Robert J. Kuntz
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Kuntz is a game designer and author of role-playing game
publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various Dungeons & Dragons
-related materials.
supplement, Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes
, the first edition of Deities & Demigods
, and Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure
.
. Kuntz learned about miniature wargames
at age 13 while skimming through an issue of Playboy
; he saw a game called Dogfight listed in a section describing party gifts for Christmas. Kuntz began playing boardgames, miniatures and play-by-mail games.
Kuntz was TSR, Inc.
's 6th employee and served in the company in many positions, as designer, editor, Director of Shipping, columnist for the Dragon Magazine
, Convention Chairman (Gen Con
VIII & IX and Winter Fantasy 1) and oversaw the AD&D line's licensing to Judges Guild
for a short time period.
As a D&D player, Kuntz developed the famous (or perhaps infamous) character of Robilar
, the first character to successfully complete Tomb of Horrors
, among other exploits. Because of Kuntz' imaginative play of this character, Gary Gygax
awarded him co-Dungeon Master
status for Gygax's original Greyhawk
home campaign.
As Gygax's friend and co-DM, Kuntz influenced the development of the Greyhawk milieu. For example, Gygax adapted Kuntz' dark god "Tharzduun" into the entity known today as Tharizdun
. The names of the characters Tzunk and Bilarro are anagrams for his or his character's names. Kuntz also contributed two of the adventures published in Fate of Istus
.
In 2006 he started a new company, Pied Piper Publishing, to publish his latest roleplaying adventure modules which were released on a limited-edition basis:
The following have since been published, including material from the original Lake Geneva Castle & Campaign:
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...
publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various 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...
-related materials.
Works
Kuntz has authored or co-authored several iconic D&D publications, including the Maze of Zayene series, the original GreyhawkGreyhawk (supplement)
Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax and Robert J. Kuntz for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
supplement, Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes
Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes
Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes is a supplementary rulebook for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The work provides information on the pantheons and constructs of the Egyptian, Hindu, Greek, Celtic, Norse, Finnish, Aztec, Mayan, Chinese, and Japanese mythologies, as well as...
, the first edition of Deities & Demigods
Deities & Demigods
Deities & Demigods , alternatively known as Legends & Lore , is a reference book for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game . The book provides descriptions and game statistics of gods and legendary creatures from various sources in mythology and fiction...
, and Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure
Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure
Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure by Robert J. Kuntz and Gary Gygax is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, published by TSR, Inc. in 1984. It originally bore the code "WG5" and was intended for use with the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons first edition rules...
.
Biography
Rob Kuntz was born September 23, 1955 in Lake Geneva, WisconsinLake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.-History:...
. Kuntz learned about miniature wargames
Miniature wargaming
Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming that incorporates miniature figures, miniature armor and modeled terrain as the main components of play...
at age 13 while skimming through an issue of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
; he saw a game called Dogfight listed in a section describing party gifts for Christmas. Kuntz began playing boardgames, miniatures and play-by-mail games.
Kuntz was 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....
's 6th employee and served in the company in many positions, as designer, editor, Director of Shipping, columnist for the Dragon Magazine
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...
, Convention Chairman (Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
VIII & IX and Winter Fantasy 1) and oversaw the AD&D line's licensing to Judges Guild
Judges Guild
Judges Guild is a small game publisher in the business of creating and selling role-playing game supplements, periodicals and related material, most notable as one of the leading publishers in the late 1970s and early 1980s of Dungeons & Dragons-related materials...
for a short time period.
As a D&D player, Kuntz developed the famous (or perhaps infamous) character of Robilar
Robilar
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Robilar is a powerful warrior who serves as commander of Rary's forces in the Empire of the Bright Lands...
, the first character to successfully complete Tomb of Horrors
Tomb of Horrors
Tomb of Horrors is an adventure module written by Gary Gygax for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It was originally written for and used at the 1975 Origins 1 convention...
, among other exploits. Because of Kuntz' imaginative play of this character, Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
awarded him co-Dungeon Master
Dungeon Master
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
status for Gygax's original Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
home campaign.
As Gygax's friend and co-DM, Kuntz influenced the development of the Greyhawk milieu. For example, Gygax adapted Kuntz' dark god "Tharzduun" into the entity known today as Tharizdun
Tharizdun
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Tharizdun is the god of Eternal Darkness, Decay, Entropy, Malign Knowledge, Insanity, and Cold....
. The names of the characters Tzunk and Bilarro are anagrams for his or his character's names. Kuntz also contributed two of the adventures published in 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...
.
Later RPG projects
Kuntz wrote a series of adventures for Maure Castle, published in Dungeon Magazine:- Maure Castle: "The Statuary", DUNGEON #112, with Gary Gygax July 2004
- Return to Maure Castle: "Chambers of Antiquities", DUNGEON #124, July 2005
- Return to Maure Castle: "The Greater Halls", DUNGEON #139, October 2006
In 2006 he started a new company, Pied Piper Publishing, to publish his latest roleplaying adventure modules which were released on a limited-edition basis:
- Cairn of the Skeleton King (2006) with artwork by Jim Holloway, former 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....
artist. - Tower of Blood (2007)
The following have since been published, including material from the original Lake Geneva Castle & Campaign:
- The Living Room (2008)
- The Bottle City (2008)
- El Raja Key’s Arcane Treasury with Eric N. Shook (2009)
- Daemonic & Arcane (2009)
- The Stalk (2009)
Awards
- 1986, Charles S. Roberts AwardCharles S. Roberts AwardThe Charles S. Roberts Awards are given annually for excellence in the historical wargaming hobby. It is named after Charles S. Roberts the "Father of Wargaming" who founded Avalon Hill. The award is informally called a "Charlie" and officially called a "Charles S...
, Kings & Things board game (West End Games) - 2005, Golden ENnie for Best Adventure, Maure Castle in Dungeon Magazine #112 (Paizo Publishing)
External links
- "A Partial, Annotated Bibliography of the Works of Robert J. Kuntz" from Grodog's Greyhawk Website
- Pen & Paper listing for Robert J Kuntz
- "Rob Kuntz's company, Pied Piper Publishing" Current projects and works
- "Lord of the Green Dragons" Kuntz' blog.