Oakes at Save Versus All Wands, here.

With respect, I don't think it's quite correct to say that the FBI "had a file on" Gygax (as far as we know). They went to the offices of TSR to interview them about an earlier legal dispute between TSR and the Fresno Gaming Association, which they had reason to believe the Unabomber might have been linked to in some way. I suppose, in the back of their minds, they might also have thought that many wargamers and roleplayers had similar profiles to the one they had drawn up on the suspect. Frankly, that doesn't sound unreasonable to me. They would catch Theodore Kaczynski less than a year later, and while he didn't appear to have any wargaming links, he was a highly intelligent, obsessive, socially awkward white guy. Sorry, but for a long time that was 80% of the hobby.

It looks like the reason that Gygax's name came up was that Lorraine Williams (almost certainly the person whose name was "redacted") decided to take the opportunity to offer up some snarky gossip about her old enemy to the FBI. And they dutifully wrote down everything that she said, as is their job, I think. As far as we know, that was the end of it.

In the same way, if the FBI were interviewing someone else about a crime, and your name was mentioned by a witness (for whatever reason), your name would be "in an FBI file." But that's not the same thing as the FBI surveilling you. And of course, a mere transcription of such an interview would itself say nothing about whether the agents attached any importance to you or your name.

Remember, too, that the Unabomber case was perhaps the most notorious modern terrorism investigation before 9/11. McVeigh, of course killed many more people, but he was caught almost immediately. The Unabomber attacks, each of them patiently planned against unprepared targets, went on for years, and the authorities were at their wits end, trying pretty much everything and anything to get a lead on the guy. Indeed, if they hadn't received a tip from his brother, he might have continued to send mail bombs for years. It's notable that during the interview they asked Williams or someone else whether she had any ideas on the meaning or origin of "F.C." - the name for the "group" that the Unabomber said he was part of. This is what good detectives do, you follow 1000 leads, most of which look pointless os even silly, in hopes that something will turn up. It's humorous (if humor is allowed against the background of multiple deaths and injuries) that the answer they got from TSR was this:

"In the historical war context, F.C. stood for 'Forward Center' which was a troop movement designation. It was also inscribed on cannons in the Franco-Prussian War, probably as an insignia."

By the way, the working theory was that "F.C." stood for "f*ck computers." But Kaczynski would later say that it meant "freedom club."    

But I digress. In sum, I think this is much more a Lorraine Williams thing than an FBI thing.

As for the cocaine trafficking documents, since half of the text is redacted, it's very hard to know what they mean. But I think it's well established that Gygax used drugs, including, I assume, cocaine. And whether or not he was a "suspect" or "person of interest" or whatever, it's not surprising or unreasonable to find his name popping up against the background of an investigation of drug trafficking in Lake Geneva.

There's no public evidence that the FBI "followed up" re: Gygax in either case. But, of course, the FOIA request was for "TSR," not "Gary Gygax"...

Thanks, Oakes.

That was the gist of my interpretation, but you had a lot of facts there I didn't know. It's pretty clear all the information on Gygax there is just ranting from a single source at TSR and not the result of some kind of lengthy FBI investigation of him. Williams was my guess as the source as well.

Quote from: Baulderstone;969218Thanks, Oakes.

That was the gist of my interpretation, but you had a lot of facts there I didn't know. It's pretty clear all the information on Gygax there is just ranting from a single source at TSR and not the result of some kind of lengthy FBI investigation of him. Williams was my guess as the source as well.

Yeah. Of course, now, the nosy person in me wants to do a FOIA request on "Gary Gygax." But, perhaps in fairness to him, I should do one on "Oakes Spalding," first.

By the way, I was a Massachusetts delegate to the 1989 Libertarian Party Convention in Philadelphia. True story.

I'm going to hold onto the image Gary Gygax as a trenchcoat and shades wearing bad ass (like Morpheus from The Matrix) in my heart though.

I read a story in Dragon about how when TSR was developing Top Secret, the FBI somehow got some in-game communications and confused role playing with reality. See, there was an assassination planned in Beirut and all trails led to Lake Geneva...

Quote from: Nexus;969256I'm going to hold onto the image Gary Gygax as a trenchcoat and shades wearing bad ass (like Morpheus from The Matrix) in my heart though.

Nobody could ever blame you for that. That Gary lives in all our hearts.

Quote from: saskganesh;969270I read a story in Dragon about how when TSR was developing Top Secret, the FBI somehow got some in-game communications and confused role playing with reality. See, there was an assassination planned in Beirut and all trails led to Lake Geneva...

There was also the Secret Service raid on Steve Jackson Games for their GURPS Cyberpunk book.

Quote from: Elfdart;969203Hoover died while Nixon was in office.

Or is that part of the coverup...

Quote from: Baulderstone;969218Williams was my guess as the source as well.

And hence another unfounded internet rumour can be treated as fact. It is pretty irresponsible to 'speculate' on something like that, particularly on a blog. The internet is full of enough BS parading as fact.

Quote from: Voros;969313And hence another unfounded internet rumour can be treated as fact. It is pretty irresponsible to 'speculate' on something like that, particularly on a blog. The internet is full of enough BS parading as fact.

The [Redacted] was a she.  That eliminates the Blumes at least.  Also some of the actions [Redacted] took would have to be by a higher-up.

Not saying it's not likely. Just saying throwing around such an accusation without proof is irresponsible.

What actions would require them be a higher up? Many women worked in the office at TSR, the source could be a former office assistant, etc.

Also seems very unlikely they just interviewed one person from TSR and called it a day. They're likely to have many sources quoted and used throughout.

Quote from: CRKrueger;969404That eliminates the Blumes at least.  

The Blumes were long gone from TSR at this point, why would they be interviewed?

Quote from: saskganesh;969270I read a story in Dragon about how when TSR was developing Top Secret, the FBI somehow got some in-game communications and confused role playing with reality. See, there was an assassination planned in Beirut and all trails led to Lake Geneva...

Not impossible stranger things have happened after all.

Quote from: Voros;969410The Blumes were long gone from TSR at this point, why would they be interviewed?

In A situation like that they would interview any one who may be connected even if it seems out there.

R.I.P. Gary Gygax. Game Designer. Free Thinker. And a person who turned no one away who needed a game or advice or just to read their thoughts.

Quote from: Dumarest;969140The FBI also thought John Lennon was the Jackal. They think a lot of stupid things.

How silly of them. Yoko was obviously the Jackal.

Quote from: Nexus;969183Having his name in all caps like that seems like he's some kind of Evil Organization like COBRA or HYDRA

HAIL GYGAX!

Quote from: CRKrueger;969186Now I have to know what [Redacted] FRESNO is.

Fucking.

Fucking Fresno. It's nigh impossible to refer to Fresno without being pissed about it.

Quote from: CRKrueger;969186Gonna have to start filing FOIA requests, this shit is gold for Delta Green.

Great idea!

What are you going to ask for?

Quote from: Nexus;969199He's a complicated man, no one understands...

'cept those that study Appendix N....

I see what you did there!

Quote from: Nexus;969256I'm going to hold onto the image Gary Gygax as a trenchcoat and shades wearing bad ass (like Morpheus from The Matrix) in my heart though.

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Have you been to Fresno? The whole place ought to be redacted.