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{{Greyhawk Author
{{Creator
|image=
|image               = [[File:Robert_J._Kuntz_-_Lucca_Comics_%26_Games_2015.JPG|250px]]
|caption=
|caption             = Rob Kuntz
|name=Robert J. Kuntz
|name                 =  
|nationality=United States
|nationality         = United States
|born=September 23, 1955
|born                 = September 23, 1955
|birthplace=Wisconsin
|birthplace           = Wisconsin, USA
|died=N/A
|died                 =  
|first greyhawk work=''El Raja Key''
|first greyhawk work = ''El Raja Key''
|alias=Robilar, Uncle
|alias               = Robilar, Uncle
|notableworks        = 
|signature            = 
}}
}}
'''Robert J. Kuntz''' (born September 23, 1955) is a game designer and author of roleplaying game publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various ''Dungeons & Dragons''-related materials. He has authored or co-authored several iconic ''D&D'' publications, including the ''Maze of Zayene'' series, ''Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes'', the first edition of ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''[[Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure]]''.
'''Robert J. Kuntz''' (born September 23, 1955) is a game designer and author of roleplaying game publications. As a ''D&D'' player, Kuntz developed the famous (or perhaps infamous) character of [[Robilar]], the first character to successfully complete ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'', among other exploits. Because of Kuntz's imaginative play of this character, [[Gary Gygax]] awarded him co-Dungeon Master status for Gygax's original ''[[Greyhawk]]'' home campaign.


As a ''D&D'' player, Kuntz developed the famous (or perhaps infamous) character of [[Robilar]], the first character to successfully complete ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'', among other exploits. Because of Kuntz's imaginative play of this character, [[Gary Gygax]] awarded him co-Dungeon Master status for Gygax's original ''[[Greyhawk]]'' home campaign.
He contributed to various ''Dungeons & Dragons''-related materials. He has authored or co-authored several iconic ''D&D'' publications, including the ''[[Prisoners of the Maze|Maze of Zayene]]'' series, ''Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes'', the first edition of ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''[[Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure]]''.


As Gygax's friend and co-DM, Kuntz influenced the development of the ''Greyhawk'' milieu. For example, Gygax adapted Kuntz's dark god "Tharzduun" into the entity known today as [[Tharizdun]]. The names of the characters [[Tzunk]] and [[Bilarro]] are anagrams for his or his character's names. Kuntz also contributed two of the adventures published in ''[[Fate of Istus]]''.
As Gygax's friend and co-DM, Kuntz influenced the development of the ''Greyhawk'' milieu. For example, Gygax adapted Kuntz's dark god "Tharzdu'un" into the entity known today as [[Tharizdun]]. The names of the characters [[Tzunk]] and [[Bilarro]] are anagrams for his or his character's names. Kuntz also contributed two of the adventures published in ''[[Fate of Istus]]''.


Kuntz originally hails from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Kuntz originally hails from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.


==Greyhawk works==
==Greyhawk works==
*[[Findley, Nigel]], Dan Salas, Stephen Inniss, and [[Robert J. Kuntz]]. ''[[Fate of Istus]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
* [[Findley, Nigel]], Dan Salas, Stephen Inniss, and Robert J. Kuntz. ''[[Fate of Istus]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
* [[Gygax, Gary]], and Robert Kuntz. "[[Maure Castle]]: The Adventure Begins." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #112. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004 (pp. 12-14).
:———. ''[[Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
:———. ''[[Supplement I: Greyhawk]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1975.
* Kuntz, Robert J. "Chambers of Antiquities." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005 (pp. 70-101).
:———. ''[[Dimensions of Flight]]''. Necromancer Games, 2001.
:———. ''[[The Eight Kings]]''. Different Worlds Publications, 2004.
:———. "The Great Kingdom and the Knights of Doom." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #59. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
:———. "Greyhawk's World." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #63. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
:———. "Greyhawk's World." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #65. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
:———. "Maure Castle: The Greater Halls." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #139. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006 (pp. 70-88).
:———. ''[[The Original Bottle City]]''. Pied Piper Publishing, 2008.
:———. ''[[The Original Living Room]]''. Pied Piper Publishing, 2007.
:———. ''[[Prisoners of the Maze]]''. Necromancer Games, 2001.
:———. ''Return of Robilar''. France.  Three Line Studios, 2023. PDF
:———. "Robilar Remembers: Journey to the City of the Gods." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #6. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 1997. Available online:[http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj6.html]
:———. "Rumors about the Maure Lands." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #23. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 2008. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj23.html]
:———. ''[[Tower Chaos]]''. Necromancer Games, 2002.
:———. "Up on a Soapbox." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #308. Paizo Publishing, 2003.
:———. "Warlock's Walk." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #23. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 2008. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj23.html]
* Kuntz, Robert J., and Douglas J. Behringer. "Robilar Remembered: Lord Robilar and Company." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #7. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 1997. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj7.html]
:———. "Robilar Remembers: [[Erac's Cousin]]." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #5. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 1997. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj5.html]
* Kuntz, Robert J., [[Gary Gygax]], [[James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. "[[Maure Castle]]." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #112. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004.
* [[Ward, James M.]], and Robert Kuntz. ''[[Deities & Demigods]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.


*[[Gygax, Gary]], and Robert Kuntz. "[[Maure Castle]]: The Adventure Begins." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #112. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004 (pp. 12-14).
==Biography==
*-----. ''[[Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
===Early life===
*-----. ''[[Supplement I: Greyhawk]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1975.
Kuntz was born September 23, 1955, in [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]].<ref name="TSR #5">{{Cite journal |last=Kask |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Kask |date=December 1975 |title=In the Cauldron |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|The Strategic Review]] |location=[[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]] |publisher=TSR, Inc. |issue=#5 |pages=2, 8}}</ref> His older brother is [[Terry Kuntz]]. Kuntz learned about [[Miniature wargaming|miniature wargames]] at age 13 while skimming through an issue of [[Playboy]]; he saw a game called ''Dogfight'' listed in a section describing party gifts for Christmas. Kuntz began playing boardgames, miniatures and play-by-mail games.<ref name="TSR #5" /> Kuntz met [[Gary Gygax]] in 1968.<ref name="designers">{{Cite book |first=Shannon |last=Appelcline |title=Designers & Dragons |publisher=Mongoose Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|240}}


*Kuntz, Robert J. "Chambers of Antiquities." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005 (pp. 70-101).
In November 1972, [[Dave Arneson]] and [[Dave Megarry]] traveled to Lake Geneva to meet with Gary Gygax, to provide a demonstration of ''[[Blackmoor (campaign setting)|Blackmoor]]'' and ''[[Dungeon!]]'' While meeting at Gygax's house, Dave Arneson ran the Lake Geneva gamers through their first session of ''Blackmoor''. Rob Kuntz describes Dave Arneson as the referee, and the Lake Geneva players as being Gary Gygax, Ernie Gygax, [[Terry Kuntz]], and himself. Kuntz describes Dave Megarry as the de facto leader of the group, as he understood the ''Blackmoor'' game and campaign world.<ref>Robert Kuntz: "Dave Arneson was the judge, and the other players were: EGG, Terry Kuntz, Ernie Gygax and myself. Megarry was the de facto leader as he understood the campaign area and rules and so he was our overall integration point in the adventure which took place on EGG's dining table." {{Cite web |date=2010-07-19 |title=Original D&D Discussion: Lake Geneva Gaming Group? |url=http://odd74.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gygax&action=display&thread=4176 |access-date=2011-06-30}}</ref> In ''Wargaming'' magazine, Rob Kuntz wrote a short summary of their first ''Blackmoor'' session:
*-----. "The Great Kingdom and the Knights of Doom." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #59. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
*-----. "Greyhawk's World." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #63. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
*-----. "Greyhawk's World." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #65. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
*-----. "Maure Castle: The Greater Halls." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #139. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006 (pp. 70-88).
*-----. "Robilar Remembers: Journey to the City of the Gods." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #6. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 1997. Available online:[http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj6.html]
*-----. "Rumors about the Maure Lands." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #23. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 2008. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj23.html]
*-----. "Up on a Soapbox." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #308. Paizo Publishing, 2003.
*-----. "Warlock's Walk." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #23. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 2008. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj23.html]


*Kuntz, Robert J., and Douglas J. Behringer. "Robilar Remembered: Lord Robilar and Company." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #7. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 1997. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj7.html]
{{quoted text|Gary, myself and a few other local wargamers were the first "lucky" fellows from Lake Geneva to experience the rigors of Blackmoor. This idea caught on deeply with Gary after an exciting adventure in which our party of heroes fought a [[Troll (Dungeons & Dragons)|troll]], were fireballed by a magic-user, then fled to the outdoors (being chased by the Magic-user and his minions), fought four (gulp!) [[Balrog]]s, followed a map to sixteen ogres and destroyed them with a wish from a sword we had procured from the hapless troll earlier.|<ref name="patw_1_10">{{Cite book |last=Peterson |first=Jon |title=Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games |date=2012 |publisher=Unreason Press |edition=2 |chapter=1.10. Blackmoor}}</ref> }}
*-----. "Robilar Remembers: [[Erac's Cousin]]." ''[[Oerth Journal]]'' #5. [[Council of Greyhawk]], 1997. Available online: [http://www.oerthjournal.com/oj5.html]


*Kuntz, Robert J., [[Gary Gygax]], [[James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. "[[Maure Castle]]." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #112. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004.
In 1972, at age 17 Kuntz only lived a few blocks away from Gygax, and got the chance to play in the second-ever game session of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' that was set in the [[World of Greyhawk]], where his [[player character]] was a [[Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)|fighter]] named [[Robilar]].<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}} Kuntz began running his own "Castle El Raja Key" campaign for Gygax in 1973.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|7}} His campaign world was known as Kalibruhn.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}} By 1974, the group of ''D&D'' players in the Greyhawk game sometimes hosted over 20 people, so Kuntz became the co-[[Dungeon Master|dungeon-master]], so that each dungeon master could focus on smaller groups with a dozen players.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|7}} Kuntz pulled in some elements of his own campaign into Greyhawk, and some levels of El Raja Key become merged into [[Castle Greyhawk]].<ref name="designers" />{{rp|7}}


*[[Ward, James M.]], and Robert Kuntz. ''[[Deities & Demigods]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
===TSR===
Gygax formed [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] in 1973 and was hired as the first full-time employee for the company in mid-1975, and soon after Rob Kuntz, Terry Kuntz, [[Tim Kask]], and [[Dave Megarry]] also became employees.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|8}} Kuntz was the sixth employee of TSR and was initially hired to work in shipping, but because of the small size of the company, everyone got a chance to do some design work, allowing Kuntz to co-author the ''[[Greyhawk (supplement)|Greyhawk]]'' supplement (1975).<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}} Kuntz also co-authored ''[[Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes]]'' (1976) with [[James M. Ward]].<ref name="designers" />{{rp|8}} That same year Kuntz, along with Gygax and Brad Stock, redeveloped the ''[[Lankhmar (board game)|Lankhmar]]'' wargame for publication by TSR, from the original design by [[Fritz Leiber]] and [[Harry Otto Fischer|Harry Fischer]].<ref name="designers" />{{rp|9}} His short fiction story "The Quest for the Vermillion Volume" appeared in ''[[The Strategic Review]]'' Vol. II #1 (February, 1976), and was the first work of fiction that TSR published.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|238, 240}} Gygax credits Kuntz with "substantial ideas" in ''[[Expedition to the Barrier Peaks]]'' (1980), which was originally run as an adventure at [[Origins Game Fair|Origins II]] in 1976.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}} Kuntz served in the company in many positions, as designer, editor, Director of Shipping, columnist for the [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon Magazine]], Convention Chairman ([[Gen Con]] VIII & IX and Winter Fantasy 1) and oversaw the AD&D line's licensing to [[Judges Guild]] for a short time period.


==External links==
As a ''D&D'' player, Kuntz developed the character of [[Robilar]], the first character to successfully complete ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'',<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gygax |first=Gary |author-link=Gary Gygax |date=Sep 1976 |title=Letter from Gary Gygax |journal=[[Alarums and Excursions]] |publisher=[[Lee Gold]] |issue=15}}</ref> among other exploits. Because of Kuntz' imaginative play of this character, [[Gary Gygax]] awarded him co-[[Dungeon Master]] status for Gygax's original ''[[Greyhawk]]'' home campaign.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
*[http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_kuntz_bibliography.html "A Partial, Annotated Bibliography of the Works of Robert J. Kuntz" from Grodog's Greyhawk Website].


*[http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=967 Pen & Paper listing for Robert J Kuntz].
As Gygax's friend and co-DM, Kuntz influenced the development of the ''Greyhawk'' milieu.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}  For example, Gygax adapted Kuntz' dark god "Tharzduun" into the entity known today as [[Tharizdun]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}  The names of the characters [[Tzunk]] and [[Bilarro]] are anagrams for his or his character's names.


*"[http://pied-piper-publishing.com/ Rob Kuntz's company, Pied Piper Publishing]."
Kuntz has authored or co-authored several ''D&D'' publications, including the first edition of ''[[Deities & Demigods]]''.


Kuntz wanted to move entirely to game design and write a supplement based on his world of Kalibruhn, but the company would not let him get more involved in creative works so Kuntz left TSR in 1977.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}} Kuntz went to college and then got married in the years that followed, while continuing to design his own game material.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}} Gygax was expanding Greyhawk in the early 1980s, and brought in [[Eric N. Shook|Eric Shook]] and Kuntz to TSR to help him manage this creative work.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|15}} Kuntz designed a two-part tournament adventure based on one that he ran while in college, called "The Maze of Xaene", set in [[Great Kingdom]] of the Greyhawk world and featuring its king Ivid V; James Ward ran this adventure in the ''D&D'' tournament at EastCon in 1982, but TSR never published the adventure.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}} Kuntz and [[Tom Wham]] designed the board game "King of the Tabletop" which appeared in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #77 (September 1983).<ref name="designers" />{{rp|241}} Kuntz wrote ''WG5: [[Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure]]'' (1984), based on his early role-playing adventures.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|15}} Kuntz continued to play and participate as a judge for Gygax in the Greyhawk campaign until Gygax closed it down in 1985 when he left TSR.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|240}}


[[Category:Greyhawk authors|Kuntz, Robert J.]]
===Creations Unlimited and New Infinities===
Kuntz left TSR when Gygax was forced out, and was very protective of his intellectual property, never having signed the rights to Kalibruhn to anyone.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|241}} Kuntz created his own company [[Creations Unlimited]] in 1986 to hold and protect the rights to his game world and other creations.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|241}} The company published a set of four linked adventures: ''The Maze of Zayene, Part 1: Prisoners of the Maze'' (1987), ''The Maze of Zayene Part 2: Dimensions of Flight'' (1987), ''The Maze of Zayene, Part 3: Tower Chaos'' (1987) and ''The Maze of Zayene, Part 4: The Eight Kings'' (1987); Kuntz created the first two adventures while he was in college, and had subsequently run them at EastCon in 1983.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|241}} The company's fifth and final publication was ''[[Garden of the Plantmaster]]'' (1987); Kuntz had other publications planned, the first of which was to be RPGA tournament adventure "(To the) City of Brass", followed by "Hidden Realms of Zayene", but Creations Unlimited never released any of these.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|241}}
 
Kuntz contributed two adventures to the TSR adventure collection ''[[Fate of Istus]]'' (1989), one of which included a [[Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)|lich]] named "Xaene the Accursed".<ref name="designers" />{{rp|241}} By 1988, [[New Infinities Productions]] was planning to start the "Fantasy Master" line to present a version of the Castle and City of Greyhawk that Gygax and Kuntz had originally envisioned; Kuntz would have contributed to what was going to have been known as "Castle Dunfalcon".<ref name="designers" />{{rp|239}} However, the New Infinities investors forced the company into bankruptcy, and none of this work went into print.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|239}}
 
===Later RPG projects===
[[Necromancer Games]] announced a partnership with Rob Kuntz on May 16, 2001, after obtaining a license to revise his Creations Unlimited adventures for the d20 System.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|366}} Necromancer Games reprinted the first three Maze adventures in 2001.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|242}} He also wanted to work on completing his ''City of Brass'' for publication, but due to delays on their publication of the "Maze of Zayene" series, Kuntz ended his relationship with Necromancer.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|242}} [[Different Worlds Publications]] published ''The Eight Kings'' (2004) by Kuntz, the final adventure in series of four adventures that Necromancer had not finished publishing.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|89}}
 
[[Troll Lord Games]] announced on November 2, 2001, that they would publish books written by Kuntz.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|378}} Troll Lord published the adventure ''Dark Druids'' (2002) by Kuntz, which he originally wrote in 1976 and set in the [[Gnarley Forest]] of Greyhawk.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|242}} This was intended to be followed a ''Myths & Legends'' series starting with "Codex Germania," but Kuntz realized he was too busy with other work and could not complete this first myth book so he withdrew from working with Troll Lord.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|379}} [[Kenzer & Company]] reprinted his adventure ''Garden of the Plant Master'' (2003) and later published ''CZA1: Dark Chateau'' (2005), which Kuntz had designed as part of Castle Zagyg.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|242}} He began working on his ''City of Brass'' with Kenzer, but his leg was shattered before he was able to finish the adventure, and Kenzer found another author to finish up the book and they published it as ''Sir Robilar's City of Brass (2003) for ''[[HackMaster]]''.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|242}}
 
Kuntz wrote a series of adventures for [[Maure Castle]], published in [[Dungeon Magazine]]:
 
* Maure Castle: "The Statuary", DUNGEON #112, with Gary Gygax July 2004
* Return to Maure Castle: "Chambers of Antiquities", DUNGEON #124, July 2005
* Return to Maure Castle: "The Greater Halls", DUNGEON #139, October 2006
 
The version of Maure Castle that he created for these magazines was an original work, rather than using El Raja Key, to allow Kuntz to protect his IP.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|242}}
 
In 2006 he started a new company, [[Pied Piper Publishing]], to maintain control of his IP.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|243}} The company would publish his latest roleplaying adventures which were released on a limited-edition basis:
 
* ''CZ1: Cairn of the Skeleton King'' (2006), the debut product from the company, an original adventure for ''AD&D''.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|243}} The adventure features artwork by [[Jim Holloway (artist)|Jim Holloway]], former [[TSR, Inc.]] artist.
* ''Tower of Blood'' (2007), co-authored with Lance Hawvermale
 
Kuntz started to republish his early campaign materials, such as dungeon levels that had either been designed for Castle Greyhawk or Castle El Raja Key, such as ''RJK1: Bottle City'' (2007) and ''The Original Living Room'' (2007), both parts from the Castle Greyhawk shared by Gygax and Kuntz.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|25}}
 
The following were published, including material from the original Lake Geneva Castle & Campaign:
 
* ''The Original Living Room'' (2008)
* ''The Original Bottle City'' (2008)
* ''El Raja Key's Arcane Treasury'' with [[Eric N. Shook]] (2009)
* ''Daemonic & Arcane'' (2009)
* ''The Stalk'' (2009)
* ''Dungeon Set #1 - Levels 1-6'' with [[Ramsey Dow]] (2009)
* ''Dungeon Set #2 - Levels 7-12'' with [[Ramsey Dow]] (2009)
* ''Black Festival'' (fiction novella, 2010)<ref name="designers" />{{rp|243}}
 
Kuntz closed Pied Piper Publishing in 2010.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} Kuntz signed a contract with [[Black Blade Publishing]] to pick back up where he left off working on the "Lake Geneva Castle and Campaign dungeon levels".<ref name="designers" />{{rp|243}}
 
In 2013, Kuntz announced he would be partnering with Chaotic Henchmen Productions (Guy Fullerton) to re-release and reprint ''Dark Druids'' and that it was in its "final stages"<ref>{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Kuntz | title=Updates on the Run |url=https://lakegenevaoriginalrpg.blogspot.com/2013/11/updates-on-run.html |format= |work= |publisher=Three Line Studio |date=November 30, 2013 |dateformat= |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref> (previously published in 2002 and 2006),<ref>{{cite web |title=Dark Druids by Robert J. Kuntz |url=http://www.chaotichenchmen.com/p/dark-druids-by-robert-j-kuntz.html |format= |work= |publisher=Chaotic Henchment Productions |date=March 15, 2015 |dateformat= |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref> though this edition wouldn't see print until 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dark Druids |url=https://threelinestudiostore.com/DARK-DRUIDS-p552048392 |format= |work= |publisher=Three Line Studio Store |date= |dateformat= |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref>  ''Dark Druids'' was again later re-published digitally by Kuntz' Three Line Studios in 2023.
 
Kuntz' next company, Three Line Studio, opened its doors on 26 October 2016, with the re-issue of the ''El Raja Key Archive'' on DVD and USB.<ref>{{cite web |title=Three Line Studio/Three Little Books line Goes Live |url=https://lakegenevaoriginalrpg.blogspot.com/2016/10/three-line-studiothree-little-books_26.html |format= |work=Lake Geneva Original RPG |publisher= |date=October 26, 2016 |dateformat= |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref>  He also founded Three Little Books (TLB) and the RJK Estate to manage and separate his IP.
 
In 2018, Kuntz began development of ''Lake Geneva Days'', an intended "streaming series or feature film."<ref name=underdevelopment />
 
"In 2020 he announced his retirement from the print publication RPG industry to pursue other media projects including a contracted novel about, and film adaptation for, ''Lake Geneva Days''”, though it remained "under development" through 2021, and was still unreleased in 2024.<ref name=underdevelopment>{{cite web |title=RJK Estate Intellectual Property Library |url=https://www.threelinestudio.com/rjk-estate-ip-library/ |format= |work= |publisher= |date=Last updated March 12, 2021 |dateformat= |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref>
 
In 2023, Kuntz came out of apparent retirement and Three Line Studios released Kuntz' self-published ''The Return of Robilar'' PDF,<ref>{{cite web |title=Latest Release: The Return of Robilar |url=https://www.threelinestudio.com/2023/08/19/latest-release-the-return-of-robilar/ |format= |work= |publisher=Three Line Studios |date=August 19, 2023 |dateformat= |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref> which contains Kuntz' own version of Robilar's history as his personal player character, specifying that it was not the Robilar who exists in the World of Greyhawk setting, but rather that the name Robilar was "used without permission" but "strictly ... for historical purposes."<ref>{{cite web |title=Disclaimer |url=https://www.tlbgames.com/pages/disclaimer |publisher=TLBGames |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Return of Robilar |url=https://threelinestudiostore.com/THE-RETURN-OF-ROBILAR-p570182683 |format= |work=Three Line Studio Store |publisher= |date= |dateformat= |accessdate=15 December 2024 |postscript= }}</ref>
 
==Awards==
* 1986, [[Charles S. Roberts Award]], Kings & Things board game (West End Games){{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
* 2005, Golden ENnie for Best Adventure,<ref name="ENnie">{{Cite web |last=Gold Winner |title=ENnie Awards |url=http://www.ennie-awards.com/history/2005.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504042501/http://www.ennie-awards.com/history/2005.asp |archive-date=2011-05-04 |access-date=2005-01-01 |website=enworld.org}}</ref> ''Maure Castle'' in Dungeon Magazine #112 (Paizo Publishing)
 
== External links ==
{{External link disclaimer}}
* [https://www.threelinestudio.com/ Three Line Studios], Kuntz's company (2023-), includes updated projects, biography and design philosophy
* [http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_kuntz_bibliography.html "A Partial, Annotated Bibliography of the Works of Robert J. Kuntz"] from "Grodog's Greyhawk" Website.
*{{Cite web |title=Pen & Paper listing for Robert J. Kuntz |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=967 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310235458/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=967 |archive-date=March 10, 2005}}
* "[http://lakegenevaoriginalrpg.blogspot.com/ Lake Geneva Original RPG Campaign]" Kuntz's current gaming blog
* "[http://lordofthegreendragons.blogspot.com/ Lord of the Green Dragons]" Kuntz's older gaming blog
* [http://pied-piper-publishing.com/ Pied Piper Publishing], previous company of Kuntz (2002-2010).
 
== References ==
=== Notes ===
<references group="note" />
=== Citations ===
<references />
=== Bibliography ===
{{index}}
 
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuntz, Robert J.}}
[[Category:Authors|Kuntz, Robert J.]]

Latest revision as of 03:54, 15 December 2024

Greyhawk Creator
Robert J. Kuntz
File:Robert J. Kuntz - Lucca Comics & Games 2015.JPG
Rob Kuntz
Nationality:United States
Born:September 23, 1955, Wisconsin, USA
First Greyhawk work:El Raja Key
Alias:Robilar, Uncle

Robert J. Kuntz (born September 23, 1955) is a game designer and author of roleplaying game publications. As a D&D player, Kuntz developed the famous (or perhaps infamous) character of Robilar, the first character to successfully complete Tomb of Horrors, among other exploits. Because of Kuntz's imaginative play of this character, Gary Gygax awarded him co-Dungeon Master status for Gygax's original Greyhawk home campaign.

He contributed to various Dungeons & Dragons-related materials. He has authored or co-authored several iconic D&D publications, including the Maze of Zayene series, Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes, the first edition of Deities & Demigods, and Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure.

As Gygax's friend and co-DM, Kuntz influenced the development of the Greyhawk milieu. For example, Gygax adapted Kuntz's dark god "Tharzdu'un" into the entity known today as Tharizdun. The names of the characters Tzunk and Bilarro are anagrams for his or his character's names. Kuntz also contributed two of the adventures published in Fate of Istus.

Kuntz originally hails from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Greyhawk works

———. Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
———. Supplement I: Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1975.
  • Kuntz, Robert J. "Chambers of Antiquities." Dungeon #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005 (pp. 70-101).
———. Dimensions of Flight. Necromancer Games, 2001.
———. The Eight Kings. Different Worlds Publications, 2004.
———. "The Great Kingdom and the Knights of Doom." Dragon #59. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
———. "Greyhawk's World." Dragon #63. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
———. "Greyhawk's World." Dragon #65. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
———. "Maure Castle: The Greater Halls." Dungeon #139. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006 (pp. 70-88).
———. The Original Bottle City. Pied Piper Publishing, 2008.
———. The Original Living Room. Pied Piper Publishing, 2007.
———. Prisoners of the Maze. Necromancer Games, 2001.
———. Return of Robilar. France. Three Line Studios, 2023. PDF
———. "Robilar Remembers: Journey to the City of the Gods." Oerth Journal #6. Council of Greyhawk, 1997. Available online:[1]
———. "Rumors about the Maure Lands." Oerth Journal #23. Council of Greyhawk, 2008. Available online: [2]
———. Tower Chaos. Necromancer Games, 2002.
———. "Up on a Soapbox." Dragon #308. Paizo Publishing, 2003.
———. "Warlock's Walk." Oerth Journal #23. Council of Greyhawk, 2008. Available online: [3]
———. "Robilar Remembers: Erac's Cousin." Oerth Journal #5. Council of Greyhawk, 1997. Available online: [5]

Biography

Early life

Kuntz was born September 23, 1955, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.[1] His older brother is Terry Kuntz. Kuntz learned about miniature wargames at age 13 while skimming through an issue of Playboy; he saw a game called Dogfight listed in a section describing party gifts for Christmas. Kuntz began playing boardgames, miniatures and play-by-mail games.[1] Kuntz met Gary Gygax in 1968.[2]:240

In November 1972, Dave Arneson and Dave Megarry traveled to Lake Geneva to meet with Gary Gygax, to provide a demonstration of Blackmoor and Dungeon! While meeting at Gygax's house, Dave Arneson ran the Lake Geneva gamers through their first session of Blackmoor. Rob Kuntz describes Dave Arneson as the referee, and the Lake Geneva players as being Gary Gygax, Ernie Gygax, Terry Kuntz, and himself. Kuntz describes Dave Megarry as the de facto leader of the group, as he understood the Blackmoor game and campaign world.[3] In Wargaming magazine, Rob Kuntz wrote a short summary of their first Blackmoor session:

"Gary, myself and a few other local wargamers were the first "lucky" fellows from Lake Geneva to experience the rigors of Blackmoor. This idea caught on deeply with Gary after an exciting adventure in which our party of heroes fought a troll, were fireballed by a magic-user, then fled to the outdoors (being chased by the Magic-user and his minions), fought four (gulp!) Balrogs, followed a map to sixteen ogres and destroyed them with a wish from a sword we had procured from the hapless troll earlier."[4]

In 1972, at age 17 Kuntz only lived a few blocks away from Gygax, and got the chance to play in the second-ever game session of Dungeons & Dragons that was set in the World of Greyhawk, where his player character was a fighter named Robilar.[2]:240 Kuntz began running his own "Castle El Raja Key" campaign for Gygax in 1973.[2]:7 His campaign world was known as Kalibruhn.[2]:240 By 1974, the group of D&D players in the Greyhawk game sometimes hosted over 20 people, so Kuntz became the co-dungeon-master, so that each dungeon master could focus on smaller groups with a dozen players.[2]:7 Kuntz pulled in some elements of his own campaign into Greyhawk, and some levels of El Raja Key become merged into Castle Greyhawk.[2]:7

TSR

Gygax formed TSR in 1973 and was hired as the first full-time employee for the company in mid-1975, and soon after Rob Kuntz, Terry Kuntz, Tim Kask, and Dave Megarry also became employees.[2]:8 Kuntz was the sixth employee of TSR and was initially hired to work in shipping, but because of the small size of the company, everyone got a chance to do some design work, allowing Kuntz to co-author the Greyhawk supplement (1975).[2]:240 Kuntz also co-authored Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes (1976) with James M. Ward.[2]:8 That same year Kuntz, along with Gygax and Brad Stock, redeveloped the Lankhmar wargame for publication by TSR, from the original design by Fritz Leiber and Harry Fischer.[2]:9 His short fiction story "The Quest for the Vermillion Volume" appeared in The Strategic Review Vol. II #1 (February, 1976), and was the first work of fiction that TSR published.[2]:238, 240 Gygax credits Kuntz with "substantial ideas" in Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (1980), which was originally run as an adventure at Origins II in 1976.[2]:240 Kuntz served in the company in many positions, as designer, editor, Director of Shipping, columnist for the Dragon Magazine, Convention Chairman (Gen Con VIII & IX and Winter Fantasy 1) and oversaw the AD&D line's licensing to Judges Guild for a short time period.

As a D&D player, Kuntz developed the character of Robilar, the first character to successfully complete Tomb of Horrors,[5] among other exploits. Because of Kuntz' imaginative play of this character, Gary Gygax awarded him co-Dungeon Master status for Gygax's original Greyhawk home campaign.[citation needed]

As Gygax's friend and co-DM, Kuntz influenced the development of the Greyhawk milieu.[citation needed] For example, Gygax adapted Kuntz' dark god "Tharzduun" into the entity known today as Tharizdun.[citation needed] The names of the characters Tzunk and Bilarro are anagrams for his or his character's names.

Kuntz has authored or co-authored several D&D publications, including the first edition of Deities & Demigods.

Kuntz wanted to move entirely to game design and write a supplement based on his world of Kalibruhn, but the company would not let him get more involved in creative works so Kuntz left TSR in 1977.[2]:240 Kuntz went to college and then got married in the years that followed, while continuing to design his own game material.[2]:240 Gygax was expanding Greyhawk in the early 1980s, and brought in Eric Shook and Kuntz to TSR to help him manage this creative work.[2]:15 Kuntz designed a two-part tournament adventure based on one that he ran while in college, called "The Maze of Xaene", set in Great Kingdom of the Greyhawk world and featuring its king Ivid V; James Ward ran this adventure in the D&D tournament at EastCon in 1982, but TSR never published the adventure.[2]:240 Kuntz and Tom Wham designed the board game "King of the Tabletop" which appeared in Dragon #77 (September 1983).[2]:241 Kuntz wrote WG5: Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984), based on his early role-playing adventures.[2]:15 Kuntz continued to play and participate as a judge for Gygax in the Greyhawk campaign until Gygax closed it down in 1985 when he left TSR.[2]:240

Creations Unlimited and New Infinities

Kuntz left TSR when Gygax was forced out, and was very protective of his intellectual property, never having signed the rights to Kalibruhn to anyone.[2]:241 Kuntz created his own company Creations Unlimited in 1986 to hold and protect the rights to his game world and other creations.[2]:241 The company published a set of four linked adventures: The Maze of Zayene, Part 1: Prisoners of the Maze (1987), The Maze of Zayene Part 2: Dimensions of Flight (1987), The Maze of Zayene, Part 3: Tower Chaos (1987) and The Maze of Zayene, Part 4: The Eight Kings (1987); Kuntz created the first two adventures while he was in college, and had subsequently run them at EastCon in 1983.[2]:241 The company's fifth and final publication was Garden of the Plantmaster (1987); Kuntz had other publications planned, the first of which was to be RPGA tournament adventure "(To the) City of Brass", followed by "Hidden Realms of Zayene", but Creations Unlimited never released any of these.[2]:241

Kuntz contributed two adventures to the TSR adventure collection Fate of Istus (1989), one of which included a lich named "Xaene the Accursed".[2]:241 By 1988, New Infinities Productions was planning to start the "Fantasy Master" line to present a version of the Castle and City of Greyhawk that Gygax and Kuntz had originally envisioned; Kuntz would have contributed to what was going to have been known as "Castle Dunfalcon".[2]:239 However, the New Infinities investors forced the company into bankruptcy, and none of this work went into print.[2]:239

Later RPG projects

Necromancer Games announced a partnership with Rob Kuntz on May 16, 2001, after obtaining a license to revise his Creations Unlimited adventures for the d20 System.[2]:366 Necromancer Games reprinted the first three Maze adventures in 2001.[2]:242 He also wanted to work on completing his City of Brass for publication, but due to delays on their publication of the "Maze of Zayene" series, Kuntz ended his relationship with Necromancer.[2]:242 Different Worlds Publications published The Eight Kings (2004) by Kuntz, the final adventure in series of four adventures that Necromancer had not finished publishing.[2]:89

Troll Lord Games announced on November 2, 2001, that they would publish books written by Kuntz.[2]:378 Troll Lord published the adventure Dark Druids (2002) by Kuntz, which he originally wrote in 1976 and set in the Gnarley Forest of Greyhawk.[2]:242 This was intended to be followed a Myths & Legends series starting with "Codex Germania," but Kuntz realized he was too busy with other work and could not complete this first myth book so he withdrew from working with Troll Lord.[2]:379 Kenzer & Company reprinted his adventure Garden of the Plant Master (2003) and later published CZA1: Dark Chateau (2005), which Kuntz had designed as part of Castle Zagyg.[2]:242 He began working on his City of Brass with Kenzer, but his leg was shattered before he was able to finish the adventure, and Kenzer found another author to finish up the book and they published it as Sir Robilar's City of Brass (2003) for HackMaster.[2]:242

Kuntz wrote a series of adventures for Maure Castle, published in Dungeon Magazine:

  • Maure Castle: "The Statuary", DUNGEON #112, with Gary Gygax July 2004
  • Return to Maure Castle: "Chambers of Antiquities", DUNGEON #124, July 2005
  • Return to Maure Castle: "The Greater Halls", DUNGEON #139, October 2006

The version of Maure Castle that he created for these magazines was an original work, rather than using El Raja Key, to allow Kuntz to protect his IP.[2]:242

In 2006 he started a new company, Pied Piper Publishing, to maintain control of his IP.[2]:243 The company would publish his latest roleplaying adventures which were released on a limited-edition basis:

  • CZ1: Cairn of the Skeleton King (2006), the debut product from the company, an original adventure for AD&D.[2]:243 The adventure features artwork by Jim Holloway, former TSR, Inc. artist.
  • Tower of Blood (2007), co-authored with Lance Hawvermale

Kuntz started to republish his early campaign materials, such as dungeon levels that had either been designed for Castle Greyhawk or Castle El Raja Key, such as RJK1: Bottle City (2007) and The Original Living Room (2007), both parts from the Castle Greyhawk shared by Gygax and Kuntz.[2]:25

The following were published, including material from the original Lake Geneva Castle & Campaign:

  • The Original Living Room (2008)
  • The Original Bottle City (2008)
  • El Raja Key's Arcane Treasury with Eric N. Shook (2009)
  • Daemonic & Arcane (2009)
  • The Stalk (2009)
  • Dungeon Set #1 - Levels 1-6 with Ramsey Dow (2009)
  • Dungeon Set #2 - Levels 7-12 with Ramsey Dow (2009)
  • Black Festival (fiction novella, 2010)[2]:243

Kuntz closed Pied Piper Publishing in 2010.[citation needed] Kuntz signed a contract with Black Blade Publishing to pick back up where he left off working on the "Lake Geneva Castle and Campaign dungeon levels".[2]:243

In 2013, Kuntz announced he would be partnering with Chaotic Henchmen Productions (Guy Fullerton) to re-release and reprint Dark Druids and that it was in its "final stages"[6] (previously published in 2002 and 2006),[7] though this edition wouldn't see print until 2015.[8] Dark Druids was again later re-published digitally by Kuntz' Three Line Studios in 2023.

Kuntz' next company, Three Line Studio, opened its doors on 26 October 2016, with the re-issue of the El Raja Key Archive on DVD and USB.[9] He also founded Three Little Books (TLB) and the RJK Estate to manage and separate his IP.

In 2018, Kuntz began development of Lake Geneva Days, an intended "streaming series or feature film."[10]

"In 2020 he announced his retirement from the print publication RPG industry to pursue other media projects including a contracted novel about, and film adaptation for, Lake Geneva Days”, though it remained "under development" through 2021, and was still unreleased in 2024.[10]

In 2023, Kuntz came out of apparent retirement and Three Line Studios released Kuntz' self-published The Return of Robilar PDF,[11] which contains Kuntz' own version of Robilar's history as his personal player character, specifying that it was not the Robilar who exists in the World of Greyhawk setting, but rather that the name Robilar was "used without permission" but "strictly ... for historical purposes."[12][13]

Awards

  • 1986, Charles S. Roberts Award, Kings & Things board game (West End Games)[citation needed]
  • 2005, Golden ENnie for Best Adventure,[14] Maure Castle in Dungeon Magazine #112 (Paizo Publishing)

Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ↑ a b Kask, Tim (December 1975). "In the Cauldron". The Strategic Review (#5): 2, 8. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR, Inc..
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Appelcline, Shannon (2011) Designers & Dragons, Mongoose Publishing ISBN: 978-1-907702-58-7.
  3. ↑ Robert Kuntz: "Dave Arneson was the judge, and the other players were: EGG, Terry Kuntz, Ernie Gygax and myself. Megarry was the de facto leader as he understood the campaign area and rules and so he was our overall integration point in the adventure which took place on EGG's dining table." Original D&D Discussion: Lake Geneva Gaming Group? , 2010-07-19.
  4. ↑ Peterson, Jon (2012) "1.10. Blackmoor" in Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games (2nd ed.), Unreason Press
  5. ↑ Gygax, Gary (Sep 1976). "Letter from Gary Gygax". Alarums and Excursions (15). Lee Gold.
  6. ↑ Kuntz, Rob. Updates on the Run. Three Line Studio, November 30, 2013. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Dark Druids by Robert J. Kuntz. Chaotic Henchment Productions , March 15, 2015. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  8. ↑ Dark Druids. Three Line Studio Store. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  9. ↑ Three Line Studio/Three Little Books line Goes Live. Lake Geneva Original RPG , October 26, 2016. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  10. ↑ a b RJK Estate Intellectual Property Library , Last updated March 12, 2021. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  11. ↑ Latest Release: The Return of Robilar. Three Line Studios , August 19, 2023. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  12. ↑ Disclaimer. TLBGames. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  13. ↑ The Return of Robilar. Three Line Studio Store. Retrieved on 15 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Gold Winner. ENnie Awards. enworld.org.

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image
Retrieved from "https://gateway.greyhawk.city/greyhawkwiki/index.php?title=Robert_J._Kuntz&oldid=87021"