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.
GMBrian
Eric, I never met you but I have some game books signed by you. Your games have given my friends and I a lot of good times. When I saw the news I felt awful for you. When your up in heaven, GM a few games for me, man.
Brian
bdchristman
Eric, we’ve never met, but you’ve done alot for me and my family. When we discovered the TMNT game, it was something new to me and my brother, and we bought it up. I learned how to play and run the Palladium system, and we had fun makin up new mutants, and just messing around with them. Then we discoved After the bomb, and it was even more well recieved: My brother just reminded me of a Christmas Break rpg session we did back in school, where we had an arguement about which was tougher: a mutant dingo or lizard.
Dingo won!
It was those kind of things that kept my brother and I close through all kinds of hardships and problems. It helped us make new friends, learn life lessons, and maybe even made us better men. I know it helped me to keep my imagination fresh, to look at the world and see not only what is, but what could be, something I think is rare in our world today.
I can’t imagine what you’re going through, and when your journey ends, I don’t know what awaits. All I know is you’ve touched my life, and I’ll always be grateful.
Brian Christman,
loyal fan,
gamer,
dreamer.
Yokiboy
Eric, like many others posting on this site, we don’t know each other personally, but I used to be a huge fan boy of your games all through my teenage years. While I say used to, I still cling on to those great Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles books, and was just recently interested in checking with my friends if they care for another game of TMNT. I also played a great campaign of Ninjas & Superspies, and it’s also still part of my gaming collection.
You have really touched many of us with your games, and fired up our imaginations to the max.
You will be remembered.
Peace,
Yoki
Benj099
I never met Erick Wujcik, but I know his work, and have enjoyed it for many years, including some of my earliest ones in gaming. TMNT, After the Bomb, Road Hogs, etc., kept me entertained for hours in character creation alone! Just roling up various random mutant animals and seeing what I can make out of them was no end of fun. It also encouraged me to run a few games, which turned out quite well, and fun for a group of teenage roleplayers such as we were at the time, so long ago.
Another nice addition was Amber, as it’s been my favorite series of fantasy for some time, it was great to see it translated into game form, and once again I was inspired enough to don the mantle of GM and get some of my friends to play, just because it was too good to sit on the shelf gathering dust, I had to use it. I think one of the most memorable and somewhat humorous moments was when I ended up in the position of roleplaying out a conversation between to elder Amberites (Julian and Caine I believe), while the PCs stood there and remained silent. I had wanted them to join in the conversation with the two, and kept trying to encourage them to do so, but they were entertained by the monologue/dialogue and wanted me to go on. Frustrating at the time, but funny as well, and an uncommon thing for a shy lad such as I was to be doing. It was definitely good for me, I think.
These positive gaming experiences and many more would not have happened if not for Mr. Wujcik’s work, always creative and fun to play around with. These works have made an impression on me that has lasted for years, and I still have the old TMNT and Amber books! (I had to repurchase them at some points) They will always have a place of honor in my gaming library.
All I can say is, thanks for doing what you do, and sharing it with the world.
-Ben Alany
PeterPorcaroJr
Erick, although we’ve only met once during the 2007 Palladium Open House, and even then it was a very brief ‘Hello Erick, I’m a great fan!’ I like many others think that we know a part of your from your published work. From TMNT and Other Strangeness, to After the Bomb, and Amber, so much of what you have given to us, the fans will keep that part of you alive and strong for us, forever.
Thank you Erick, and God Bless you and your loved ones.
Joel Levise
Erick:
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you twice, and I think that to add my anecdote to these others is an honor, as well as further testiment to the seemingly unsoundable depths of your kindness and generosity to those whom you’ve just met. The first encounter I had with you was a while ago, at Gen Con ’98 in Milwaukee. I’d advanced–with a pickup group, no less–to the final round of the Dungeons and Dragons Open, which plays at 8:00 in the morning on Sunday, and I needed to eat before the game, so I hopped into the hotel just adjacent to the convention center, where there was a breackfast buffet. Going over my character from the previous round, scarfing down my eggs and bacon, a man with a beard and curly hair, holding a plate of fruit and a bowl of what I can only assume after all these years was oatmeal, approached my table. I looked up and he smiled at me. The place was busy, but not packed. I looked back at him with a nervouse smile and a nod, “Please sit,” I’m sure I said, or something like that. He did, introducing himself–I was only vaguely aware of his rep at that point. I explained my situation–nervouse, eager, and, frankly, a bit afraid–the open was a terror ride, and he nodded with understanding, sort of twinkled his eyes at me, and told me a great story, the point of which, he said, was to give me things to think about as I approached my final round experience. Here it is in paraphrase:
“I remember once, in my early gaming experiences, there was a solo competition–sixty minutes, one player and one DM, whoever finishes the adventure wins. Well, I played realy well, quickly made all my choices, and twnety minutes into the game I had my character walking into the final encounter–a flooding room.”
The point was, I think, not to rush in. Good advice, not as if I’ve foillowed it so much, but incredibly apropos of my situation as a young gamer in a lucky group of real life lawyers and engineers who solved all the logic problems and leaned on me to do the talking.
My second experience with Erick was in a pickup game of Rifts China–just out at the time, as I remember (GenCon ’06?). my girlfriend and I worked on our characters for two hours in our hotel room and during the process I remarked that Erick’d written a diceless game, and that we were in for a rare treat: Erick Wujcik running a rifts game. We met up with him at the Palladium Booth where we’d signed up, and he took us, along with another two fellows who’d appeared as if out of nowhere, to one of the open gaming tables, explaining along the way that it was to be short game. We gathered around the table and srtarted pulling out dice, and he quickly made clear that this wasn’t going to be your mother’s Rifts game. Two hours later we’d made friends with a demon, convinced him it was better to die with honor than to pursue his vendetta, and with his help, we saved the struggling town of Chinese fishermen who’d hired us, a group of Goblin Wranglers and Demon Hunters, from the depredations of his demon brother. Of course he had all the names, hierarchical relationships and geo-political alliances at the tip of his fingers, rolling of his tongue like a master saxophone player spinning out his favorite composition; I can’t seem to recall it all just now. We didn’t roll any dice–revelatory, nothing less.
Erick Wujcik has contributed more than most to our hobby. I was struck by one of the other posts, where it was asserted that his contribution ranks with Gygax. Sure, that’s easy; like a Miles Davis in jazz, or a Michael Jordon in ball, Erick Wujcik changed the rules of the game–quite literally–and in so doing enlarged the tradition in which all future work in that field grows.
I was also stuck by the notion that he produced a notable iteration of the Palladium Rules (TMNT)–and was involved in the genesis, according to Kevin Siembieda’s post at the top of this thread–and in two editions, I’d only add (After the Bomb).
While the Rifts China stuff is a fine coda for him, my favorite rules book by Erick Wujcik in Mystic China, an absolute masterpiece of historical and cultural research, game design in both linguistic and combat senses (dozens of RCCs and a glossery of Mandarin, as well as game stats on martial arts, rules for creating immortals). I pulled in literally dozens of these things into my Heroes Unlimited game, and my favorite was sending my players on a rescue mission on behalf of an immortal antiquarian called Red Shawl, which ended with a superhero brawl in the middle of Hong Kong with a massive metalic centiped and a trio of quicksilver monkeys on one side and my little gaming group of three heroes on the other. The Yama kings showing up at the end got my players running, and I remembered that day to always keep them that way, if only to show them why not to just rush in.
As a scholar, i spend a lot of time looking at bibliographies and working in libraries, and the notes to Mystic China show that Erick spent a good deal of his time doing similer things–research, reading, pondering. I live in Detroit, and Erick’s mention of our libraries is a wonderful reminder of what he valued as a thinker, and what he found indispesible in a community.
If I could end with a bit of his own writing, I feel that would fit nicely:
“I, Po Ling, ignorant as a stone, weak as a fly’s larvae, am unworthy of the honor you have bestowed upon me. For example, I have never been able to meditate for more than fourty hours at a time without having my mind wander. You may be sure that I will weep tears of gratitude when I think upon your kindness in years to come.”
Right back at ya, with hyperbolic love.
You’re one of the greatest of our form, a giant of diner tables and merch rooms, a genius of Sunday nights and musty basements.
Would that it were otherwise, we’d still owe you a million (or $260,000, Kev).
Thanks for putting all those words in their places for us.
best,
Joel Levise
committed88
Erick, I’ve never met you, but know of some of your works. My father is also diagnosed with Pancreas cancer. My sincere best wishes and prayers. Keep your head up and your mind awake.
hidajiremi
This is shocking to say the least, and though I feel a terrible sense of loss myself, I can only imagine how much moreso it must be for those that know Erick personally.
TMNT was the second role-playing game I ever played, and the one that convinced me that role-playing was actually fun, after a bad first experience. I can also say that Erick is one of the great inspirations in my life in becoming a role-playing writer myself. I could say volumes more, but I’m not sure that I could keep it together. I wish my best to Erick’s family and friends, and to Erick himself. No man ever truly dies that lives on in the memories of those that love him.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Puckett
Barthir
Erick, I haven’t seen you in a while, but I remember well the GenCon and Ambercon sessions of the ShadowKnight campaign and the incredibly compelling Red Hearts/White Roses game. I remember eating with you after one of the sessions at the Italian Restaurant near MECCA and the surreal exchange with the waiter about the calamari tasting funny. I remember playing, and running, Amber using only the photocopied pre-release materials that made their way back to Iowa after GenCon, where many of the advanced powers were not yet defined. I remember the AmberCon at the Detroit Gaming Center when the fog was so thick it was almost pressing in the glass of the windows and a rollicking session of GM-less Amber meandered across many hours after midnight.
Despite the intervening years, these memories are still bright and clear. I have you to thank for that, Erick. Your influence has spurred me to great heights as a gamer and a game master. I know it sounds corny, but you were instrumental in opening my eyes to the vast possibilities inherent in role-playing and expanded my (at the time) rather meager concepts of gaming.
I echo Brian Goudie’s regrets that we haven’t had a chance to speak for too many years. But rest assured, you’ve left an indelible tattoo upon my brain and a vast storehouse of fond memories and recollections.
Godspeed and good luck in your journey.
Mark Roemer
Durodragon
Erick. I’ve seen advertisements for your games here locally in Northern California. I’ll regret forever that I never had the gumption to sign up for your table. Thank you for the happiness you’ve brought so many people. I own and have played every RPG you’ve ever written. I will remember you for as long as I’m on this Earth, then I’ll sign up for your table when I join you on the flipside.
Watch out for St. Peter, I hear he loads his dice.
Godspeed,
Mike Mazzoleni
S. John Ross
Erick, I only met you once … I went to GenCon 1993 to meet up with a friend of mine, and she was a big Amber booster. You didn’t know me from Adam, but you invited me to an offsite gathering of Amber fans, a private little get-together and banquet sort of affair. Made me feel very much at home in a group I knew basically nothing about.
A bit sheepishly, I told you about an article I’d written which was a parody of one of your own pieces from Gateways magazine, and you asked if I’d send it along for Amberzine. I said I would … but in traditional form, I never did get around to sending it.
I remember what a sweet guy you were, how nice you were to a total stranger (one who’d parodied you), and … some kind of really goofy sort of knit-wool hat you had on.
I hope you’re too busy out enjoying your time to get to read this, but if you happen across it: I’ve never forgotten your kindness.
laughingman2060
Eric, we never met of course, but your work gave me and my friends, here in France, so much fun.
Amber was for us a discovery of another kind of play, and a very great one.
Even if i don’y play Amber any more, I never forget all the great time i had, thanks to you.
But now you will have the biggest challenge ever : teaching angels RPG. We all count on you on this.
Sincerely
Fred.
Rene Vega
Oh my dearest friend Erick, I have been in shock and in a bit of denial too. But reality has settled uncomfortably upon me and I know now that our time of over 35 years of deep friendship is soon to change. The eternity I thought we’d share now has a harsh season and you, oh Game Mage, traveler of many worlds, creator of many more metrics than thought can imagine, you will travel on without us. And, I will remember you fiercely. I will never forget how our paths crossed in the halls of Wayne State U., how we eyed each other, tried to size up our differences, and how we both risked getting to know each other. And from that nexus we wove an adventure that continues to this day. Though time and space separated us, we maintained contact and our friendship grew ever stronger. Kindness, a fervor unparalled, chaotic good, a fountain of ideas and manifestation – that’s you Erick. Above all, you are my closest friend. I shall miss you.
With much love,
Rene Vega
CalWestray
To Erick, an honestly amazing guy.
I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Erick at Ambercon Detroit several times and participating in a handful of his games. A truly unique and fun experience, one that I wish everyone could have shared. And it came as quite a shock to hear of Erick’s illness.
My mother-in-law is home with us under Hospice care and we are just counting the days, so this news was doubly painful to me. Like a close relative, Erick is one of those people one can’t forget. And he is one of those people you don’t ‘want’ to forget. All the posts spoke volumes of why that is.
Since being introduced to Amber gaming, I have enjoyed the Amber DRPG more than any other game. I have Erick to specifically thank for that. As well as the incredible Amber community that I’ve had the pleasure to see fleetingly but once a year. It’s doubtful that I will ever get tired of it, and it’s not likely that we’ll ever forget Erick. He has brought a LOT of people together for endless enjoyment. That alone, is an incredible testament, to bring joy to a lot of people. What more could anyone ask for? Erick touched a lot of people in many ways, he’s a man with a good heart.
Seeing all the messages on this blog isn’t a surprise, there will be many more to follow. My sincerest thoughts and prayers will be with you, your family, and friends.
Keep up the good fight Erick and God speed! Take care of yourself!
Cal Westray
John Wick
His games have made me a better gamer, a better game master, and a better game designer.
Rock on, Eric.
Ghostgames
Erick:
Pancreatic cancer is indeed a terrifying and often deadly diagnosis — but I want to be sure you know it isn’t /always/ an immediate death sentence.
My father was a pancreatic cancer survivor (islet cell cancer, a type of endocrine pancreatic cancer). He died 8 years after diagnosis — of a heart attack. At the time of diagnosis the pancreatic tumor was the size of a grapefruit and it had already metastasized to his liver. At the time of his death the tumor had shrunk (to the size of a golf ball) and all the cancer cells in the liver had calcified. This was in the 80s and my father received then-experimental treatment including arterial embolization to control the metastasized tumors (essentially deliberate creation of arterial clots to starve the tumor sites of blood). He was the only long-term survivor of 6 who received the same treatment — and I believe that the reason for that was that my father was just too darned stubborn to let the cancer kill him.
My uncle (unrelated by blood to my father) was an almost 3-year survivor of pancreatic cancer (and a survivor of colon cancer). In his case, I believe it was his ability to keep an upbeat attitude throughout his illness, and it was only in the last 6 months (more than two years after diagnosis) that he truly began to feel and act ill. Even then, I would come away from my visits feeling uplifted rather than depressed, my uncle simply had that way with people. He was an amazing man.
From the comments by people who know you by more than reputation, it sounds as though you have the qualities that mark many cancer survivors: a love of life, a sense of humor, great generosity, and a network of friends and colleagues who are there to support you.
If there’s a “recipe” for survival of pancreatic cancer, “living life to the fullest” after the diagnosis seems to be an integral part of it.
Here’s the story of a pancreatic cancer survivor (more than a year and still going strong despite setbacks):
Randy Pausch’s home page: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/
Randy Pausch’s “Farewell Speech:” http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5700431505846055184
I hope you find it as inspiring as I do. 🙂
Ann Dupuis
Grey Ghost Press, Inc.
KALLISTI
Sad news. Erick, I can’t say anything else that: “Thank you very much”.
Jeff Hansen
Erick,
It was really cool to have met you at the Open House. I wish we could have had a longer conversation. I’ve heard nothing but great things about you and hopefully, you can pull through this.
Jeff
swdragoon
While i have not had the pleasures of having met mr wujcik. I did start in my gaming carrier by playing many of his games, and i have very fond memory’s of hours and days spent enjoying his work. So thank you sir
Todd Swick
Hi Erick. The first RPG that I remember running a real game for was your TMNT & Other Strangeness. My friends and I had all kinds of explosion filled fun with it. Reading your Transdimensional Turtles book as a teen REALLY got the gears turning in my head and is still today one of my favorite RPG books. The way that you handled time travel was fascinating and brilliant.
Solitaire
Dear Erick,
Although we’ve never met, I doubt that few writers have inspired me as much as you have over the years. Your imagination and talent have been a part of my life since the very beginning. In truth, you’re the reason I began writing for gaming companies, trying to emulate the one person that really got /it/; that truly understood the communal experience that is roleplaying. Your games and the many, many wonderful experiences they’ve inspired will forever live in my memory. You’ve found me life-long friends, pushed me to be a better writer, and expanded my imagination; all without us ever having met.
How many people can say that?
No matter how this turns out in the end, you’ll live on in our hearts. I hope that knowledge will give you the strength and comfort you most certainly deserve and have earned.
Cheers, my friend.
Jason Fryer
Pete Rogan
Aw, geeze. Aw, crap.
How long have I known Erick Wujcik? Long enough to remember when he organized the first Detroit Gaming Center at the long-departed, much-beloved Monteith house on the Wayne State University campus. Long enough to remember when our game (Thursday Night Traveller and General Weirdness Society) was next door to Palladium’s at Monteith, and then at that country-western bar at the corner of Cass and Forest. The one where you had to be careful in the men’s room or you’d miss and hose down the band on the floor below through the holes in the planking.
Long enough to remember his tireless efforts to get the DGC a proper home farther down Cass Avenue, creating the first RPG and boardgame venue entirely dedicated to gaming in history. Long enough to remember Kevin and Matt Balent and Alex Marczynisin and Bill Loebs publishing first A+ and then the Palladium Role-Playing game with Erick. Long enough to remember organizing with Erick the first inter-gaming center convention with the Thunderhead Gaming Center in Novi, proof positive that his dream had legs.
Palladium and TNT would game side-by-side through the years on Cass, then at the two Ferndale locations for the Michigan Gaming Center, then the days at the Lighthouse Rec Center in Detroit on the river until Erick split for China.
I’ve known him long enough to have run his ad for Palladium in Stardate Magazine. Erick, I hope you forgive me for not having the ad in the first Reluctant Publishing issue. If I had to do it over again, I’d rather have had three more pages in than had to cut you out. Bad call on my part. I’m sorry.
Now comes this evil news with the morning’s post, and does any of this come to mind first? No, what I remember is the last time I ran into Erick at a local store, just before he left for China. I had to be the guy who told him about the ‘Knights of the Dinner Table’ poll of their readers. Jolly Blackburn and Kenzer had decided to kill off their game designer character Gary Jackson, and a three-month storyline had centered on some ghoulish gamers crashing the funeral to rub their dice on Jackson’s corpse for good luck. Not satisfied with this, KoDT asked their readers for the names of those gaming legends whose funerals THEY would crash to rub their dice for good luck on their departed corpuses. Erick Wujcik was eighth on that list. Kevin, you were seventh.
Erick, as always, took this appalling news with good humor. I think he was taken aback by the idea that he could have this sort of effect on people. Gaming is very much a living art, a social and a convivial pastime very much rooted in the here and now of friends and companions on vast imaginary adventures. Even death is but a doorway to other worlds where one can venture, encounter the unknown and terrifying, and win home. Or at the very least a chance to roll up a new character for next time, take a different path to adventure, a new way to play the game.
I think he, like me, doesn’t know what to do when you can’t roll up a new character. It seems so unfair. Hell, we never even got a chance to roll on this!
I’d like to believe that Erick will hit his crit and this will all somehow pass. Not Erick himself. It’s unimaginable. I think, reading all these appreciations, that he’s already won immortality around the globe with his designs, his games, his campaigns, and his very memorable presence. We comfort each other, we large number of gamers and others who have known or played with or simply played the games of Erick Wujcik, we feel him alive and inexpressibly there, and we tell each other a little of him stays with us all, and wherever Palladium players meet, wherever DGC veterans or TMNT gamers or Rifters or his students or his many readers get together, there will be Erick, large as life and twice as natural. It’ll never be enough, but we will remember, and tell the old stories, and play the games he helped create, and we will laugh and throw dice and wish we could hear what Erick would say about THAT adventure, and in time we’ll kid ourselves enough to believe we don’t really hurt. But we will.
Before that happens, I want to say to Erick and all those near to him that he is beloved as few men are fortunate to be, and the news of his cancer strikes us as if it were our own. It’s said that each man dies alone, but Erick, you have millions of gamers and friends who are walking with you at this very moment. Would that our strength reach you now, as you walk with us still.
Take care, old man. Be good. Remember us who remember you.
—–>P!
Entiago
wow. Mostly what I said after hearing this news a few days ago. Still what I say trying to think of something to type, something to say. For the past 2 days I have read many of the comments, stories, and such by everyone that has posted, trying to think of something to say myself.
I didnt start out on Palladium books, mostly for RPGs I was a D&D kid until I saw a copy of Adventures on the High Seas First Edition and PFRPG main book at my then LGS. After reading thru them for over an hour, I was told I had to buy them or or leave because they were closing for the night. Expecantly I bought them and have enjoyed them ever since, especailly wore them out and had to by seconds! Since then I was hooked on Palladium and found myself buying all the PF titles I could get my hands on- including the Rifters.
Although I never meet Erik in real life, I feel that I have met him (at least his RP side) thru the books and articles he has written, and since those felt almost the same he has on a variety of subjects. His GM & Player articles in Rifter #1&2 got me into being a GM for PF for over 10 years and loving every moment of it (that also contributes to Kevin S. and Bill C.). Loving all the imaginative places, people, and things that has to hold within these minds I wanted to show a little respect when I re-did the Tombs of Gersidi for my own group of players, then also when I submitted it into PB for perhaps a publication. In respect I also included Erik’s name on the title so noone would forget who originaly made this excellent adventure. That was 3 years ago, and I still send it in every year as a tribute to Erik and what I have learned from his articles, books, and stories throughout the years.
I am still stunned at the news, but I am flashingback my good and bad times of GMing and am smiling every minute. Hopefully the diagnosis was wrong like with my Grandfather- he too had Pancreatic Cancer, but lived well pass his 1 month warning- passing away 6 years later. We will always remember you as the great designer and creator of over half of our creations and more to come. In thoughts and prayers of us out there Erik Wujcik, take care of yourself.
Adam Brulia, aka Entiago
keith666
he is and always a true hero of the megaverse!!!!!!!!!
Cyril_H
Bonjour,
Mon anglais est lamentable, ce sera donc un hommage en français.
J’ai découvert le jeu de rôle en 1996 en jouant à Ambre, le jeu de rôle sans dés. Ça m’a tellement marqué que je n’ai pas compris l’usage des dés avant plusieurs années. Par la suite, j’ai joué à d’autres jeux mais je n’ai jamais ressenti en jdr quelque chose d’aussi intense que l’angoisse du jeune noble des cours du chaos plongé dans le grand bain d’Ambre et qui sait parfaitement qu’il doit faire un parcours sans faute, car aucune de ses caractéristiques ne pourra jamais lui sauver la mise (car il s’est fait distancé dans toutes les enchères pour acheter ce fichu Logrus)
Pour cette sensation et pour des centaines d’heures de jeu, merci Erick.
Et si des miracles existent, je vous souhaite un prompt rétablissement…
Clark Iverson
Hey there, Erick!
Like Pete Rogan, I know you from the late 1970s forward. Now I have a kid older than I was when I first met you. I’m pulling for you, and so is Karen.
Although we never got extremely close, I always saw in you a kindred spirit.
If you come over, I will feed you.
cheers,
Clark
Clark Iverson
P.S. – Erick, I still remember when you won my tournament (written principally by Karen) as Henri the Pastry Chef. That was a delight.
James Everett
I first met Erick through his work on various Rifts source books while I was a designer on the Rifts N-Gage game. His work stood out to me as well researched and well organized. When taking liberal notes from source material I always wonder about the writer who did all the hard work. I had no idea what Erick was really like, but had the sense he was definitely well read and very thorough. One GDC a couple of years ago I had heard that Erick was heading up design at Ubisoft’s Shanghai studio, which struck me as being an interesting place to work. I dropped him an e-mail and he quickly agreed to have a chat with me.
His schedule must have been incredibly hectic, but he took nearly an hour to talk with me about his experience in China and listen to my background and goals as a designer. His advice was to travel more, to get more experience in life outside of the game industry, see Asia and everywhere else. “It will make you a much better designer, trust me.” With my career still in its early stages I didn’t feel like I could easily jump into lots of travel, but I took it to heart regardless and it reinforced my own desire to see the world. Since then I’ve traveled to Japan and lived in Montreal and I’m hunting for the next interesting thing as far outside of North America as I can go.
Erick’s advice has held true, every time I travel, every time I push myself into an unfamiliar area, I become a better designer and a more well rounded person. Last GDC I saw Erick standing by the escalators and wandered over to say hello. I instantly got a huge smile and a matching handshake, he asked how I’d been, where had I traveled? Had it helped me as a designer? He remembered our conversation and was genuinely curious as to my progress.
Thanks Erick, for taking the time to talk with a young designer and speak from your experience to help me find mine. All the best, I hope you get well soon.
crazy_monkey1956
Hi, Erick. You don’t know me, I don’t know you…at least not personally. I have had the pleasure of playing your games and drawing inspiration from them. The people who do know me, know that I’m an optimist and an idealist. So, my hope is that you will pull through this. If you do, here’s hoping I do get the chance to meet you in person. If not, there’s always the next life. Good luck.
jcbeckman
Erick,
So very sorry to hear this news about you. I’m glad I was able to get into your game at this year’s Palladium Open House, and it was great to see you again after all those years from the old Gaming Center (I’m sure you don’t remember me). I still remember playing in one of your campaigns for a short time back then as one of my best role-playing experiences ever as one of the (minor) officers on the Helskorm.
-Jack Beckman
IveyAngelo
Erick,
I could never express how much you have touched my life before I even knew your name. I was only a child when I started to collect Ninja Turtles. I first heard of it through the toys and cartoons like most kids, though once we learned of the Mirage comics it did not take us long to find the Palladium RPG Books. Books which I counted as the most official version of the TMNT from their heights to their skill levels. In front of me right now I have sitting here a beaten up book from years of love and abuse, which use to travel with me to school everyday and now sits near my computer for anytime I need a good smile. It is the 6th printing of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness”. A wonderful book, which I have always loved.
We did get to meet once, it was at the Palladium Open House this last May, my Birthday weekend I remember being excited that you were going to be there. Though I never got to sit in on any of the games I got to say hi and ask you to sign my Ninja Turtle T-Shirt.
I don’t know if I got to tell you this, though I give Palladium a huge amount of credit to where my life has gone. I can never thank all of you there enough, it was Palladium that helped give the Ninja Turtles their big break. Why do I give this credit towards my life?
I was having a rough time in my life when the Ninja Turtles came to be as toys and cartoons.. I was being beaten up at school by 15 to 30 kids at a time. I didn’t really have friends besides for the little kids on my block, and my reading skills were horrible (even now I use spell check all the time), I am dyslexic and was a 1st grade reading level in 5th grade. I didn’t know where I was going to go with my life. Though once the Turtles entered my life, I began to want to read and my first book ever was a Ninja Turtle book… than I started to read the comics and Palladium books as well as I could. Turtles taught me that I don’t need to be a super powered creature to stand up for myself, they used the same fighting skills humans use, which inspired my mom to put me into Karate and after a few fights where no one got hurt, not me or them, the fighting stopped. And than the world of the internet came where I met hundreds of other TMNT fans with stories of their own. So the Turtles helped me learn to read, make many new friends and got me to stand up for myself. They became a huge part of my life and I can never thank the people who made this possible enough.
Thank you so much for everything you did for the Turtles and me!!!!!!! You’re totally awesome!
Best Wishes,
Michele Ivey
KeXu
Eric was my colleague, and I took his lessons. I’m really sorroy for this bad news.
arvernian
Erick if you’re reading this. we’ve never met but I think that Amber DRPG was a stroke of genius, and one of the best games ever created for those of us happy few capable of playing it and enjoying.As long as I live I will treasure the few sessions I got to play and run, and some part of you will live on through your work. Best wishes to you and your family.
Midgardsormr
Erick,
Wow, I’m floored. I still remember the first time I flipped through Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness. It was the first non-fantasy RPG I’d ever encountered, and it still stands out as one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever played. It didn’t take me long to realize that the very best of Palladium’s books were all penned by the same man. I don’t think I’ve ever picked one of your books up off a store shelf without buying it, even if I had no need for it.
I’m sure there have been a lot of people who have questioned your choice of vocation. I am so glad you ignored them! Thank you for sharing your incredible imagination with us.
Warmest regards,
Bryan Ray
MikedePlater
Hi Erick. As I’m reading these comments I feel privileged that I got to know you for a while. Despite many conversations about your life and past you’d never once let on how much you’d done for others. Never bragged, always thinking of others first. I’ve never met anyone else genuinely unselfish. Anyone else I’ve met as smart as you would have been very rich.
You know how when you left the studio here in Shanghai we all said it wouldn’t be the same without you, well it really isn’t. The whole place used to lift as you moseyed around making sure that everyone and everything was good. There’s a big Erick shaped hole here.
Anyway, thank you so much for keeping us up to date on the treatment. It will be awesome to see you here Shanghai soon. All our hopes and best wishes are behind you and if there’s anyone who’s got life by the short and curlies and is going to beat this monster it’s you.
John Westcott
I started out on Palladium books after playing D&D with a friend. My parents bought the whole stigma associated with D&D so I managed to convince them to let me play Heroes Unlimited. I soon remember looking for more books to buy and at the local gaming store glanced across Ninjas & Superspies, I absolutely love that book. It was cool to me as a kid and its cool to me now. Thank you Mr. Wujcik.
Hairfoot
Good luck, Erick. Your work is inspired and valued. Long sessions of TMNT RPG are something I remember fondly from my teenage years.
Fight bravely, know you are respected, and exploit any loophole in the rules you can find!
frankyu
Erick, one thing I really liked about you was that you are a connector, a bridge builder and a mensch. Each time you travelled, you would set up games and host it while making the rules up on the fly. I think that captures for me the essence of what gaming is about….its not about the rules or even the technology that we use, its about getting a few people over and letting them create worlds and experiences in their imagination.
I am proud to have been in several of your game sessions to see how a great storyteller moderates and hope that we get a chance to discuss the G Man again !
Fight Hard !
Frank
RTRowan
I’m so sorry to hear the sad news, Erick, but it sounds like you are facing it all with such courage and surrounded (virtually at least) by many friends and tremendous support.
We spoke a few times here and there at conventions, and I always enjoyed our conversations. I just wish I had gotten to know you better, but your brilliant and insightful mind always impressed me. Of course, I was also insanely jealous that you got to know Roger Zelazny as well, a person I would have loved to know. I just saw your recommendation on Facebook for the Zelazny collection, Manna From Heaven – I had no idea that someone had finally published all of the Amber short stories in one book! I immediately went and bought two copies of the book (one for me and one to give for Christmas to my twin brother). As I was reading the emotionally stirring introduction by Steven Brust, I was reminded once again of my personal feelings of loss for Zelazny. I shall think of you at these times as well, both for the love of your work and the regret that I will not get to know you better in this cycle.
Please accept my wishes for peace and my hope that you fully understand the depth of impact you have made on this world. In truth, these depths are unplumbed and will continue to be revealed for many, many years.
Sincerely,
Richard Thames Rowan
Dedal
For all those great times playing Amber, thanx !!
damien lim
While I never had the fortune of meeting you in person, I will always remember the first RPG I ever bought – TMNT the RPG by Erick Wujcik. Since then, your name has been forever etched in my brain. While I have not been an active roleplayer for a very long time, I continue to acquire your works till this day.
Thank you for the wonderful times I have had through your works. Please accept my best wishes and prayers.
Gino
I got a call from Erick last week, just before leaving for the holidays. He had just been through Asia a few months ago and I also had the fortune of visiting him in briefly Novato (they were in crunch mode for a game). I’m grateful for the time that we had spent.
I first met Erick through Eric Todd, a mutual friend, and was able to convince him to come out to Asia for a year. Erick was instrumental in helping us to establish a video game program here in Hong Kong. While most others were focusing upon art and programming, we recognized early on that what Asia needed was game design talent. He has mentored countless students here in Asia (in Hong Kong and at Ubisoft in Shanghai) and I will miss our visits and conversations together.
During his last trip out to Hong Kong, I told him of a documentary project that I was putting together, asking participants four questions: What would you want to accomplish if you had 40 years left to live… 10 years… 1 year… and one week. The project was motivated by a Professor that I had while at Berkeley, Richard Newton, who had visited a year ago in November and passed away from cancer a short time later (also of the pancreas). I remember that when I asked Erick the questions, he said that he’d live his life the way that he is living it now. While I am saddened to hear of his illness, I am confident that he is living his life to the fullest and that serves an inspiration to all of us who know him.
As an owner of many souls (he keeps them in a box at home), I am sure you will be in good company and sharing the hospitality that you have given to so many. Looking forward to seeing you in a few days.
ScottStarkey
Erick, we never had the pleasure of meeting, but I went to a couple of your AmberCons back in the early 90s. To this day, Amber DRPG is one of my favorite games, and one of the few RPGs I will still play. You’ve set a high bar. Until reading this blog, I didn’t realize all of the other games you’ve touched which I’ve enjoyed through the years. Thank you for all of your good work. — Scott Starkey
deromilly
Erick, you’ve given me some of the best hours of gaming I’ve had. Thank you. Someone above said you know everyone on the planet. I believe them. You and I may not agree on tarot theory, but I want you to know that your games have given us much joy over the years.
And I count myself lucky to have gotten to play in one of your games at mutual friend’s house in CA several years ago. Thank you for everything. ~Romilly
Pete Rogan
My mother Jane Rogan also sends her best wishes and her sympathy. As a survivor of pancreatitis, she remembers too well the pain and she commiserates with you, Erick. Rest easy, big guy.
—->P!
Christopher_Mais
Eric,
I never had the honor of meeting you. I currently live in the Bronx I was nineteen years old back in 1990 when I was first introduced to both West End Games Torg, Rifts and then TMNT and Other Strangeness as well as Heroes Unlimited. Your name was on the books on the table bsck in the day and I wondered at the time who is this guy and how did he collaborate to make something that enjoyable.
Even though I ‘ve never met you personally I felt sometimes that guys like you at Kevin talked from those books and communicated what you thought was not only relevant but what mattered to you..what interested you at the time. And that is a rare gift. I find that even in my line of work programming or in any other profession for that matter people are there to collect the paycheck and just pay the rent so they aren’t interested in the message being sent or thr passion behind what they do and how it might inspire others to follow suit. It is simply the act of being mercenary combined with apathy.
Now I understand at the age of 36 that anything being done should either be done with fire and zest for life or not at all and perhaps one needs to evaluate why they are there in the first place if they aren’t doing what brings that out inside.
I am now training for the NYC marathon in 2008 after running nine competitive races in the last year. I have kayaked across the Central Pacific of Costa Rica and held a baby black octopus in my hands that a diver handed me while standing on a reef out there. I have ridden on a dune buggy with my girlfriend in Curacao. I have hanglided (tandem) off a mountain in Brazil and I traveled across the pond visiting six countries in Europe.
And now I am about to embark on the greatest challenge of all. I am going to be father in June of 2008.
The reason I mention this at all is because somewhere along the journey I realized that my life was not just defined by what I did as a roleplayer or as a computer programmer. I defined who I was and am by my intentions and actions. Your work communicated that simply by the turn of every page. That the adventure is not just in there..in those books but in the research complied to write those books that the advventure is out there as well.
Thank you Eric ..thank you very much.
Lloyd Ritchey
I had the honor of meeting Erick at the Palladium Open House ’07. I knew who I was in the company of and so stood humbled and sponge-like in his presence as my fearless wife and he discussed Amber. A million questions and adulations bounced around in my skull while my wife and he stood there discussing Amber and some of their respective characters and the story. I was tongue-tied.
What do you say to the man whose works helped drag you out of drug addiction? Erick, if it wasn’t for your creative genius and the passion you’ve poured into and channeled through your writing I may not be here today. Erick, may whatever god you believe in bless you and keep you whenever you may meet. I, for one, shall not say ‘goodbye’ to you. Rather, I say ‘see you later’ as I will meet you on the other side…and when there’s eternity to spend you can try explaining Amber to me and I can drone on about the dozens of Mutant Heroes and Villains I created and which help me through the worst part of my life.
See you later, Erick…I look forward to seeing you roleplay the TCRI Aliens in heaven!
Hialmar
I never had the chance of meeting Erick but I love Amber Diceless RP.
I just wanted to say that when I first read ADRP I fell in love with the system. It’s a great system and a great game.
Erick is a wonderful game designer.
I wish you the best of luck Erick.
From a French admirer, Patrice of Toulouse
Alan_De_Smet
My first encounter with Erick was, like many people, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness. Through junior high school I wanted to game, but had problems finding other gamers. In high school (1989-1993) I found other gamers. And for reasons I’m still not clear on, our primary game was TMNT&OS, with 2nd ed D&D a close second. I never especially cared for the Palladium rules system, but I can’t deny that I had several years of fun with it. TMNT&OS was some of my first real gaming.
In college, several friends decided to start a game company for a variety of reasons. (I’m no longer formally involved, but the company, Sancho Games, still exists.) We had several ideas for RPGs, although none got far enough to publish. To get a sense of what would be involved, I attended a talk by Erick at Gen Con, maybe during the late 1990s, with a title something like, “Self-Publishing a RPG.” It was enlightening and interesting. He was honest about the difficulty and risks, but was simultaneously realistic and upbreak. I remember being mildly daunted, but thinking we could do it. The most interesting thing I remember is hearing about Aliens Among Us, and how it was scrapped because it seemed too much like the recently released Paranoia. I’d like to see that game; it sounded like fun.
Finally, a few years ago I experimented with Amber. I had some good games and some bad games, but liked what I saw. The game had built a fascinating culture around it, a different culture than most RPGs do, different even from the culture around indie games. The people were a tight-knit, very dedicated group. Indeed, I’m still interested in Amber, but unfortunately it’s competing against so many other good games these days that my hours are booked. Anyway, during this experimenting I was playing a game in the Amber ghetto. (The few years I’ve played Amber at Gen Con, it inevitably had a little ghetto off in some corner). Next table over, Erick himself was running a game. I think it was a game he was still developing. The name “13 children” or something comes to mind, but it’s been a while. Erick was juggling an insane number of players; 12 or so if my memory serves me well. It looked like the core style of gameplay I’ve frequently seen in Amber: the PCs don’t tend to hang around each other, so the GM just whips around the table resolving PC actions individually. It’s one of the things I didn’t really care for in Amber, and a table of 12 seemed unplayable to me. However, the players seemed really into it. I can’t imagine running such a game, but Erick did it.
Matthew Christian
I finally got my chance to meet Erick at the 2007 Palladium Open House. It was like being a kid and meeting a sports icon. I was even fortunate enough to participate in a couple of the games he ran: After the Bomb and Entropy.
I’m saddened that I may never get the chance to meet Erick again, but will always think of him and the fun times he has brought to my life and others every time I open up one of his games.
Thank you Erick, and good luck.