TOPIC: A Message from Jeff and Lori

Hello all. Lori here, posting after speaking to Jeff on the phone. He is currently headed northward to visit our long-time friend, Stu Bernard, who has battled cancer for over 7 years. Many of the "old guard" will remember Stu, but those of you newer to the TD family may not have been lucky enough to meet the man...the legend, nor may you understand that simply, without Stu, there would be no True Dungeon.

I will try to tell this story as best I can, but Jeff is really the best one to hear this from. In his absence I will do my best....but remember this is MY version...

Once upon a time, some white and nerdy guys I knew played a lot of games. I didn't understand all this "gaming" they did, but as my Mom put it once, "Hey, it could be a lot worse...your man and his friends could be hanging out in strip clubs instead of rolling dice and playing with little figures"...the woman had a point. One of these white and nerdy guys was named Stu. He was larger than life, physically and personality-wise. He had long-silky flowing brown locks of hair and a smile that lit up a room.

One day, Stu told the other W&N guys that he had made a game. BEER! The card game. (I was interested once I hear BEER!) The plan was for Stu to take this game to a game con and market it. Who was in??? Well, of course, the other W&N guys, being stand up awesome guys that they are, said "Heck yeah...we're here to support you brother...we'll go with you and help with the booth and cheer your success".

The W&N guys headed to the 'Con...they set up the booth to introduce BEER! The card game to the gaming world. As is often the case with a new business and new booth, set up was done quickly and the guys had some time on their hands. They could've gone out drinking and partying, but the W&N guys are cooler than that. They took full advantage of their much coveted exhibitor badge and walked around the dealer's hall before the masses arrived. It was there that fate took it's turn...

In browsing the dealer's hall, the guys came across a man, later identified as Stefan, who was setting up his Dwarven Forge wares. The guys were amazed at the cool stuff they were seeing. The stopped to talk and ended up helping set up the booth and befriend Stefan. Jeff called home that night to his devoted, gorgeous wife and explained in great detail and with much enthusiasm this "amazing" stuff they had found. Little did she know, the wheels of opportunity were turning and life was about to change...

Jeff ended up helping Stefan in his booth during that 'Con, and a friendship was born. After that 'con, the friendship developed, so Jeff thought he'd invite Stefan to Jeff's own "JefCon", where the W&N guys got together about once a year to game and have fun. Jeff's "piece de la resistance" at JefCon was the hotel room that he set up a real-life D&D adventure for his buddies. Well, ole Stefan saw that and was amazed. He probably initially thought this Jeff guy was pretty crazy and passionate about D&D, but seeing this life-size dungeon room in a hotel room sealed the deal...Jeff was bonafide crazy!

Now we'll shorten details for the sake of time. Stefan goes to Burning Man and sees his buddy Peter...Stefan tells Peter about this crazy JefCon thing. Peter, intrigued, asks Stefan to see if he can get Peter an invite. Jeff invites Peter...Peter comes to JefCon...Peter approaches Jeff about doing this thing on a "somewhat" bigger scale for his convention "Gen Con" which is moving to Indy. Jeff says "SURE" and THAT is how True Dungeon was born.

Our first True Dungeon was crazy. Jeff and I called in favors from pretty much every friend we had and hoped for the best. Stu was so incredibly instrumental in the whole thing. His game, BEER!, is really what planted the seed for True Dungeon. Stu was one of our original "volunteers" but quite literally, he is the reason the series of fortunate events was put into play.

Today, as Jeff drives north to visit Stu, I want everyone to know that I firmly believe that without Stu, there would be NO True Dungeon. Over the years, we've been so blessed with amazing friends who have helped us make these dreams into reality, but literally...without Stu, the whole thing would've never started.

So, Stu...today, tomorrow, and every day that follows....I sincerely hope that you know, your friendship is one of the blessings in our life. With our without True Dungeon, you have been a GREAT friend through the years. BEER! may not be in every store and game room in the country, but YOUR INFLUENCE started True Dungeon. THOUSANDS of people every year get to enjoy this adventure...and that is because of YOU.

For those of you reading, as much as you like to thank Jeff and I for the adventures you've participated in, hopefully now you know that it wasn't even really us...it was Stu...Stu set the events in motion. And for that, and for the thousands of people that have enjoyed TD in the past and will continue in the future...we thank you, Stu. The world is a better place because you were in it.

Godspeed, my friend...

Best wishes to Stu and his loved ones.

Thank you for sharing this great story. Best wishes for Stu.

Thank you for this amazing tribute to a good friend of your family and TD. He and his loved ones will be in my families prayers

If anyone would like to leave a message for Stu, Jeff is on his way to visit Stu and Jeff would be happy to read any messages left here to Stu this afternoon.

We all owe him a great deal of gratitude.

Oh, and for full disclosure...when I first met Jeff, the whole white and nerdy thing was foreign to me...now, I realize that there are no better men in the world than these W&N guys that I'm blessed to call friends.

To Stu:
Thank you Stu for helping to build and grow such an awesome game. Community is a big part of this game, and from what I've read here and before, I'm willing to bet you had a big hand in helping it form. Thanks. Best wishes to you and your family.

To Lori: +1 Karma


Hm.. My first UR was a Stu-pendous Pendant last year. This story kind of puts more meaning behind it. Maybe it should be part of a Stu's set.

Stu, thanks for helping with the creation of True Dungeon, it is greatly appreciated by many, many thousands of people! And best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery!

My thanks to Stu and all of those involved with the creation and continuance of TD. Prayers for Stu are going up and for all of the TD crew as you prepare for another year. Take care.

Many thanks to Stu - I hope to meet you and thank you in person! Be strong - our thoughts are with you!

Thoughts are with you and yours, Stu. Thanks for all that you've done.

Stu is a real stand up guy. Our thoughts are with him and his family.

Stu, thanks for your enthusiasm for gaming, and for your willingness to reach out and help other geeks & gamers share their worlds.

I remember setting up and tearing down dungeons with you in the Hyatt, and being glad we had you on the team, because you could reach the tall bars without needing to stand on a chair. I didn't realize at the time how much True Dungeon owed you for its very existence.

Without your help, I would not have met the great friends I've gotten to know through TD.

My thoughts are with you & Melissa and your families.