I was perusing the net and happened to stumble in the Troll Lord Games blog and then I looked for Gygax Games. I was very surprised and a bit annoyed by the abrupt termination of the agreement with TLG and then I noticed this bio on the Gygax Games website:

http://www.gygax-games.com/index.php?op ... &Itemid=55

I have read a lot of interviews with Gary Gygax (God Bless Him) and I did one myself that is my proudest accomplishment in my game journalism career, but I never noticed any mention or simple hint (besides Gail being a confidant, of course) of any role of hers whatsoever in Gary's many creations and enterprises. Am I just a suspicious fellow in thinking Gail Gygax dumped the Trolls simply for more money (not that is bad per se, simply it could be more polite...) and now wishes to 'polish' her image and so strenghten her legitimacy in handling Gary's estate?

I have serious doubts that Gary's plans involved dumping the Trolls and choosing Mongoose: after all, why so late? AFTER his passing? He already had contacts with them after publishing the Slayer's Guyide to Dragons with Mongoose  

Hm...    Sorry for the mood, but March is very close and I'm still missing Gary  

I don't mean to poo poo on Hekaforge or TLG but I thought I read (here or there) that Gary wasn't completely happy with TLG.  I forget if this was in regard to deadlines or production though.  I'm not sure if Gary had similar issues with Hekaforge.  Both are small companies that each have their own issues.  I've been waiting for Castle Wolfmoon from Hekaforge for 5 years now (maybe longer?) so deadlines and getting things out are ... well ... typical of a small press company.  I'm probably also not the only one who was frustrated in trying to buy from TLG and was disappointed by the production value of Castle Zagyg.

TBH, I think moving these things under one roof is a good plan to do things right.  Also, publishing through Mongoose will raise the production quality and probably increase their exposure.

JohnGaunt wrote:Mongoose appears to have better penetration in Texas and Oklahoma than Hekaforge and Troll Lords.

Out of about a dozen game stores I have been to in the last while in Ontario only 1 has carried the Castles & Crusades items from TLG and I can't recall any having the Hekaforge items but all of them have various Mongoose books.

Mars wrote:
Out of about a dozen game stores I have been to in the last while in Ontario only 1 has carried the Castles & Crusades items from TLG and I can't recall any having the Hekaforge items but all of them have various Mongoose books.

I've always thought TLG should have better penetration in Texas (or at least the DFW area) considering Little Rock is only a few hours away.  

Mike B.

serleran wrote:I'd suggest waiting for the announcements to see what's happening. I do wish there were more of them.

Ding.

Honestly, I don't give that much consideration. Its entirely possible. How it affects me, the gamer, I don't know, or care -- what matters is whether the products exist, and continue to be produced, not whether Gail did X and Y.

It seems in the last few days that Gail has surfaced on the Gygax Games forums under the username "grail maiden", so you might send any questions/comments/concerns to her directly.

http://www.gygax-games.com/Forums/

Alexander1968 wrote:Hm... it would have no purpose. What could I say? "Why are you claiming credit to Gary's creative and business endeavours while he never mentioned you besides being a secretary and a wife?".  

I don't know Gary and I don't know Gail, but I know from personal experience that there are many things I get credit for but know my wife deserves credit if only by caring for me.  It may be just me, but I'd let her have all the credit she wants.  Once she dies, then whoever is left can write whatever history they want.