Rob Lazzaretti
Encyclopedia
Rob Lazzaretti is an artist whose work has appeared largely as a cartographer for roleplaying games, particularly the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game from TSR
.
books, and as he puts it "was instantly hooked". Lazzaretti was really drawn into the RPG hobby through the game Call of Cthulhu
: "In 1984, my father and I went to the Gen Con
Game Fair in Racine, Wisconsin. There I met Sandy Petersen
, and he introduced me to the game. I was really drawn to the imagery." His interest in the visual elements of RPGs led him to consider a career as an artist: "Everybody in my gaming group had me drawing sketches of their characters. In high school, I was the kid drawing all the weird stuff for people I knew, like Iron Maiden
album covers on the backs of their jackets. Art always seems to win people over, even if they think you're a geek." Lazzaretti went on to study fine art at Illinois State University
, but then switched over to design.
Lazaretti worked as an intern at Game Designers Workshop for a year, helping produce products such as Dark Conspiracy
and Dangerous Journeys
. TSR
contacted him after seeing his cartography work on Dangerous Journeys, and he took a job with TSR in 1993. He immediately began working on the Planescape
campaign setting: "It was a big responsibility. I hadn't done posters before, and suddenly I was doing a ton of them. Huge poster-sized maps. I couldn't believe how many there were. [TSR artist] Dennis Kauth was kind of my teacher and showed me the ropes." After working on numerous TSR products, Lazzaretti became the Art Director of Cartography for Wizards of the Coast
, overseeing the production of maps for all Wizards of the Coast role-playing game products. This work included the Dark•Matter
setting for the Alternity
game: "I had a blast doing the cartography... I read Wolfgang
's initial text and started doing conceptual stuff right away. It didn't even seem like work. I think Dark•Matter will be one of the best things I've done for years to come." Lazzaretti also helped to create a cohesive look for the core books and dungeon maps for the Dungeons & Dragons third edition.
and Traveller
roleplaying games before working largely as a cartographer for many Dungeons & Dragons products since 1994. He has also worked as a cartographer for other roleplaying game companies such as Green Ronin Publishing
and 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 from TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
.
Biography
Rob Lazzaretti was born and raised in central Illinois. His father was an avid wargamer, and introduced him to role-playing games; while they were at a hobby shop, Lazzaretti discovered the first edition Advanced Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & 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...
books, and as he puts it "was instantly hooked". Lazzaretti was really drawn into the RPG hobby through the game 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:...
: "In 1984, my father and I went to the Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
Game Fair in Racine, Wisconsin. There I met Sandy Petersen
Sandy Petersen
Carl Sanford Joslyn Petersen is a game designer.Petersen was born in St. Louis, Missouri and attended University of California, Berkeley, majoring in zoology....
, and he introduced me to the game. I was really drawn to the imagery." His interest in the visual elements of RPGs led him to consider a career as an artist: "Everybody in my gaming group had me drawing sketches of their characters. In high school, I was the kid drawing all the weird stuff for people I knew, like Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
album covers on the backs of their jackets. Art always seems to win people over, even if they think you're a geek." Lazzaretti went on to study fine art at Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
, but then switched over to design.
Lazaretti worked as an intern at Game Designers Workshop for a year, helping produce products such as Dark Conspiracy
Dark Conspiracy
Dark Conspiracy is a near-future horror role-playing game originally developed by Game Designers' Workshop in 1991. In 1997, the Second Edition was published by DPI...
and Dangerous Journeys
Dangerous Journeys
Dangerous Journeys is a roleplaying game created by Gary Gygax, the co-creator of the original Dungeons & Dragons system. The game was originally announced as Dangerous Dimensions but was changed to Dangerous Journeys in response to a threat of a lawsuit from TSR, Inc., the publishers of Dungeons...
. TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
contacted him after seeing his cartography work on Dangerous Journeys, and he took a job with TSR in 1993. He immediately began working on the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting: "It was a big responsibility. I hadn't done posters before, and suddenly I was doing a ton of them. Huge poster-sized maps. I couldn't believe how many there were. [TSR artist] Dennis Kauth was kind of my teacher and showed me the ropes." After working on numerous TSR products, Lazzaretti became the Art Director of Cartography for 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...
, overseeing the production of maps for all Wizards of the Coast role-playing game products. This work included the Dark•Matter
Dark•Matter
1Dark•Matter is a science fiction/conspiracy theory campaign setting that was originally published in 1999 by Wizards of the Coast as the second campaign setting for the Alternity role-playing game. It was written by Wolfgang Baur and Monte Cook...
setting for the Alternity
Alternity
Alternity is a science fiction role-playing game published by TSR in 1998...
game: "I had a blast doing the cartography... I read Wolfgang
Wolfgang Baur
Wolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...
's initial text and started doing conceptual stuff right away. It didn't even seem like work. I think Dark•Matter will be one of the best things I've done for years to come." Lazzaretti also helped to create a cohesive look for the core books and dungeon maps for the Dungeons & Dragons third edition.
Works
Rob Lazzaretti worked as an artist on the Dangerous JourneysDangerous Journeys
Dangerous Journeys is a roleplaying game created by Gary Gygax, the co-creator of the original Dungeons & Dragons system. The game was originally announced as Dangerous Dimensions but was changed to Dangerous Journeys in response to a threat of a lawsuit from TSR, Inc., the publishers of Dungeons...
and Traveller
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
roleplaying games before working largely as a cartographer for many Dungeons & Dragons products since 1994. He has also worked as a cartographer for other roleplaying game companies such as Green Ronin Publishing
Green Ronin Publishing
Green Ronin Publishing is an American company based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2000 by Chris Pramas, they have published several role-playing game–related products...
and 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...
.
External links
- Official website
- http://pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=36