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|first greyhawk work= | |first greyhawk work = WG9 ''[[Gargoyle (adventure)|Gargoyle]]'' | ||
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'''Ralph Williams''', almost always referred to as '''Skip Williams''', is an American game designer | '''Ralph Williams''', almost always referred to as '''Skip Williams''', is an American game designer. | ||
Williams | He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry. He is best known as co-creator of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' third edition and as the longtime former author of ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' magazine's "Sage Advice" column. | ||
== | ==Career== | ||
Williams was informally acquainted with many of the people who developed and influenced the original ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game, going to school with [[Gary Gygax]]'s son Ernie and participating in a gaming group that Gary used to playtest some of the ''AD&D'' rules.<ref name="malhavocpress.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.malhavocpress.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?int_dnd30_Skip |title=A Talk With Skip Williams |access-date=2009-01-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714024136/http://www.malhavocpress.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?int_dnd30_Skip |archive-date=2011-07-14 }}</ref> Williams started out working as a part-time clerk in [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]'s Dungeon Hobby Shop in 1976.<ref name="Dragon #276">{{cite journal| last = Ryan| first = Michael G.| title = ProFiles: Skip Williams| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| issue = #276| pages = 12, 14, 16| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| location = Renton, Washington|date=October 2000}}</ref><ref name="HG">{{Cite book | contribution=Dawn Patrol | title=Hobby Games: The 100 Best | last=Williams | first=Skip | editor-last=Lowder | editor-first=James | editor-link=James Lowder | publisher=Green Ronin Publishing | year=2007 | pages=73–76 | isbn=978-1-932442-96-0}}</ref> He is thanked in the preface to the 1978 ''Player's Handbook''. | |||
Williams first worked for TSR in an administrative capacity, working as a cashier, in shipping, and doing various office tasks.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} Williams directed the Gen Con game fair from 1980-1983.<ref name="Dragon #276"/> Williams was laid off after a time but continued to work for TSR in a freelance role, performing odd jobs. It was in this circumstance in 1987 that he came to write "Sage Advice" in the pages of ''Dragon''. He originally responded personally to individual letters asking for rules clarification, writing on TSR letterhead, but keeping them on disc and a loose database of the answers. This eventually led to the ''Sage Advice'' column.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jay Scott |title=Very Special Guest: Skip Williams! Legends & Lore #73 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCWEB8Af3Cc?t=2430 |format=interview |work=Lord Gosumba |publisher=YouTube.com. 40:30 |date=4 November 2020 |accessdate=28 November 2022 |}}</ref> Williams recalls that ''Dragon'' editor [[Roger E. Moore]] simply could not find anyone else willing to regularly write the column.<ref name="malhavocpress.com"/> Williams held the position until 2004.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} In 1989, Williams joined the [[RPGA]] staff for a few years before becoming a roleplaying game designer for TSR.<ref name="Dragon #276"/> From 1990 to 1992 he was also Associate Editor of ''[[Polyhedron]]'' magazine.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} | |||
When TSR was purchased by [[Wizards of the Coast]], he moved from Wisconsin to Washington.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} Williams was promoted to Senior Designer,{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} and worked on the third edition design team with [[Monte Cook]] and [[Jonathan Tweet]].<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7|page=287}}</ref> Cook, Tweet, and Williams all contributed to the third edition ''Players Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', and then each designer wrote one of the books based on those contributions.<ref name="Dragon #275">{{cite journal| title = Profiles: Monte Cook| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| issue = #275| pages = 10, 12, 14| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| location = Renton, Washington|date=September 2000}}</ref> Williams also worked on the new edition of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.<ref name="Dragon #276"/> Although he was released from Wizards of the Coast in 2002 and has since moved back to Wisconsin, he continued to produce ''D&D'' and d20 material on a freelance basis up until 2005. His publications from this time include "Cry Havoc!" published by Monte Cook's Malhavoc Press and ''Races of the Wild'' from [[Wizards of the Coast]]. He has appeared as the author of the "Ask The Kobold" column for ''Kobold Quarterly''. | |||
In 2015, he agreed to write scenarios for the Kickstarter "Dungeon of the Day",<ref name="kickstarter.com/projects/1059822030">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1059822030/dungeon-of-the-day|title=Dungeon of the Day}}</ref> a Megaton Games production. | |||
Williams and his wife Penny live in rural Wisconsin in a century-old farmhouse surrounded by several acres of abandoned farmland.<ref name="HG"/> | |||
* | == External links == | ||
{{External link disclaimer}} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=385 |title=Pen & Paper listing for Skip Williams |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509131144/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=385 |archive-date=2008-05-09 }} | |||
*Williams, Skip, and [[David C. Sutherland III]]. "Beyond the [[Flanaess]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' Annual'' #1. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996. | ==Greyhawk works== | ||
* Boucher, Grant, and William W. Connors, Steve Gilbert, Bruce Nesmith, Chris Mortika, and Skip Williams. ''[[Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990. | |||
* [[Dave Collins|Collins, Dave]] and [[Skip Williams]]. WG9 ''[[Gargoyle]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. Item code TSR9251. | |||
* [[Jean Rabe|Rabe, Jean]] and [[Skip Williams]]. WG10 ''[[Child's Play]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. Item code TSR9265. | |||
* [[Skip Williams|Williams, Skip]]. ''Axe of the Dwarvish Lords''. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999. Item code TSR11347. | |||
:———. "[[Bahamut]] and [[Tiamat]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #272. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000. | |||
:———. "A History of the [[Rod of Seven Parts]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #224. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. | |||
:———. ''[[The Rod of Seven Parts]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996. | |||
* Williams, Skip, and [[David C. Sutherland III]]. "Beyond the [[Flanaess]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' Annual'' #1. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996. | |||
==External | == External links == | ||
{{External link disclaimer}} | |||
*[http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=385 Pen & Paper listing for Skip Williams]. | *[http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=385 Pen & Paper listing for Skip Williams]. | ||
== References == | |||
=== Notes === | |||
<references group="note" /> | |||
=== Citations === | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Authors|Williams, Skip]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:55, 2 May 2025
| Skip Williams | |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | United States |
| First Greyhawk work: | WG9 Gargoyle |
Ralph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer.
He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry. He is best known as co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons third edition and as the longtime former author of Dragon magazine's "Sage Advice" column.
Career
Williams was informally acquainted with many of the people who developed and influenced the original Dungeons & Dragons game, going to school with Gary Gygax's son Ernie and participating in a gaming group that Gary used to playtest some of the AD&D rules.[1] Williams started out working as a part-time clerk in TSR's Dungeon Hobby Shop in 1976.[2][3] He is thanked in the preface to the 1978 Player's Handbook.
Williams first worked for TSR in an administrative capacity, working as a cashier, in shipping, and doing various office tasks.[citation needed] Williams directed the Gen Con game fair from 1980-1983.[2] Williams was laid off after a time but continued to work for TSR in a freelance role, performing odd jobs. It was in this circumstance in 1987 that he came to write "Sage Advice" in the pages of Dragon. He originally responded personally to individual letters asking for rules clarification, writing on TSR letterhead, but keeping them on disc and a loose database of the answers. This eventually led to the Sage Advice column.[4] Williams recalls that Dragon editor Roger E. Moore simply could not find anyone else willing to regularly write the column.[1] Williams held the position until 2004.[citation needed] In 1989, Williams joined the RPGA staff for a few years before becoming a roleplaying game designer for TSR.[2] From 1990 to 1992 he was also Associate Editor of Polyhedron magazine.[citation needed]
When TSR was purchased by Wizards of the Coast, he moved from Wisconsin to Washington.[citation needed] Williams was promoted to Senior Designer,[citation needed] and worked on the third edition design team with Monte Cook and Jonathan Tweet.[5] Cook, Tweet, and Williams all contributed to the third edition Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual, and then each designer wrote one of the books based on those contributions.[6] Williams also worked on the new edition of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.[2] Although he was released from Wizards of the Coast in 2002 and has since moved back to Wisconsin, he continued to produce D&D and d20 material on a freelance basis up until 2005. His publications from this time include "Cry Havoc!" published by Monte Cook's Malhavoc Press and Races of the Wild from Wizards of the Coast. He has appeared as the author of the "Ask The Kobold" column for Kobold Quarterly.
In 2015, he agreed to write scenarios for the Kickstarter "Dungeon of the Day",[7] a Megaton Games production.
Williams and his wife Penny live in rural Wisconsin in a century-old farmhouse surrounded by several acres of abandoned farmland.[3]
External links
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.
Greyhawk works
- Boucher, Grant, and William W. Connors, Steve Gilbert, Bruce Nesmith, Chris Mortika, and Skip Williams. Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
- Collins, Dave and Skip Williams. WG9 Gargoyle. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. Item code TSR9251.
- Rabe, Jean and Skip Williams. WG10 Child's Play. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. Item code TSR9265.
- Williams, Skip. Axe of the Dwarvish Lords. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999. Item code TSR11347.
- ———. "Bahamut and Tiamat." Dragon #272. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- ———. "A History of the Rod of Seven Parts." Dragon #224. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
- ———. The Rod of Seven Parts. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
- Williams, Skip, and David C. Sutherland III. "Beyond the Flanaess." Dragon Annual #1. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
External links
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
- ↑ a b A Talk With Skip Williams.
- ↑ a b c d Ryan, Michael G. (October 2000). "ProFiles: Skip Williams". Dragon (#276): 12, 14, 16. Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Williams, Skip (2007) Lowder, James , ed. Hobby Games: The 100 Best, Green Ronin Publishing, pp. 73–76 ISBN: 978-1-932442-96-0.
- ↑ Jay Scott. Very Special Guest: Skip Williams! Legends & Lore #73 (interview). Lord Gosumba. YouTube.com. 40:30, 4 November 2020. Retrieved on 28 November 2022.
- ↑ Shannon Appelcline (2011) Designers & Dragons, Mongoose Publishing, p. 287 ISBN: 978-1-907702-58-7.
- ↑ (September 2000). "Profiles: Monte Cook". Dragon (#275): 10, 12, 14. Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Dungeon of the Day.