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Niles, Douglas
Douglas Niles (born December 1, 1954, in Brookfield, Wisconsin) is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, the '' Star Frontiers'' space opera setting and the '' Top Secret S/I'' espionage role-playing game. Early life and education Niles was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and his family moved to Nashotah, a small town to the north, when he was twelve years old. Niles developed an interest in heroic fantasy, as well as wargaming, and began writing short stories and making short films in high school. Niles attended the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, where he majored in speech and minored in English. While there, he met Chris Schroeder, whom he married three years later. After graduation, Niles began teaching Speech and English at Clinton (Wis.) High School, about 30 miles away from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. “One day, one of my students came ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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Infobox writer may be used to summarize information about a person who is a writer/author (includes screenwriters). If the writer-specific fields here are not needed, consider using the more general ; other infoboxes there can be found in :People and person infobox templates. This template may also be used as a module (or sub-template) of ; see WikiProject Infoboxes/embed for guidance on such usage. Syntax The infobox may be added by pasting the template as shown below into an article. All fields are optional. Any unused parameter names can be left blank or omitted. Parameters Please remove any parameters from an article's infobox that are unlikely to be used. All parameters are optional. Unless otherwise specified, if a parameter has multiple values, they should be comma-separated using the template: : which produces: : , language= If any of the individual values contain commas already, add to use semi-colons as separators: : which produces: : , ps ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heroic Fantasy
Heroic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy in which events occur in a world where magic is prevalent and modern technology is nonexistent. The setting may be entirely fictitious in nature or based upon Earth with some additions. Unlike dark fiction, it provides a setting in which "all men are strong, all women beautiful, all life adventurous, and all problems simple". This means that adventures based in heroic fantasy are unlikely to mention any wider problems that cannot be fixed by a quest. Characters within heroic fantasy are likely to be underdogs of humble origin who are placed in situations forcing them to act in a heroic manner, past what is expected of them. Characteristics Frequently the protagonist is reluctant to be a champion, and/or is of low or humble origin, and may have royal ancestors or parents but does not know it. Though events are usually beyond their control, they are thrust into positions of great responsibility where their mettle is tested in a number of spi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Test Of The Warlords
''Test of the Warlords'' () is a 1984 adventure module for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game. Its associated code is CM1 and is TSR's product number 9117. The adventure takes place in Norwold, which is located in the north east corner of the Known World on Mystara. This campaign contains elements of hack-and-slash adventure, political intrigue and full-scale war. Plot summary ''Test of the Warlords'' is a campaign setting with an adventure scenario in which dominions are being set up in the land of Norwold. The fame of the player characters have earned them the right and title to run a realm of their own, under the supervision of the king of Norwold, a newly colonized region to the north of Mystara. But even from the start, with all the troubles of establishing your own pockets of civilization in as yet untamed wilderness, Norworld has become the center of attention in the struggle between two old enemies: The sorcerous empire of Alphatia and the war-mongering realm of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Horror On The Hill
''Horror on the Hill'' is an Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons), adventure module published by TSR, Inc. in 1983, for the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set, Basic Rules of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. Its product designation was TSR 9078. This 32-page book was designed by Douglas Niles, and features cover artwork by Jim Roslof. It is intended for beginning gamemasters and 5–10 player characters of levels 1–3. The module contains around 20 encounters on the surface, a monastery, three dungeon levels and three new monsters. Plot summary ''Horror on the Hill'' is an adventure in which the player characters assault a Dungeon crawl, three-level dungeon in a cavernous labyrinth to stop a growing army of Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons), goblins and Hobgoblin (Dungeons & Dragons), hobgoblins. The scene of the action is Guido's Fort, located at the end of a road, with only the River Shrill, a mile wide, separating it from "The Hill". At the Fort, hardy bands of adventurers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Curse Of Xanathon
''Curse of Xanathon'' is a ''Dungeons & Dragons'' adventure module designed by Douglas Niles for use with the ''D&D Expert Set''. It was published by TSR, Inc. (TSR) in 1982 and is designed for 5–8 player characters of level 5–7. Plot summary ''Curse of Xanathon'' is an adventure in which the Duke of Rhoona begins issuing unusual decrees, such as ordering that the people must pay their taxes using beer instead of money, people must ride their horses backwards, and that dwarves must have their beards shaved and their bodies stretched to make them "presentable to human sensibilities". Duke Stephan is suffering from a curse which was brought upon him by Xanathon, chief cleric of the Ethengar Khanate immigrants living inside Rhoona's walls, and Stephen's own treacherous guard captain, Draco Stormsailer. The player characters must discover the nature of the Duke's affliction. They will need to end the curse on the Duke so that he can lead his forces against an army of invaders. To ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steve Winter
Steve Winter (born December 8, 1957) is an American game designer who worked on numerous products for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, which was originally published by TSR and later Wizards of the Coast. Early life Winter was born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 8, 1957. Winter attended Catholic school for grade school and high school, and had two years of Catholic college before he transferred to Iowa State University at Ames. “A nun introduced me to the works of J. R. R. Tolkien in high school ... Previously, I had been mostly into historical novels and military history. For the next several years, I read all the fantasy I could get my hands on — but I didn’t enjoy very much of it. I couldn’t find anything with the same sense of humor and style as Tolkien. I also read a lot of science fiction.” In 1978, while attending college, Winter worked part-time at a department store which carried a few wargames in its small games department. He began play ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knight Hawks
''Knight Hawks'' is a 1983 role-playing game supplement published by TSR for ''Star Frontiers''. Contents ''Knight Hawks'' brings spaceships and stellar warfare to the ''Star Frontiers'' universe, with a military boardgame and a Campaign Book. ''Knight Hawks'' is a board wargame that can be integrated with ''Star Frontiers'' to depict tactical battles. Reception Mark Pokrzywnicki reviewed ''Knight Hawks'' in ''Space Gamer'' No. 67. Pokrzywnicki commented that "''Knight Hawks'' is a needed role-playing supplement and a decent space boardgame. It isn't worth the money if you just want the boardgame ..but if you play ''Star Frontiers'', this set is a good bargain that will expands your game tremendously." Andy Slack reviewed ''Knight Hawks'' for ''White Dwarf'' #51, giving it an overall rating of 8 out of 10, and stated that "Overall, this vastly improves the original ''Star Frontiers'' ..and if you bought ''Star Frontiers'' I strongly recommend you buy this. As a 12-year old I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Against The Cult Of The Reptile God
''Against the Cult of the Reptile God'' is an Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons), adventure module for the first edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. It is designed for novice players and gamemasters. The suggested party size is 4-7 characters of level 1-3. Plot The adventure takes place on the border between the Gran March and the Keoland, Kingdom of Keoland in the western Flanaess.Douglas Niles, Niles, Douglas. ''Against the Cult of the Reptile God'' (TSR, Inc., TSR, 1982) It is one of the most challenging of the early AD&D modules, featuring a mystery that leads to adventures in town, the wilderness and a dungeon. The scenario details the village and the dungeon caves inhabited by the cult. The player characters arrive in the village of Orlane, where some villagers are friendly towards the characters, whereas some are distant and others are very distrustful, and the cha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TSR, Inc
TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. Gygax had been unable to find a publisher for ''D&D'', a new type of game he and Dave Arneson were co-developing, so founded the new company with Kaye to self-publish their products. Needing financing to bring their new game to market, Gygax and Kaye brought in Brian Blume in December as an equal partner. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' is generally considered the first tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), and established the genre. When Kaye died suddenly in 1975, the Tactical Studies Rules partnership restructured into TSR Hobbies, Inc. and accepted investment from Blume's father Melvin. With the popular ''D&D'' as its main product, TSR Hobbies became a major force in the games industry by the late 1970s. Melvin Blume eventually transferred his shares to his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' is a set of rulebooks for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. First published in 1977, it saw a handful of revisions and reprintings. The first edition was written by J. Eric Holmes based on Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson's original work. Later editions were edited by Tom Moldvay, Frank Mentzer, Troy Denning, and Doug Stewart. The ''Basic Set'' details the essential concepts of the ''D&D'' game. It gives rules for character creation and advancement for player characters at beginning levels. It also includes information on how to play adventures inside dungeons for both players and the Dungeon Master. 1977 version The original ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' was published by TSR, Inc. in 1977. TSR hired outside writer John Eric Holmes to produce the ''Basic Set'' as an introductory version of the ''D&D'' game. It incorporates concepts from the original 1974 ''D&D'' boxed set plus the '' Supplement I: Greyhawk''. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dungeons & Dragons
''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical Studies Rules, Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TSR). It has been published by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro) since 1997. The game was derived from miniature wargaming, miniature wargames, with a variation of the 1971 game Chainmail (game), ''Chainmail'' serving as the initial rule system. ''D&D'' publication is commonly recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry, and also deeply influenced video games, especially the role-playing video game genre. ''D&D'' departs from traditional wargame, wargaming by allowing each player to create their own Player character, character to play instead of a military formation. These characters embark upon adventures within a fantasy setting. A Dungeon Mas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
People (magazine)
''People'' is an American weekly magazine that specializes in celebrity news and human-interest stories. It is published by Dotdash Meredith, a subsidiary of IAC. With a readership of 46.6 million adults in 2009, ''People'' had the largest audience of any American magazine, but it fell to second place in 2018 after its readership significantly declined to 35.9 million. ''People'' had $997 million in advertising revenue in 2011, the highest advertising revenue of any American magazine. In 2006, it had a circulation of 3.75 million and revenue expected to top $1.5 billion. It was named "Magazine of the Year" by ''Advertising Age'' in October 2005, for excellence in editorial, circulation, and advertising.Martha Nelson Named Editor, The People Group , a January 2006 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
