Author Topic: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax  (Read 2700 times)

worktroll

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The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« on: 18 June 2017, 18:36:07 »
Fascinating read - an FOI request obtained the FBI's report on TSR and Gary Gygax.

https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3866268/TSR-Pt-4.pdf

Some of the comments are still very relevant today. An intriguing look into the ancestry of gaming in general, and proof that there's nothing new under the Sun.

(BTW, there's a small section on politics. Let's not go there. Plenty else to talk about.  [copper]

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Baldur Mekorig

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #1 on: 18 June 2017, 19:13:47 »
It have some very redacted portions. Wonder why.
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worktroll

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #2 on: 18 June 2017, 19:37:21 »
Apparently, the FBI investigated TSR as part of the Unibomber case - TSR having received bomb threats, as mentioned in the PDF. Standard policy would be to remove specific items about that investigation, and/or personal details about informants.

Kozinsky was believed linked to the Fresno gaming club (FRESNO in the document).
* No, FASA wasn't big on errata - ColBosch
* The Housebook series is from the 80's and is the foundation of Btech, the 80's heart wrapped in heavy metal that beats to this day - Sigma
* To sum it up: FASAnomics: By Cthulhu, for Cthulhu - Moonsword
* Because Battletech is a conspiracy by Habsburg & Bourbon pretenders - MadCapellan
* The Hellbringer is cool, either way. It's not cool because it's bad, it's cool because it's bad with balls - Nightsky
* It was a glorious time for people who felt that we didn't have enough Marauder variants - HABeas2, re "Empires Aflame"

Giovanni Blasini

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #3 on: 18 June 2017, 20:20:37 »
That was...weird.
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Baldur Mekorig

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #4 on: 18 June 2017, 22:04:36 »
Apparently, the FBI investigated TSR as part of the Unibomber case - TSR having received bomb threats, as mentioned in the PDF. Standard policy would be to remove specific items about that investigation, and/or personal details about informants.

Kozinsky was believed linked to the Fresno gaming club (FRESNO in the document).

The guy was highly intelligent, but from what i read about him, i dont think that he fited in the "gamer" profile.
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In your sword I put my trust that you will honor
I will be the higher ground should you concede it
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Nav_Alpha

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #5 on: 18 June 2017, 23:05:52 »
That was rather interesting. I was actually expecting a report on D&D and how it links to Satanism or something. Didn't see a Unabomber and radical peace activists coming...


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CrossfirePilot

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #6 on: 18 June 2017, 23:12:13 »
in the last couple years I have felt bad for Gary, practicing catholic, gets burned at the stake for making a popular game... 

Sharpnel

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #7 on: 19 June 2017, 07:16:32 »
That was rather interesting. I was actually expecting a report on D&D and how it links to Satanism or something. Didn't see a Unabomber and radical peace activists coming...
In J. Edgar Hoover's day, it probably would have been.
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Kidd

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #8 on: 19 June 2017, 08:55:08 »
What I'd like to see is the FBI's report on Battletech and "...this here suspicious 'Jihad' thing these so-called grognards are always on and on about 8) "

Thoughts on the report: Wow, this is a FBI report? Reads like a hastily-written abstract, I'd get my butt kicked at work producing something like this.

Quote
"(redacted) further advised that the typical war gaming enthusiast is overweight and not neat in appearance"
OOO FBI THROWING SHADE Y'ALL  ;D

1 of the Redacteds seems to have been Gygax's link with the Pentagon. No wonder Redacted's name is withheld.
« Last Edit: 19 June 2017, 09:03:32 by Kidd »

Kit deSummersville

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #9 on: 19 June 2017, 09:19:53 »
What I'd like to see is the FBI's report on Battletech and "...this here suspicious 'Jihad' thing these so-called grognards are always on and on about 8) "

They didn't bring it up when interviewing Herb.
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Frabby

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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #10 on: 19 June 2017, 10:25:49 »
They didn't bring it up when interviewing Herb.
Huh? I thought Herb said they did, and not just in passing.
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Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
« Reply #11 on: 19 June 2017, 10:33:12 »
Huh? I thought Herb said they did, and not just in passing.

Nope. Just asked about the writer who was in the Special Agent recruitment process.
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