Steve Kenson
Encyclopedia
Steve Kenson is a writer and designer of fantasy role-playing game
s (RPGs) and related fiction.
His most notable creation is the d20 System
superhero roleplaying game Mutants & Masterminds for Green Ronin Publishing
, which won multiple ENnie awards. He also designed True20
Adventure Roleplaying and the Freedom City
campaign setting for Green Ronin. He has written material for many RPGs, including: Aberrant
, Champions
, DC Universe
, the Marvel Super-Heroes Adventure Game
, Shadowrun
, Silver Age Sentinels
, and his Mutants and Masterminds.
He has written ten RPG tie-in novels: seven for the original Shadowrun
series, two for Crimson Skies
, and one for MechWarrior
. He wrote a first trilogy Shadowrun books produced by WizKids Games
after they acquired the Shadowrun property from FASA Corporation: Born to Run, Poison Agendas, and Fallen Angels.
In 1993, Kenson helped to found Nashua Outright, a social/support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning youth and their allies, in Nashua, NH. He worked with the group as a volunteer facilitator for thirteen years.
Kenson became a full-time freelance writer for RPGs in 1995. In 2004, he became a line developer for Green Ronin Publishing
, the publisher of Mutants & Masterminds and True20.
Kenson lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire, with his spouse, Christopher Penczak
, a writer and teacher of witchcraft and metaphysics.
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...
s (RPGs) and related fiction.
His most notable creation is the d20 System
D20 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...
superhero roleplaying game Mutants & Masterminds for 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...
, which won multiple ENnie awards. He also designed True20
True20
True20 is an award winning universal generic role-playing game designed by Steve Kenson and published by Green Ronin Publishing.-Settings:...
Adventure Roleplaying and the Freedom City
Freedom City
Freedom City is a fictional, city-based campaign setting for the roleplaying game Mutants & Masterminds. It was designed by Steve Kenson, whose design philosophy for the setting seems based-on and in honor of several classic comic book icons and concepts.-Campaign history:Set somewhere on the east...
campaign setting for Green Ronin. He has written material for many RPGs, including: Aberrant
Aberrant
Aberrant is a role-playing game created by White Wolf Game Studio in 1999, set in 2008 in a world where super-powered humans started appearing one day in 1998. It is the middle setting in the greater Trinity Universe timeline, chronologically situated about 90 years after Adventure!, White Wolf's...
, Champions
Champions (role-playing game)
Champions is a role-playing game published by Hero Games that is designed to simulate and function in a four-color superhero comic book world. It was created by George MacDonald, Steve Peterson, Bruce Harlick, and Ray Greer....
, DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
, the Marvel Super-Heroes Adventure Game
Marvel Super Heroes (role-playing game)
Marvel Superheroes , aka "the FASERIP system," is a role playing game set in the Marvel Universe, first published by TSR under license from Marvel Comics in 1984. In 1986, TSR published an expanded edition, entitled the Marvel Superheroes Advanced Game. Jeff Grubb designed both editions and Steve...
, Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
, Silver Age Sentinels
Silver Age Sentinels
Silver Age Sentinels is a superhero role-playing game published in 2002 by Guardians of Order, creators of Big Eyes, Small Mouth, an anime-themed RPG....
, and his Mutants and Masterminds.
He has written ten RPG tie-in novels: seven for the original Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
series, two for Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies is a media franchise and fictional universe created by Jordan Weisman and Dave McCoy. The series' intellectual property is currently owned by Microsoft Game Studios , although Weisman's new company, Smith & Tinker Inc., has announced that it has licensed the electronic entertainment...
, and one for MechWarrior
MechWarrior
MechWarrior is the title of a series of computer and video games set in the fictional universe of BattleTech-Games:In these games, players take control of a single BattleMech and combat other BattleMechs, tanks, infantry, and more, from within the cockpit of their machine. A third-person alternate...
. He wrote a first trilogy Shadowrun books produced by WizKids Games
WizKids
WizKids, Inc. is an American New Jersey-based company that first made its mark in the game industry producing collectible miniatures wargames. WizKids was purchased by and is a subsidiary of National Entertainment Collectibles Association. The company was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman, a...
after they acquired the Shadowrun property from FASA Corporation: Born to Run, Poison Agendas, and Fallen Angels.
In 1993, Kenson helped to found Nashua Outright, a social/support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning youth and their allies, in Nashua, NH. He worked with the group as a volunteer facilitator for thirteen years.
Kenson became a full-time freelance writer for RPGs in 1995. In 2004, he became a line developer for 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...
, the publisher of Mutants & Masterminds and True20.
Kenson lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire, with his spouse, Christopher Penczak
Christopher Penczak
Christopher Penczak is an author in the fields of paganism and magic.In 2000, he was ordained as a minister by the Universal Brotherhood Movement, Inc...
, a writer and teacher of witchcraft and metaphysics.