Steve Miller (game designer)
Encyclopedia
Steve Miller is a game designer and editor who has worked on a number of products for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
from Wizards of the Coast
, and other role-playing games.
with a degree in English, with a Creative Writing emphasis, he began working as a publicist for a television station, and at the same time freelancing as a feature writer and entertainment critic for various weekly newspapers and magazines. During this time he also unsuccessfully attempted to break into the comic book industry.
at TSR. Heard, who handled the scheduling of TSR
's freelancers at the time, set Miller up with editing and design tests. His first freelance assignment came a few months later. After a few months of freelancing, Tim Brown
called Miller and offered him a staff job after Miller wrote him a letter of thanks for providing writing tips: "I'd said in the letter, 'if you have any openings, please keep me in mind,' not really thinking anything would come of it." Miller accepted the job, working on the Ravenloft
and Dragonlance
lines during his time with TSR and later Wizards of the Coast
. Miller co-designed the adventure Die Vecna Die!
with Bruce Cordell
, and co-wrote the first 3rd Edition Forgotten Realms
adventure Into the Dragon's Lair with Sean K. Reynolds
. Between his stints at TSR and Wizards of the Coast, Miller worked for West End Games
on their Star Wars Adventure Journal
product line.
In late June of 2011, Miller began distributing role-playing game material and fiction in digital format under NUELOW Games, with exclusive distribution through OneBookShelf.com websites.
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...
, and other role-playing games.
Early life and education
Steve Miller wanted to be a writer from an early age: "Actually, when I was in first grade, I wanted to be a sheriff's deputy... Then I wrote a little book in first grade called 'The Man Who Watches' about a sheriff's deputy, and I won some sort of prize for it. From then on, I wanted to be a writer." After Miller graduated from the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
with a degree in English, with a Creative Writing emphasis, he began working as a publicist for a television station, and at the same time freelancing as a feature writer and entertainment critic for various weekly newspapers and magazines. During this time he also unsuccessfully attempted to break into the comic book industry.
Career
A fellow gamer suggested that Miller try writing role-playing game material, so the next day Miller was on the phone with Bruce HeardBruce Heard
Bruce Heard is a game designer, and an author of several products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR.-Early life:...
at TSR. Heard, who handled the scheduling of 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....
's freelancers at the time, set Miller up with editing and design tests. His first freelance assignment came a few months later. After a few months of freelancing, Tim Brown
Timothy Brown (game designer)
A game industry veteran of twenty years, Timothy B. Brown has been a designer at Games Designers' Workshop, an editor at Challenge magazine, and the director of product development at TSR, Inc....
called Miller and offered him a staff job after Miller wrote him a letter of thanks for providing writing tips: "I'd said in the letter, 'if you have any openings, please keep me in mind,' not really thinking anything would come of it." Miller accepted the job, working on the Ravenloft
Ravenloft
Ravenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...
and Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
lines during his time with TSR and later 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...
. Miller co-designed the adventure Die Vecna Die!
Die Vecna Die!
Die Vecna Die! is an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons module released in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.. The module is divided into three sections, each taking part in a different campaign setting: Greyhawk, Ravenloft, and Planescape...
with 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...
, and co-wrote the first 3rd Edition 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...
adventure Into the Dragon's Lair with Sean K. Reynolds
Sean K. Reynolds
Sean K Reynolds is a professional game designer 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.-Background:...
. Between his stints at TSR and Wizards of the Coast, Miller worked 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...
on their Star Wars Adventure Journal
Star Wars Adventure Journal
The Star Wars Adventure Journal was a publication distributed by West End Games between 1994 and 1997. Fifteen issues were printed, containing short stories set in the Star Wars Expanded Universe by both well-known and relatively unknown Star Wars authors; adventures and source material for the...
product line.
In late June of 2011, Miller began distributing role-playing game material and fiction in digital format under NUELOW Games, with exclusive distribution through OneBookShelf.com websites.