Gaming Journalist Rob Wieland Passes At Age 48

It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Rob Wieland. As well as his weekly reviews column here at EN World, Rob's work could be found on Forbes, Geek & Sundry, and other outlets, as well as in tabletop RPG games such as Star Wars Saga Edition, World of Darkness supplements, Shadowrun, and Savage Worlds.

Rob passed away this weekend at the too-young age of 48, leaving behind a wife and a young daughter.

Rob was always a real pleasure to work with--he was professional, funny, and kind. He will be missed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

 

[Jeffzilla]

Rob was really kind and encouraging to total strangers in the gaming space, both at conventions and online. I didn't know him personally beyond those public interactions, but he seemed like a really good guy who genuinely and sincerely wanted to make games that people had fun playing. My condolences to Rob's friends and family.

 

[Jack-DriveThruRPG]

Condolences to his family and friends. I wish our paths had crossed more, he was well loved by the community.

 

[Uta-napishti]

I didn't know him personally, but just looking at his recent articles for ENworld shows how much he has given to the hobby and this community in particular. Obviously a really special guy. It's another reminder for all of us to cherish and appreciate each other. All the best to his family.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

More about Rob from another outlet where he published:

https://milwaukeerecord.com/arts/r-i-p-rob-wieland/

 

[Mannahnin]

That is absolutely, tragically young. Awful.

He had fantastic actual plays, often promoting a wide variety of TTRPGs. You could absolutely tell his enthusiasm for the hobby and the people in it.

Where did he principally share them, for those of us who aren't familiar with his APs?

 

[Elvish Lore]

Well that's absolutely awful.

 

[sundancekid007]

Where did he principally share them, for those of us who aren't familiar with his APs?

Theater of the Mind Players on YouTube

 

[Aldarc]

Where did he principally share them, for those of us who aren't familiar with his APs?

Theater of the Mind Players on YouTube

As SundanceKid said.

I have enjoyed his ones for Broken Compass (Outgunned Adventure) and Vaesen. I was also enjoying his one for Dragonbane: Secret of the Dragon Emperor, with the (sadly) last video posted about four days ago.

 

[beta-ray]

My condolences. I hope his loved ones can find peace and warmth in the memory of what his life brought.

 

[Birmy]

As a local, Rob was pretty much at every convention in the southeastern Wisconsin area, so I got to play with him a few times over the last decade+. I first chatted with him at Nexus Game Fair in Milwaukee in 2014(?), when we were in a Call of Cthulhu demo together; he mentioned he'd done some game writing (he admitted to taking some glee in being able to name-drop Shadowrun). Within a year or two, he was showing up on convention guest lists and ripping out articles and gaming material at an impressive pace, on top of all his other activities; I think I even attended one of his "Theater of the Mind"-sponsored events. I wish I could remember the last game I played with him at Gamehole Con (it was within the last two years, and there may have been vampires involved?). While I'm 99.9% sure he had no idea who I was every time I played with him, I knew I'd be getting a good experience whenever I had the luxury of being in a game with him. A sad and sudden loss for his family and this community.