The Mysterious Disappearance of David A. Trampier, TSR Illustrator and Creator of “Wormy”!

Nov 16, 2008

If this picture strikes a chord with you, chances are you're an old school RPG geek, and if that's the case, we should definitely be hanging out. There's something incredibly captivating about the early artwork in Dungeons and Dragons books, especially the work of Trampier. His illustrations, particularly in the Dragon magazine's featured comic, Wormy, always managed to draw me in. I remember the puzzlement I felt when Wormy disappeared without a trace, a mystery that faded into the background until I recently delved into some old back issues.

Curiosity piqued, I decided to investigate the fate of Mr. Trampier (or D.A.T, as he was known). The story that unfolded was intriguing. In 1988, Trampier abruptly stepped away from the gaming industry. He not only stopped creating Wormy but also ceased cashing checks for his work. This sudden departure led the folks at Dragon to assume the worst – that he had passed away. Little did they know, he had simply relocated without leaving a forwarding address.

For nearly 15 years, there was radio silence. Then, out of the blue, a picture of a taxi driver surfaced in a Carbondale, Illinois newspaper. And guess who it was? None other than David Trampier himself.

This revelation sparked excitement among fans, many of whom attempted to reach out to him through letters and phone calls. However, Mr. Trampier wanted no part of the limelight and politely requested people to stop trying to contact him. It appeared that Trampier had grown disillusioned with the gaming industry and had chosen to move forward with his life, away from the spotlight that once embraced him.

It's undeniably bittersweet. On one hand, I can't help but yearn for a Wormy compilation and for Trampier to receive the geek credibility he truly deserves. Yet, in an unexpected way, his decision to step back from it all only adds to his mystique and respect among fans. It's as if he earned an extra 2000XP for his enigmatic exit, leaving behind a legacy that continues to fascinate and inspire.

Update 3/28/14

In a sad turn of events, I recently stumbled upon the news online that Mr. Trampier has passed away. While it marks the end of an era, his legacy lives on through the captivating artwork that continues to captivate the hearts of RPG enthusiasts around the world.