#timothy kask

[oldschoolfrp]

Timothy J Kask passed away December 30, 2025. He was editor of TSR's Strategic Review and the first editor of The Dragon magazine from 1976-1980. He edited many early TSR publications, including most of the original D&D supplements beginning with Blackmoor. Above: Elise Gygax and Tim Kask at GenCon XI in 1978; editor's signature in The Dragon #2, August 1976.

Tim Kask played the character Kwalish, now part of D&D lore, and has been identified as the namesake of Vecna’s lieutenant Kas.

[oldschoolfrp]

"'Great Gods!' expostulated the startled errant. 'It is a dwarf being pursued by a pack of giant toads and weirdly hopping men!"

Gary Gygax, under the pen name Garrison Ernst, published 7 chapters of a novel titled The Gnome Cache in Dragon magazine issues 1-3 and 5-7, June 1976 to June 1977. It is notable for including the first published details of Oerth, the world of the Greyhawk campaign. David Sutherland appears to be the illustrator of this final line from the final known chapter, which might at last be introducing the titular gnome (though described as a "dwarf"), apparently pursued by some followers of Wastri the Hopping Prophet.

In Dragon 8 editor Timothy Kask noted that he ran out of room to print chapter 8. "It is expected, however, that that fine tale will resume in #9." That appears to be the last mention of the story.

[infravisions]

Random Injury Chart (for Athletic Competitions) 01-05 Leg injury (unable to stand or move without assistance) 06-20 Twisted ankle (movement reduced by half) 21-25 Wrenched shoulder (lose use of arm) 26-35 Exhaustion (roll System Shock every other round to continue) 36-45 Fielding error or accidental collision (save vs. Petrification or Polymorph to avoid being knocked out for 1d3 rounds) 46-55 Deliberately trampled, tackled, body-checked, etc. (Resolve using melee rolls; all damage is subdual) 56-70 Pulled muscle (roll 2-5: 1. back, 2. left arm 3. left leg, etc. Effects of strain may affect rolls for initiative, to hit, damage, and so forth, as determined by the DM) 71-90 General bumps, bruises, and soreness (but no measurable ill effects) 91-00 Heckled by coach, team-mates, and/or spectators, etc. (check Morale) Tim Kask conjures a vivid and amusing picture of "the first-ever Origins Softball Game on Sunday morning, July 16th," at Origins '78 in Ann Arbor, MI. The game, contested by players from Avalon Hill (with TSR's Kask) and Simulation Publications, Inc., "was allowed to end in a tie, 13-13" — an act of wisdom and mercy, as this account makes clear. Dragon Rumbles: ORIGINS '78 — Biggest Con To Date Timothy Kask Dragon Magazine #18, September 1978