Gary "Dungeon Master" Gygax, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, died yesterday. He leaves behind a legacy, over the past 34 years, of having inspired untold numbers of pimple-addled adolescent boys to take a break from "taming the dragon" and imagine themselves as Dark Elvish wizards with magic powers.

The game, which is known for its complicated rules and numerous spin-offs, gave Gygax "a cultural influence far broader than his relatively narrow fame among hard-core game enthusiasts," according to the New York Times.

BoingBoing has a good interview with Gygax from 2003, in which he talks about the genesis of the game and takes credit for creating the game's infamous, many-sided dice. And an obit in Canada's Globe and Mail give Gygax credit for the popularity of everything from Lord of the Rings to Halo 3.

So, we pour a little splash of 40-ounce Gatorade on the shag carpet of our parents' basement for the fallen 30th-level Enchanter.