Louis Zocchi, inventor of the d100, has died
5 hours ago
- #obituary
- #dice-design
- #games-industry
- Louis Zocchi, a games industry pioneer and legend, passed away on April 15, 2026, at the age of 91.
- He began his career after serving 10 years in the U.S. Air Force in the mid-60s, working with Avalon Hill as an editor and playtester for early wargames.
- Zocchi designed several wargames, including Luftwaffe and The Battle of Britain, and produced RPGs like Superhero 2044 in the 70s.
- He founded Gamescience in 1974 and pioneered polyhedral dice for the U.S. market, creating the D3, D5, D14, D24, and D100, with the D100 named 'Zocchihedron' in his honor.
- Zocchi also founded Zocchi Distribution, which was sold in 1996 and closed in 2001.
- He received honors including election to the Charles Roberts Awards Hall of Fame in 1986 and the E. Gary Gygax Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.