Some Industry History
- Thread starter Mark CMG
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PaulofCthulhu
Guest
There was talk of a CD compilation of Different Worlds a few years ago.
Different Worlds CD Archive - would you buy one?
For those who haven't heard it - there's also an audio recording of Ian Livingstone & Steve Jackson talking about the early Games Workshop days:
Yog-Sothoth - An Illustrated History of Games Workshop and Fighting Fantasy - Jackson and Livingstone
On the Lovecraftian Tales from the Table DVD there's also video interviews with people from The Chaosium including Greg Stafford, Sandy Petersen and Charlie Krank.
Different Worlds CD Archive - would you buy one?
For those who haven't heard it - there's also an audio recording of Ian Livingstone & Steve Jackson talking about the early Games Workshop days:
Yog-Sothoth - An Illustrated History of Games Workshop and Fighting Fantasy - Jackson and Livingstone
On the Lovecraftian Tales from the Table DVD there's also video interviews with people from The Chaosium including Greg Stafford, Sandy Petersen and Charlie Krank.
Plane Sailing
Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!
Only got his name on RuneQuest, one of the best RPG systems ever!
Ed_Laprade
Adventurer
It was pretty thin at the start, but improved considerably. I think it was one of the best gaming magazines ever in its heyday.
Well, I've just spent a couple of hours going through the RPG Geek database looking to see who these people were and if they contributed to Different Worlds. The results are below, along with a bunch of links if you want to investigate further.
As an aside, the RPG Geek database is quickly becoming very impressive. They recently added a feature allowing the addition of individual article credits, and some of that was very helpful in this research, although I don't think the early DW issues are all broken out individually yet.
Steve Perrin - original designer of RuneQuest and other BRP systems. Also co-wrote CM9 Legacy of Blood, a D&D Companion level adventure, and FRC2 Curse of the Azure Bonds, the adventure conversion of the D&D computer game/novel from TSR. Contributed to many issues of DW, including #2, #3 and #7.
Gary Gygax - a non-entity sent a letter by mistake. Not to be confused with E.Gary Gygax, co-progenitor of our entire hobby.
Didn't contribute to DW, as far as I can tell.
Ken St Andre - creator of Tunnels and Trolls and co-designer of Stormbringer. Ended up contributing several articles to Different Worlds, including #1 and #7.
David Hargrave - creator of the Arduin Grimoire, an alternative take on D&D. Contributed to at least 3 issues of DW (1, 2 & 31).
Marc Miller - creator of Traveller. Contributed to DW #1 and #9.
Tim Kask - editor on early D&D products, (and had to rewrite/create a lot of Supplement 2, Blackmoor). Later created his own magazine (Adventure Gaming, IIRC). Don't think he contributed to DW.
Ed Simbalist - Co-designer of Chivalry & Sorcery and Space Opera (recently discussed on Grognardia). Contributed to DW #1. (Sadly died in 2005).
Jim Ward - Creator of Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World, as well as contributing to a lot of early D&D. Contributed to DW #5 and #7.
M.A.R. Barker - Professor. Created Tekumel (which inspired Feist's Kelewan). Eventually contributed to DW #47.
David Feldt - Creator of Legacy in 1978 - and if you haven't heard of it, don't worry, about no-one has. Contributed to DW #2.
Wilf Backhaus - Co-designer of Chivalry & Sorcery. Died in 2009. Did not contribute to DW, as far as I can see.
Mark Swanson - Editor of the Wild Hunt (an early zine/publisher as far as I can see). Contributed to DW #1.
Paul Jaquays - Illustrator for many companies, also did a lot of design work, including DQ1 The Shattered Statue for AD&D. Contributed to DW #1 and DW #24.
Steve Marsh - There are two Steve Marsh's; so I'm guessing it's the editor of the D&D Expert Set and creator of the Sahuagin. The fact that he contributed to DW #1, #3 and #13 makes this more likely.
John M Snyder - I have absolutely no idea.
Eric Goldberg - Co-designer of Paranoia and DragonQuest who later ran West End Games for a while. Contributed to DW #2.
Scott Bizar - Founder of FGU and co-creator of Chivalry & Sorcery. Contributed to DW #5.
Dave Arneson - Co-creator of D&D. Contributed to DW #3, #8 and several in the 40s.
Nikolai Shapiro - Early Runequest gamer at SoCal (according to this rpg.net reference), but I can find no design or article credits to his name.
Lee & Barry Gold - Lee contributed to DW #1, #6 and #8, and worked for FGU, ICE and Steve Jackson Games. I can't find any credits for Barry Gold.
Ian Livingstone - Co-founder of Games Workshop and co-creator of the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. Involved in the original distribution of D&D into the UK. Did not contribute to DW, as far as I can see - but was very involved with White Dwarf.
Paul Hume & George Nyhen - Paul Hume was the co-designer of Bushido and Aftermath (FGU) and Shadowrun (FASA). Didn't contribute to DW. George Nyhen was the co-designer of Tyr Gamemaker's "Space Quest". Also didn't contribute to DW.
Greg Costikyan - A long list of credits, including Paranoia and Star Wars, and one of my favourite light RPGs, Teenagers from Outer Space. Contributed to four issues of DW, including #1 and #11.
Darryl Hany & Frank Chadwick - Darryl Hany contributed to a few early Traveller products and co-designed "En Garde!" , but didn't write for DW. Frank Chadwick co-founded GDW Games and has a lot of wargames to his credit along with a few RPG products (including early Traveller and En Garde!). He wrote an article for DW #9 (an introduction to the Imperium in Traveller, alongside Marc Miller!)
B Dennis Sustare - Lent his name to Chariot of Sustarre, a high-level druidic spell in D&D. Originator of the druid class in D&D. Co-designed Bunnies and Burrows. Contributed to DW #1, #3 and #19.
Michael J Scott - assumed name of Michael Scott Kurtick, co-designer of Space Patrol. No contributions to DW, as far as I can see.
Leonard Kanterman - Designer of Starships & Spacemen (1978) and Star Explorer. Contributed to DW #1, #2, #6, #8 and #13. (A post from him on RPGGeek discussing the games is here.)
Nicholas Smith - likely to be the author of the Complete Warlock (1978), an unofficial supplement/variant to/of original D&D. I can't see any contributions to DW.
Steve Jackson - Ah, but which one? I'm not sure. One of them contributed to DW #2 (in an article co-written by David Feldt - "My Life and Roleplaying"). At present, the RPG Geek database has it down as the US Steve Jackson, but without someone looking at the actual issue, it's a bit hard to tell.
Steve Lortz - Interviewed in DW #1, also appearing in #2, #3, #4, #5 and #9. Mainly a miniature sculptor fascinated by ducks, according to his rpggeek entry. Co-designed Star Rovers.
Cheers!
As an aside, the RPG Geek database is quickly becoming very impressive. They recently added a feature allowing the addition of individual article credits, and some of that was very helpful in this research, although I don't think the early DW issues are all broken out individually yet.
Steve Perrin - original designer of RuneQuest and other BRP systems. Also co-wrote CM9 Legacy of Blood, a D&D Companion level adventure, and FRC2 Curse of the Azure Bonds, the adventure conversion of the D&D computer game/novel from TSR. Contributed to many issues of DW, including #2, #3 and #7.
Gary Gygax - a non-entity sent a letter by mistake. Not to be confused with E.Gary Gygax, co-progenitor of our entire hobby.
Didn't contribute to DW, as far as I can tell.Ken St Andre - creator of Tunnels and Trolls and co-designer of Stormbringer. Ended up contributing several articles to Different Worlds, including #1 and #7.
David Hargrave - creator of the Arduin Grimoire, an alternative take on D&D. Contributed to at least 3 issues of DW (1, 2 & 31).
Marc Miller - creator of Traveller. Contributed to DW #1 and #9.
Tim Kask - editor on early D&D products, (and had to rewrite/create a lot of Supplement 2, Blackmoor). Later created his own magazine (Adventure Gaming, IIRC). Don't think he contributed to DW.
Ed Simbalist - Co-designer of Chivalry & Sorcery and Space Opera (recently discussed on Grognardia). Contributed to DW #1. (Sadly died in 2005).
Jim Ward - Creator of Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World, as well as contributing to a lot of early D&D. Contributed to DW #5 and #7.
M.A.R. Barker - Professor. Created Tekumel (which inspired Feist's Kelewan). Eventually contributed to DW #47.
David Feldt - Creator of Legacy in 1978 - and if you haven't heard of it, don't worry, about no-one has. Contributed to DW #2.
Wilf Backhaus - Co-designer of Chivalry & Sorcery. Died in 2009. Did not contribute to DW, as far as I can see.
Mark Swanson - Editor of the Wild Hunt (an early zine/publisher as far as I can see). Contributed to DW #1.
Paul Jaquays - Illustrator for many companies, also did a lot of design work, including DQ1 The Shattered Statue for AD&D. Contributed to DW #1 and DW #24.
Steve Marsh - There are two Steve Marsh's; so I'm guessing it's the editor of the D&D Expert Set and creator of the Sahuagin. The fact that he contributed to DW #1, #3 and #13 makes this more likely.
John M Snyder - I have absolutely no idea.
Eric Goldberg - Co-designer of Paranoia and DragonQuest who later ran West End Games for a while. Contributed to DW #2.
Scott Bizar - Founder of FGU and co-creator of Chivalry & Sorcery. Contributed to DW #5.
Dave Arneson - Co-creator of D&D. Contributed to DW #3, #8 and several in the 40s.
Nikolai Shapiro - Early Runequest gamer at SoCal (according to this rpg.net reference), but I can find no design or article credits to his name.
Lee & Barry Gold - Lee contributed to DW #1, #6 and #8, and worked for FGU, ICE and Steve Jackson Games. I can't find any credits for Barry Gold.
Ian Livingstone - Co-founder of Games Workshop and co-creator of the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. Involved in the original distribution of D&D into the UK. Did not contribute to DW, as far as I can see - but was very involved with White Dwarf.
Paul Hume & George Nyhen - Paul Hume was the co-designer of Bushido and Aftermath (FGU) and Shadowrun (FASA). Didn't contribute to DW. George Nyhen was the co-designer of Tyr Gamemaker's "Space Quest". Also didn't contribute to DW.
Greg Costikyan - A long list of credits, including Paranoia and Star Wars, and one of my favourite light RPGs, Teenagers from Outer Space. Contributed to four issues of DW, including #1 and #11.
Darryl Hany & Frank Chadwick - Darryl Hany contributed to a few early Traveller products and co-designed "En Garde!" , but didn't write for DW. Frank Chadwick co-founded GDW Games and has a lot of wargames to his credit along with a few RPG products (including early Traveller and En Garde!). He wrote an article for DW #9 (an introduction to the Imperium in Traveller, alongside Marc Miller!)
B Dennis Sustare - Lent his name to Chariot of Sustarre, a high-level druidic spell in D&D. Originator of the druid class in D&D. Co-designed Bunnies and Burrows. Contributed to DW #1, #3 and #19.
Michael J Scott - assumed name of Michael Scott Kurtick, co-designer of Space Patrol. No contributions to DW, as far as I can see.
Leonard Kanterman - Designer of Starships & Spacemen (1978) and Star Explorer. Contributed to DW #1, #2, #6, #8 and #13. (A post from him on RPGGeek discussing the games is here.)
Nicholas Smith - likely to be the author of the Complete Warlock (1978), an unofficial supplement/variant to/of original D&D. I can't see any contributions to DW.
Steve Jackson - Ah, but which one? I'm not sure. One of them contributed to DW #2 (in an article co-written by David Feldt - "My Life and Roleplaying"). At present, the RPG Geek database has it down as the US Steve Jackson, but without someone looking at the actual issue, it's a bit hard to tell.
Steve Lortz - Interviewed in DW #1, also appearing in #2, #3, #4, #5 and #9. Mainly a miniature sculptor fascinated by ducks, according to his rpggeek entry. Co-designed Star Rovers.
Cheers!
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jonesy
A Wicked Kendragon
He gets credited as Nicolai Shapiro, Nikolai Shapiro, Niall Shapiro, Nial Shapiro and Niall C. Shapiro. He was working for Chaosium, and also did the Other Suns antropomorphic sci-fi rpg. As far as I can tell, they're all the same guy.
The article in DW #2 was titled "Into the Labyrinth". Steve Jackson, of Steve Jackson Games, did a DM handbook with that same title for Melee and Wizard.
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jdrakeh
Front Range Warlock
I recognize quite a few of those names:
Steve Perrin (Designer: Runequest)
Gary Gygax (Designer: D&D)
Ken St. Andre (Designer: Tunnels & Trolls)
Dave Hargrave (Designer: Arduin Grimoire)
Marc Miller (Designer: Traveller)
Tim Kask (Contributor: D&D)
Jim Ward (Designer: Metamorphosis Alpha, Contributor: D&D)
MAR Barker (Designer: Empire of the Petal Throne)
Paul Jaquays (Contributor: D&D)
Dave Arneson (Designer: D&D)
Lee Gold (Designer: FGU, Designer: White Wolf, Contributor: GURPS)
Ian Livingstone (Designer: Fighting Fantasy)
Paul Hume (Designer: FGU, FASA)
Greg Costikyan (Designer: Ghostbusters)
Steve Jackson (if Austin-based, Designer: GURPS and various SJG games)
Steve Jackson (if UK-based, Designer: Fighting Fantasy, Sorcery!)
Edit: These guys most certainly have more credits than I've given them, but the ones listed are those that stand out most in my mind.
Steve Perrin (Designer: Runequest)
Gary Gygax (Designer: D&D)
Ken St. Andre (Designer: Tunnels & Trolls)
Dave Hargrave (Designer: Arduin Grimoire)
Marc Miller (Designer: Traveller)
Tim Kask (Contributor: D&D)
Jim Ward (Designer: Metamorphosis Alpha, Contributor: D&D)
MAR Barker (Designer: Empire of the Petal Throne)
Paul Jaquays (Contributor: D&D)
Dave Arneson (Designer: D&D)
Lee Gold (Designer: FGU, Designer: White Wolf, Contributor: GURPS)
Ian Livingstone (Designer: Fighting Fantasy)
Paul Hume (Designer: FGU, FASA)
Greg Costikyan (Designer: Ghostbusters)
Steve Jackson (if Austin-based, Designer: GURPS and various SJG games)
Steve Jackson (if UK-based, Designer: Fighting Fantasy, Sorcery!)
Edit: These guys most certainly have more credits than I've given them, but the ones listed are those that stand out most in my mind.
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CharlesRyan
Adventurer
Wow. Cool to see the letterhead identify as "The Chaosium." I had no idea the company ever went under that name.
I recognize about two-thirds of the names on the list. Many are inductees into the Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame, but it seems that web site has gone defunct so I can't find any further info. Merric's blurbs are pretty good, though.
I recognize about two-thirds of the names on the list. Many are inductees into the Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame, but it seems that web site has gone defunct so I can't find any further info. Merric's blurbs are pretty good, though.
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