"David Trampier - D&D artist, creator of "Wormy"" Topic

Those of you who played 1st Edition AD&D or who read "Dragon" magazine are familiar with the work of David Trampier. His art was signed "DAT" or "Tramp".

He stopped producing Wormy suddenly in 1988, and dropped out of the gaming scene. He was reportedly working as a cab driver in Illinois in the 1990s.

link

Wikipedia page:
link

Wyatt

I'm saddened by his passing. 'Wormy' was usually the first thing I turned to in the old Dragon magazines.

he also cowrote the game Titan.

RIP. I loved Wormy.

I always enjoyed Wormy as well, even after I'd stopped playing D&D. A real shame.

I'd always hoped he'd overcome whatever troubles or concerns took him away from his art, and find a way to return. Sad news indeed.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Trampier, and thank you for the inspiration.

Very sad. A classic tortured artist. Rest in peace.

I'm another big fan of Wormy, as well as all of the other comics in Dragon, even the really weird ones (does anyone else remember Pinsom?).

RIP, Mr. Trampier.

Wormy was a cool comic and I always wondered why it suddenly dropped out of Dragon Magazine. Mr. Trampier's illustrations in the Dungeon Masters guide were also a high step above of everything else that was going on at that time. Sad indeed and hits close to home being an artist as well.

A great talent, too bad he's gone, and too bad he didn't create more art. Wormy helped make The Dragon accessible.

Backgammon was featured in one episode, and that issue of The Dragon mailed with a colorful backgammon board that Trampier drew. It's one of the very few things you can't find on the internet, though there was a not particularly good image of it up on eBay for awhile. If anyone has this insert from The Dragon #15 a lot of people would be thankful for a scan of that board.

I'll look, Andrew. I have all of the Dragons back to The Strategic Review #2. Hopefully, my Issue 15 has the insert.

Wyatt

Wormy was my favourite strip from the Dragon Mag. Who was it that did Fineous Fingers?

JD Webster did FF

It seems he had lost his taxi job and had suffered a stroke, and was selling art through a local game store to cover expenses. He had also been diagnosed with cancer. More on his recent life and his death at the atore's blog: link

Thanks, Wyatt!

Several people on BoardGameGeek.com will be grateful if the image turns up.

He also helped design Titan, which many people have fond memories of.

He seems to have left the gaming industry in bitterness after some dealings that didn't work out. Who knows what he could have drawn and painted in those missing decades. Let's take that as a reminder to treat each other well.

I'm sad to hear about his passing. I was a fan of Wormy as well. RIP.

A tribute to his artwork: link

Here's the entire run of the classic Wormy, which ended abruptly with Trampier's departure from gaming.

link

Some of the accounts claim that the publication plans for a collected book of Wormy strips and a resulting dispute over ownership of the rights led to the Trampier's exit, though it appears other concerns may have weighed in as well.

In any case, the artwork and coloration in Wormy was amazing, particularly in the sequences involving the Shadowcat. The scans don't do justice to the printed art.

Thanks for posting the Wormy link.

What's stunning to me is that so far, as far as I can tell, there has been zero acknowledgement or recognition of this death by anyone currently involved with Dungeons & Dragons, despite the fact that Trampier's work was seminal to all our experience of the game (that famous idol on the cover of the original Player's Handbook is his work). In fact, WotC continues to use Trampier's work, even on its own website (the idol picture appears there currently as the "click in" art for an article in the D&D section). Yet no recognition for the artist himself? That's sad, bordering on pathetic. I realize it's not exactly national news in terms of coverage, but the word is out there.

At least the gaming community remembers. And maybe that's the most important thing.

My favourite picture was the dwarves coming down the stairs that curve around, listening to the magic mouth while at the bottom of the stairs a pair of eyes stared. Thanks DAT and please rest in peace.
--
Tim

I always loved his crisp style. I can't even calculate how many hours I spent looking at his drawings in Monster Manual, or that full page 'Emirikol the Chaotic'.

What's stunning to me is that so far, as far as I can tell, there has been zero acknowledgement or recognition of this death by anyone currently involved with Dungeons & Dragons,

Just a repeat of what happened with Dave Sutherland III.

John Kovalic, cartoonist, illustrator and artist (Dork Tower, Munchkin, Apples to Apples and more) pays tribute: link

Aaron WIlliams, cartoonist and artist (Nodwick, Full Frontal Nerdity) joins in: nodwick.com/?p=6617

So the news is getting around to people who appreciated Trampier's work and contribution.

A genius, and sadly missed.

Photos of original artwork by Trampier, on the Castle Perilous game store site: link
(scroll down to find his art)

The original piece created as a cover for Titan is amazing.

The set also includes the art used for the AD&D DM's Screen, one of my favorite Trampier pieces. I'd love to have that one hanging on my wall!

RIP, I lost many a fun hour playing Titan.