Bill Coffin
Encyclopedia
Bill Coffin is a writer of novels and role-playing games in the fantasy
and science fiction
genres. Perhaps best known for his work at Palladium Books
from July 1998 through May 2002, he made significant contributions to several of Palladium's game series, most notably Palladium Fantasy
, but also Heroes Unlimited
and Rifts
, and created his own game, Systems Failure
.
Many consider Coffin to have been one of the best writers in the company's history. However, due to a conflict with Kevin Siembieda
, the president and co-founder of Palladium Books, Coffin left the company, much to the disappointment of his fans. At the time of his departure, Coffin was the lead author of six titles in the final stages of production. He was subsequently demoted to second and third-author status on two of these books prior to their release, and the other four were ultimately shelved and have not been rescheduled for publication. In addition, having only received limited support from Palladium, Systems Failure has since gone out of print.
In March 2007, it was revealed that Coffin was working on Septimus, a new campaign setting
for the D6 Space
core book for West End Games
. However, due to financial concerns, the publisher cancelled the project in March 2008. Shortly thereafter, Coffin declared that he would release the game as a PDF under Evil Hat Productions
' FATE system. In May 2009, West End Games announced that they had agreed to publish Septimus again and that it would be released August 2009.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
genres. Perhaps best known for his work at Palladium Books
Palladium Books
Palladium Books is a publisher of role-playing games perhaps best known for its popular, expansive Rifts series . Palladium was founded April 1981 in Detroit, Michigan by current president and lead game designer Kevin Siembieda, and is presently based in Westland, Michigan...
from July 1998 through May 2002, he made significant contributions to several of Palladium's game series, most notably Palladium Fantasy
Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game
The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game is a game produced by Palladium Books. It is set in a unique world, called the Palladium World , with the primary setting being some 10,000 years after a great war between the elves and their dwarven allies...
, but also Heroes Unlimited
Heroes Unlimited
Heroes Unlimited is a superhero role-playing game written by Kevin Siembieda and first published by Palladium Books in 1984. The game is based upon the Palladium Books Megaversal system and is compatible with any other game on the Palladium system, including Aliens Unlimited and Villains...
and Rifts
Rifts (role-playing game)
Rifts is a multi-genre role-playing game created by Kevin Siembieda in 1990 and published continuously by Palladium Books since then. Rifts takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, deriving elements from cyberpunk, science fiction, fantasy, horror, western, mythology and many other genres.Rifts...
, and created his own game, Systems Failure
Systems Failure
Systems Failure is a role-playing game written by Bill Coffin and published by Palladium Books in 1999.The fictional premise for the game is that during the "millennium bug" scare, actual "bugs" appeared...
.
Many consider Coffin to have been one of the best writers in the company's history. However, due to a conflict with Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda is an American artist, writer, designer, and publisher of role-playing games, and the co-founder and president of Palladium Books....
, the president and co-founder of Palladium Books, Coffin left the company, much to the disappointment of his fans. At the time of his departure, Coffin was the lead author of six titles in the final stages of production. He was subsequently demoted to second and third-author status on two of these books prior to their release, and the other four were ultimately shelved and have not been rescheduled for publication. In addition, having only received limited support from Palladium, Systems Failure has since gone out of print.
In March 2007, it was revealed that Coffin was working on Septimus, a new campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the D6 Space
D6 Space
D6 Space is a generic science fiction role-playing game based on the D6 System. Although derived, in part, from material originally presented in The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, D6 Space is published as a stand alone rulebook and is supported by its own line of supplements.-Setting:Being a...
core book for West End Games
West End Games
West End Games was a company that made board, role-playing, and war games. It was founded by Daniel Scott Palter in 1974 in New York, but later moved to Honesdale, Pennsylvania...
. However, due to financial concerns, the publisher cancelled the project in March 2008. Shortly thereafter, Coffin declared that he would release the game as a PDF under Evil Hat Productions
Evil Hat Productions
Evil Hat Productions is a company that produces role-playing games. Chief among them is the free indie RPG, Fate, which has won numerous awards. In 2005, the company began producing a series of commercial role-playing games using an updated version of the FATE system, each focusing on a different...
' FATE system. In May 2009, West End Games announced that they had agreed to publish Septimus again and that it would be released August 2009.
Rifts
– Additional text and concepts. – Additional text. – Additional text and ideas. – Additional text and ideas. – Additional text and ideas. – Additional text and ideas. – Compiling, additional text and ideas, selected material. – Compiling. – Additional text and "words of wisdom". – Additional text and ideas.The Rifter
[Out of Print] [Out of Print] [Out of Print] [Out of Print] – Authored as "Peter Ferkelberger". [Out of Print]External links
- Bill Coffin – "A novelist's blog and everything that goes with it"
- RPGnet game index list of works
- Reliquary Press author profile
- National Underwiter Life & Health author profile and articles
- Bill Coffin's Health and Fitness Blog