Wizardry V, The Heart of Maelstrom was probably the hardest game I’ve ever played. Without the internet to cheat, it was a incredibly frustrating challenge and I never beat it until much later when I used walkthroughs and an emulator. Great game though. RIP, Andrew.

My gateway not only into ‘real’ computer gaming but also D&D.

My first CRPG, and my only RPG had been D&D.

My dad ran a campaign for our family when I was seven or so. Original D&D, not even advanced. It didn’t last terribly long but left a lifelong impression.

I recently inserted Creeping Coins to my Curse of Strahd campaign, as a matter of fact.

It was an unpopular twist, despite the group carrying a fortune in cursed money and having nothing whatsoever to spend it on.

Wizardry was great. I’ll never understand how I lived in one of those ultra religious eighties homes that wouldn’t let me play D&D but wizardry, Ultima, and bards tale were just fine.

Wizardry 8 will always be a part of my life.

but what of the unsung hero who made wizmaker?

I remember from an interview that the first JRPG, Dragon Quest, was heavily inspired by Wizardry (as with other CRPGs of the time). Most others copied that design, including Final Fantasy, so in many ways we can thank Greenberg for helping lay the groundwork for virtually all RPGs, not just CRPGs.

i spent a lot of hours as a kid playing that first wizardry game. never made it far and found it confusing and unsatisfying. later when i found nethack i learned how to be satisfied with the confusion :*)

My family would play this as a group. We napped at least the first 12 levels, maybe more. My father loved making maps of old video games. I’m certain that his map of the thieve’s cave in Adventure is still floating around the house somewhere.