James L. Sutter (born March 1984) is an American game designer, author, and musician, best known for co-creating the ''

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game The ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game'' is a fantasy role-playing game (RPG) that was published in 2009 by Paizo Publishing. The first edition extends and modifies the System Reference Document (SRD) based on the revised 3rd edition ''Dungeons & ...

'' and the ''

Starfinder Roleplaying Game The ''Starfinder Roleplaying Game'' is a science-fiction/science fantasy role-playing game published by Paizo Publishing. It is built on Paizo's previous game, the ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game'', both in its game mechanics and universe, but ad ...

'', serving as Starfinder's original Creative Director.

Career

James L. Sutter joined

Paizo Publishing Paizo Inc. (originally Paizo Publishing.) is an American role-playing game publishing company based in Redmond, Washington, best known for the tabletop role-playing game ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder''. The company's name is derived ...

as an Assistant Editor on ''

Dungeon Magazine ''Dungeon'' (originally published as ''Dungeon: Adventures for TSR Role-Playing Games'') was one of the two official magazines targeting consumers of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game and associated products; '' Dragon'' was the othe ...

'' before working as both a developer and editor to help create the ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game''. He currently serves as Paizo's Executive Editor, and commissions all the ''Pathfinder Tales'' novels. In 2016, he was announced as the Creative Director in charge of the new ''

'' for Paizo. He has written several novels, game books, and short stories in such publications as ''

Machine of Death ''Machine of Death'' is a 2010 collection of science fiction short stories edited by Ryan North, Matthew Bennardo, and David Malki. The stories featured in ''Machine of Death'' were submitted by various writers since early 2007 and all focus on a ...

'', ''

Beneath Ceaseless Skies ''Beneath Ceaseless Skies'' (''BCS'') is a fantasy adventure online magazine published in the United States by Firkin Press. History ''Beneath Ceaseless Skies'' first issue was released on October 9, 2008 featuring stories by Chris Willrich and ...

'', ''Escape Pod'' and ''Podcastle''. He also published the young adult novel ''Darkhearts'' (2023).

Novels

*Death's Heretic (2011, finalist for the

Compton Crook Award The Compton Crook Award is presented to the best English language first novel of the year in the field of science fiction, fantasy, or horror by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society at their annual science fiction convention, Baltic ...

) *The Redemption Engine (2014, winner of the Scribe Award for Best Original Speculative Novel) *Darkhearts (2023) *The Ghost of Us (2024)

References

1984 births Living people Pathfinder Role-playing game designers {{Rpg-bio-stub