David Noonan (game designer)
Encyclopedia
David Noonan is an author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
from Wizards of the Coast
.
in 1998. He contribued to the design of the three core books for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons
. For the new Dungeon Master's Guide
, he developed the treasure tables, based on guidance from Monte Cook
, and worked on the non-player character
s that appear in the book's second chapter. Noonan also contributed some prestige classes to Sword and Fist
, as well as designing a large part of Song and Silence
, and spent five months on editing and design work for the third edition Manual of the Planes
.
On December 2nd, 2008 David Noonan was one of those "let go" from his employment with Wizards of the Coast.
(2000), the 3rd edition Dungeon Master's Guide
, Monster Manual
, and Player's Handbook
(2003), Sword and Fist
(2001), Song and Silence
(2001), Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil
(2001), Psionics Handbook
(2001), Manual of the Planes
(2001), Deep Horizon (2001), Stronghold Builder's Guidebook
(2002), Epic Level Handbook
(2002), Deities and Demigods (2002), Book of Vile Darkness
(2002), Races of Faerûn
(Forgotten Realms
) (2003), the 3.5 revised Dungeon Master's Guide
, Monster Manual
, and Player's Handbook
(2003), Complete Warrior
(2003), Arms and Equipment Guide
(2003), Whispers of the Vampire's Blade (Eberron
) (2004), Unearthed Arcana
(2004), Races of Stone
(2004), Planar Handbook
(2004), Frostburn
(2004), Monster Manual III (2004), Complete Divine
(2004), Stormwrack
(2005), Sandstorm
(2005), Races of the Wild
(2005), Heroes of Battle
(2005), Five Nations (Eberron) (2005), Explorer's Handbook
(Eberron) (2005), Dungeon Master's Guide II
(2005), Complete Adventurer
(2005), Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (2006), and Player's Handbook II (2006).
He also worked on d20 Past
and d20 Future
for the d20 Modern
system, and some writing for the Magic: The Gathering
, 7th edition (2001).
For companies besides Wizards, Noonan was worked on the Kingdoms of Kalamar
Player's Guide (2002) for Kenzer and Company, and the Shackled City
Adventure Path
(2005) for Paizo Publishing
.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
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...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
from Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
.
Role-playing games
David Noonan began his career with Wizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
in 1998. He contribued to the design of the three core books for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
. For the new Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
, he developed the treasure tables, based on guidance from Monte Cook
Monte Cook
Monte Cook is a professional table-top role-playing game designer and writer. He is married to Sue Weinlein Cook.-Roleplaying:Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, working primarily on role-playing games. Much of his early work was for Iron Crown Enterprises as an editor and writer...
, and worked on the non-player character
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
s that appear in the book's second chapter. Noonan also contributed some prestige classes to Sword and Fist
Sword and Fist
Sword and Fist: A Guidebook to Fighters and Monks is an optional rulebook for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, written by Jason Carl and notable for its trade paperback format.-Contents:...
, as well as designing a large part of Song and Silence
Song and Silence
Song and Silence: A Guidebook to Rogues and Bards is an optional rulebook for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and notable for its trade paperback format.-Contents:...
, and spent five months on editing and design work for the third edition Manual of the Planes
Manual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
.
On December 2nd, 2008 David Noonan was one of those "let go" from his employment with Wizards of the Coast.
MMORPGs
After Wizards of the Coast, David Noonan joined NCsoft West to work on the westernization for Aion. When work on Aion finished, David went to En Masse Entertainment to assume the role of Lead Writer for the creative writing team working on TERA.Works
Noonan's numerous 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons design and editing credits include Hero Builder's GuidebookHero Builder's Guidebook
Hero Builder's Guidebook is an accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Hero Builder's Guidebook provides assistance to help develop player characters for 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons....
(2000), the 3rd edition Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
, Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
, and Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...
(2003), Sword and Fist
Sword and Fist
Sword and Fist: A Guidebook to Fighters and Monks is an optional rulebook for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, written by Jason Carl and notable for its trade paperback format.-Contents:...
(2001), Song and Silence
Song and Silence
Song and Silence: A Guidebook to Rogues and Bards is an optional rulebook for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and notable for its trade paperback format.-Contents:...
(2001), Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil
Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil
Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil is an adventure module for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting.-Publication history:...
(2001), Psionics Handbook
Psionics Handbook
The Expanded Psionics Handbook is a sourcebook by Bruce Cordell for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game that contains a multitude of rules and options for integrating psychic powers into the D&D game...
(2001), Manual of the Planes
Manual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
(2001), Deep Horizon (2001), Stronghold Builder's Guidebook
Stronghold Builder's Guidebook
Stronghold Builder's Guidebook is a sourcebook for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:This 128-page book begins with a table of contents with a list of tables found in the book, followed by a brief introduction on page 4...
(2002), Epic Level Handbook
Epic Level Handbook
The Epic Level Handbook is a rulebook by Wizards of the Coast for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:This books contained rules for Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition characters to attain levels above 20, the limit in the core rulebooks...
(2002), Deities and Demigods (2002), Book of Vile Darkness
Book of Vile Darkness
Book of Vile Darkness is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The book was written by Monte Cook and published by Wizards of the Coast in October 2002. Described as a "detailed look at the nature of evil," it was the first Dungeons &...
(2002), Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:...
(Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
) (2003), the 3.5 revised Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
, Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
, and Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...
(2003), Complete Warrior
Complete Warrior
Complete Warrior is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game, published by Wizards of the Coast. It replaces and expands upon an earlier rulebook entitled Sword and Fist.-Contents:...
(2003), Arms and Equipment Guide
Arms and Equipment Guide
The Arms and Equipment Guide is the name of two supplementary rule books for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Each describes various equipment that can be used in a campaign.-2nd edition:...
(2003), Whispers of the Vampire's Blade (Eberron
Eberron
Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...
) (2004), Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(2004), Races of Stone
Races of Stone
Races of Stone is an optional sourcebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(2004), Planar Handbook
Planar Handbook
Planar Handbook is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:...
(2004), Frostburn
Frostburn
Frostburn is a supplemental book to the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Frostburn provides rules for adventuring in a cold environment as well as an environment known as frostfell, which is a sort of arctic environment with extreme cold.The book contains...
(2004), Monster Manual III (2004), Complete Divine
Complete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...
(2004), Stormwrack
Stormwrack
Stormwrack is a supplemental source-book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The book has detailed information and descriptions on various types of both realistic and fantastical watery environments, including underwater, the open ocean, ships, coral...
(2005), Sandstorm
Sandstorm (Dungeons & Dragons)
Sandstorm is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:Sandstorm describes how DMs can create adventures and even campaigns set in a desert or wasteland environment. The book details many hazards that are associated with real-life...
(2005), Races of the Wild
Races of the Wild
Races of the Wild is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:Races of the Wild contains background information on the elves and halflings, introduces a race of winged humanoids called "raptorans," as well as giving rules for...
(2005), Heroes of Battle
Heroes of Battle
Heroes of Battle is a hardcover supplement to the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game.-Contents:It is intended for use by Dungeon Masters who want to incorporate large-scale, epic battles into their game...
(2005), Five Nations (Eberron) (2005), Explorer's Handbook
Explorer's Handbook
The Explorer's Handbook is a game manual for the Eberron campaign setting of the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
(Eberron) (2005), Dungeon Master's Guide II
Dungeon Master's Guide II
The Dungeon Master's Guide II is a book of rules for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons seminal fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(2005), Complete Adventurer
Complete Adventurer
Complete Adventurer is a supplemental hard-cover rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game system published by Wizards of the Coast.-Contents:...
(2005), Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (2006), and Player's Handbook II (2006).
He also worked on d20 Past
D20 Past
d20 Past is a d20 based role-playing game released by Wizards of the Coast in 2005 as a supplement to d20 Modern, providing a framework and new rules for campaigns set any historic settings from the Renaissance to World War II, including new character options and rules for early modern firearms...
and d20 Future
D20 Future
d20 Future is an accessory for the d20 Modern role-playing game written by Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker. It facilitates the playing of campaigns in the far future, using elements such as cybernetics, mecha, mutations, robotics, space travel, starships, and xenobiology...
for the d20 Modern
D20 Modern
d20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
system, and some writing for the Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
, 7th edition (2001).
For companies besides Wizards, Noonan was worked on the Kingdoms of Kalamar
Kingdoms of Kalamar
The Kingdoms of Kalamar is a fantasy role-playing game campaign setting created by Kenzer and Company and released in 1994. Shortly after Wizards of the Coast announced the 3rd Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, they announced jointly with Kenzer & Company that Kenzer had acquired a license to produce...
Player's Guide (2002) for Kenzer and Company, and the Shackled City
Shackled City
The Shackled City Adventure Path is a role-playing game campaign designed for Dungeons & Dragons, originally appearing as a series of modules in Dungeon Adventures, later published in a hardcover edition collecting all previous installments plus an additional chapter written especially for the...
Adventure Path
Adventure Path
Adventure Paths are serial adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Though originally applied to the series of Third Edition modules beginning with The Sunless Citadel, the phrase has more recently come to apply nearly exclusively to several lengthy series, each consisting of...
(2005) for Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
.
Magazine works
- Noonan, David. "Beings of Power: Four Gods of GreyhawkGreyhawkGreyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#294. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002. - -----. "Test of the Smoking Eye." DungeonDungeonA dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
#107. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004. - -----. "Zenith Trajectory." DungeonDungeonA dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
#102. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2003.