Did Pete's playing of the "Wizard of the Wood" affect the development of the magic user class?
Did he create any spells that showed up in the D&D canon?
This actually came up today at the visitation; quite a few of his family are gamers, and were asking the same question.
Yes, he did affect the magic-user class; he basically created it, by being the first one out of the gate. Everybody sat around and said, "all right, if you are 'the wizard', what do wizards do?" Pete modeled himself on Radagast the Brown, and added in things as they became needed in the game.
Pete: "I throw a fireball."
Dave: "You do
what?"
Pete: "I throw a fireball. It's what wizards do."
Dave: "Oh. Okay. Roll to see if you hit."
So, yes, some of his spells are still with us today. Fireballs. Staffs. Talking to animals. I'll have a look in the notes that I have; I think there's more in First Fantasy Campaign.
I wound up talking for some three solid hours about Pete and his gaming. Turned out my audience was his wife, his sisters, his kids, his nieces and nephews, and lots of friends and family. Every time I'd wind down, I'd get prompted by Dave Wesely or somebody "Hey! Remember the time..." and I'd be off again. It was both sad, and fun; I'll miss the guy.
Lux Aeterna.