Lynn Willis
Encyclopedia
Lynn Willis is a wargame
and role-playing game
designer who has done work for Metagaming Concepts
, Game Designers' Workshop
, and Chaosium
.
Willis began by designing science fiction
wargames for Metagaming, starting with the Godsfire in 1976. He also designed the microgame
s Olympica (1978) and Holy War (1979). Chaosium published Lords of the Middle Sea (1978), while GDW published Bloodtree Rebellion (1979).
However, Willis's relationship with Chaosium has proved the most enduring, and there he would turn to role-playing games. He helped founder Greg Stafford
trim and refine the RuneQuest
rules into Basic Role-Playing
, the rules that would serve as the base for many of Chaosium's RPG lines. He is included in the design credits for Worlds of Wonder (1982) and the Ringworld
RPG (1984). With other members of Chaosium, he co-wrote the Ghostbusters
RPG for West End Games
, which won the H.G. Wells Award
for Best Role-playing Rules of 1986. After their original creators left, Willis took on the task of developing new editions of Stormbringer
and Call of Cthulhu
. Throughout, he edited, and sometimes wrote for, Chaosium supplements. Indeed, as other staff members, even Stafford, have departed, he has ended up as not only editor-in-chief, but the longest-running member of the staff.
On Sept 11, 2008 his friend Charlie Krank informed the public that Lynn Willis has Parkinson's disease
.
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
and 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...
designer who has done work for Metagaming Concepts
Metagaming Concepts
Metagaming Concepts was a publisher of board games from 1975 to 1983 owned by Howard Thompson. Metagaming created and popularized the microgame format. It specialized in science fiction wargames; titles included Ogre, G.E.V., Godsfire, Stellar Conquest and WarpWar...
, Game Designers' Workshop
Game Designers' Workshop
Game Designers' Workshop was a wargame and role-playing game publisher from 1973 to 1996. Many of their games are now carried by other publishers.-History:Game Designers' Workshop was originally established June 22, 1973...
, and Chaosium
Chaosium
Chaosium is one of the longer lived publishers of role-playing games still in existence. Founded by Greg Stafford, its first game was actually a wargame, White Bear and Red Moon, which later mutated into Dragon Pass and its sequel, Nomad Gods...
.
Willis began by designing 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...
wargames for Metagaming, starting with the Godsfire in 1976. He also designed the microgame
Microgame
A microgame is a board game or wargame packaged in a small set. Microgames enjoyed popularity during the 1980s...
s Olympica (1978) and Holy War (1979). Chaosium published Lords of the Middle Sea (1978), while GDW published Bloodtree Rebellion (1979).
However, Willis's relationship with Chaosium has proved the most enduring, and there he would turn to role-playing games. He helped founder Greg Stafford
Greg Stafford
Francis Gregory Stafford , usually known as Greg Stafford, is an American game designer, publisher and shaman.-Glorantha and gaming:...
trim and refine the RuneQuest
RuneQuest
RuneQuest is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 1978 by Chaosium, created by Steve Perrin and set in Greg Stafford's mythical world of Glorantha. RuneQuest was notable for its original gaming system and for its verisimilitude in adhering to an original fantasy world...
rules into Basic Role-Playing
Basic Role-Playing
Basic Role-Playing is a role-playing game system which originated in the fantasy-oriented RuneQuest role-playing game rules...
, the rules that would serve as the base for many of Chaosium's RPG lines. He is included in the design credits for Worlds of Wonder (1982) and the Ringworld
Ringworld (role-playing game)
The Ringworld science fiction role-playing game was published by Chaosium in 1984, using the Basic Role-Playing system for its rules and Larry Niven's Ringworld novels as a setting.-Setting:...
RPG (1984). With other members of Chaosium, he co-wrote the Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters (role-playing game)
Ghostbusters is a comedy role-playing game designed by Sandy Petersen, Lynn Willis and Greg Stafford and published by West End Games in 1986. It is based on the 1984 film Ghostbusters....
RPG 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...
, which won the H.G. Wells Award
Origins Award
The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so the 1979 awards were given at the 1980 Origins.The Origins Award is commonly...
for Best Role-playing Rules of 1986. After their original creators left, Willis took on the task of developing new editions of Stormbringer
Stormbringer (role-playing game)
The Stormbringer fantasy role-playing game published by Chaosium puts the players in the world of the Young Kingdoms, based on the Elric of Melniboné books by Michael Moorcock. The game takes its name from Elric’s sword, Stormbringer...
and Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)
Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction role-playing game based on H. P. Lovecraft's story of the same name and the associated Cthulhu Mythos.The game, often abbreviated as CoC, is published by Chaosium.-Setting:...
. Throughout, he edited, and sometimes wrote for, Chaosium supplements. Indeed, as other staff members, even Stafford, have departed, he has ended up as not only editor-in-chief, but the longest-running member of the staff.
On Sept 11, 2008 his friend Charlie Krank informed the public that Lynn Willis has Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
"Some time ago. Lynn Willis began to notice symptoms consistent with the effects of Parkinsons. Being a very private person he chose not to relay this information to the world at large. In keeping with his wishes, I also abided by this and, when asked, would quietly comment on his health to the best of my ability.
Some months ago he stopped driving, and would come to the office when his partner, Marcia, would drive. Recently he has stopped coming in, and I do not know if he will resume work. I offer him this possibility should he feel up to it.
Lynn's guidance and effort have been a cornerstone of Chaosium over the years. Everyone here appreciates his skill and sense of humor, and the work he did to develop Call of Cthulhu and hundreds of other books for Chaosium.
Whatever the future might bring, he will always be part of Chaosium."