Brian R. James (born 1974) is a

game designer Game design is the art of applying design and aesthetics to create a game for entertainment or for educational, exercise, or experimental purposes. Increasingly, elements and principles of game design are also applied to other interactions, in ...

and

software engineer Software engineering is a systematic engineering approach to software development. A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software. The term ''p ...

. As a writer, Brian is best known for his online and print works for the ''

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 Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TS ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

role-playing game published by

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 science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games. It is currently a subsidia ...

. In game design circles, Brian is highly regarded for his deep knowledge of the

Forgotten Realms ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') 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 ...

campaign setting and its extensive history. In 2012 Brian won a 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 '' Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale'' and he has been nominated for other

ENnie Awards 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 ...

and

Origins Awards 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 a ...

Personal life

Brian grew up in

Arapahoe County, Colorado Arapahoe County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, its population was 655,070, making it the third-most populous county in Colorado. The county seat is Littleton, and the most populous city is Auror ...

and attended Arapahoe High School where he led the computer club and lettered in cross country his senior year.

Writing career

James got his first big break with the creation of his "Grand History of the Realms" timeline compilation that started in the late 90s. Utilizing his website at the time, he compiled lore from many disparate sources into easily referenced PDFs documents that allowed fans to reference each of his entries. This work eventually caught the eye of senior

developers, was purchased by the company and then published as a print sourcebook: '' The Grand History of the Realms''. Baker, Richard; '' Grand History of the Realms'' p.3 (

, 2007) Since then, James has gone on to co-author (and contribute) to many 4th Edition D&D products, including the award-winning sourcebook ''Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale'' (2011). He later led the design of '' Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue'' (2012), covering the sinister underdark metropolis famous for birthing the drow

Drizzt Do'Urden Drizzt Do'Urden () is a fictional character appearing in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the ''Icewind Dale ...

. James continues to contribute to '' Dragon'' and ''

Dungeon A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period. An oubliette (from ...

'' magazines; focusing primarily on content for the

and

Planescape ''Planescape'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, designed by Zeb Cook, and published in 1994. It crosses numerous planes of existence, encompassing an entire cosmology called the Great Wheel, as de ...

fantasy settings. In 2013 James teamed up with his younger brother Matt James to form Vorpal Games.''Vorpal Games''

Their first independent venture is the ''RED AEGIS Roleplaying Game''.''Vorpal Games'' (http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17831) A number of artists and designers have been linked to the project,''RED AEGIS'' Design Team (http://www.loremaster.org/content.php?298-red-aegis_1 ) including industry legend

Ed Greenwood Ed Greenwood (born July 21, 1959) is a Canadian fantasy writer and the original creator of the ''Forgotten Realms'' game world. He began writing articles about the Forgotten Realms for '' Dragon'' magazine beginning in 1979, and subsequently sol ...

. RED AEGIS was funded via a Kickstarter campaign in August 2013 that raised $66,254 from 823 backers. In 2017 James transitioned from tabletop game design into electronic game design, compiling lore for the ''

EverQuest ''EverQuest'' is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) originally developed by Verant Interactive and 989 Studios for Windows PCs. It was released by Sony Online Entertainment in March 1999 in North Amer ...

'' franchise, and the ''

PlanetSide ''PlanetSide'' was a massively-multiplayer online first-person-shooter video game published by Sony Online Entertainment and released on May 20, 2003. ''PlanetSide'' chronicles the efforts of three factions as they fight for territorial contro ...

'' franchise.

Honors

* 2013: ''Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue'' is nominated for an

in 3 categories: :Best Setting, Best Supplement, and Product of the Year.2013 ENnie Awards Nominees (http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/2013-ennie-awards-nominees/ ) * 2013: ''Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue'' is nominated for Best Roleplaying Supplement by the 39th Annual

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 a ...

s.''Nominees for the 39th Origins Awards Announced!'' () * 2012: ''Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale'' wins a Silver

for Best Monster/Adversary product.ENnies 2012 Winners (http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/congratulations-to-the-2012-ennie-award-winners/) * 2012: ''Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale'' is nominated for Best Roleplaying Supplement or Adventure by the 38th Annual

s.''Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale''

* 2009: Brian's article ''Playing Dhampyr'' ( Dragon (magazine), Dragon Magazine #371) is selected to be published in the 2009 ''Dragon Magazine Annual'' * 2008: ''Grand History of the Realms'' is nominated for Non-Fiction Publication of the Year by the 34th Annual

s.Nominees for the 34th Origins Awards Announced! (http://www.flamesrising.com/origins-awards-nominees/, April 29, 2008)

Video games

Bibliography

Pathfinder sourcebooks, Paizo Publishing

* ''Pathfinder 2E Gamemastery Guide'' ''Pathfinder 2E Gamemastery Guide'' (https://paizo.com/products/btq01zq7?Pathfinder-Gamemastery-Guide) (2020), designer * ''Pathfinder 2E Bestiary 2'' ''Pathfinder 2E Bestiary 2'' (https://paizo.com/products/btq022yq?Pathfinder-Bestiary-2) (2020), designer * ''Giants Revisited'' ''Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Giants Revisited'' (http://paizo.com/products/btpy8rv4) (2012), designer

RED AEGIS sourcebooks, Vorpal Games

* ''RED AEGIS Roleplaying Game'' ''RED AEGIS Roleplaying Game'' (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/181184/RED-AEGIS-Roleplaying-Game) (2016), lead designer/publisher

Iron Kingdoms sourcebooks, Privateer Press

* ''Iron Kingdoms Unleashed: Wild Adventure'' ''Iron Kingdoms Unleashed: Wild Adventure'' (http://privateerpress.com/iron-kingdoms/core-products/core-products/iron-kingdoms-unleashed-wild-adventure) (2016), designer

Dungeons & Dragons sourcebooks, Wizards of the Coast

* '' Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue''.''Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue''

(2012), lead designer * '' Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale''. (2011), designer -

winner * ''Demonomicon''.''Demonomicon''

(2010), designer * '' Underdark (supplement), Underdark''.''Underdark''

(2010), contributor * '' Dragon (magazine), Dragon Magazine Annual''.''Dragon Magazine Annual 2009''

(2009), contributor * ''Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead''.''Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead''

(2009), designer * '' Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide''.''Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide''

(2008), designer * '' Grand History of the Realms''. (2007), lead designer

Magazine articles

* ''Corvis Codex: Plagues and Pestilence'', No Quarter (magazine), No Quarter #52 (2014) * ''Ecology of the Modron'', Dragon #414 (2012) * ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Shemeshka the Marauder'',

#205 (2012), co-author * ''Chessenta'',

#178 (2010) * ''Deities & Demigods: Torog'',

#177 (2010) * ''Vaasa'',

#177 (2010) * ''Monument of the Ancients'',

#170 (2010), co-author * ''Sarifal'', Dragon #376 (2009) * ''Ecology of the Sharn'', Dragon #373 (2009) * ''Playing Dhampyr'', Dragon #371 (2009) * ''Hall of the Frostmaiden'', Dragon #367 (2008) * ''Cormyr'', Dragon #365 (2008) * ''Spellplague: The Wailing Years'', Dragon #362 (2008) * ''Grand History of the Realms: The Moonshaes'', Dragon #362 (2008) * ''Ironfang Keep'', Dragon #361 (2007) * ''Age of Sail, Part I'', Candlekeep Compendium Volume IX (2007) * ''Reign of Dragons'', Candlekeep Compendium Volume IV (2005)

Patents

* Web-based visual development environment, co-inventor

Podcasts

The Tome Show 205
Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue (12/03/2012)
The Tome Show 178
Monster Vault - Threats to the Nentir Vale (06/30/2011)
The Tome Show 143
Demonomicon (07/28/2010)

References

External links

Realmspace Geonomicon
Brian's D&D website

Spotlight Interview with Brian R. James regarding the Grand History of the Realms
Questions for Brian R. James
message board thread hosted by Candlekeep.com
Brian James profile
on RPG Geek {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Brian R. 1974 births Artists from Philadelphia Dungeons & Dragons game designers Living people People from Arapahoe County, Colorado Video game writers