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.
Alexander_Hay
Erick, you gave me mutant Echidnas and talking dinosaurs. What more could a 14-year-old wish for? God speed.
arthurfallz
I never knew the man, but I knew his works. TMNT was not my first RPG, was it was the one I learned a lot of my Storytelling skills in. Erik’s easy, casual style of writing, his critical analysis of the genres he would cover and his intelligence in system design always inspired me. His last game I bought, the new After the Bomb, was like a breath of fresh air in gaming. Amber lead me to read the books the game is based upon, and they now sit on my shelf with the other classics (if only I could get a copy of Amber the RPG). This news is sad, but I agree that Erik’s life is celebrated to this moment, and those hereafter.
Blessed Be 🙂
Ian
Chaskell
As with most things in life as you get older you move on to better things. This was the way with RPG. When I was very young it was D&D as I got older it was TMNT, Ninja’s & Super Spys, and so on. Eric is an invisible member of the group, the master world builder, always hanging around on a shelf or in a bag, helping my brothers and I spend endless hours and countless weekends playing, bonding and growing into the men we are. Thank you. You will always be with my brothers and I and thousands more.
Chris Haskell
mikemusm
I am terribly sorry to hear that Eric’s health is declining. I can’t begin to imagine what he is going through.
I will say that his work on the TMNT RPG is part of some of my fondest memories. My friends and I bonded over the hundreds of sessions playing with his handiwork. The TMNT RPG was part of what drove my interest in science and gaming. Seeing this blog has reaffirmed that I was definitely not alone in my appreciation for Eric’s artistry in RPG design.
Having read Kevin Siembieda’s comments I have gained a much deeper respect and admiration for Eric’s achievements.
Thanks for the fond memories Eric!
I wish Eric and his family, friends, and loved ones peace and happiness in these trying times.
Anaguma
Black then white are all I see in my infancy.
red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me.
lets me see.
As below, so above and beyond, I imagine
drawn beyond the lines of reason.
Push the envelope. Watch it bend.
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind.
Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must
Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines.
Black then white are all I see in my infancy.
red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me.
lets me see there is so much more
and beckons me to look through to these infinite possibilities.
As below, so above and beyond, I imagine
drawn outside the lines of reason.
Push the envelope. Watch it bend.
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind.
Withering my intuition leaving all these opportunities behind.
Feed my will to feel this moment urging me to cross the line.
Reaching out to embrace the random.
Reaching out to embrace whatever may come.
I embrace my desire to
feel the rhythm, to feel connected
enough to step aside and weep like a widow
to feel inspired, to fathom the power,
to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain,
to swing on the spiral
of our divinity and still be a human.
With my feet upon the ground I lose myself
between the sounds and open wide to suck it in,
I feel it move across my skin.
I’m reaching up and reaching out,
I’m reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me.
And following our will and wind we may just go where no one’s been.
We’ll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one’s been.
Spiral out. Keep going, going…
–Lateralus
Tool
My friend’s sister lived with her cancer five *years* after being diagnosed and told by her doctors she had less than 6 months to live. Lived and thrived until her last.
You’re not gone yet.
Spiral out.
mrbytes
I can remember the day I started gaming as clearly as if it were yesterday and not more then two decades ago… I was sitting on the playground at school, waiting for my friends to show up when Jason, who was not none for physical activity came running, actually running towards me. I was totally shocked as I’d never seen him move that fast except to be first in line for dessert so I knew whatever it was must be important. He skidded to a halt, panting, drenched and an icky shade of blue. After a couple of minutes he finally managed to collect himself and reached into his backpack to pull out this crazy looking book. At first I thought it was a comic book, as it had my favorite red mask wearing, ninja fighting turtle on the cover, but it was way to big. and it was by the wrong company. He shoves it at me and is literally bouncing with excitement. I opened it up and started reading. and I knew this was gonna be cool I knew what role playing was, my friends older brother played D&D. But this, this was my kind of cool! It had my guys in it, and casey, and april and baxter and all other stuff I loved from the comics! Not only that, but now I could make my own guy! He was a mutant great dane called Ike and I still have his sheet. To say I was hooked was an understatement.
Out first games were a mess, we were making characters as we read the book, and looking back we messed up all kinds of stuff, but man we had fun! I still run turtles all the time and was very very sad when the game stopped being made, though I understood why.
Many years and many games, game systems, and gaming trends later I still love to game, and I have every intention of writing games. I want to give some kid somewhere the same thrill I got when I first saw an rpg. Eric, you’re the guy who got me into this mess and I’ve wanted to say thank you for a very long time. I’m just glad I got the chance!
You’re truly, Tristan Mers
Justin Time the 4D Man
When I was 13, I bought my first RPG it was Teenage Mutant Turtles and Other Strangeness. I was in love. Many a night of my teenage years were spent swilling Mountain Dew and rolling dice my mind alive with images of mutant animals fighting crime by night and stepping back into the shadows in the daylight. After that I proceeded to collect the After the Bomb series where I created a group of justice rangers in a post apocolyptic version of my home state in the Midwest. They were in the realm of the Free Cattle and I decided to name them all after Old West legends such as Sitting Bull (Bison), Billy the Kid (goat), etc.
Later I bought the Ninjas & Superspies game, and fell in love all over again. I just wanted to thank Erick for several years of fun and a vivid outlet for my overactive imagination. It still means a lot to me.
ak-73
Jesus, I just learnt of it. Erick Wujcik sort of saved my life, even though we’ve never met.
More about it later. 🙂
Alex
RerollMuch
Erick,
IWe met at the Palladium Open House 2007. I relished our conversation about creativity and time vortexes. I was inspired by your ability to create a weave a story in both regular conversation and as a GM. As a fellow game designer, it was wonderful to communicate with you on design philosophy and mentoring practices. I cherish the memory of our communication, and the lessons learned.
Thank you Erick.
Jay Twining
Vicarious Visions Inc/Activision
Pariah74
I started playing RPGs as a young kid in the 80’s…during the time when Dungeons &Dragons was akin to worshiping the devil. NO DUNGEONS & DRAGONS was the rule…but nobody said anything about Palladium’s Fantasy RPG. Heh heh and my clueless parents didn’t know any better.
Anyway, it wasn’t long after that we found Heroes Unlimited and TMNT. I think we have played nearly every title Palladium has produced but we played Mutants Down Under the most. I converted the setting to take place in our home town (on the border of IA and IL) and we had lots of fights with mutants in hot air balloons and blimps and steamships!
Thank you for all those fun times!
From one Erick to another, I am not saying goodbye, but rather telling you what you have to live for.
You kept us out of trouble more than once! YOu have so many kids to help and so much more time to do it!
monicad313
Dear Erick,
I can remember when I was 8 years old, you proclaiming “I know everything in the world”. I challenged you, and with every question, statement or riddle you had a very official sounding rebuttal. At 8 years old, you stoll my heart as the man who knows everything; 22 years later, you still hold that place in my heart Erick!
Your passion, creativity, joy and ENTHUSIASM (I can hear that enthusiasm in your voice now 🙂 will live on in all of us who have had the pleasure of not only knowing you, but by being touched by your work as well. I am so happy that you can read this and have the opportunity to know how much you mean to so many people. You are truly a gift to this world!
I think that there is an invaluable lesson here for each of us to LIVE LIVELY no matter how much time we have left. Each day is a gift, an unopened box.
But you already knew that… didn’t you 😉
Erick, I will always treasure the weekend sleepovers with you, Kate and Sarah!
Thank you for being the beautiful person you are!
Lots of Love,
Monica
nviper
I just wanted to say that I got into gaming with TMNT and it still remains my favorite game of all time. You have been an inspiration to me and many others. Thank you for that.
nido
TMNT was the first time I think I really grew into being a DM. It had multiple running plots with villains having their own goals and the characters had a life outside of adventure. It’s where my DMing grew up, I guess you could say.
I made a lot of bad choices growing up. I continually bash on myself for just about everything in my life. There’s always the feeling of inadequacy with being a husband, a father, a boss.
The only thing I don’t bash on myself about is GMing, and TMNT has a lot to do with that.
Thank you, Erick, because without gaming I would have given up a long time ago.
julius
The first time that I ever met Erick (back in 1969) was by chance. At the time, we were both undergrads at Wayne State University in Detroit. Not having a car back then, I often took buses to and from school; and, not being particularly partial to just staring at my fellow passengers, I would usually bring along some reading material—often a science-fiction novel.
One evening, as I was reading on the bus, a fellow passenger noticed my book and commented on it. He turned out to be a fellow sci-fi fan and soon the two of us were talking about science-fiction. Our conversation attracted the attention of Erick (who was also on the bus) who soon came over, introduced himself, and invited both of us to visit the Wayne Third Foundation (a recently formed science-fiction appreciation group at Wayne State).
I showed up at the next meeting and stayed around for a couple of years. In addition to the regular meetings, my fellow fans and I would hang out together going to movies, sci-fi conventions, and parties (usually birthdays but there were a couple of Halloween parties that were awesome). These were some of the most enjoyable times I had during my college years and led to a couple of lifelong friendships (of which Erick is one of them).
After many of us graduated wan went our separate ways, I lost track of most of the gang. However, as I was working at an art & drafting supply store in the campus area and Erick’s apartment was nearby, we still saw each other on occasion over the next several years.
Then, one day (in late 1978) my life was changed when Erick came into the store to buy some graph paper. He explained that he had recently taken up roleplaying and needed the paper to deign a dungeon. He also invited me to attend his weekly roleplaying game. I went, was immediately hooked, and have been gaming ever since.
Furthermore, in addition to my going to Erick’s games, a couple of friends of mine were so impressed by my enthusiasm that they themselves took up roleplaying. One of these friends was my (then) co-worker at the art supply store, Kevin Siembieda. Anyone who is familiar with Palladium Books knows how that ultimately turned out.
Actually, Erick did not Game Master my very first game. Johnny Hill GM’ed and Erick played Fred the Fighter (his favorite character at that time). However, as I began gaming more often, Ercik became one of my GM’s on a regular basis. Over the years, through the Wayne Weregamers, the DGC (Detroit Gaming Center), and then the Lighthouse Gaming Center, I was able to play characters such as Klane the Outcast, Brother Groucher, Granite, Gray Ronin, Gwyn/Osric the Wind-Brother, and Li Kun (Master of Martial Arts) as Erick ran games such as D&D, Champions, and (ultimately) Amber.
In addition to the games that everyone knows about (TMNT, Ninjas & Superspies, Amber), Erick also designed some other games that only a fortunate few were lucky enough to play. I was one of the playtesters for Rockhaze (although I missed the playtest for Aliens Among Us). I was also a playtester for two other games (based on mainstream movies) that Erick worked on and unsuccessfully tried to sell. This is a pity because Erick’s versions of Ghostbusters and Star Wars were far superior to the games that were created by less talented game designers and ultimately published instead.
Although many of my memories about Erick concern gaming, some of things that occurred unrelated to gaming were also interesting and funny, given Erick’s impish sense of humor. One particular prank involved Erick’s love of chocolate.
It was Erick who taught me that smack freaks (heroin addicts) will frequently scarf down chocolate to keep up their narcotic highs. Erick (who was definitely NOT into drugs) used to stop at a certain mom and pop party store late in the evening and buy a couple of chocolate bars. Somehow, the party store people got the impression (in this case, a mistaken one) that Erick was a smack freak. Once Erick found out about this, he made a point of stopping by that store on a regular basis, buying candy bars and acting in a manner that was certain to cement their opinion of him as a doper. To my knowledge, those poor people never did find out that Erick was just putting them on.
Had I never met Erick, Kevin might never have gotten into gaming and Palladium books (where I have been working for nearly 17 years) might never have existed. Also, before I came to Palladium, I was once unemployed for several months. Erick not only freely gave his time to help me tailor my resumes for various prospective companies, but he also called in favors and networked to get me some job interviews. The position that I finally ended up with was with a company that Erick told me about. Furthermore, the company executive who hired me later told me that Erick’s recommendation was a significant positive factor in my ultimately getting hired (the job lasted for a few years). As with many other people, my life has definitely been better because I met Erick.
So, in conclusion, farewell to Fred, Sparks, Lloyd and the rest. You were boon companions and you will be missed. Good bye, Erick and thank you for being my friend.
bluharlequin
Erick,
Many years ago I attended a series of seminars that you lead on Gamemastering. I believe it was either at Origins ’91 in Baltimore or GenCon ’92 in Milwaukee. Whichever. The point is, I attended your longterm campaign design class and was so inspired by it that I attended every other thing you lead at that con.
I was only 16 or 17 years old at this point, but I took copious notes and applied your long term campaign suggestions to of all things, a SHADOWRUN game. Here we are in 2008, at least 15 years later, and the game is still going strong, and much of that I owe to your class at that con. As you might imagine, that game has made a lasting impact on everyone involved, and has done no small part to cement a number of friendships.
So from the bottom of my heart, and from that of the 12 or so players who have drifted through my campaign over the years… thank you sir.
Safe travels…
-Paul Butler
Artamai
All I really can say is that I’m so sorry to hear this.
Debauched Sloth
I’ve never met you, but I just wanted to tell you how great I thought all of your stuff was. I’ve spent a ton of hours playing Ninjas and Superspies. When one of my friends wanted to get into gaming around Christmas time, that was the game that I bought him.
But my favorite RPG surprise moment was when I was browsing at my local bookstore (Powells), when I came across… an Amber RPG? Amazing! It was like a dream come true. I bought it in an instant, not really caring if it was good or not. It was. Oh, it was. That book has led not just to many a good Amber game, but is also my guide for roleplaying in general, especially GMing. Thank you so much for all these fun hours you’ve brought me!
The GIT
I don’t know Erick personally (although we have communicated via e-mail in the past). All I can say is that the Amber RPG had a massive influence on me and my gaming friends back in England. Erick always made himself so accessible to his fans and has been a giant in the gaming industry.
The news of Ericks’ illness is shocking and I know that there are a lot of gamers around the world thinking of him during this difficult time.
anubis9
Count me among the legion of fans that got their start in RPGs thanks to Erick.
I was introduced to D&D at about 11, but I wasn’t really impressed. It wasn’t until a year later when I found “TMNT and Other Strangeness” that I realized how incredibly cool this RPG thing could be.
Since that time, I’ve always known that if Erick’s name is on the book, I can’t go wrong.
This past Thanksgiving holiday, I even created mutant characters with my two oldest kids. They were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turkeys trying to fight evil and avoiding up as the main course on Thanksgiving day.
It was a priceless experience, and it’s all because of you, Erick!
Thanks for two generations of gaming greatness!!
ak-73
So here’s my story about how Erick has saved my life. I hope this doesn’t get too long and it doesn’t seem trivial to non-*buddhists*. I assure you it’s anything but trivial (as far as anything can be non-trivial in non-duality ;-).
I think it was around 1992 when we were still gaming Ninjas & Superspies and it was Erick’s rpg that set me off on the path of buddhism. I had been reading the names of all the eastern philosophies and religions and I decided to do some background research on them in our local public library (I’m from germany).
This Zen Buddhism thing intrigued me the most, even the name had some mystery to it. I was prejudiced though – I thought Zen was some eastern spirituality nonsense with some asians trying to crack of some wise-sounding lines (like you get in fortune cookies) just to look wise and cool. So with that arrogance I burrowed a book from the local library… and didn’t understand a word. I mean, I considered myself really, really intelligent back then and I didn’t understand *anything*. It was nothing like I had expected. Frustrated I returned the book to the library.
I should add that I was almost 20 at that time and really. really depressed. Really feeling miserable on a nearly daily basis, torn apart by self-doubt.
So, as the story goes, a few months later I was again at the local library walking by the bookshelf with the books about buddhism and my intellectual arrogance gained the upper hand on me. 🙂 I decided that I’d give it another try and this time I would discern what made those zen people of ancient times tick, seeing throguh their schtick. So I got a copy of Alan Watts’ “The Spirit of Zen”. Boy, was I in for a surprise.
Anyway on the next fateful day I’d withdraw to my room upstairs stuck neck deep in depression. I started to read the book and I didn’t understand anything still. I started to project all my personal misery into the damn book because I wanted to see through this zen charade, thrusting myself into it with all I had.
And then it happened, something inside me broke. The whole building that made up my suffering just collapsed from one moment to the other and the meaning of the zen masters suddenly became bright and clear to me. I take it that this is what the zen people usually call kensho.
Anyway to make the story short, since then I have been schooling myself in buddhism and I can honestly say that I am no longer depressed. The depression, the self-doubt, the misery – they’re gone. I have since then begun trying to help people free themselves from their depression, currently trying to reach out to people in a suicide forum.
And I don’t know what turns my life would have taken instead, if Erick Wujcik’s Ninjas & Superspies hadn’t propelled me into the direction of enlightenment. And I don’t know what Erick thinks about buddhism but if the buddhists are right, I think the good seed he has been planting in this instance is going to ensure him a *favorable rebirth*, if he hasn’t found complete perfect enlightenment in this life. 🙂
I wish Erick an easy transmission into the next life. I think I owe him my life, if not *more* than that. And if there is anything I can do for him, I am at his disposal – he can contact me on the palladium boards by the same username.
Gassho,
Alex
JAH
I recall the wonder at finding Erik’s D&D games (Oriental Adventures, if I recall aright), and then the treasure trove that the Amber series was. More than that, I recall how the gaming system was an opportunity for my young friends (I must have been 12 or 13, at the time) to get together. We cemented our relationship through it. It’s a long time since I first played Amber, but those people are now my best friends, and soon to be participants in my wedding.
Thanks Erik for making all of that possible. Best of luck in your recovery–I know you’ll pull through it, regardless of what the doctors say.
Jeffrey C. Meadows
Dear Erick,
I find it amazing how someone that you have never met before can make a large impact on ones life. Through your action you have touched many folks life in a very positive fashion including my own. Through your friendship and mentoring of Kevin Siembieda led to many things including Palladium Books. Palladium Books has given me countless hours of entertainment. A large spike in my imagination which augments intellect as well. But most importantly I and my friends have enjoyed each others company over a gaming table for a little less than 20 years and you have had a great deal to do with it.Thanks.
I greatly look forward to meeting you one day and thanking you myself. Eye to eye. For I do believe it will happen. When we meet we can discuss some of the interest we have in common. These includes both of us being Michiganders where I still reside as well as asian culture and martial arts and maybe finishing up with the Tao. I greatly look forward to this.
You have made a great contribution to gaming and in many folks lives and for that I would like to add my voice to the chorus that says… Thank You!
Harlequin_Black
I dont even know where to begin. My friend jesse (Memnoch Frigatti) just informed me brother. My heart goes out to your family and friends the whole of pallidium staff and testers. You know Eric I’ve been a rift gammer since before Beyond the Supernatural, and i am in awe at this news. As far as i know being a gamer for 25+ years, you are the greatest and most invulnerable person i know. You will never be forgotten Sir Wujcik, The man with the coolest real life name ever. I have run so many campaigns and learned so much in being a G.M. b/c of your works in the rifter additions. I have a group of friends that have been playing with me for many many years hell as far back as i can remember. these guys and girls are real show stoppers. They are die hard and worth evryone of my precious die. We have skipped class and work to keep the bones a rollin, and will never forget the lessons you have tought. I love this game and its because ok ppl like you and Kev as well as his wife M. i cant believe this and i know all of that everyone has their time shit. But its not fair. My sister died in july 2007 and im very much still morning her death, 30 yrs old and suffering 14yrs with diabetes. Look i know ppl have lots to say but im an old schooler, at one time rebeling against those who would say gammers worhiped the devil and all. And i say live on, play the game and put it all in there all of it. we will make pseudo reality hold it down. Fight the good fight and die with the enemies heart in your hand. Thank you for your genius, you instruction, your your every evolving creativity, and all of the times you made me roll one more time instead of retreat. and if not for ninja’s and superspies the palliduim world a.k.a. the one true Megaverse would not have been the same. You have no idea where my version of the Verse went and i have a following of almost 20 players who are members of the DSI (Dark Savage Insane) who also appreciate the fun times you have helped create. I wish you the Warriors passing and may the Eternals except you as one of their own. Always slayin.
Lord Harlequin Black a.k.a. The Badass from the Badlands
Harlequin_Black
Hey this is somethin from the boys: The Black Company, The Poison Clan, The Hit Squad, The Brothers Grimm, The Reavers, The Soul Assissans, Prime Evil, Protectors of the Faith, Twelve Damned Orange Super Chickens, The Holy Alliance, The Coalition Defilers, and The DSI…
“DONT EVER GO FIGHTING DRAGONS WITHOUT A NUKE”!!!
Diane Vogt OConnor
Erick has always lived a life ruled by curiosity, wonder, empathy, and a real sense of adventure at what might occur next. As a young man, Erick courageously chose to turn away from safer occupations and follow his passionate calling–gaming. Gaming became his life, a career which he thereafter pursued with great creativity, joy, and style worldwide. Immensely playful, pragmatic, and inventive, Erick has shown remarkable resilence in the face of all the nonsense that life throws at us when we don’t follow the common herd–meeting these challenges with grace, heart, and good humor. Erick has triumphed over situations that we would have found deeply daunting to create a significant and impressive body of work that have given great pleasure to many, many people. In doing so, Erick has made a huge community of friends and colleagues worldwide, who love him, enjoy his work, and know that he is totally irreplaceable.
Erick’s courage, humor, empathy, generosity to others, willingness to reach out to help people of all ages and abilities, and tremendous creativity have built him a powerful legacy in both his many outstanding creative works and in the hearts and minds of those he has touched. We are not willing to let him go, but if go he must, we know that Erick will again lead the way with an explorer’s sense of adventure about what comes next. May it be a new clean page upon which Erick can create new worlds of wonder to awe those in the next world, as he has done here. We are honored to count ourselves among your friends, Erick. We are deeply grateful for every second you have been in our lives, although you have made us greedy for much much more. Please take your time in leaving us, you are irreplaceable in our lives.
Love
Diane Vogt-O’Connor and Hugh O’Connor
seinseya
I’m a french women, 28 years old, and I has been fan of the world of Amber since I read the books of Zelazny when I was 18. Few days later the girl who took me in this universe told me abaut the Amber’s Rpg. This was my first RPG game and sincerly it changed my life ^^ By the way, 4 years later, i founded by husband by this way too :p
Amber and the RPG made by Eric Wujcik are very important to me. I couldn’t thank you properly for the joy, the laugh and all the great momentss I have thansk to you !
By all the comments here, we just want to tell you how a great man you are and the hapiness you have made around you !
Thank you Eric 🙂
Jefffar
Like a lot of posters here, my first RPG expeirience was Ericks Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and After the Bomb RPGs.
I’ve been at RPGs for nearly 20 years now and I sincrely hope to be rolling dice with my grandkids some day.
Thank you for all the good times you’ve given me Erick, even though we’ve never met.
Devin Parker
We’ve never met, but I’m yet another gamer influenced by your work. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness was the first non-TSR roleplaying game I’d ever seen; a friend introduced it to me in the sixth grade, and I was immediately hooked. In fact, I’d never heard of the Eastman and Laird comic until I saw your RPG. Now here I am, years later, trying to get a job drawing comics. So I guess your efforts formed a part of a chain that affected who I am today. In any case, I had a blast playing your games.
I’m very sorry to hear about what’s happened to you. I hope that you are as surrounded by loving family and friends as you seem to be on this website. I pray that you can beat this, but as the movie says, “Every man dies; not every man truly lives.” I hope and pray that you’ve placed your trust in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins against God if we’ll repent and accept it from Him – I would love to get in on a game with you, if not here then in the Hereafter!
God bless you, Erick, and thanks for the great experiences you gave me and my friends!
joshfinn
I never had the chance to meet Erick, but TMNT was the first RPG I ever played. I’m a writer now. I work (or strike at present) in Hollywood. Palladium RPGs are one of the reasons I become a writer and if I’ve had any success along the way it’s only because I had great teachers. Even though I never knew him personally, Erick was one of those teachers. And although it’s been years since I rolled a D20, I’ll always remember TMNT and, when I do, I’ll be sure think of Erick. Thank you.
DNAphil
Having grown up playing a good portion of the Palladium catalog and then on to Amber, I have been a long standing fan of Erick’s work. Erick I wanted to thank you fully for all you have done for me as a GM and a Gamer. I wrote a piece on my own blog about it: http://www.dnaphil.com/2008/01/05/thank-you-erick/
s_magnus
That summer my brothers and I played TMNT is one of the best memories of my childhood, just pure imagination- I’ve tried so hard these past few years to get that magic back. Thanks for being a part of it. God Bless, Erick.
Harlequin_Black
I remember when my brother Kano a.k.a Lord Anarchy of the Poison Clan, 1st introduced me to the palladium world of gamming it was 1988 we were well on our way to high school and we were avid role players ya kno Call of Cathulhu and Dungeon and Dragons, at the time Gamma World was our exit to the future. He got a hold of Robo Tech and TMNT and we started collecting, every week one book five books, next thing you know we had all of the books out and it was hard to keep up with the prints, lol. We loved playing TMNT it was a wonderful realm of possibilities. We jumped into rifts head first and couldnt stop. started reading books and going to conventions, we had soooo much fun in wisonsin. Ya kno i have met a lot of ppl and got to talk to Eric briefly on how my campaighn was running and how we were always attacking the coaliton with little gorilla groups. He tought me that i dont always have to have the same elements in campaigns to keep my gaming group interested, that i dont always have to reward with a buch of spectacular items, but if i challange my group and they succeed to within a inch of their life they would be just as happy with the result. But a little cash wouldnt hurt. When i returned to Atlanta I was busy making a new campaign and thats what got the Poison Clan started. So from Lord Anarchy (my brother), Plauge, warstrike and the others in the Clan thank you for making the fun in the adventure not in the reward. (Even though they wound up with a fully loaded Mark V apc after a couple of games). Thank you Eric we really do listen to your words and it makes us better gammers.
” It was always hot in the desert but Harlequin Black (Silhouette Burster) and his new found companions Memnoch Frigatti (Converted Borg), Leesa Veta (lord Mgus), Gage Fusion (Ular Warrior), and Tycon (Cosmic Knight), were determined to reach the Uncanny Weaponry facility to inform them of the coming attack by the Coalition. They werent greeted very well tWo guards at a post trying to tell a Prince of Silhouette’s they were not permitted hmph!! Well that didnt stop memnoch he used his holographic abilities to simulate one of the guards and in all of the comotion caused by Tycon, long time friend of H.B., they didnt notice him entering the the weapons compound. Memnoch having made it into the complex decided to scout a little, not but seconds later two jeeps were headed toward the gate to aid their comrades with the trouble. At the front gate gaurds were busy filling our heads with talk of Plauge and Lord Anarchy as well as the Manger of the facility Johnny Profit, as to how they will have our heads and such. LoL ! “we dont really give a fuck about Plauge and Lady i mean Lord Anarchy..” exclaimed Tycon and his usual brovado.
“we are just here to inform your lords of an imminent strike upon your present location” said H.B. ” It would be wise if you told your facility director or whatever you call him to prepare for battle. What did you call him ‘Johnny Profit’ I suggest you GO NOW!!
“Piss off” yelled the guard.
“CRASH”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well Memnoch couldn’t just let the guards get to the gate and reinforce the guards at the psot by the gate, besides his newly acquired Boss H.B. just spent 30mil credits in Atlantis to upgrade his cybernetics to robotics and he helped free the others from prison in witchita Falls, what a horrible place hope the new guy NIM makes it. Nim was a big help in the escape of course what else would a mutated Xiticix Killer do!
Memnoch frontflpped in to the rear of the two jeeps and and beheaded the driver with his vibro wolvers. He used his skill in driving didn’t even miss a gear, proceeded to crash into the front jeep and front flipped out of the one he was driving THEN decapitated the next driver as if he was in some type of gymnastics competition. The borg now bot then decided to wreck the jeep into the guards, now stunned by the sound of the crash. The guards, now his new targets, having only moments to react were hard pressed for a manuver . One of the guards was crushed by the jeep becoming the new paint job, the other ripped shit and back flipped like a Jedi right into H.B’s Sword of the Ancients. Slice dead no more head!
A couple of missles shot shot overhead as the coalition approached with a full division. Harlequin and his friends decided it was better to be on the other side of the fence and proceeded to enter onE of the warehouses.
The battle was fierce as Uncanny Weaponry’s defensive net began to show promise in the battle, their weapons being the number one factor in their resolve. Why not they are the number distributor of weaponry known Megaverse.
Tycon and Memnoch were growing impatient, as the battle continued they wanted so much to join the frey. “Enough is enough this is to easy” as Memnoch took off after a Samas commandeered its electronic identity and used holographic imaging to match the physical identity of the one manned flying battle armor, seeing as he already destroyed it. Tycon was popping off cosmic bolts left and right disentegrating both Coalition and Uncanny targets. His power unmatched by any encountered it was a small wonder how a Cosmic Knight became so hard core evil and ruthless. Gage was sniping targets with a 502 range finder, ultimate in heavy weaponry. Leesa Vetta who was quiet at this point, seeing she even though very aberreant did not like needless death; which has gotten her and Memnoch in a number of altercations, decide to throw down a carpet of adhesion and waylay a number coalition robots and personnel. This gave H.B. a great opportunity to raze a number of Coalition Hellfires which were dropping rockets to close for comfort. Memnoch was hopping between Mark V’s and VII’s ripping of doors and turrets or whatever it took to slay the soldiers inside. At one point he drove a Linebacker CTX-50 into the rear of IAR-2 Abolisher as it was firing medium ranged missiles causing it blast everthing in the carpet of adhesion almost killing some of the party members.
A few more kills and a couple of stolen vehicles later, thanks to Frigatti, something happened Lord Anarchy Leader of the Poison Clan showed up with his ship and a couple of divisions of his Clan. “Well guys time to jet” said Harlequin “Back to the Shiloh”, H.B.’s Spaceship The DFU Shiloh ‘Dont Fuck with Us’ Shiloh. Tycon decided we couldn’t leave until he blew up a warehouse of course, containing a shit load of explosive and of course flicking Lord Anarchy the Bird and thanking for the supplies and wonderful battle. The group laughing all the way out of the compound look back as The Poison Clan unleashed the fury of the Wraith Lord Anarchy’s flag ship.
“And so begins the conflict of the Poison Clan and the DSI, like the coalition wasn’t enough
Here ya go Eric just a page out of the annals of another great adventure, thought you might like to catch a glimpse of the minds you help mold.
Peace Brother:
Lord Harlequin Black leader of the DSI
“You will always live on in our Megaverse”
asajosh
Whenever I think about RPGs, Wujcik jumps into mind. His work was my first exposure to the Palladium system through TMNT and for that I am forever grateful.
Having had the pleasure of playing in a brief game he GMd, on a game system he’d been working on for “20 years now”.
A wonderful man, a consumate professional and creative genious.
I shall keep the midnight lamp burning for you.
mutantmaker
I don’t know the man, but I really love the amber RPG and I think he is a true genious.
Thank for all the fun you bring to all of us. I hope the best for you.
Ghislain, from France
Knakal
This is my second comment, since I didn’t say everything I wanted too in the first one and I don’t think I was thinking as clearly as I could have been.
Besides his friendship, Erick has given me something more. He has given me a wonderful hobby I really enjoy and through it I have acquired many friends. That is amazing and will last for a long time, no matter how this adventure turns out.
Thank you Erick for Chartock and Dragonwright; for Herdan and Amber and Pattern Engines. Those two characters have become a part of my life. I have enjoyed Aliens Among Us, Zelaforms, and assorted science games and space based games. I even remember the fun in one science game where we each got one NPC for assistance. I picked Erick Wujcik. You made a good NPC.
Good luck Erick, I’m glad to hear your “numbers” are much better.
Chuck
Ken Oberlin
Erick – what can I say? Your games (as well as Kevin’s) really opened up a whole MEGAverse for me and my friends. Up until we discovered Palladium, we were 5 guys stumbling around in deep dark Dungeons, fighting the occasional Dragon or two.. Along came a game that was based on a comic that we all loved – TMNT. Wow. I can’t even think of how many times we played this game, and the different combinations for characters that were opened up to us. From there we went to Ninjas and Superspies which we combined with elements of Heroes Unlimited, Recon – which I still try to play BTW, the Palladium RPG, Robotech, Supernatural, and Rifts. I always loved the character creation for Recon – you’d spend hours thinking of a character, fleshing him out, and in the first 5 minutes of an adventure would get blown away by some VC kid in the jungle pushing a cart laden with explosives, or would fail your Trap detection roll and fall into a pit filled with Pungi sticks, only to have to spend another hour rolling up a different character.. Those were good times.
Like I said, I had played RPG’s before I came across your books, but I didn’t truly APPRECIATE them until we started playing Palladium games – most of the games we played Erick touched in some way – either by creating the various systems, the stories he told, the characters he created or through his artwork. I’m now fortunate enough to have 2 boys who really want to start playing RPG’s as well. I still have copies of Recon and Heroes Unlimited – once I find my dice, we’re all set, and a new generation will discover the joy that I once had spending countless hours, days, and weekends playing these games.
AlexM
From Kevin Siembieda:
The Latest on Erick Wujcik
I spoke with Erick yesterday during his chemotherapy treatment and he sounded great. Reinvigorated, positive and . . . well, ERICK.
He had a wonderful time in China and actually got to speak to a Tibetan monk! Cool.
Erick has a particularly rare and stubborn form of pancreatic cancer, but the chemotherapy appears to be kicking its ass! Let’s hope that’s true and that it continues to work. It was the best news I’ve gotten in weeks! In fact, Erick is already planning a big birthday bash at the end of the month. Way to go Erick.
Kevin Siembieda
La Tannière de l’Ork Bourré | Erick Wujcik se meurt…
[…] diagnostic, donné sur son blog est sans appel : cancer déjà très […]
zircher
While I don’t know Erick personally, through the Amber DRPG he introduced me to the wide world of indie games and I’m forever thankful for that and to him.
—
TAZ
Brian Cochran
Erick,
From your work with Palladium Games to Amber, your work has rocked my gaming world. We have meet several times. The first time was at a convention in Utah where you introduced me to Amber. I met several friends there and we formed an Amber game that lasted for about 4 ½ years. I again saw you in LA at another convention around 2001. Its good to hear from Kevin that the chemo is going well!!!
Your friend,
Brian
RobJustice
Homage to Erick Wujcik
I remember the moment I got into gaming. I was in sixth grade, and was standing with my arms crossed on the playground. Bored as hell. And, I was especially annoyed that the school had closed the designated snowball throwing area. I dearly missed throwing ice balls at my classmates’ heads.
Anyway, I was bored. That was when I noticed two of my classmates writing stuff on paper, and rolling odd looking geometric dice on a steel bench. The wind was blowing shit everywhere, but they managed to hold it all down, even cupping their hands around the dice. I thought that they must be doing something interesting if they were willing to go to all that trouble. Plus, that efreeti on the front of the Dungeon Master’s Guide looked too wicked-cool to pass up.
So I approached, and asked what they were doing.
“Dungeons and Dragons,” they chimed. “Wanna roll up a character?”
Such was my baptism into role-playing. Over the next three years I played D&D obsessively. Lots of deaths. The highest level I got was a third level ranger. But he died too. Oh well.
At that point, role-playing had one dimension.
That was, until, I met Erick Wujcik.
Eventually, I heard about a place called “The Detroit Gaming Center,” located in Ferndale, Michigan. Only a few miles away from my home. Convinced my dad to take my brother and I.
Upon arrival, I was excited to see that there were a lot of people, mostly adults, interested in D&D, as well as all kinds of other weirdo games.
The gaming center check-in guy, Mike, told us everything we needed to know. Even gave a particular guy, by the name of Erick Wujcik, an intimidating introduction. I remember smatterings: “13 people in his game!… brilliant mind!… created his own system!… characters can really die!… elite gamers! They might let you play, but you’ll have to talk with Erick Wujcik, himself!”
Wow. Jesus. After that I HAD to play in this Erick Wujcik guy’s game. No matter what.
I was so excited that I remember having to immediately run to go poop.
Then, later, Mike continued, “That’s him over there, playing Galaxian.” I remember sneaking up, and watching. He wasn’t the best at it, but ya can’t dog a guy for trying.
* * *
So, anyway, my brother and I observed Erick Wujcik from a distance: black leather jacket, black Greek fisherman’s cap (as my dad called it), flannel shirt, and cowboy boots. We quickly came to our own 11 and 14 year-old conclusions:
First, was that he looked like Tommy Chong, from the “Cheech and Chong” movies. As a result of looking as such, we naturally assumed that he smoked a lot of weed. It was all cool by me, as long as he let me play in his game, and was a good game master.
Second, we figured, with all the black leather and the big beard, that he was most definitely a hard core motorcycle guy. In a gang. Owns a switchblade. Harley parked out back.
I was confused by one thing, though. I couldn’t figure out why a weed-smoking, switchblade carrying, member of a motorcycle-gang kinda guy, would want to be a D&D game master.
As Erick continued to play Galaxian, my brother and I proceeded to push and wrestle one another in his direction. Simultaneously wrestling and making each other laugh with smart-ass remarks:
“Go speak to Chong, dude!” Face shove.
“Back off you ass!” punching the other in the arm, really hard. “That f***ing hurt you dick! YOU go speak to him!, you fag!” Trip.
“He’s gonna pull out a knife or gun and force us to smoke weed!” Finger jab to the ribs, really hard.
“GOD D*MN YOU for that…”.
And on it went. It was a juvenile display, but, we were only 14 and 11 years old.
Erick Wujcik eventually finished his video game, which turned out to not be too long of a wait.
Oh my God, here He comes. I got serious and humble real quick. Approaching, I feared he wouldn’t take me serious, because I was so young, and an obvious 14 year old twerp. Nope.
Erick Wujcik treated me like an adult, and, so, instantly earned my respect. [Well, maybe not so much after you’ve done something stupid in one of his games and he wants to laugh about it… Oh, and, you’re extra dead if Al Moen is present, and also, thinks it’s funny, because he adds tons of fuel to the fire. Then you’re dead in the water.]
Erick and his group let me into their game.
Not long thereafter, I came to realize that this Erick Wujcik guy was really really smart, and knew shit-loads of cool stuff. I couldn’t not hang out with this guy. I was hooked.
So I hung out with Erick’s really intelligent and creative Dragonwright crew: Chuck Knakal, Al Moen, Todd Bake, Don Anderson (thanks for all those rides home!), Mike Vasquez, Jim Webster, Paul Deckert, among many others. Soon thereafter, I met John Speck, Tony Townson, and Eric Snider.
Even went to my first Gen Con with he, John Speck, and Tony Townson, or was it Eric Snider? We were all about 14 /15yrs old. A damn fun and memorable time.
I stayed with the Dragonwright group for around 2 1/2 years. Had fun, learned gobs, and have some priceless memories.
I, eventually, got distracted by my adolescence. But kept in contact with Erick through personal friends, and when he used to play test games. Always a good excuse to get together and game with friends.
I was fortunate to have played in many of Erick’s games: TMNT, Aliens Among Us, Entropy, Haunted Spaceship, Napalm’s Dungeon, Amber, Magic vs. Technology, Martial Arts stuff, and many others.
When I went to school in Ann Arbor, I came to know other role-players: Joe Saul, Lisa Leutheuser, John Schippers, Eric Todd, Simone Cooper and Guy, among many others. All were friends of Erick Wujcik.
I have known Erick since I was 14, and am now 38. Twenty-four years. During this time he has been a confidant, mentor, guide, and dear friend through many of my life experiences, both personally and professionally.
Thank you, Sir, you have contributed to many positive transformations.
Rob Justice
bloodymage
I haven’t met you Erick. I’ve never played played your games, though I’ve gamed since 1981, qualified by a 10-year hiatus. I came over because of a word from Jolly to give what encouragement I’m able. So I want to tell you a little story.
My father called me in Navy Boot Camp to tell me that my mother had died in his arms. I was 20, she was 40. He had an eighth-grade education, built and raced cars, spent some time in the Navy, built and raced more cars, retired from sheet metal (he specialized in stainless steel kitchens), built more race cars, retired from CAT, working as a diesel mechanic. If he saw a picture with his eyes or in his head, he could build it. My old man was a mechanical genius. He remarried, raised two more sons (step). I got a call from my step-mom in late ’96. He had Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). Close to the end, it would take him two weeks to do something in his garage that it used to take five minutes to accomplish. This man, not able to talk, drooling, not able to hold his head up (he built a brace!), feeding on liquids though a catheter in his stomach, went out to his his garage to work in a motorized scooter two days before he died in October, 1999.
I will that strength to you. No one could’ve known my father without knowing God and believing in miracles. I’m sitting here, typing this, blubbering like a babe.I’m a man of faith, Erick and you’re in my prayers. I pray you can fight like my father. I been told you live like he lived. I pray [i]I[/i] can have his strength.
You’re down hp, the treatments are surely taxing your P.E. Keep your M.E. up, have faith and [i]pray[/i] like a cleric. You’ll be golden, Erick.
Steve Willett
[email protected]
CharlesBrown
I was truly saddened to hear this – I know we’ve met (but didn’t know each other’s names), I THINK at the gaming table at two MichiCons (Kevin’s Mechanoid Invasion and Mechanoid Invasion: Homeworld sessions in ’82 and 84, respectively, IIRC); if not there, then definitely at the Palladium booth during at least one of those and maybe even a GenCon or two…
Had some good experiences with Amber Diceless, and we almost had a TNMT campaign going in college, but everybody wanted to PLAY and nobody to GM, so it fell apart after char gen…
Hope you can beat this, or, if not, then there’s a Gamer Heaven with one of the best seats in the house waiting for you, Erick.
GillesFromFrance
I feel sad. We have never met but I have loved playing Amber Diceless since high school a decade and an half ago. This game is unique, the rules are so simple and the storytelling so important that everyone wanted to be GM : I must say that I was the best if not the only good one (the other players would probably disagree but they will not read that and so it is of no importance).
Several “war for the throne” games are still on the list of the best times I spent with my friends.
Thank you very much, I hope chemo will work.
Rivethead28
I am 30, and since I was 11 I have kept palladium books on my shelf, well played and often flip through the illustrations for inspiration in my own work. I would like to share a memory which I am sure is shared by many of your fans who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s. I was living in Lakewood Colorado, it was 1988 and I had just met a new kid in town. I was 11. When my friend and I hung out for the first time at his house, he asked if I had ever role-played….I had no idea what that was…. I said no and he pulled out a couple of books, the TMNT and Other Strangeness book and Adventures. Over the next 8 months we played TMNT and then Heroes Unlimited. I had so much fun in those early game sessions with TMNT that I convinced my mom to purchase my first game books for me….TMNT and HU. That very same TMNT book with its creases, bends, tears and pencil marks is still on my bookshelf today and is a valued possession that I show to all of my friends who enjoy a good game.
Erick, your books began my path into gaming. I appreciate everything you have given to us (role-players), you have influenced at least two generations of gamers that I know of. We will continue to play your games until the end. Simply, thank you for everything you have done. I am deeply saddened by this news, but I know you have left your mark in helping many kids find reading, writing and math interesting…not to mention the rapid development of imagination….Thank you. I wish you all the best.
Mark Oberle
Erick,
Hearing the stories of those closest to you, I find myself wishing I knew you better myself. Unlike many here, I cannot share how TMNT was my first RPG or similar grand tales (though I smile a bit more with each one of those that I read). Our communication has been rather brief, consisting of a personalized After the Bomb 2nd. Ed. main book that was sent in last year’s grab bag (you must have been in from China on your way to California at that point, and drew a little arrow to Kevin’s sinature with the caption, “He’s an animal!”) and a short meeting at the 2007 Palladium Open House.
I must confess that I got the immediate impression from you of that slightly eccentric uncle who you hardly ever see but cherish every moment with when you do. Then I caught you searching through the book rack for a reference for one of your games. I thought you had finished up and were killing time, so I sought to secure your signature in a couple of books. You informed me that when your game was over you would be happy to, leaving me to feel a bit foolish for not noticing that your players were still at the table waiting for you to return. At any rate, your game stretched on as everyone else packed up and left. I had to chuckle at that, because my games often stretch on in the same manner, and the group (including yourself) seemed to be so wrapped up in the experience that you hardly noticed the late hour. I kept my ride waiting, but it was worth it when you came over (despite the time) and signed my books and those of a few others. But I think the best part of that ten to twenty minutes was getting to interact with you as you were signing those autographs, hearing your thoughts on game design and the future of role-playing. I’m still awed by the depth of your knowledge and level of creativity, and as I was speaking with you I felt as the student of a sage might when learning from their wisened teacher. It was one of the highlights of that weekend, and something I will remember for a long time to come, and an experience I hope very much to repeat one day.
So, here I was compelled to post my one short story that I could share along with my good tidings. What I won’t do is say goodbye, as I’m not ready to write you off just yet. I hear the chemo is doing well, better than was expected, and that bolsters my faith. I believe that you can beat this Erick, even against what odds you were given. I have heard remarkable tales of people that defied everyone’s expectations and are alive and well today, and I have the feeling that your candle is not one that would be easily snuffed out. I was told to reccomend coral calcium by a friend, and I guess it couldn’t hurt (even if it doesn’t help). On my end, I’ve been praying for you since I heard the news, and am trying to channel you all the positive energy I can. I’ll continue to do all I can, here’s hoping it helps.
Whatever the case may be, I want to thank you for all you’ve done, not only for Kevin and Palladium (which has directly impacted my life in a positive way), but for the entire gaming community. By all indications I have seen, you are the kind of person we need millions more of in the world. There are people out there that go their whole lives without making half the difference in the world that you have (in your own unique ways). You’ve certainly made your mark on people like me, rest assured of that.
Well, I’ve probably rambled on long enough for one post. I did have a question about the afore-mentioned After the Bomb book, as you included some symbols with your signature that I have been unable to decipher the meaning of (if any). So, if you could enlighten this slow-witted fan, I would be much obliged (My screen name is Warwolf on the Palladium boards and Kevin knows how to reach me otherwise). I look forward to speaking with you again some day, so until we meet again may the Creator watch over you. And remember, it is always darkest before the dawn, so keep your eye on the horizon my friend.
Sincerely,
Mark “Warwolf” Oberle
Palladium Books Freelance Writer
Ste
Erick,
Hello from the UK. Found me way here from rpg.net, and thought I should take the opportunity to say thank you for the fantastic games of yours that my friends and I got so many hours of enjoyment out. Reading Amber for the first time was a true watershed moment… it was like someone had managed to capture the hitherto intangible and unarticulated essence of all the best things about the games we were playing at the time, and present it in what I still think is the best rpg ever published. It was truly inspirational. That book had a magic about it for me when I was a teenager, and every time I dig out my very battered copy nowadays I still get a little thrill looking at the familiar artwork and pages. Thanks for Amber, and for all the other great games.
Jason Baker
I have loved Eric’s work with palladium games. He will be sorely missed as his work was of great influence on me and many of the people i game with. I was never honored with meeting him but will miss him and celebrate his life by playing his games and sharing them with each new generation of gamers i meet.
dakkon
I never had the pleasure of meeting Erick, but even so I think it’s safe to say he changed my life. I’ve been a gamer for many years and his works left their mark in the lives of me and my friends. You will always be remembered.
WikkedTink
HEy Jst wanted to send my wishes — my boyfriend is a big fan of you and Palladium