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{{Refimprove|date=April 2009}}
{{Creator
|image                = [[File:Froideval01.jpg|240px]]
|caption              =
|name                = François<br> Marcela-Froideval
|nationality          = French
|born                = 10 December 1958
|birthplace          = France
|died                = June 2025 (66 years)
|deathplace          =
|first greyhawk work  = Oriental Adventures
|notableworks        = ''[[Black Moon Chronicles|Chroniques de la Lune Noire]]'', Fatum, 666
|alias                =
|spouse              =
|children            = Amber (daughter)
|relatives            =
|signature            =
|sigcaption          =
}}


'''François Marcela-Froideval''' (born 10th of [[December]] [[1958]]) is a [[France|French]] [[role-playing game]], [[videogame]] and [[comic]] [[scenarist]].
'''François Marcela-Froideval''' was a French role-playing game creator, video game producer, and comic author.  He was an author and co-author of some early D&D books and former assistant to [[Gary Gygax]].<ref name=europe /><ref name=bedetheque />


Froideval had a major influence on the introduction of role-playing games in France, mainly as [[editor in chief]] of the now-defunct ''Casus Belli'' role-playing magazine. During this time, he was one of the three authors who established the French term for a "[[Munchkin (role-playing games)|munchkin]]", ''Gros Bill'', from the nickname of an overly [[powergaming]] player once in Froideval's group.
== Early life and education ==
[[File:froideval02.jpg|300px|thumb|Froideval, appearing at a signing with his [[Black Moon Chronicles]] hardback.]]  François Marcela-Froideval was born in 1958 and started writing around the age of 15.<ref name=europe /> He studied law and literature, and started getting involved in mind games, war games and role-playing in France in the late 1970s with the Jeux Descartes club.<ref name=europe>{{cite web |title=Francois Froideval |url=https://www.europecomics.com/author/froideval-francois/ |format=About page |publisher=Europe Comics |accessdate= 14 January 2023}}</ref>


He left for the [[United States]] in [[1982]] to join [[TSR, Inc.]], where he worked for four years. His writing contributions include several [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] rules and monster manuals in collaboration with [[Gary Gygax]], like ''[[Oriental Adventures]]''. Back in France, he focused on translating and publishing TSR games until [[1989]].
== Career ==
Froideval had a major influence on the introduction of role-playing games in France, mainly as editor-in-chief of the ''[[Wikipedia:Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]]'' role-playing magazine. He also created the Federation of Strategic and Tactical Simulation Games, of which he was the president.<ref name=bedetheque /> 


He wrote the scenario of several French videogames, working for [[Infogrames]] (''[[Drakkhen]]'') and [[Cryo Interactive]] (''[[Dragon Lore]]'' series).
He left for the United States in 1982 to join [[TSR]],inc.,<ref name=bedetheque>{{cite web |title=Francois Froideval |url=https://www.bedetheque.com/auteur-826-BD-Froideval.html |format= |publisher=Bedetheque |accessdate=14 January 2023}}</ref> where he worked for four years. His writing contributions include several ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' rules books and monster manuals in collaboration with [[Gary Gygax]], like ''[[Oriental Adventures]]''.


In [[1989]], he wrote the scenario of the first [[Black Moon Chronicles]] comic album with drawer [[Olivier Ledroit]]. He kept on writing the scenario until the end of the series in [[2008]].  
In 1986, Froideval would return to France, and oversaw the distribution and translation of TSR products in France until 1989.<ref name=bedetheque /> He wrote the scenario of several French videogames, working for [[Wikipedia:Infogrames|Infogrames]] (''[[Wikipedia:Drakkhen|Drakkhen]]'') and [[Wikipedia:Cryo Interactive|Cryo Interactive]] (''[[Wikipedia:Dragon Lore|Dragon Lore]]'' series).


He currently still writes scenarios for ''Black Moon'' spin-off series, and other French comic series<ref>[http://www.bedetheque.com/biblio-auteur-826-BD-Froideval.html Comic biography] at ''Bedetheque'' {{fr_icon}}</ref>.
He wrote the stories for the ''Black Moon Chronicles'' graphic novel series and for the ''Black Moon'' spin-off series, as well as  for other French comic series.<ref name=bedetheque />


==References==
He was one of the three authors who established the French term for a "[[Wikipedia:Munchkin (role-playing games)|munchkin]]", ''Gros Bill'', from the nickname of an overly powergaming player once in Froideval's group.
{{reflist}}
 
=====Black Moon Chronicles=====
In 1989, he wrote the first [[Black Moon Chronicles|''Chroniques de la Lune Noire'']] or ''"Black Moon Chronicles"'' comic album with illustrator [[Olivier Ledroit]], and the series proved to be enormously popular in France.  He kept writing that volume until the end of the series in 2008, after which a second volume and several spinoffs followed.  The reason this is significant is the names of the nations he used in the first volume of the series (books 1-14) were later canonized as part of [[Western Oerik]] on the [[Sutherland map]] of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> World of Greyhawk</span>™ found in [[dragmag|Dragon]] Annual #1 (1996).  The nations were created while Froideval lived and worked with [[Gary Gygax]] at [[TSR]], inc. <ref>Guiserix, Didier (2011). Casus Belli Vol.4 #1. ''Entretien - Froideval: Gygax et Moi'' [Interview - Froideval: Gygax and Me]. Lyon, France: Black Book Editions. p.242-245</ref> While those names were canonized on that map, nothing more was ever done with them in officially published sources, for the most part.  Those included the [[Empire of Lynn]], [[Tharque]] and [[Tharquish Dominions]], [[Ishtarland]], the [[Elvanian Forest]], [[Kingdoms of the Marches]], [[Ravilla|Elven Lands]], [[Erypt]], and the [[Gulf of Ra]].
 
Froideval dedicated the ''Black Moon Chronicles'' series to Gary Gygax in the last issue of Volume 1, ''End of Times'' (Nov 2008), with this dedication:
{{quoted text|''Cette série est dédiée à E. Gary Gygax, le premier grand rêveur, l'inventeur du jeu de rôle, celui sans qui l'heroïc-fantasy et la science-fiction ne seraient a l'heure actuelle qu'un genre mineur presque oublié. À ce géant discret qui a fait rêver des millions de joueurs.<br/>A mon maître, a mon ami. Puisse-t-il éternellement vivre dans les univers qu'il a patiemment tissés.<br/>In loving memory.}}
{{quoted text|This series is dedicated to E. Gary Gygax, the first dreamer, inventor of the role-playing game, without whom the heroic fantasy and science-fiction genre would only be today a minor, almost forgotten genre. To this quiet giant who made millions of players dream.<br/>To my master and friend. May he live forever in the universe he so patiently built.<br/>In loving memory.'}}
 
== Personal life and death ==
Froideval had one daughter, Amber, with his former spouse Lydie.<ref name=":0" />
 
Froideval's passing was reported by [[Frank Mentzer]] and [[Heidi Gygax]] on 17 June 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mentzer |first=Frank |authorlink=Frank Mentzer |title=Francois Marcela-Froideval has moved on. |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AibzqGRFh/ |format=Social media |archiveurl= |archivedate= |work= |publisher=Facebook |date=17 June 2025 |accessdate=17 June 2025 |quote=He was known for his hobby work in France and came to Gary's attention. He came to Lake Geneva for more than a year, and Gary & he & I got together often for design work and socializing. He proved he could handle a sailboat on the lake, for one thing... Francois produced two trial adventures for AD&D but they were never published by TSR. I still have the manuscripts in my archives. He contributed to Oriental Adventures, and (of greater note in Europe) was founder of ''Casus Belli'' magazine. ... creator and screenwriter of [[Black Moon Chronicles]] series, }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gygax Garland |first=Heidi |authorlink=Heidi Gygax |title=I received the news about an hour ago. |url=https://www.facebook.com/frank.mentzer/posts/pfbid0sXaYa22x47MWGndpknCC33GUc6mi6t8WT9aDPiLhLT3YEoNgr61fQYzNQ4SnockAl?comment_id=704956732147347 |format=Social media |archiveurl= |archivedate= |work= |publisher=Facebook |date=17 June 2025 |accessdate=17 June 2025 ||quote=I received the news about an hour ago myself [3.00pm ET, 17 June 2025] that François had passed to the next plain. It’s sad. So many years have passed that I remember him as a tall, pale fellow with a head full of dark curls. When we were kids, Cindy & I would call him “Kermit” and he would jokingly but loudly declare “I AM NOT ZE FROG!” And we would all giggle.}}</ref>  More reports followed shortly after, confirming his death.<ref>{{cite web |title=François Froideval (66) passed away |url=https://www.stripspeciaalzaak.be/stripnieuws/francois-froideval-66-overleden |format=News blog post |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617231107/https://www.stripspeciaalzaak.be/stripnieuws/francois-froideval-66-overleden |archivedate=June 17, 2025 |work=Strips Speciaal Zaak |publisher= |date=17 June 2025 |accessdate=17 June 2025 |language=Dutch|quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dargaud.com/actualites/disparition-de-francois-froideval-photo|title=Disparition de François Froideval|website=Éditions Dargaud, dargaud.com|accessdate=18 June 2025|language=fr}}</ref>


==External links==
Dargaud, the publishing company of Froideval's ''Black Moon Chronicles'' graphic novels posted an ''in memoriam'' for Froideval the day following his death.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dargaud.com/actualites/disparition-de-francois-froideval-photo|title=Disparition de François Froideval (Death of Francois Froideval)|language=fr|website=Dargaud.com|date=18 June 2025|accessdate=21 July 2025}}</ref>
*[http://lalunenoire.dargaud.com/site/auteur01.htm Francois Froideval] at [[Black Moon Chronicles]] [[Dargaud]] website {{fr_icon}}
*[http://lambiek.net/artists/f/froideval.htm Francois Froideval] at [[Lambiek]]
*[http://www.bedetheque.com/auteur-826-BD-Froideval.html Francois Froideval] at ''Bedetheque'' {{fr_icon}}


== External links ==
{{External link disclaimer}}
* [https://www.dargaud.com/auteurs/froideval-francois Francois Froideval] at Dargaud (publisher) website (''in French'').
* [http://lambiek.net/artists/f/froideval.htm Francois Froideval] at ''Lambiek Comiclopedia'' (Lambiek.net).
* [http://www.bedetheque.com/auteur-826-BD-Froideval.html Francois Froideval] at ''Bedetheque'' (in French).
* {{cite web|title=Francois Marcela-Froideval: Pen & Paper RPG Database |url=http://www.pen-paper.net:80/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1351 |format= |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310234311/http://www.pen-paper.net:80/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1351 |archivedate=March 3rd, 2019 |work=Pen-paper.net |publisher= |date= |dateformat= |month= |year= |accessdate= 14 January 2023 }}


[[Category:1958 births]]
==References==
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons game designers]]
'''Citations'''
[[Category:French scenic designers]]
<references />
[[Category:Living people]]


[[fr:François Marcela-Froideval]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marcela-Froideval, Francois}}
[[Category: Authors]]
[[Category:Western Oerik]]

Latest revision as of 16:11, 17 August 2025

Greyhawk Creator
François
Marcela-Froideval
Nationality:French
Born:10 December 1958, France
Died:June 2025 (66 years)
First Greyhawk work:Oriental Adventures
Notabale works:Chroniques de la Lune Noire, Fatum, 666
Children:Amber (daughter)

François Marcela-Froideval was a French role-playing game creator, video game producer, and comic author. He was an author and co-author of some early D&D books and former assistant to Gary Gygax.[1][2]

Early life and education

Froideval, appearing at a signing with his Black Moon Chronicles hardback.

François Marcela-Froideval was born in 1958 and started writing around the age of 15.[1] He studied law and literature, and started getting involved in mind games, war games and role-playing in France in the late 1970s with the Jeux Descartes club.[1]

Career

Froideval had a major influence on the introduction of role-playing games in France, mainly as editor-in-chief of the Casus Belli role-playing magazine. He also created the Federation of Strategic and Tactical Simulation Games, of which he was the president.[2]

He left for the United States in 1982 to join TSR,inc.,[2] where he worked for four years. His writing contributions include several Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules books and monster manuals in collaboration with Gary Gygax, like Oriental Adventures.

In 1986, Froideval would return to France, and oversaw the distribution and translation of TSR products in France until 1989.[2] He wrote the scenario of several French videogames, working for Infogrames (Drakkhen) and Cryo Interactive (Dragon Lore series).

He wrote the stories for the Black Moon Chronicles graphic novel series and for the Black Moon spin-off series, as well as for other French comic series.[2]

He was one of the three authors who established the French term for a "munchkin", Gros Bill, from the nickname of an overly powergaming player once in Froideval's group.

Black Moon Chronicles

In 1989, he wrote the first Chroniques de la Lune Noire or "Black Moon Chronicles" comic album with illustrator Olivier Ledroit, and the series proved to be enormously popular in France. He kept writing that volume until the end of the series in 2008, after which a second volume and several spinoffs followed. The reason this is significant is the names of the nations he used in the first volume of the series (books 1-14) were later canonized as part of Western Oerik on the Sutherland map of the World of Greyhawk™ found in Dragon Annual #1 (1996). The nations were created while Froideval lived and worked with Gary Gygax at TSR, inc. [3] While those names were canonized on that map, nothing more was ever done with them in officially published sources, for the most part. Those included the Empire of Lynn, Tharque and Tharquish Dominions, Ishtarland, the Elvanian Forest, Kingdoms of the Marches, Elven Lands, Erypt, and the Gulf of Ra.

Froideval dedicated the Black Moon Chronicles series to Gary Gygax in the last issue of Volume 1, End of Times (Nov 2008), with this dedication:

"Cette série est dédiée à E. Gary Gygax, le premier grand rêveur, l'inventeur du jeu de rôle, celui sans qui l'heroïc-fantasy et la science-fiction ne seraient a l'heure actuelle qu'un genre mineur presque oublié. À ce géant discret qui a fait rêver des millions de joueurs.
A mon maître, a mon ami. Puisse-t-il éternellement vivre dans les univers qu'il a patiemment tissés.
In loving memory."

"This series is dedicated to E. Gary Gygax, the first dreamer, inventor of the role-playing game, without whom the heroic fantasy and science-fiction genre would only be today a minor, almost forgotten genre. To this quiet giant who made millions of players dream.
To my master and friend. May he live forever in the universe he so patiently built.
In loving memory.'"

Personal life and death

Froideval had one daughter, Amber, with his former spouse Lydie.[4]

Froideval's passing was reported by Frank Mentzer and Heidi Gygax on 17 June 2025.[5][6] More reports followed shortly after, confirming his death.[7][8]

Dargaud, the publishing company of Froideval's Black Moon Chronicles graphic novels posted an in memoriam for Froideval the day following his death.[4]

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

Citations

  1. ↑ a b c Francois Froideval (About page). Europe Comics. Retrieved on 14 January 2023.
  2. ↑ a b c d e Francois Froideval. Bedetheque. Retrieved on 14 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Guiserix, Didier (2011). Casus Belli Vol.4 #1. Entretien - Froideval: Gygax et Moi [Interview - Froideval: Gygax and Me]. Lyon, France: Black Book Editions. p.242-245
  4. ↑ a b Disparition de François Froideval (Death of Francois Froideval) (in fr). Dargaud.com , 18 June 2025. Retrieved on 21 July 2025.
  5. ↑ Mentzer, Frank. Francois Marcela-Froideval has moved on. (Social media). Facebook, 17 June 2025. Retrieved on 17 June 2025. "He was known for his hobby work in France and came to Gary's attention. He came to Lake Geneva for more than a year, and Gary & he & I got together often for design work and socializing. He proved he could handle a sailboat on the lake, for one thing... Francois produced two trial adventures for AD&D but they were never published by TSR. I still have the manuscripts in my archives. He contributed to Oriental Adventures, and (of greater note in Europe) was founder of Casus Belli magazine. ... creator and screenwriter of Black Moon Chronicles series,"
  6. ↑ Gygax Garland, Heidi. I received the news about an hour ago. (Social media). Facebook, 17 June 2025. Retrieved on 17 June 2025. "I received the news about an hour ago myself [3.00pm ET, 17 June 2025] that François had passed to the next plain. It’s sad. So many years have passed that I remember him as a tall, pale fellow with a head full of dark curls. When we were kids, Cindy & I would call him “Kermit” and he would jokingly but loudly declare “I AM NOT ZE FROG!” And we would all giggle."
  7. ↑ François Froideval (66) passed away (in Dutch) (News blog post). Strips Speciaal Zaak , 17 June 2025. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved on 17 June 2025.
  8. ↑ Disparition de François Froideval (in fr). Éditions Dargaud, dargaud.com. Retrieved on 18 June 2025.
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