Remembering Stephen Tunnicliff
A friend of mine, and a long-time gaming associate, passed away from a massive heart attack this morning. I think I always knew that one day I would receive a phone call with that unhappy news, and at the same time, felt that day would never come. If having fun can be described as feeding the inner child, then Stephen Tunnicliff didn’t just indulge that child, he plied it with campiness and whimsy at every opportunity. While the results could sometimes be annoying, more than often his sense of fun was pervasive and encouraged that inner child in all those around him. At the same time, he was one of the most generous men I have ever known, capable of more exuberance and joy de vivre than anyone else I have ever met. He attended my 21st, and my 40th, Birthday parties. I was at his 50th a few years back. |
![]() Stephen in the early '80s, his sense of humor on full display |
We regularly had New Years Marathon gaming sessions with him – three days of gaming, morning, afternoon, evening, and night. For many years he was my regular transport to gaming, and often he was the hub around which our gaming revolved. It is a measure of our friendship that of all the campaigns that I have run over the years, Stephen was a player at one time or another in all but two or perhaps three of them. In the histories of those campaigns, he left an indelible impression. Stephen was the kind of player who would pull a lever on the wall just to see what would happen. If given an opportunity to sew mischief as a character, he had to be held back not to indulge the temptation. His first act in the One Faith campaign was to swap the labels on some vials of ingredients being used to brew quick-and-dirty healing potions by an NPC whose attitude had rubbed him the wrong way, just as a practical joke at the NPCs expense – and not realizing that the opportunity had been deliberately set up as Stephen-bait in order to advance the plot. At the same time, he was capable of getting more deeply into character than anyone I knew, because he knew his own tastes and tendencies and created characters that would give himself the opportunity to indulge his own sense of humor. There’s a lesson in character construction in that practice for all of us. I don’t think I will ever sit at a gaming table without remembering him. Rest in peace, Stephen. My games, and my life, will be the poorer without you. |
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June 5th, 2012 at 3:03 am
Thanks to Jodie Becker and L Crawford for their messages of condolance through twitter.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:28 am
Add Joshua S. Fields to the list of Twitter condolances.
June 5th, 2012 at 8:37 am
My sincerest sympathies to you in this sad time. Thank you for sharing your memories of your friend.
Jim recently posted..[Map Monday] Havershum and Galith Karn
June 5th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Thank you, Jim. I intend to print out a copy of the post with the comments and present it to the family next week after the funeral.
June 7th, 2012 at 8:50 am
I just received Twitter condolances from Marc (@TwentyFoot). Thanks.
Mike recently posted..An Empty Death, An Empty Life: Making PC Death Matter
June 7th, 2012 at 9:26 am
Thanks to Wyatt Salazar for his Twitter condolances.
Mike recently posted..An Empty Death, An Empty Life: Making PC Death Matter
June 13th, 2012 at 5:20 am
I think his friends can agree the greatest gifts we got from him were his cheerfulness, his generosity of spirit and his willingness to enjoy life and the least-great often had “Hello Kitty” on them. But in the middle there were plenty of literal gifts that showed he thought about what people wanted and never expected anything in return. The monetary value of these gifts wasn’t great but they showed the concern he had for everyone in his life and the effort he put into making them happy. That’s Stephen, always had time for people, never required anything back. Except maybe that they be happier.
June 13th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
I’m sorry for your loss, Mike.
I often stop by this website for good advice and it’s often left me in awe about the potential for good roleplaying mechanics, as I work towards completing my game. If roleplaying games are designed by gamers who love their games, it is equally true that they are made for people who love to play them, and your dear friend Stephen seems to be the embodiment of that love.
May he rest in peace. Much love to his family, as well. My condolences.
June 13th, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Thank You, James, for both your kind words about Stephen and about our own contributions to the industry we love.
June 18th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
So sorry for your loss.
June 19th, 2012 at 4:30 am
Thank you, Debbie.
April 4th, 2014 at 1:26 am
[…] somewhat maudlin epigram derives from reflections on the passing of a friend of mine (Remembering Stephen Tunnicliff) and reflecting on my own life and how I would be remembered if it came to an end. I’m proud […]
October 10th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
[…] (Stephen Tunnicliff‘s Character) retired back to South America to hunt Nazi War Criminals and super-scientists, […]