Sean K. Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Sean K Reynolds is a professional game design
er who has worked on and co-written a number of D&D
supplements for Wizards of the Coast
, as well as material for other companies. He does not put a period after his middle initial.
, and grew up there. He was introduced to the Dungeons & Dragons
game (with the red Basic Set
and the blue Expert Set
) in 1980 by his cousin, and soon began playng the AD&D game.
Reynolds began working for Time Warner Interactive in 1994, to develop their America Online and websites. Reynolds first entered the role-playing game
industry in 1995, when he was hired by TSR
as their online coordinator, beating out Bruce Cordell
for the same position. According to Reynolds, "I had two goals: to get TSR a website, and to change the company's then-restrictive online policy to something more reasonable." When TSR was bought out by Wizards of the Coast
, Reynolds moved to Washington and worked on Wizards' pre-existing website. Reynolds considers one of his greatest achievements of this time to be the fact that he got TSR/Wotc to relax its "draconian" online policy—enforcement of which in the past was the cause of much bad blood between the company and fans. Wizards of the Coast had a much more open online policy, so Reynolds applied for a job in the company's R&D division as a game designer. He designed such products as The Scarlet Brotherhood
for AD&D, Beyond Science: A Guide to FX for the Alternity
game, and The Green Goblin's Guide to Crime for the Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game. Reynolds also did some design work such as writing RPGA
adventures and contributing to Children of the Night: Ghosts.
By 1998, Reynolds had left his web position and was working full time for WotC as a designer as part of "Team Greyhawk
," the creative team tasked with revitalizing TSR/WotC's oldest campaign setting
.
Reynolds also contributed to the 3rd edition D&D Monster Manual
, introducing some new creatures such as the krenshar
. Reynolds was laid off from WotC in 2002, and afterwards formed his own self-publishing company, "Sean K Reynolds Games." He continued to freelance in the d20 industry while working as an IP developer at Upper Deck
. In July 2008, Paizo hired Reynolds as a developer on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
.
-based 3rd edition include the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
, Savage Species
, and Ghostwalk
(co-written with Monte Cook
).
Game design
Game design, a subset of game development, is the process of designing the content and rules of a game in the pre-production stage and design of gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters during production stage. The term is also used to describe both the game design embodied in a game as...
er who has worked on and co-written a number of D&D
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...
supplements 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...
, as well as material for other companies. He does not put a period after his middle initial.
Background
Sean Reynolds was born in Chula Vista, CaliforniaChula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
, and grew up there. He was introduced to the 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...
game (with the red Basic Set
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
and the blue Expert Set
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...
) in 1980 by his cousin, and soon began playng the AD&D game.
Reynolds began working for Time Warner Interactive in 1994, to develop their America Online and websites. Reynolds first entered the 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...
industry in 1995, when he was hired by 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....
as their online coordinator, beating out Bruce Cordell
Bruce Cordell
Bruce Robert Cordell is an American author of roleplaying games and fantasy novels. He won the Origins Award for Return to the Tomb of Horrors and has won several ENnies as well...
for the same position. According to Reynolds, "I had two goals: to get TSR a website, and to change the company's then-restrictive online policy to something more reasonable." When TSR was bought out by 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...
, Reynolds moved to Washington and worked on Wizards' pre-existing website. Reynolds considers one of his greatest achievements of this time to be the fact that he got TSR/Wotc to relax its "draconian" online policy—enforcement of which in the past was the cause of much bad blood between the company and fans. Wizards of the Coast had a much more open online policy, so Reynolds applied for a job in the company's R&D division as a game designer. He designed such products as The Scarlet Brotherhood
The Scarlet Brotherhood
The Scarlet Brotherhood is a regional sourcebook for the Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The sourcebook was written by Sean K. Reynolds, and published by TSR in 1999 for 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons...
for AD&D, Beyond Science: A Guide to FX for the Alternity
Alternity
Alternity is a science fiction role-playing game published by TSR in 1998...
game, and The Green Goblin's Guide to Crime for the Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game. Reynolds also did some design work such as writing RPGA
RPGA
The RPGA , is part of the organized play arm of Wizards of the Coast that organizes and sanctions role-playing games worldwide, principally under the d20 system...
adventures and contributing to Children of the Night: Ghosts.
By 1998, Reynolds had left his web position and was working full time for WotC as a designer as part of "Team Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
," the creative team tasked with revitalizing TSR/WotC's oldest 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...
.
Reynolds also contributed to the 3rd edition D&D 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...
, introducing some new creatures such as the krenshar
Krenshar
-Publication history:The krenshar appeared in the third edition Monster Manual , and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual .The krenshar appears in the game's fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 .-Description:...
. Reynolds was laid off from WotC in 2002, and afterwards formed his own self-publishing company, "Sean K Reynolds Games." He continued to freelance in the d20 industry while working as an IP developer at Upper Deck
Upper deck
Upper deck may refer to :* The Upper Deck Company, an American trading card business* The upper deck is the highest level internal deck on a ship, i.e. just below the superstructure and open deck....
. In July 2008, Paizo hired Reynolds as a developer on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 2009 by Paizo Publishing...
.
Publications
Books he has worked on for the d20D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
-based 3rd edition include the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is a sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Despite the title, the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is not exclusive to the Living Greyhawk Campaign...
, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published in 1987, detailing the Forgotten Realms setting, containing information on characters, locations, and history as well as setting-specific rules for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
, Savage Species
Savage Species
Savage Species is a sourcebook for use as a supplement in the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game, detailing the use of monstrous races as PC races.-Contents:...
, and Ghostwalk
Ghostwalk
Ghostwalk is a book that introduced a campaign setting for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game, similar to Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance...
(co-written with 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...
).