Robert J. Schwalb is a writer in the

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...

industry, and has worked as a game designer and developer for such games as ''

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 ...

'', ''

A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying ''A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying'' is a role-playing game published by Green Ronin Publishing in 2009. Description ''A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying'' is an adaptation of the '' A Song of Ice and Fire'' novel series. The game uses Green ...

'', ''

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay ''Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay'' or ''Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play'' (abbreviated to ''WFRP'' or ''WHFRP'') is a role-playing game set in the ''Warhammer Fantasy'' setting, published by Games Workshop or its licensees. The first edition of ''WFR ...

'', and many other RPG supplements.

Career

Robert J. Schwalb has worked for ''

Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for ga ...

''. His works for ''

'' include: '' Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells'' (2006, with

Robin Laws Robin D. Laws (born October 14, 1964 in Orillia, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian writer and game designer who lives in Toronto, Canada. He is the author of a number of novels and role-playing games as well as an anthologist. Career Robin D. Laws ...

), ''

Drow of the Underdark ''Drow of the Underdark'' is the name of two supplemental rules books for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, providing supplementary game rules focusing on drow culture, equipment and folklore for both players and Dungeon Mast ...

'' (2007, with

Ari Marmell Ari Marmell is an American novelist and freelance role-playing game writer. Novels His first novel, ''Gehenna: The Final Night'', was published in 2004 by White Wolf Publishing. ''Agents of Artifice,'' a media tie-in novel set in the Magic: The ...

Anthony Pryor Anthony Pryor is the author and co-author of several roleplaying game products. Career Anthony Pryor has worked as a game designer for Wizards of the Coast, Inc. His professional RPG credits include the 1992 Greyhawk setting modules '' Patriots ...

, and

Greg A. Vaughan Greg A. Vaughan is an American writer who creates material for role-playing game, roleplaying games. Works Greg A. Vaughan's role-playing credits for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game include ''Drow of the Underdark'', ''Scepter Tower o ...

), ''

Elder Evils ''Elder Evils'' is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. Contents It includes new content for epic level characters, in the form of extremely powerful, alien monstrosities intent on destro ...

'' (2007), ''

Exemplars of Evil ''Exemplars of Evil'' is a supplement to the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game written by Robert J. Schwalb. Contents ''Exemplars of Evil'' is an accessory that shows how to build memorable villains for ''Dungeons & Dr ...

'' (2007), ''

Tome of Magic ''Tome of Magic'' (abbreviated ToM) is a handbook of rules and guidelines for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. As its name implies, it is a supplement to be used to expand the magical options available in the game. It was first releas ...

'' (2006, with

Matthew Sernett Matthew Lee Sernett is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games. Career Matt Sernett was part of the SCRAMJET team, led by Richard Baker, with designers James Wyatt, Ed Stark, Michele Carter, Stacy Longstreet, and Chri ...

, Dave Noonan, and Ari Marmell), ''

Player's Handbook II ''Player's Handbook II'' is the title of a third edition ''Dungeons & Dragons'' supplement. It is a handbook of rules and guidelines for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. As the name implies, the book is a supplement to the edition's ...

'' (2006). He has also worked for

Green Ronin Publishing Green Ronin Publishing is an American company based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2000 by Chris Pramas and Nicole Lindroos, they have published several role-playing game–related products. They won several awards for their games includin ...

, and he has contributed to '' Witch Hunter: The Invisible World'' for

Paradigm Concepts Paradigm Concepts, Inc. is a small-press game publishing company located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They published the award-winning Arcanis campaign setting and managed the Living Arcanis campaign independent of the RPGA. Previously Arcani ...

(2007). Schwalb was a long-time developer and staff member for Green Ronin. With Patrick O'Duffy and

Chris Pramas Chris Pramas is an American game designer and writer, as well as a founder of Green Ronin Publishing. He is best known as the designer of the ''Dragon Age'' RPG, ''Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay'' (second edition), and ''Freeport: The City of Adventu ...

, Schwalb wrote ''The Pirate's Guide to Freeport'' (2007), a 256-page sourcebook on Green Ronin's best-known locale. Schwalb designed the ''

'' game, which previewed in 2008 and published in 2009; this was his last project for Green Ronin before he moved over to

. His additional role-playing work includes work for Black Industries, Fantasy Flight Games, and several other companies. Schwalb became the writer for the online version of the popular ''

Dragon A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...

'' column "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" in 2008, having thus far contributed articles for

Yeenoghu In the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, "monsters" are generally the antagonists which players must fight and defeat to progress in the game. Since the game's first edition in 1974, a bestiary was included along other game man ...

and

Baphomet Baphomet is a deity allegedly worshipped by the Knights Templar. that subsequently became incorporated into various occult and Western esoteric traditions. The name ''Baphomet'' appeared in trial transcripts for the Inquisition of the Knights ...

. Schwalb also co-wrote ''Divine Power'', a 4th Edition ''D&D'' supplement, which made the ''

Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...

'' Best-Seller list for July 2009. In 2012, Schwalb became one of the lead designers for the fifth edition of ''

''. He also wrote for

Monte Cook Monte Cook is an American professional tabletop role-playing game designer and writer, best known for his work on ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Role-playing industry career Early years Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, worki ...

Games'

Numenera ''Numenera'' is a science fantasy tabletop role-playing game set in the far distant future, written by Monte Cook, published in 2013. Game Setting Numenera is set on Earth approximately one billion years in the future. The setting is cal ...

line, including the ''Numenera Character Options'' book and the adventure ''Beyond All Worlds''. In 2014, after completing his work on the fifth edition, Schwalb launched Schwalb Entertainment and began writing a new RPG entitled '' Shadow of the Demon Lord''. In 2018, Schwalb contributed to the new Judge Dredd role-playing game, ''Judge Dredd & The Worlds of 2000 AD'', by

EN World EN World, also known as Morrus' Unofficial Tabletop RPG News, is a British-owned tabletop role-playing game news and reviews website founded in 2000, which grew from the earlier "Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News" site (which was activ ...

's EN Publishing.

Dragon and Dungeon magazine articles

*Schwalb, Robert J. "Elder Evils: Shothragot." ''

'' #362. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008. Available online

*-----. "The Essence of Evil." '' Dungeon (magazine), Dungeon'' #152. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online

*-----. "Infernal Aristocracy: Dukes of Hell." ''

'' #360. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online

*-----. "Into the Maw." '' Dungeon (magazine), Dungeon'' #147. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, June 2007. *-----. " Lassiviren the Dark: Ruthless Assassin." '' Dungeon (magazine), Dungeon'' #114. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, September 2004. *-----. "Shadow of Shothragot: The Price of Survival." Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online

Awards

*'' Grimm (role-playing game), Grimm'' (

Fantasy Flight Games Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) is a game company based in Roseville, Minnesota, United States, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, card, and dice games. As of 2014, it is a subsidiary of Asmodée Éditions. History Fantasy Flight Publish ...

), designer - 2004 Silver

ENnie Award The ENNIE Awards (previously stylized as ENnie Awards) are awards for role-playing game (RPG) products (including game-related accessories, publications, and art) and their creators. The awards were created in 2001 by Russ Morrissey of EN World ...

for Best d20 Game *''Book of Fiends'' (

), designer - 2004 Silver ENnie for Best Revision, Update or Compilation *''Advanced Bestiary'' (Green Ronin Publishing), developer - 2005 Silver ENnie for Best Monster or Adversary Product *''

Black Company The Black Company or the Black Troops () was a unit of Franconian farmers and knights that fought on the side of the peasants during the Peasants' Revolt in the 1520s, during the Protestant Reformation in Germany. Name The original German nam ...

'' campaign setting (Green Ronin Publishing), designer - 2005 Silver ENnie for Best Campaign Setting or Setting Supplement *''

'' (

Black Industries Black Industries was the role-playing game imprint of BL Publishing, the publishing arm of Games Workshop. It was announced on January 28, 2008 that it would cease operations after its products currently scheduled for release are published. Hist ...

), additional design - 2005 Gold ENnie for Best Game *''Tome of Horrors 3'' (

Necromancer Games Necromancer Games was an American publisher of role-playing games. With offices in Seattle, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the company specialized in material for the d20 System. Most of its products were released under the Open Game Lic ...

), additional design - 2006 Gold ENnie for Best Adversary/Monster Product *''Children of the Horned Rat'' (Black Industries), design and development - 2007 Silver ENnie for Best Writing *Warhammer Fantasy RolePlay: ''Lure of the Liche Lord'' (Black Industries), additional design and development - 2007 Gold ENnie for Best Adventure *''

'' (

), lead designer - 2008 Silver ENnie for Best Monster/Adversary *''Pirate's Guide to Freeport'' (Green Ronin Publishing), designer - 2008 Silver ENnie for Best Setting *''

'' (Green Ronin Publishing), designer - 2009 Silver ENnie for Best Rules *''

Player's Handbook 3 ''Player's Handbook 3'' is a supplement to the 4th edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. Publication history ''Player's Handbook 3'', subtitled ''Psionic, Divine and Primal Heroes'', was released on March 16, 2010. Retrieved ...

'' (Wizards of the Coast), designer - 2010 Silver ENnie for Best Supplement *''Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide'' - 2011 nomination for Best Games Supplement

Origins award The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so (for example) the 1979 aw ...

Article on 2011 Origin award nomination

Retrieved 8 May 2011

References

External links

Robert J. Schwalb's Official Site

Schwalb Entertainment, LLC's Official Site
*
Dragon Con guest pageWizards articles by Robert J Schwalb
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schwalb, Robert Dungeons & Dragons game designers Living people Year of birth missing (living people)