Allen Varney
Encyclopedia
Allen Varney is an American writer and game designer born in St. Louis, Missouri
. He has a dual B.A. in English and History from the University of Nevada, Reno
.
Varney has produced numerous books, role-playing game
supplements, technical manuals, articles, reviews, columns, and stories, as well as the fantasy
novel Cast of Fate (TSR
, 1996). Since the 1990s, he has worked primarily in computer games.
(with Warren Spector
, then Editor-in-Chief) editing Space Gamer
magazine.
In 1986, he left Steve Jackson Games to freelance. From this time onward, he wrote a large body of game supplements for companies like TSR, Inc.
, FASA Corporation, West End Games
, and White Wolf, Inc.
.
Varney did work for TSR from 1987 to roughly 1992, including the HWA1-3 "Blood Brethren" trilogy (Nightwail, Nightrage, Nightstorm) and M4 Five Coins for a Kingdom, SJA1 Wildspace
for Spelljammer
, Veiled Alliance
for Dark Sun
, and several gamebooks, and the Ariya, Binsada, and Talinie realm packs for Birthright
. He also edited several modules for the Ravenloft
, Planescape
, and Forgotten Realms
settings, and was a game reviewer and news columnist for Dragon
magazine.
In the early 2000s, he updated the classic 1980s roleplaying game Paranoia
, published in 2004. He edited and packaged the game's support line for Mongoose Publishing
until 2006.
and leadership
simulation, the Executive Challenge. The Wall Street Journal
covered the Executive Challenge in its May 10, 2004 issue.
Varney has long been involved in the game design and documentation for companies such as Origin Systems
, Interplay
, Prodigy, Acclaim Entertainment
, Looking Glass Technologies
, Microprose
, and Sony Online Entertainment
.
. This was not published, but the design concepts later surfaced in the web-based Vanguard format of the game, with Varney credited for the original concept.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He has a dual B.A. in English and History from the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
.
Varney has produced numerous books, 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...
supplements, technical manuals, articles, reviews, columns, and stories, as well as the 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...
novel Cast of Fate (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....
, 1996). Since the 1990s, he has worked primarily in computer games.
Roleplaying games
Varney started his career in paper roleplaying games. From 1984 to 1985 he worked as Assistant Editor at Steve Jackson GamesSteve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and the gaming magazine Pyramid.-History:...
(with Warren Spector
Warren Spector
Warren Spector is a role-playing game designer and a video game designer. He is known for having worked to merge elements of role-playing games and first-person shooters. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife, fantasy writer Caroline L. Spector...
, then Editor-in-Chief) editing Space Gamer
The Space Gamer
The Space Gamer was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the late 70s through the mid-80s...
magazine.
In 1986, he left Steve Jackson Games to freelance. From this time onward, he wrote a large body of game supplements for companies like TSR, Inc.
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....
, FASA Corporation, 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...
, and White Wolf, Inc.
White Wolf, Inc.
White Wolf Publishing is an American gaming and book publisher. The company was founded in 1991 as a merger between Lion Rampant and White Wolf Magazine, and was initially led by Mark Rein·Hagen of the former and Steve and Stewart Wieck of the latter. Since White Wolf Publishing, Inc. merged with...
.
Varney did work for TSR from 1987 to roughly 1992, including the HWA1-3 "Blood Brethren" trilogy (Nightwail, Nightrage, Nightstorm) and M4 Five Coins for a Kingdom, SJA1 Wildspace
Wildspace (module)
Wildspace is an adventure module published in 1990 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:Wildspace is a Spelljammer scenario which serves as an introduction to space campaigning...
for Spelljammer
Spelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
, Veiled Alliance
Veiled Alliance
Veiled Alliance is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1992....
for Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
, and several gamebooks, and the Ariya, Binsada, and Talinie realm packs for Birthright
Birthright
Birthright is a term that refers to something that is acquired or inherited at birth. It may further refer to:- Ancient and modern Law :* primogeniture, rights of the firstborn* birthright citizenship- Literature :...
. He also edited several modules for 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...
, Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
, and 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...
settings, and was a game reviewer and news columnist for Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine.
In the early 2000s, he updated the classic 1980s roleplaying game Paranoia
Paranoia (role-playing game)
Paranoia is a dystopian science-fiction tabletop role-playing game originally designed and written by Greg Costikyan, Dan Gelber, and Eric Goldberg, and first published in 1984 by West End Games. Since 2004 the game has been published under licence by Mongoose Publishing...
, published in 2004. He edited and packaged the game's support line for Mongoose Publishing
Mongoose Publishing
Mongoose Publishing is a prolific British manufacturer of role-playing games, miniatures, and card games, actively publishing material since 2001...
until 2006.
Computer games
The Austin e-learning company Enspire Learning produces a computer version of Varney's multiplayer business ethicsBusiness ethics
Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations.Business...
and leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
simulation, the Executive Challenge. The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
covered the Executive Challenge in its May 10, 2004 issue.
Varney has long been involved in the game design and documentation for companies such as Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
, Interplay
Interplay Entertainment
Interplay Entertainment Corporation is an American video game developer and publisher, founded in 1983 as Interplay Productions by Brian Fargo. The company had been a quality developer until they started publishing their own games in 1988, like Neuromancer and Battle Chess. The company was renamed...
, Prodigy, Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
, Looking Glass Technologies
Looking Glass Studios
Looking Glass Studios was a computer game development company during the 1990s.The company originally formed as Looking Glass Technologies, when Blue Sky Productions and Lerner Research merged....
, Microprose
MicroProse
MicroProse was a video game publisher and developer, founded by Wild Bill Stealey and Sid Meier in 1982 as Microprose Software. In 1993, the company became a subsidiary of Spectrum HoloByte and has remained a subsidiary or brand name under several other corporations since...
, and Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
.
Card games
In 1993, Varney designed an expansion set for the trading card game Magic: The GatheringMagic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
. This was not published, but the design concepts later surfaced in the web-based Vanguard format of the game, with Varney credited for the original concept.