A Eulogy for Tetsujin 28
It is with a sad heart that I relate the sudden, tragic passing of Britt “Tetsujin28″ Daniel. Britt died in a motorcycle accident on Wednesday, July 26, 2006, at the age of 39.
In the way of life, there are always words left unsaid and things left undone. My last conversation with Britt was several weeks ago - we looked forward to meeting at Endgame’s mini-con in mid-July, but unfortunately weren’t able to sync up. I really wish we had.
I met Britt several years ago, and first in person at the Bay Area’s Dundracon. I remember quite a few Guinness were consumed at that meeting, and thereafter. He was a Bay Area local, and an OG (original gamer) of the hobby. He had been playing games for longer than I, and that’s saying something.
Britt was always at ready with a friendship. He struck me as someone who wanted to facilitate connections in life for the people he knew. He introduced me to several folks I didn’t know, and he was a mutual friend among several friendships I already had.
Britt wasn’t a saint; so few of us are. You always knew where you stood with him. He called ‘em the way he saw ‘em, and he wasn’t the least bit shy in speaking up. He was opinionated, quirky, and had a great sarcastic wit. He enjoyed the art of the argument and debated frequently at RPG.net. He always spoke highly of his friends; he had quite a few.
Britt showed me where to find a really, really good hot pastrami sandwich in the Bay Area, and together we lamented the lack of good Jewish soul food on the West Coast.
Britt was around from the earliest days of the hobby. He was a Chaosium regular back in the day, and knew a-plenty about the inner workings of the industry. We always had a great time talking about the old days, the early days, and the problems with whippersnappers today. To say that Britt loved games would be an understatement.
At times like these, while our thoughts are diligently supposed to be with the family and friends, they are inevitably of ourselves, and how our lives seem lessened by the passing. We stumble, thrash, and regret, and in doing so, we bear witness to the impact our friend has had on our lives, small or large. Britt’s untimely passing leaves a hole in many lives, and a hole in the Bay Area community in which he was a part. I know he is deeply missed by family and friends.
Goodbye, Britt. 
—-
As of 7/31, we have some updates:
Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to
Andrea Daniel (mother)
Evan Daniel (brother)
care of
EndGame
921 Washington St.
Oakland, CA 94607
It is requested that flowers not be sent.
The service for Britt will be held Friday, 8/4, at noon, Mountain View Cemetery 5000 Peidmont Ave Oakland, CA 94611 (877) 248-4280
If you care to make a donation in Britt’s name, it is communicated that Britt would have wanted these charities to be the recipients:
The Judah L. Magnes Museum
2911 Russell Street
Berkeley, CA 94705
510-549-6950
Saint Mary’s College of California: Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 4300
Moraga, CA 94575-4300
Ben Monroe said,
July 30, 2006 @ 10:15 am
This whole situation just breaks my heart. Britt had been going through a lot of soul-searching and personal growth over the last few years, and was really getting on track.
This past spring, he finished his BA in Anthropology, and had been accepted to two different graduate programs for the fall. He was really excited about the new opportunities opening up for him.
He was truly a unique individual. He will be missed.
Chris said,
July 30, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
There are small, maybe stupid things that you end up never forgetting. One of those will be the last time Britt walked out of EndGame. We had spent almost a half an hour talking about current and past RPGs. How excited he was about Artesia, True20, and Cadwallon. He was super excited about school, and he was in one of the most chatty excited moods I had seen him in ages. He obviously enjoyed the converstaion, grabbed his helmet, and as he was walking out he made sure to stop, turn around and say “I will see you soon.”
Britt always came down late Saturday evenings. There were times it was right as we closed. Yesterday, it felt strange, almost empty as I watched the clock get closer and closer to 7pm. I knew that there was no reason to worry, or watch out for him. I had made it almost a weekly routine. One that will now have to be changed. Britt and I had fun arguing, and didn’t always agree…but I enjoyed that. I enjoyed his weird taste in games, and I enjoyed his involvement in our community. I will miss him.
James Holloway said,
July 30, 2006 @ 1:37 pm
I didn’t know Britt well — we both studied at Durham, we were both archaeologists or something like, and we were both gamer nerds. I only knew him online, and recently we’d grown apart. But I’ll sit here and raise a glass in his memory. He’ll be missed.
Quasar said,
July 30, 2006 @ 2:27 pm
I only knew Britt through RPGnet and as Tetsujin. I always loved our talks about ancient history and/or archaeology or the good old days of gaming. I always envied his enthusiasm for life and following his dream (something I’ve never really been bold enough to do). You’ll be missed buddy.
Mel Wong said,
July 30, 2006 @ 2:59 pm
I’d known him only on RPGnet, and was shocked to find the post about his passing there. We’d butted heads over some pretty personal matters, and I was surprised and shocked over his good grace and apology.
We’d been supposed to meet when he visited Singapore, but unfortunately I was en route to the US about the time he was supposed to visit my homeland, and thus we never did meet in person.
I feel like I’ve just been punched in the stomach - I feel like I wasted all the chances I could have had to become better friends with him. The world feels so much emptier to me now, but I’m sure this parting isn’t eternal. I miss him terribly.
Young Han Lester said,
July 30, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
My condolences to his friends and his family. I hope that he is peaceful.
Cerulean Lion said,
July 30, 2006 @ 7:14 pm
Britt Daniel, Tetsujin28:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
danny marquardt said,
July 30, 2006 @ 7:59 pm
that was really touching. I never met the man but I am sad that I never had the chance to now.
Paul Hodgson said,
July 31, 2006 @ 1:09 am
I only knew Britt through a shared love of gaming, and time spent at uni in Durham. I know he was planning on going back there this year, and I was hoping to meet in person for a beer and a natter.
You’ll be missed mate.
Nathan -cnath said,
July 31, 2006 @ 5:41 am
I’m sure it’s cheezy, but at times like this I end up thinking of the poem that was in Knights of the Dinner Table years ago, that they finally put up on thier website after requests. It’s called “The Empty Chair” http://www.kenzerco.com/Operiodicals/kodt/nemptychair.php
I never got to meet or game with him, but I know that a gamer now sleeps.
Theron Bretz said,
July 31, 2006 @ 6:34 am
I knew Britt for quite a while online, though it took me a long time between boards and mailing lists. He was, like me, a gaming relic. One of the old guys who cut our teeth in the early days. I could always count on him to back me up about whatever was “wrong” with the young whippersnappers, even though he was four years my junior.
I never got to meet him in person, and I owe him more than a few beers. My condolences to his clan, and to those who knew him personally.
Dave Webb said,
July 31, 2006 @ 7:47 am
I’ve known Britt going on 6 years now, he was one of the first people I was introduced to when I moved to the Bay Area. He and I became really great friends, shared many a beer and many a hockey game. We both loved Scotch and we told many a story over a bottle. I didn’t see him as often as I would’ve like, seeing as how I live in the South Bay and he didn’t, but we managed to keep in touch. I loved Britt for his ideas and we had many arguments over what the perfect gaming system was. He always said “the less statistics the better” and finally sold me on the TriStat system. Damn him. He played in my Champions game and frustrated me at every turn. But that was Britt, frustrating…and grinning like a mad fiend when he did so. I’ll miss his weird sci-fi 60’s game that I only got to play in once and begged him to run again. I’ll miss hanging out with him at con until the wee hours of the morning as we swapped stories and Scotch. Most of all I’ll miss him and the uniqueness that made him a great friend.
For any of you going to ConQuest SF, look me up…i’m the short guy in Team Volare and we’ll toast him proper.
Goodbye hermano..you will be missed greatly.
Madeline F said,
July 31, 2006 @ 10:52 am
Oh, hell. He PMed me on RPG.net when he noticed I was in Oakland after we shared a rant about Nobilis. I was interested in showing up to his Saturday game day thing, but never got around to finalising that with him… And I missed meeting him at the latest Endgame minicon… I wanted to meet him and hang out.
Do you know if there’s anyplace we can send flowers, or any wake where random people off the internet can go share our sorrow?
Zoran Kovacich said,
July 31, 2006 @ 5:19 pm
I’ve known and gamed with Britt for years while I still lived in the Bay Area. We were both regulars in the weekly gaming group that met at the Raucher’s house only he was far more regular than I. He was like family to them while I always felt like a bit of an outsider. Even so, he always made me feel like I belonged. He genuinely seemed delighted to see me when I showed up and was always interested in my opinions. He truely made me feel like I mattered.
Britt never stuck to running one game for very long but was always trying something new. He got me started running Giant Monster Rampage and playing Betrayal at House on the Hill and was always telling me about new games he had learned about on the internet. Like me he was frustrated with the games available on the market and was alway looking for something better.
Britt had a special gift of naming characters and as we know, giving a name is what brings a thing into existence. On numerous occasions when I would start a new character in a game, Britt would just start calling it something else until HIS name was the one that stuck. My characters Trogdor, Professor Klankenhissen, and Penguinicus owed much of their imaginary existence to Britt.
I’ve been out of the Bay Area for over a year and was planning to return for a visit. I was looking forward to seeing him again. Now I suppose I will simply have to wait longer. He will be missed. The richness of the universe is lessened with his passing.
James Carpio said,
July 31, 2006 @ 5:23 pm
I only knew Britt in his online presence over at RPG.net. It was always nice to see his posts and his views on the industry and gaming in general. It makes me sad that I will no longer see his posts, or hear about the earlier days of Bay Area gaming. I had lived in San Francisco for 30 years and knew some of the same people Britt did, but alas our paths never crossed. When one person has touched the lives of so many, they become immortal and their legacy can live on through those who will time and time again tell stories about his life and exploits.
Britt you will be missed by many in the web community and even moreso by those who knew you in person.
MrFilthyIke said,
July 31, 2006 @ 7:31 pm
Godspeed Britt, may your dice always roll high in the next life.
Paul Hess said,
July 31, 2006 @ 9:12 pm
I will miss Britt. He fun to be around and a nice guy. He was free with sharing his life experience and was fair with the opinions that he rendered.
I think the best way to carry his memory forward is to continue in the friendly gaming that he did. Always willing to make room for a new guy at the table and share the rules with him.
Kymba A'Hearn said,
July 31, 2006 @ 10:10 pm
12:00pm, Mountain View Cemetery, more info to follow.
He played City of Villains as Fah Lo Suee, other than that computers were only good for storing pictures of his favorite red-heads. <3
John Sullins said,
July 31, 2006 @ 10:44 pm
I come not to bury Brit but to praise him. I know of no finer, nor fiercer, arbiter of taste in all things gaming. Who now will put the lie to the legions of shabby game designers and derivative game masters? Brit was a Maestro of the rapier wit who regularly shredded the unwary and unworthy. Brit could tell instantly an OG from a wannabe and treat them accordingly. But once proven in the crucible of his wit, the survivors were treated as friend and fellow. Woe to the inexperienced and humorless GM’s who found Brit in their games, but the worthies could find no better player.
Even now I am certain he is arguing with the creator of this universe, informing him that only a cruel, and inexpert GM would have killed off a character such as his so early in the adventure. I trust he is also pointing out the many inconsistencies and contradictions in the core rules system our GM has chosen to use. We can be sure that his next character will be better than the last.
Morn Brit not oh Brothers, for he knows the secret of steal. Worry instead for your selves and better your skills so that you too may follow him to Valhalla when you fail your final saving roll. Well, if not Valhalla proper, at least the room in the back where the game geeks are, there we will game and argue until the universe is consumed in flame and we can convince the GM to run a better rules system next time.
We will miss you Brit, I will dis a newbie for you at the next con!
In found memory,
Kathleen Fuller said,
July 31, 2006 @ 11:09 pm
I only knew Britt through RPGnet, but he was a valued part of the community there. I will miss him.
Max Cairnduff said,
August 1, 2006 @ 2:05 am
I knew Britt online, as many others did. Last time we talked he had emailed me to give me his details, so we could keep in touch if he wasn’t about. I’m terribly sad that won’t happen now.
He was a good guy, I liked him a lot and will miss him. It’s a real loss to all of us and we’re all diminished by his absence.
kane said,
August 1, 2006 @ 6:19 am
I only knew Tetsujin28 via ENWorld’s message boards. He always had something insightful or funny to say. He will be missed.
R.I.P.
BaddKarmma said,
August 1, 2006 @ 7:25 am
My thoughts and prayers are with you all for strength and inner peace during this troubling time. My heartfelt condolences for your loss.
Ozymandias said,
August 1, 2006 @ 8:15 am
Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
The Tweaker said,
August 1, 2006 @ 9:51 am
I am really sorry to hear this. I knew Tetsujin28 at rpg.net and I usually enjoyed his posts and his views on the hobby. He will be missed.
Ed Allen said,
August 1, 2006 @ 5:44 pm
I first talked to Britt about gaming about 20 years ago. For about 15 years now we gamed in the same group regularly most Saturday nights that he was home in the Bay Area.
At first, Britt used to get on my nerves alot. He cared SO MUCH about every aspect of gaming that we had some epic rules arguments. Over time though, those faded away, and we’ve had a lot of great times.
My son David grew from infancy to his teens at that gaming table. He had just typed up and printed out his notes on his first fleshed out game design intending to show the guys, especially Britt, this past Saturday night, looking forward to his critical input. Instead, we had a very bittersweet session.
Bruce Baugh said,
August 2, 2006 @ 1:18 am
I met Britt most of two decades ago, and my life is so the richer from it. The thing I treasure most about our friendship is his absolute honesty: if he thought something I liked was junk, he’d say so, but he’d also listen to my defense and think about it, and he was willing to defend his own tastes on exactly the same terms. He broadened my horizons in art, music, literature, and film; I like to think I repaid the favor from time to time. Like everyone else here, I’ll miss him, hope he’s at peace (or, better yet, in the midst of something exciting and new), and pray for strength and grace for those left behind.
Bailywolf said,
August 2, 2006 @ 6:17 am
I only knew Britt from rpg.net, but was happy to have done so. It didn’t hit me until I looked at this page, and saw his icon up there at the top, and then I damned near cried when it dropped on me.
My best wishes and thoughts go out to his family, and all those who knew him.
-Ben
Fred Hicks said,
August 2, 2006 @ 10:03 am
I never got a chance to meet, nor really truly *know*, Britt, other than his constant and dedicated support of the Fate RPG (which I created with Rob Donoghue) on RPG.net. He always had good ideas, and funny, funny quotes, like “I love Fate so much, sometimes I don’t even miss having a girlfriend.”
That cracked me up like crazy at the time. Now, alas, it’s a bit bittersweet.
Losing Britt hits me pretty hard given that I only ever really knew him as a fan on a screen. But I think that bespeaks the power of his personality. No matter how much you put between him and the world, the world could not help but see him.
Evil Hat Productions will be dedicating the publication of our upcoming Fate game, Spirit of the Century, to Britt.
I like to think he’ll see it.
Henry Link said,
August 2, 2006 @ 11:28 am
I was not well acquainted with Britt, but based on the outpouring of friends here and on message boards across the Internet, he was a well-liked person. I’m truly sorry for the family’s loss, I’m sorry I never got to meet him in person, and I hope that his family and friends find a measure of peace further down the road.
jim pinto said,
August 2, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
I didn’t know Britt well, but I admired his intelligence and fervor. We spoke a number of times online and I always enjoyed his input. I know my contribution here is paltry compared to some.
But I offer my condolences nonetheless.
- jim
Sang gye cho dang tsok kyi chok nam la
Chang chup bar du dak ni kyap su chi
Dak gi ji sok gyi pe so nam kyi
Dro la pen chig sang sang gye drub par cho.
Jye Nicolson said,
August 2, 2006 @ 2:45 pm
Very seldom does anyone consistently make a community a better place in the way Britt did rpg.net just by being there. The internet will be a lesser place without him.
Johanna said,
August 2, 2006 @ 3:35 pm
Like many people, I met Britt at a gaming convention in the mid 1990s, and we’d been friends ever since he looked about the wreckage of a certain game’s aftermath and declared that it was “Oh-Beer-Thirty”…
Britt was a kind-hearted - but not naive - man; quick witted and with more perception than I could easily comprehend, but always admired. I liked him very much, and I’ll miss him more.
CVG said,
August 2, 2006 @ 7:49 pm
Hello - I just found out about Britt’s passing today - so I guess I missed the service and that’s disappointing… I was Britt’s archaeology professor and academic advisor and I knew almost nothing about his gaming persona
but started googling and found this community. I, too, am shocked that he is gone and trying to process what his loss means to me… I expected him to be popping in my door for the next few decades at least! For those of you who knew him as a gamer let me add this to his profile - he was a helluva student. He took pride in having the longest bibliographies in the history of the Anthropology department and never tired of reminding me that he was older than me and knew a few things I did not! I hope that his passing was quick and I know I’ll think of him everytime I teach the prehistory of the Asian steppes…
William Ronald said,
August 2, 2006 @ 9:53 pm
I remember Britt’s passion for gaming, and all the discussions on line. May his family and friends be comforted in this sad time.
David Allen said,
August 2, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
I’ve known Britt for all of my life. I grew up on my dad’s knee at the Saturday night sessions. Britt was one of the more constant people I know, one of the people I was supposed to grow older playing games with. He was a good friend, and the last time we met it was in City of Heroes, where he was very excited about getting double experience that weekend. I was looking forward to trying out the card game with him, and show him the game I am designing. It’s the ordinary day-to-day stuff that I can never again do with him that I will miss the most.
Wil said,
August 3, 2006 @ 7:28 am
I know that some of the emotions I’m feeling have to do with the fact that I just recently lost a very close friend in a car accident, but the outpouring of respect and love for Britt really touches me. It makes me wish that I had known him outside of message forums, because he was “my kind of people”. So, for those that did know him and were close to him, I leave you with a passage from a song that was played at my close friend’s memorial; a song that means a lot to me, my late friend Dave and hopefully conveys the same meaning to Britt’s friends and family:
mt. said,
August 3, 2006 @ 12:52 pm
I played with Britt every Friday night for almost a year & I never knew how much I depended on his presence until I found out he’d never be coming again. Despite my status as perpetual n00b, he was always helpful, supportive, and funny, truly funny, which so few people are. That is how I will remember him. oh the glory when he took our place, but he took my shoulders & he shook my face, & he takes & he takes & he takes.
Pete Darby said,
August 3, 2006 @ 3:20 pm
I only knew Britt through the online fora… when I was active, we agreed about a lot, disagreed about a fair amount, but generally, I felt that if anything I said was worth a response from Tetsujin28, it must have been OK, or at least note worthy.
Don’t have a beer to hand, but I’ll be raising a glass of Raki to his memory.
Rob Blair said,
August 4, 2006 @ 11:16 am
Britt will be missed - I knew him from the Santa Barbara days. His family hosted the first Seder I ever went to, and apreciated him & his whole family.
Never afraid to try a new game, or tinker. It’s a worse world without him.
Peter Grose said,
August 4, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
We few,
We happy, happy few,
We band of Original Gamers.
We few that were blessed with Brit’s company if only for a couple decades.
I know no words to soothe our loss but rather share just a wisp of what I remember.
Brit was one of four gamers who had signed up for one of John Sullins’ Epic-Miniatures-Meets-RPG only to find that he and I had switched GM slots. Despite this set back not one of them showed the least regret, much to my relief, and proceeded to set up a coffee maker while handing the GM a beer. “Better insurance than Fate Points”, said Brit, renaming all my pre-generated party members and we began to roll dice. That was twenty years ago and we still rolled dice, played cards, moved minis or just BSed at any con we could. It was Brit who made me realize that I was an OG and to be honest, quite proud to be in his company. He tutored me in the art of Con Flea Market Selling. If you were at the con where he stood on the chair, 7 minutes left in the sale, yelling, “If no one buys this copy of Tet Offensive, I’m throwing it away! It all goes one way or another!” and say you don’t remember it then you weren’t there. The crowd that surged his table when he carried through with said threat and upended the box, chits flying everywhere, had panic in their faces and they bought up everything he had left in order to rescue it. The man understood and reveled in what it is to be a gamer. I learned from him every time we conversed and he had the uncanny ability to be well read and spoken on the most esoteric of subjects. It was Brit who liked reminding me and any one I introduced him to that during the previously mentioned first game together I had spilled superglue and attached my shorts to my knee. This subject surfaced immediately if the other person was female.
I always smiled when I saw Brit, he always made me feel the center of his attention and I always sought him in anticipation at a Con. The long linage of Sir Mare du Merd owes its very existence to his being more successful in naming my characters than I was. No one could disagree more vehemently nor support more fully than Brit. We would never agree on Lord of the Rings (the book, newbies) and we respected each other for it. Where was that high level cleric with Resurrection Scroll that every party needs? Brit would have been the first and loudest to point out that he wasn’t the first Jew to come back and would already planning his own religion. I’d join.
All gaming aside, if that is possible, I want to say that Brit was one of the fairest, kindest, most intelligent people I ever met. He always had a kind word or, better yet, caustic observation to share and I will always remember his asymmetrical smile. There are so few truly fine people in the world the passing of this one is especially hard.
I’ll look for you in that undiscovered country where we can roll dice again but I’ll leave the superglue behind. So long, Brit…
Chris Romer (cj.23) said,
August 4, 2006 @ 11:12 pm
I knew Britt as Tetsujin28, on rpg.net. Condolences to his mother and brother at this sad time, and to all touched by his passing.
I knew Britt online, but he was a true scholar and a gentleman. I know little of his life, but his genuine love and respect for others, his great intelligence, and his wit and charisma shone through even across the net. Although we never met, and we spoke almost always through a discussion on an rpg matter, or on religion, I came to regard him as a good friend, and a man whose opinions I respected more than almost any other poster on the web.
A great man, whose love of life and gaming touched so many, au revoir Britt, until we game again in the world to come.
We love you mate.
God bless you,
cj x
Jason Sinclair said,
August 5, 2006 @ 6:56 pm
Farewell, my friend, and may you rest easy. You will be missed.
Olivier Legrand said,
August 6, 2006 @ 10:11 am
A quick word from France.
I’ve just learned the sad news. I only knew Britt as Tetsujin28 on RPGnet and as a fervent supporter of one of my games.
I enjoyed reading his messages, which were full of insight, courtesy and humor - like me, he was an ‘older gamer’ and I would often recognize my own experiences in his observations.
I know he will be missed by a lot of other people on these forums.
I’d wish to express all my condolences to his friends and family.
Paul Schulze said,
August 7, 2006 @ 12:30 am
I knew Britt as tetsujin28 from RPGnet. I liked him; he was one of the people that, to me, made the site a fun, interesting place to visit. He was intelligent and witty, and someone whose opinions I have no doubt spent hours reading.
His excitement and enthusiasm over certain games was enough incentive for me to search them out. He was just that perceptive, and compelling.
I miss him. The internet is going to be a quieter, much less interesting place without him.
Noel Gayle (Gully Foyle) said,
August 10, 2006 @ 5:08 pm
I knew Britt as Tetsujin 28. I really didn’t know him that well, but my impression of him was a level headed, intelligent individual, with a ready, sarcastic wit and a sensible approach to most things. His eyes were open, if you understand what I mean. I never met him personally, but I wish I had.
You are gone
Your shadow has passed along,
I listen
and now the road
is quiet
your footsteps echo no longer
Your laughter has faded,
your smile but a memory
and I am now cold
in the knowledge
that you have gone.
I feel like I should say something more, but I don’t know what. I’m gonna miss you Britt. You chose to go before. We will follow along, soon enough.
“Good night sweet prince/and may scores of angels/sing thee to thy rest…”
Destriarch said,
August 11, 2006 @ 1:13 am
I didn’t know Tetsu’ very well, but I do remember the posts he used to leave on RPG Net, and they always cheered me up, and a lot of other people too. I don’t recall ever seeing any malice in him and that is a rare quality in today’s world.
I’m not a particularly religious person by nature, so I’ll just say: Sleep well friend, you’ve earned it.
Ash
James Dornan said,
August 11, 2006 @ 4:04 pm
I met Britt a few times at Goleta Valley Jr High School. We socialized some, but not much. About a year later after always runing into each other at the same places we discovered we had a good deal in common. We shared the same hobbies. Comics, games, food, friends, and so on. In 1999 or 1998 Brit came to stay at my place in LA for a few weeks. When I answered the door we were wearing the exact same clothes. Little things like that happened all the time between him and I.
No matter the span of time we were apart we could always pick up right where we left off. We last spoke about 3-4 moths ago. At the time he was happy very happy. School was going great, and he knew the direction his life was going. The read ahead had never been exactly clear for Britt. This was a source of depression for him from time to time. It really seemed this was a problem of the past.
Britt’s brother Evan was also a happy subject for him. He was extremely proud of Evean. Being brothers they fought. I guess all brothers do. Even though Brit always spoke highly of Evan, even if he was mad at him.
The shining light in Britt’s life was his mother, Andrea. She never gave up on him. Britt had trouble with jobs, and keeping them. He was eather uninspired or they conflicted with his health. He tried a seemly endly string of professions. All the time his mother gave her support, supported him when needed, backed him, sided with him, and never gave anything but unconditional love at all times.
When I got the news about Britt I was in Santa Barbara on vaction with my wife and two kids, from Daytona Beach, FL. I tried to stay composed, but it hit me hard. I dropped everything and headed straight for Oakland. I didn’t know what I could do, but I drove there just the same. I did what I could to be there for his family, but in the end there really was not enough I could do. Services were held on Friday 8/4 at the Mountain View cemetary in Oakland, CA.
At the wake we all swapped Britt stories. In a sense it was a reunion of old friends. People I’d known in the past, who also knew Britt. If it was not a wake it would have been a good time. Britt knew people from all walks of life. It was clear that Britt was able to focus on what people have in common.
I’m having trouble writing, so I’m ebnding this post here. I guess I’ve been friends with Britt for something close to 25+ years. It’s hard to lose some one like that and someone who is as special as he was.
James Robertson (jimbojones71) said,
August 11, 2006 @ 5:15 pm
I am going to miss Britt’s presence as Tetsujin28 on the rpg.net forums. He was one of the best, and most prolific, posters on the site and I always looked forward to reading his comments. I only just found out what happened to him, I was missing his presence and went looking to see if there was any news.
Thanks for sharing your humour, wit and intelligence with us Britt. We were lucky to have you for the time we did. Travel well, friend.
Conan McKegg (Menchi) said,
August 13, 2006 @ 1:18 am
Britt/Tetsujin28 and I had some disputes at times, but we were always able to be jovial and friendly about it. I’m going to miss his presence on RPGnet. He was always thought-provoking, intelligent and with a sense of humour.
May you find your place in the beyond, and keep them smiling over there.
Steve D said,
August 14, 2006 @ 2:23 am
Oh my God, I only just heard. We who saw but a small part of the man miss him terribly, so I cannot imagine what the loss is to those who knew him intimately. My hearts and prayers are with you, and my thoughts celebrate his memory.
Scott Lette said,
August 20, 2006 @ 11:06 pm
I’ve used RPG.net as a vehicle for discussion over the years, both under the usernames of SALette and Burgonet. While I had no contact with Britt Daniel in person, we had chatted on quite a few occasions over the years through this forum board. There, I knew him as “Tetsujin28″.
Britt was one of those stand-out posters. He was never shy about saying what he believed needed to be said. He exhibited a sense of humour, a fairly sarcastic yet good natured wit and a genuine love of the games and people that frequented his life. He seemed determined to break many of the typical ‘gamer’ stereotypes, the man professed a love for drink, social outings and leading an active life overall. That said he enjoyed a love of knowledge and study as well as an appreciation of the amber arts!
My thoughts and well-wishes are with his family during this time, my apologies in taking some time to finally post my condolences here.
I will always dwell upon the good memories that I have in intereacting with him, the levity and joviality that he often brought in his wake.
He shall be missed.
Vasco Brown said,
September 19, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
I only ‘knew’ Britt as “Tetsujin28″ on RPG.net, but I know I’ll miss his wit and humor immensely. The boards are a much paler place with his passing.
Condolences to Britt’s family and friends.
Alex Lampros said,
October 9, 2006 @ 12:37 pm
:(
arcadayn said,
November 3, 2006 @ 8:15 am
I have only today become aware of Brit’s passing. I knew him as Tetsujin 28 at RPGnet. Anytime I noticed his avatar or signature, I would stop to read his posts. We shared many of the same likes and dislikes for our favorite hobby. I shall miss his wit and graciousness. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
droog said,
November 10, 2006 @ 4:09 am
tets and I often exchanged jokes on RPG.net. We had a lot in common.
Story now, motherfucker!
Simon Owen said,
November 22, 2006 @ 3:45 pm
I have only just found out about Britt’s passing , I had seen references to him being missed on RPG.net but I didn’t realise that he had died , I thought maybe he had just left the message boards. One does not think that tragedy can strike and take down a fellow gamer in such a way.
I only knew Britt as ‘ Tetsujin28 ‘ from RPG.net , but he was one of the most profilic and interesting posters there and I always enjoyed reading what he had to say. His words were always intelligent , clear , cutting and opinionated and often very funny as well : it is a terrible shame that he died at such a young age and when he had so many great possibilities before him.
My deepest sympathies and condolences to those left behind , and Britt , you will be missed.
Trombone4Hire said,
November 22, 2006 @ 10:45 pm
Today I followed a link from a signature on RPG.net to this page. I only knew Britt through RPG.net, but I will miss his many contributions to the community, and wish now that I had spoken with him more directly when I had the opportunity. Whenever I saw that robot icon, I knew there was a post worth reading. He touched many lives in big and small ways, including mine. He will be dearly missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
AikiGhost (Dale) said,
November 23, 2006 @ 10:09 am
To MrFilthyIke who said,
“July 31, 2006 @ 7:31 pm
Godspeed Britt, may your dice always roll high in the next life.”
You realise that Tetsujin28 was a massive BRP fan and would have cursed you for this?
01 crits all the way Tets, you will be missed dude.
MrFilthyIke said,
December 6, 2006 @ 8:33 pm
No I did not know Tets was a BRP fan, only knew him through ENWorld.
As a fellow BRP fan, you’ll be missed even more.
Odie said,
March 23, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
I only just found out — I was on hiatus from RPGnet, the gaming website where I knew tetsujin28 from — and I just wanted to put a goodbye note up on this page.
I always thought you had a lot of sense about you, tetsujin. I wish I’d had the chance to talk more with you instead of just talking on the same forums as you. Maybe we can get a one-shot of Runequest going up in Heaven, and then children on Earth will hear our dice rolling crits and mistake the sound for thunder.
Imperator said,
March 27, 2007 @ 7:22 am
And now, many months after his death, I find myself missing him. When I was in a big personal crisis in 2004, he lent me his hand from the distance (I live in Spain, for God’s sake), and helped me, giving me some of the best advice I’ve ever had. Now that I face a similar situation, I miss emailing him to tell him about it.
I have a beer in my hand, and I’ll toast it for you, Britt. So many bastards deserve to die, that this sometimes seem like a fucking joke.
gorman said,
April 2, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Just found out today. Always liked his posts on RPG.net. I fully quote Imperator’s last remark.
MrFilthyIke said,
May 2, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
Still missing the input from Tets, the boards are not the same.
KymbaKhan said,
May 5, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
looking for info and only this seems to come up in searches.
last time i felt stupid like this i just sent a note to his LJ.
it beats running around in circles hitting self in head.
there’s been a collection of little things at Britt’s grave, tiny little trinkets and toys in the grass, come and go as they .. er.. probably are mowed. this is reminding me to go back with more dice.
okay.
i feel a little better.
HO SHIT BRITT, THE FUCKING SHARKS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! WE’RE GETTING DUSTED IN ROUND TWO BUT AT LEAST IT’S DETROIT AND AT LEAST IT’S HASEK!
James Dornan said,
January 22, 2010 @ 10:42 am
Still doesn’t get any better. Having one of those “missing Britt” weeks. So many stories I now only I can recall. It’s a horrible loneliness, sure. However it’s nothing compared to the feeling that he would have done amazing things in the last few years. There are so many things he should have done.
Britt had greatness, and we could see it, but it only need to find it’s direction. It was like a massive amount of electricity looking for it’s conductor, and if it could only find that path of least resistance then the whole world would light up. He was lucky enough to have found that before he died.
At the time of Britts passing I was in California with my wife and two sons. This was unusual since we lived in Florida at the time. We didn’t have very specific plans and I knew Britt was home from school in England, so I had planned a surprise visits to the Bay Area to see him and others. I feel lucky to have been there for his family and to pay my respects. But it’s hard not to think of what could have been.
We almost didn’t drive up. I called and spoke to Evin, Britt’s wonderful brother, and he explained what happened a little and told me how their mother was devastated. As we spoke I could not stop from crying, and my son of 6 years noticed. He asked “Why are you crying?” and I said “My friend Britt was killed and his mother is so sad that she can’t really do anything.” He replied “Then we have to go there now and help her.” So we did. It was the longest drive of my life. I remember some faces and a few events, but otherwise I was completely on automatic. Shocked or stunned, I really don’t know. But unless my son hadn’t said what did when he did I wouldn’t have made it. It was his actions that inspired me to help someone who lost something just as amazing as my son.
So, in the end. I just miss him, and when I do I feel so empty, like some of the world has gone missing and nobody else notices it.