I had a sad day at work, more than a year ago. I learned, from a Michigan-based interview candidate, that Erick Wujcik had died.
It was a strange interview lunch to begin with: the candidate was interviewing for a design position, and I'm not normally on the loop with them. I had little to talk about, but eventually, we started talking about user contributed content.
It was then that I started blabbing about the Amber Diceless RPG, and how ahead of the curve Wujcik had been. Users contributing to their characters, campaign details to the GM, and being given their own free time to roleplay with other characters or fill in backstory, really took the GM off the hook for long periods of time. Everyone became invested, and the GM focused on the work of coordinating play, not coming up with every detail or moment.
Our candidate revealed that Wujcik had been employed in Shanghai (hey, I used to work in China) and that he had spent much of the last few years in San Francisco (hey, I just moved from SOMA!). I really wanted to identify with Erick (hey, we have similar names!).
This guy was a huge impact on me: TMNT and Rifts and the other Palladium RPG books were well thumbed and soda-stained. The GenCon ADRPG session before the book release. The funny black leather cap.
A belated goodbye Mr. Wujcik; thanks for the games, the freedom from dice, and a host of good ideas.
It was then that I started blabbing about the Amber Diceless RPG, and how ahead of the curve Wujcik had been. Users contributing to their characters, campaign details to the GM, and being given their own free time to roleplay with other characters or fill in backstory, really took the GM off the hook for long periods of time. Everyone became invested, and the GM focused on the work of coordinating play, not coming up with every detail or moment.
Our candidate revealed that Wujcik had been employed in Shanghai (hey, I used to work in China) and that he had spent much of the last few years in San Francisco (hey, I just moved from SOMA!). I really wanted to identify with Erick (hey, we have similar names!).
This guy was a huge impact on me: TMNT and Rifts and the other Palladium RPG books were well thumbed and soda-stained. The GenCon ADRPG session before the book release. The funny black leather cap.
A belated goodbye Mr. Wujcik; thanks for the games, the freedom from dice, and a host of good ideas.
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