’s always the next one…
Ron Blessing
I’ve never met Eric Wujcik; I’ve never played any of his Palladium games. I have played Amber, and that game permanently changed the way I think about roleplaying. As a student of RPG design, I know that many of the favorite games I hope to one day pay tribute to through my design would not exist were it not for Eric Wujcik and, specifically, ADRPG.
I don’t believe death is the last step of the journey of the human soul. I believe that when we lose Mr. Wujcik, the ones that will suffer will be his loved ones left behind and those that have not had, or don’t understand, the benefit of his genius.
Mr. Wujcik, may your journey take you far. Thank you for touching my life through your work.
Liz Trumitch
Erick, you’ve been a wonderful mentor in my life. First, you took a chance and trusted me with your con, and then at the times I ran into problems you walked me through solutions, and created some yourself to get us through, and it meant the world to me then and still does. You gave me an opportunity to do something that gave me the confidence to change my life – led to me going back to get my degree – helped me learn to trust myself.
——————-
Here, folks, I want to tell this story about me getting in over my head and Erick helping me out. When we had a very horrible year with the Ambercon US hotel torn to pieces in the middle of remodeling, it was Erick who sat down until quite late to help me find an approach. He calmed me down. I was upset because there was no pool, but a pile of rubble, and we hadn’t been warned. There was broken glass outside of boardrooms we’d rented to use – and they wanted us to have our banquet not in the hall we’d contracted for, but a completely inappropriate open-atrium restaurant. In the end, it was Erick who went to negotiate down the resistant manager on where we’d have our banquet. He taught me how to handle these things with some hand-holding that was never condescending, and I in turned gained the confidence I needed to move forward on my own, getting him back where he belonged – GMing! We got a very nice settlement out of the hotel that year, and were able to keep a good relationship to them while doing it. That was because Erick had that charm and finesse – and was a great teacher.
——————-
And second, but just as importantly for me, you created this wonderful game. The amazing, intelligent people I met through adrpg are today my best friends in the world. I’ve made a globe full of friends through your work – and it’s inspired me to learn, to stretch my roleplaying, to think creatively – and has just brought me countless hours of pure fun. It’s also helped me hone my problem-solving skills. Anyway, it starts to sound like a resume, but… it’s great stuff. When I got to play under you, it changed my perspective on my roleplaying. I wasn’t just the token girl in the room anymore. I was playing with the guy who wrote the game, and he loved (or was at least amused by) my ideas – ran with my insanity – gave me challenges. In that instance, let me finagle my way into becoming Queen of the Universe. If I can find the writeup of that game I’ll post it somewhere and link it here. I loved every minute – playing the Yendi at the Lighthouse, hearing about 47, the stories about nuns making tshirts in Detroit, all the amazing Detroit stories.
And most importantly, you are just you. Charming and charismatic, just seeing you has always made me smile. Your wonderful stories and just the way you think has always made you a joy to be around. Your generosity has impacted my life in so many ways. I will light candles and wish you all the strength in the world that you may have as many more days as possible, and that you’ll find joy in each one.
With deep gratitude,
Liz
mearls
D&D may have taught me how to play RPGs, but TMNT taught me how to have fun with RPGs. Thank you for that.
cypherth
Your books were tremendous comfort to me in one of the darkest times in my life. Thanks so much!
Subjugator
Erick Wujcik – author, GM, and worlwide influence of light and love.
I only met Erick once – at the Palladium Open House. I didn’t know what he looked like, but saw an unassuming man calmly walking by. Out of curiosity (I’d not yet met him, and I wanted to meet everyone there), I asked his name. When he told me, I about fainted – the guy was a legend. His attitude was surprising to me, because he seemed to have no idea that he’d have people stacked ten deep around him asking for autographs if word got out that he was present. He’s got his thumb print on games, books, and virtually everything associated with gaming (including teaching) that I can think of.
That’s Erick the game designer and player.
Through Kevin, I’ve heard things that tell me about Erick the man. The things I’ve heard are much like the things that Kev wrote in his announcement of our pending loss of such a man. The aspects of Erick the game designer and player are important, as they reflect on the rest of who he is, but Erick the man, through the stories I’ve heard, make me think such words as strong, loyal, caring, and loving.
I’ve known you through your books since I was a kid, and I’ve known you through the window of Kev for a couple of years now. You’re one of the folks that is just as nice as rumor would say you are – and with your reputation, that’s really saying something.
The world will be less without you, but I will be ever brighter for having drunk deeply of the richness that you wrote.
-Dennis Hughes
steelcaress
My first introduction to your enthusiasm was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG. I never knew you personally, though as I bought various RPGs (including Amber Diceless) I felt like I did; I felt like I was taking a journey through the mind of an amazing and passionate man.
We may be losing you, but the afterlife (whatever form it may take) is gaining a priceless soul.
Your memory will continue to inspire and delight in this life, and I hope that I will be able to call you my friend in the next.
shaneneville
Erick – you and your work have been an inspiration throughout my personal and professional life. It’s hard to imagine where I would be without the Ninja Turtles RPG (my ‘gateway drug’ to Palladium) and it’s hart to imagine my lifelong obsession with Palladium RPG’s without your involvement. And without Palladium, I know I wouldn’t be making games today.
I consider myself blessed to have had the opportunity to game with you on a couple of occasions – each time I marveled at your ability to bring gaming back to the basic element of PLAY. You opened my eyes with diceless RPGs and inspired my heart with your tireless passion for innovation and gaming in all it’s forms.
Thank-you for everything – your gifts to the gaming world cannot be understated.
TimCarroll
Just even trying to put anything into words is tough, but I’ll try.
Like a lot of people, Amber Diceless was a pretty big influence on both my gaming style and how I look at all RPGs. Whether playing in one of your games at AmberCon or playing in one of the many Amber campaigns I’ve been lucky enough to participate in, Amber has always been a treasure.
Our paths have crossed so many times — game conventions I ran, game conventions I attended, even meeting up briefly at E3. I always enjoyed the conversations we had. A particular favorite was the last GenCon in Milwaukee. I hadn’t seen you in a few years, and when I brought up the small company I worked for and you said “Oh, then you know Rene, then.”. Proof that you do know everyone.
Of the games I you’ve, the one that was very interesting to me was a one-shot gameless system over at Joe and Lisa’s, probably 15-odd years ago. In it, our computer researchers saw the birth of a new artificial consciousness. No combat, no rules, just oodles of interesting story.
You will be missed.