R. Sean Borgstrom
Encyclopedia
Jenna Katerin Moran, previously Rebecca Sean Borgstrom (Born: March 3, 1972) is a role-playing game
writer. She is the author of Nobilis
and The Game of Powers (the LARP version of Nobilis), as well as co-author of several source books for Exalted, the Weapons of the Gods
RPG, and other works. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington.
Moran legally changed her name. Rebecca Sean Borgstrom was, she says, her legal name, but she did not consider it her 'real' name. She is also credited as R. Sean Borgstrom, Rebecca Borgstrom, and Sean Borgstrom. In contexts where she is well known, such as mailing lists centered on games she has authored, she is often referred to simply as "RSB."
Moran graduated from Georgetown University
with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science
in 1988, and from Johns Hopkins University
with a doctorate in computer science in 2000.
Moran writes Hitherby Dragons, a blog-style ongoing story or collection of stories. She posts a new entry Monday through Saturday. The collection consists of legends and histories. Legends are performances put on by a girl named Jane, her brother Martin, and other recurring actors. Histories are actual events in Jane's world. They are marked by numbers after their titles, such as "1 of 2". For more information, see her own explanation at What is Hitherby Dragons?. Readers can comment on entries, and there is usually a lively discussion of what each entry means and how they fit together. In content, Hitherbies tend toward the surreal and fantastic, are often humorous, and incorporate elements of philosophy, computer science, and pop culture.
Moran, under the name Rebecca Borgstrom, appears as a player character
in the scenario "And I Feel Fine," by Geoffrey C. Grabowski, which was published in the One Shots sourcebook for Unknown Armies
. This fictional version of Borgstrom lives in a trailer
and is described as "a single mom making her good way in a bad world." Another role-playing game author, Rich Dansky, also appears as a player character in the same scenario. In real life, Grabowski and Borgstrom are known to be friends.
Exalted
In Nomine
Others
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...
writer. She is the author of Nobilis
Nobilis
Nobilis is a contemporary fantasy role-playing game created by Jenna K. Moran, writing under the name R. Sean Borgstrom. The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or...
and The Game of Powers (the LARP version of Nobilis), as well as co-author of several source books for Exalted, the Weapons of the Gods
Weapons of the Gods
Weapons of the Gods is a wuxia role-playing game based in an ancient Chinese setting. Created by Brad Elliott and Rebecca Borgstrom, Weapons of the Gods is published by Eos Press and is a license from the Hong Kong manhua by Wong Yuk Long of the same name...
RPG, and other works. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington.
Moran legally changed her name. Rebecca Sean Borgstrom was, she says, her legal name, but she did not consider it her 'real' name. She is also credited as R. Sean Borgstrom, Rebecca Borgstrom, and Sean Borgstrom. In contexts where she is well known, such as mailing lists centered on games she has authored, she is often referred to simply as "RSB."
Moran graduated from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
in 1988, and from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
with a doctorate in computer science in 2000.
Moran writes Hitherby Dragons, a blog-style ongoing story or collection of stories. She posts a new entry Monday through Saturday. The collection consists of legends and histories. Legends are performances put on by a girl named Jane, her brother Martin, and other recurring actors. Histories are actual events in Jane's world. They are marked by numbers after their titles, such as "1 of 2". For more information, see her own explanation at What is Hitherby Dragons?. Readers can comment on entries, and there is usually a lively discussion of what each entry means and how they fit together. In content, Hitherbies tend toward the surreal and fantastic, are often humorous, and incorporate elements of philosophy, computer science, and pop culture.
Moran, under the name Rebecca Borgstrom, appears as a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
in the scenario "And I Feel Fine," by Geoffrey C. Grabowski, which was published in the One Shots sourcebook for Unknown Armies
Unknown Armies
Unknown Armies is an occult-themed role playing game by John Tynes and Greg Stolze and published by Atlas Games. Subtitled "A roleplaying game of power and consequences"...
. This fictional version of Borgstrom lives in a trailer
Mobile home
Mobile homes or static caravans are prefabricated homes built in factories, rather than on site, and then taken to the place where they will be occupied...
and is described as "a single mom making her good way in a bad world." Another role-playing game author, Rich Dansky, also appears as a player character in the same scenario. In real life, Grabowski and Borgstrom are known to be friends.
Role-playing bibliography
NobilisNobilis
Nobilis is a contemporary fantasy role-playing game created by Jenna K. Moran, writing under the name R. Sean Borgstrom. The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or...
- Nobilis: A Roleplaying Game (1st edition) ISBN 0-9673180-1-7
- Nobilis: The Game of Sovereign Powers (2nd edition) ISBN 1-899749-30-6
- Nobilis The Essentials Volume 1: Field Guide to the Powers (3rd edition) ISBN 978-0-9833659-0-7
- The Game of Powers: The Live-Action Supplement for Nobilis ISBN 1-899749-36-5
Exalted
- Exalted: The Sidereal ISBN 1-58846-669-8
- Exalted: The Outcaste ISBN 1-58846-671-X
- Exalted: The Fair Folk ISBN 1-58846-678-7
- Games of Divinity ISBN 1-58846-659-0
- Savant and Sorcerer ISBN 1-58846-675-2
- Exalted: Second Edition ISBN 1-58846-684-1
In Nomine
In Nomine (role-playing game)
In Nomine is a role-playing game designed by Derek Pearcy and published in 1997 by Steve Jackson Games, based on the French game In Nomine Satanis/Magna Veritas. Players typically assume the role of angels and demons in a setting that draws heavily on the traditional Christian mythos...
- In Nomine: Superiors 1 - War & Honor ISBN 1-55634-409-0
- In Nomine: Ethereal Player's Guide ISBN 1-55634-430-9
- Liber Castellorum: The Book of Tethers ISBN 1-55634-365-5
- Liber Servitorum: The Book of the Servants ISBN 1-55634-369-8
Others
- Denizens of San Angelo ISBN 1-890305-14-6
- Ex MachinaEx Machina (role-playing game)Ex Machina is a cyberpunk role-playing game published by Guardians of Order covering a range from classic cyberpunk to postcyberpunk. It exists under both the cinematic Tri-Stat dX and d20 RPG systems.-Setting:...
ISBN 1-894938-01-1 - Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game - Manual of Monsters ISBN 1-58846-070-3
- Weapons of the GodsWeapons of the GodsWeapons of the Gods is a wuxia role-playing game based in an ancient Chinese setting. Created by Brad Elliott and Rebecca Borgstrom, Weapons of the Gods is published by Eos Press and is a license from the Hong Kong manhua by Wong Yuk Long of the same name...
ISBN 0-9710642-6-1
External links
- Structure and Meaning in Role-playing Game Design, an article on game design by Borgstrom with specific examples from Exalted: The Fair Folk
- R. Sean Borgstrom's site at Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityThe Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
- Her profile at the RPGnet forums, where she posts periodically
- Pen & Paper listing for R. Sean Borgstrom