Our friend Machiabelly has passed away

It's with great sorrow that I share the news that Machiabelly passed away suddenly last night. His wife found his Discord and messaged me this evening and asked me to share the news with his fellow players and the community.

His name was Garfield MacLean and he was 56. His wife, Lori, shared how much he enjoyed writing, and he spoke of his PbP games and the site often. He will be greatly missed.

In the coming days I'll be starting a memorial fund that will go to Mrs. Machiabelly to help with expenses and various difficulties. Everyone is free to donate if they wish, but it is entirely voluntary. If anyone has a good idea of a good way to arrange that, feel free to post or message me, I'll be researching it as well (accepting international donations to be received in Canada). I'll share that in a separate post once it's ready.

I'm so sorry to hear that... I don't think he & I interacted much but it's sad to hear he's passed. He'll be missed around these parts.

I am so, so sorry to hear of this. Thank you for sharing the information, skeptical_stun.

OMG! This is very distressing news! Thank you for letting us know! Great sorrow.

I am just devastated to hear this. Mach was one of the most kind-hearted, generous and genuinely wonderful people I've had the honor to have met.

This is just awful. He will be missed.

He was a good friend and one of my very favorite gamers. There will always be a place for you at my table, my friend.

I'm so sorry to hear this. I had nothing but great interactions with him and he will be sorely missed at the PbP table.

I've played in hundreds of D&D games, with all kinds of people. But I never dreamed I would have a character that co-owned a chain of kobold staffed fast-food restaurants across the ten-towns of Icewind Dale.

Machiabelly, my friend Garfield, was the kind of guy that made them seem so..... natural.

Our restaurants are closed now, out of respect for a good man. But they will reopen, and be an important part of my Sword Coast world forever.

Mach was a really lovely guy. I played in many games with him over the years. He was fun, dependable, kind and great to chat with out of game. He will be greatly missed.

So sorry to hear the bad news. He will be missed.

I never got the chance to play a game with Machiabelly but he was always a delight to interact with on the forums. He made this community a better place with his sense of humour, creativity, and kindness. You will be greatly missed!

A moment of silence for our dear community member.

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You will be missed.

It's strange to see his face,. I knew his heart, mind and creativity.
We played together on several games. There is an empty spot at our table, where our friend used to be.

I'm very sorry to hear this. I've played a lot of games with Mach and he was a really great guy.

This is quite a shock to hear, especially since he posted in a mutual game only a few days ago. He was a nice guy, and I regret not getting to know him better than I did. May he rest peacefully.

Machiabelly played with me in my first GP game, but I really got to spend time with him in Icewind Dale.

He was a lovely person, who you were always pleased to see. He had a gentle kindness and a quiet enthusiasm to him, and it was easy to enjoy spending time with him. I'm heartbroken to hear of his passing.

I'm going to miss you, Machi. You were more of a friend to me than you knew - and that's the true true.

That is very sad news... May he rest in peace, and may his family find comfort in the many good memories he surely left them.

Sad news. Condolences to his wife, friends and family. Don't know of a single community member here who spoke ill of him -- he'll be dearly missed. Game on, brother.

I'm really shocked. I've had but a few interactions with him in my little time in GP. Rest in peace friend, until we game again.

Oh man, that' s sad to hear. RIP

Wow, I’m shocked and saddened by this news. I never got the chance to play with him, but I love hearing the stories from everyone who did. He will be missed.

This news hit me hard. I was lucky to have played alongside Machiabelly as well as GM for him. He was always such a pleasure to be around. A brilliant roleplayer and a great guy all around. What a loss for this community! I'll miss him.

Oh no.

Condolences to his family and friends. I've had the privilege of playing in a couple of games and GMing for him too. He had such strength of character, especially in the way he dealt with his health. I will miss him very much.

Shocked to hear this. His health problems were no secret but handled them like a warrior. He will be missed.

Oh no, this is heartbreaking. I enjoyed playing with him in a number of games, and even if we only knew each other online, he always seemed like such a great, friendly person. I'm going to miss you, Mach. :( Rest in peace, and may we meet again in another life!

I'm never good at saying what needs to be said at times like this; everyone else has already said it far better. But Machiabelly was always fun to play with. I'm sorry to hear that he's gone. He will be missed.

While I played with Mach many, many times, it's always going to be his character in one of my long-running games that I will associate with him. Wil was a halfling fighter with the soul and wit of a bard and the spirit of the best kind of cleric: the one that cared deeply for people. He would rather charm a hardened villain (and did, to dramatic effect) than stick a blade in them.

Getting to know him as a person out of character, I always had the feeling that this was pretty close to who he was as a human being. I'm really going to miss talking with him. I thought the world of him as a person.

Yes, I always thought of Wil as Mach's gaming alter ego, too. It felt very close to the person I chatted privately with.

I've had the pleasure of gaming with Machiabelly on a few occasions. He recently had to leave my Five Torches Deep/Mystara game for health reason. I can only assume his health had taken a turn for the worse... You will be missed old friend.

Very sad news all around. Wishing his family the best right now. It's always tough to say farewell to a respected veteran.

I only had the pleasure to share one game with him, but he seemed like a great player as well as a great person. I hope for the best for his family.

Such a mainstay of our community. How sad to hear of his passing! I echo the sentiments others have expressed, and share my condolences with his loved ones.

I never had the privelage to play any games with the man but I encountered his presence in chat and his voice will be missed. Condolences to his family.

I had very little interaction with the man (last of which was that Five Torches Deep game kalajel mentioned) and all of it was fine. Seeing all the good things others have to say here warms my heart. Condolences to his family, RIP mac.

That's terrible to hear. Thinking of his family.

Damn, it's terrible to hear that.

I didn't have the chance to play in any games with Machiabelly, but I knew of him around the board and on discord. Seemed like a nice guy and he he was certainly taken too soon. Crap news overall, a terrible bummer.

I'm so sorry to hear this.

Damn, I think I gamed with him a couple of times. So sad, I hope it wasn't Covid. Life is like a flame, it burns strong, but never lasts. RIP brother.