Nigel Findley
Encyclopedia
Nigel D Findley was a game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing game
s (RPGs).
, in 1959. Findley was raised in Spain
, Nigeria
, the United States
, and England
before his family settled in Vancouver
in 1969.
He got his start as a role-playing game author in the mid 1980s during his business career. By 1990 he had become a full time writer, and had authored or coauthored over one hundred books, including twelve novels, before his death. He wrote for most game companies in the industry, including TSR
, but is perhaps best known for his game products and fiction for FASA
's Shadowrun
game. He got his start writing for Dungeons & Dragons
, and won a 1992 Origins Award for GURPS Illuminati. In 1995 he was inducted into the Origins Awards Hall of Fame.
His body of work also included supplements for Mayfair
's Roleaids line, Wizards of the Coast's The Primal Order
, West End Games
, and White Wolf
. He is credited with parts of the design of Greyhawk Adventures
and Fate of Istus
, and wrote the whole of Greyspace
. He wrote many Shadowrun novels as well.
Findley died suddenly on February 19, 1995, at his home in Vancouver, British Columbia
. He suffered a heart attack at the age of 35.
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...
s (RPGs).
Biography
Nigel Findley was born in VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, in 1959. Findley was raised in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before his family settled in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 1969.
He got his start as a role-playing game author in the mid 1980s during his business career. By 1990 he had become a full time writer, and had authored or coauthored over one hundred books, including twelve novels, before his death. He wrote for most game companies in the industry, including 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....
, but is perhaps best known for his game products and fiction for FASA
FASA
FASA Corporation was an American publisher of role-playing games, wargames and board games between 1980 and 2001. Originally the name FASA was an acronym for "Freedonian Aeronautics and Space Administration", a joking allusion to the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup. This tongue-in-cheek attitude was...
's Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
game. He got his start writing for Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, and won a 1992 Origins Award for GURPS Illuminati. In 1995 he was inducted into the Origins Awards Hall of Fame.
His body of work also included supplements for Mayfair
Mayfair Games
Mayfair Games is a publisher of board, card, and roleplaying games. They also license German-style board games and publish them in English throughout the world...
's Roleaids line, Wizards of the Coast's The Primal Order
The Primal Order
The Primal Order, or "TPO", is a religion-based fantasy roleplaying game supplement". Of particular note, TPO was the first work published by Wizards of the Coast and its president, Peter Adkison...
, 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
White Wolf
White Wolf is a publisher of role-playing games, notably the World of Darkness.White Wolf may also refer to:*White Wolf , a location in Yosemite National Park*White Wolf , a Canadian heavy metal band...
. He is credited with parts of the design of Greyhawk Adventures
Greyhawk Adventures
Greyhawk Adventures is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons World of Greyhawk campaign setting.-Contents:Greyhawk Adventures contains information about Greyhawk deities and clerics, major non-player characters, monsters, geography, spells of the setting's famous magic-users , magic items of the...
and Fate of Istus
Fate of Istus
Fate of Istusis a multipart adventure for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, taking place in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module is designed for characters of any class or level, and was published as an in-game vehicle to explain the transition from the game's first to second...
, and wrote the whole of Greyspace
Greyspace
Greyspace is an accessory for the Spelljammer campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Nigel Findley, and was published in 1992. Cover art is by Tom Baxa, with interior illustrations by David O...
. He wrote many Shadowrun novels as well.
Findley died suddenly on February 19, 1995, at his home in Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He suffered a heart attack at the age of 35.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
- DragonDragon (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- "The Ecology of the Peryton" (February 1984, Dragon issue #82)
- "The Ecology of the Will-o-Wisp" (July 1985, Dragon issue #99)
- "The Ecology of the Greenhag" (September 1987, Dragon issue #125)
- "The Ecology of the Gibbering Mouther" (August 1990, Dragon issue #160)
- "The Mind of the Vampire" (October 1990, Dragon issue #162)
- "Picture This!" (March 1992, Dragon issue 179)
- DungeonDungeon (magazine)Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
magazine- "Caermor" (November 1986, Dungeon issue 2)
- "Nightshade" (September 1987, Dungeon issue 7)
- "Light of Lost Souls" (July 1988, Dungeon issue 12)
- "A Question of Balance" (November 1988, Dungeon issue 14)
- "Necropolis" (March 1989, Dungeon issue 16)
- "The Serpent's Tooth" (September 1989, Dungeon issue 19)
- "White Fang" (November 1989, Dungeon issue 20)
- All game worlds
- The Castle GuideThe Castle GuideThe Castle Guide is a supplemental rulebook published in 1990 for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(1990 sourcebook, ISBN 0-88038-837-4) Design - Tome of MagicTome of MagicThe title was reused for a 3.5 Edition supplement published in 2006. The new Tome of Magic is devoted to new forms and styles of magic as a path to power...
(1991 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56076-107-5) Design - Dungeons of Despair (1999 adventure, ISBN 0-7869-1444-0) Coauthor
- The Castle Guide
- Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe 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...
- DraconomiconDraconomiconThe Draconomicon is an optional sourcebook for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, providing supplementary game material focusing on dragons. Different versions of the Draconomicon have been printed for different editions of Dungeons & Dragons...
(1990 sourcebook, ISBN 0-88038-876-5) - Ninja Wars (1990 adventure, ISBN 0-88038-895-1)
- Cult of the DragonCult of the DragonThe Cult of the Dragon is a fictional, semi-religious, evil organization in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The cult worships dragons, believing they will rule the world in the future and will keep them as monarchs next in line. Sammaster, a mage...
, FR (1998, ISBN 0-7869-0709-6) Additional/original design
- Draconomicon
- GreyhawkGreyhawkGreyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
- Greyhawk AdventuresGreyhawk AdventuresGreyhawk Adventures is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons World of Greyhawk campaign setting.-Contents:Greyhawk Adventures contains information about Greyhawk deities and clerics, major non-player characters, monsters, geography, spells of the setting's famous magic-users , magic items of the...
(1988 sourcebook, ISBN 0-88038-649-5) Additional design - Fate of IstusFate of IstusFate of Istusis a multipart adventure for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, taking place in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module is designed for characters of any class or level, and was published as an in-game vehicle to explain the transition from the game's first to second...
(1989 adventure, ISBN 0-88038-712-2) Coauthor
- Greyhawk Adventures
- LankhmarLankhmarLankhmar is a fictional city in the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories by Fritz Leiber. It is situated on the world of Nehwon, just west of the Great Salt Marsh and east of the River Hlal, and serves as the home of Leiber's two anti-heroes....
- Thieves of LankhmarThieves of LankhmarThieves of Lankhmar is an adventure module published in 1990 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(1990 adventure, ISBN 0-88038-825-0)
- Thieves of Lankhmar
- RavenloftRavenloftRavenloft 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...
- Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (1991 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56076-151-2)
- Van Richten's Guide to WerebeastsVan Richten's Guide to WerebeastsVan Richten's Guide to Werebeasts is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1993....
(1993 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56076-633-6) - Both reprinted in Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium: Volume One (1999, ISBN 0-7869-1447-5)
- SpelljammerSpelljammerSpelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
- Skull & CrossbowsSkull & CrossbowsSkull & Crossbows is an adventure module published in 1990 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:...
(1990 adventure, ISBN 0-88038-845-5) - Practical Planetology (1991 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56076-134-2)
- Into the VoidInto the VoidInto the Void may refer to:*"Into the Void" , by Black Sabbath from their 1971 album Master of Reality*"Into the Void" , by Kiss from their 1998 album Psycho Circus...
(1991 novel, ISBN 1-56076-154-7) - GreyspaceGreyspaceGreyspace is an accessory for the Spelljammer campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Nigel Findley, and was published in 1992. Cover art is by Tom Baxa, with interior illustrations by David O...
(1992 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56076-348-5) crossover with Greyhawk - The Broken Sphere (1993 novel, ISBN 1-56076-596-8)
- Skull & Crossbows
- Role Aids (unlicensed books published by Mayfair games)
- Witches (1990 sourcebook, ISBN 0-923763-24-4)
- Psionics (1991 sourcebook, ISBN 0-923763-31-7)
- To Hell and Back, Realms of Fantasy (1993 boxed set, ISBN 0-923763-62-7)
Shadowrun
- Sourcebooks
- The Universal Brotherhood (1990, ISBN 1-55560-024-7)
- Paranormal Animals of North America (1990, ISBN 1-55560-123-5)
- The Neo-Anarchist's Guide to North America (1991, ISBN 1-55560-135-9) "Quebec and Quebec City"
- Native American Nations, Volume One (1991, ISBN 1-55560-130-8)
- Native American Nations, Volume Two (1991, ISBN 1-55560-158-8)
- The Neo-Anarchists' Guide to Real Life (1992, ISBN 1-55560-165-0)
- Shadowrun, Second Edition (1992, ISBN 1-55560-180-4) Additional Material
- Tir Tairngire (1993, ISBN 1-55560-197-9)
- Corporate Shadowfiles (1993, ISBN 1-55560-211-8)
- Lone Star (1994, ISBN 1-55560-230-4)
- Denver: The City of Shadows (1994, ISBN 1-55560-236-3) with Tom Dowd and Tom Wong
- Aztlan (1995, ISBN 1-55560-257-6)
- Underworld Sourcebook (1997, ISBN 1-55560-315-7) Concepts
- Shadowrun Gamemaster Screen: "Critters" (1998, ISBN 1-55560-369-6) Other original design
- Adventures
- One Stage Before (1992, ISBN 1-55560-192-8)
- Paradise Lost (1994, ISBN 1-55560-227-4) with Tom Wong
- Double Exposure (1994, ISBN 1-55560-240-1) with Fraser Cane
- Harlequin's Back (1994, ISBN 1-55560-248-7) "Aftermath" and Story Development
- "Denver Double Cross" (Spring 1995, Adventures Unlimited, issue #1)
- Novels
- 2XS (1991, ISBN 0-451-45139-2)
- Shadowplay (1993, ISBN 0-451-45228-3)
- Lone Wolf (1994, ISBN 0-451-45272-0)
- House of the Sun (1995, ISBN 0-451-45370-0)
Other RPGs
- BattletechBattleTechBattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech by Jordan Weisman and L...
: Virtual Worlds- No Limits (1996 novel, ISBN 0-451-45525-8)
- Bloodshadows
- Padarr Citybook (1995 sourcebook, ISBN 0-87431-385-6)
- Fires of Marl (1995 sourcebook, ISBN 0-87431-388-0) Additional Material
- Buck Rogers XXVCBuck Rogers XXVCBuck Rogers XXVC is a game setting created by TSR, Inc. in the late 1980s. Products based on this setting include novels, graphic novels, a role-playing game , board game, and video games...
- Phases of the Moon (1991 adventure, ISBN 1-56076-095-8)
- ChillChill (role-playing game)Chill is a role-playing game that captures the feel of 20th-century horror films. Players take on the role of envoys, members of a secret organization known as S.A.V.E...
- Horrors of North America (1991 sourcebook, ISBN 0-923763-41-4)
- Voodoo (1992 sourcebook, ISBN 0-923763-53-8)
- EarthdawnEarthdawnEarthdawn is a fantasy role-playing game, originally produced by FASA in 1993. In 1999 it was licensed to Living Room Games, which produced the Second Edition...
- Denizens of Earthdawn Volume Two (1993 sourcebook, ISBN 1-55560-237-1)
- The Adept's Way (1995 sourcebook, ISBN 1-55560-260-6) Coauthor
- Lost Kaer (1998 novel, ISBN 1-55560-274-6)
- GURPSGURPSThe Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
- IlluminatiIlluminatiThe Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776...
(1992 sourcebook, ISBN 1-55634-223-3) - "Playing With Your Mind, Secret Knowledge from GURPS Illuminati" (April 1992, Roleplayer issue 28)
- Supporting Cast (1993 sourcebook, ISBN 1-55634-267-5) with Fraser Cain
- Warehouse 23 (1997 sourcebook, ISBN 1-55634-328-0) Additional Material
- Illuminati
- The Primal OrderThe Primal OrderThe Primal Order, or "TPO", is a religion-based fantasy roleplaying game supplement". Of particular note, TPO was the first work published by Wizards of the Coast and its president, Peter Adkison...
- Pawns: The Opening Move (1992 sourcebook, ISBN 1-880992-08-6)
- Knights: Strategies in Motion (1993 sourcebook, ISBN 1-880992-10-8)
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
- Planet of the Mists (1992 adventure, ISBN 0-87431-122-5)
- Goroth: Slave of the Empire (1995 supplement, ISBN 0-87431250-7)
- "Forbidden Fruit" (Summer 1995, Adventures Unlimited, issue #2)
- Storytelling SystemStorytelling SystemThe Storytelling System, formerly Storyteller System, is a role-playing game system created by White Wolf, Inc. in 1991 that premiered in Vampire: The Masquerade, a part of the World of Darkness series.-Storyteller System:...
- The Succubus Club (1991 adventure, ISBN 1-56504-011-2) Coauthor
- "Raiko" (February 1992, White Wolf, issue #30)
- Awakening: Diablerie Mexico (1992 adventure, ISBN 1-56504-018-X)
- Reprinted in the Diablerie compilation (1997, ISBN 1-56504-238-7)
- Dark Alliance: Vancouver (1993 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56504-059-7) with Geoff McMartin
- Street Fighter Player's Guide (1994 rulebook, ISBN 1-56504-550-5) Additional Writing
- Chicago Chronicles Vol. 1 (1996 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56504-219-0) Coauthor
- TorgTorgTorg is a cinematic multi-genre role-playing game created by Greg Gorden and Bill Slavicsek and released by West End Games in 1990, which uses several innovative techniques...
- Kanawa Personal Weapons (1991 sourcebook, ISBN 0-87431-320-1)
- Kanawa Heavy Weapons (1991 sourcebook, ISBN 0-87431-325-2)
- Kanawa Land Vehicles (1992 sourcebook, ISBN 0-87431-330-9)
- Out of Nippon (1992 novel, ISBN 0-87431-345-7)
- UndergroundUnderground (role-playing game)Underground is a satirical "grim and gritty"-style superhero role playing game set in the near future. It was released by Mayfair Games in 1993 as a commentary on the politics and society of the early 1990s as expressed through the year 2021.-Overview:...
- Underground Notebook, (1993 sourcebook, ISBN 0-923763-91-0)
- Underground Player's Handbook (1994 sourcebook, ISBN 1-56905-014-7) Coauthor
- The Whispering VaultThe Whispering VaultThe Whispering Vault is a horror-themed role-playing game originally published in 1993.Characters within The Whispering Vault used to be human, but after a life dedicated to protect humanity against supernatural beings they have been recruited into the ranks of the Stalkers, the main heroes of the...
- Dangerous Prey (1995 sourcebook, ISBN 1-886579-01-6)
External links
- Nigel Findley at RPG Geek
- Nigel Findley at Pen & Paper