August 21, 2024: Frederick Brackin

Longtime GURPS playtester and fan Frederick A. Brackin passed away on July 28, 2024, at the age of 64.

Those who are familiar with GURPS likely have encountered Fred's presence, either in "person" (virtually online) or because of his credited playtesting efforts in dozens of GURPS supplements. My earliest e-mail interaction with Fred seems to be from August 2001 in regard to Pyramid, but it's quite likely our paths crossed in the digital realm before then.

Fred was an articulate and knowledgable fan, with playtest credits covering dozens of GURPS supplements stretching back to the Third Edition era. His willingness to dive into projects made him part of a select few that we turned to when we wanted some extra outsider insight into a project. He was also happy to help beyond the realm of GURPS; for example, he earned a special thanks in D6 Fantasy from Editor Nikki Vrtis for help with a rule element of that book.

There doesn't seem to be a public obituary marking Fred's passing, but those who wish to share in his memory can join others doing so on this forum thread.

-- Steven Marsh