I think I'm getting a bit behind in knowing the illustrious RPG industry personalites. Some of the old guys are still around (EGG, SJG, Dave Arneson, Greg Stafford ...), I got to notice that some of the better D20 products are bound to be authored by the same persons (Mearls, Cook, Baur...), then there's the artists I like or don't, but  I'm sure there's a lot missing.

So tell me about the guys and gals behind the games. No plain "suck"/"rule" stuff, I'd like to know what's so wrong/great about them.

Example:
Dilly McPrissyhats is my favorite game designer! His insight into multi-dimensional narrative angles is only surpassed by his supreme inner beauty. He manages to get some innovative dice pool management in each of his games, his prose is suberb, his taste in subject matters unsurpassed. I want to have his babies.

Dilly McPrissyhats can't design his way out of a paper bag! The Swine!



-clash

Tom Moldvay's work (editing '81 Basic D&D, module X2 Castle Amber, Lords of Creation) combined workmanlike design, clear instructions to the reader, and a geniune love for adventure gaming.

S. John Ross manages to combine gushing fanboyishness and perfectionism of craft.  You'd think that would be obnoxious, but most of his work is utterly charming.

Greg Costikyan has more pure talent in his pinky than most designers have in their whole body.  A good case could be made that he's the single most underrated talent in the hobby.  I've heard game designers refer to him as a designer's designer.

Justin Achilli - Perhaps one of the only writers Pundit would kill on site(j/k). One of the prominent writers near the end of the old World of Darkness, lead designer on the new Vampire: the Requiem. At one time he was the line manager (or something like that) for the entire WoD. Him and Bill Bridges are the ones mostly considered for the reinvention of WoD. He now freelances for ummm.... White-Wolf and is currently working on the new Changeling.
 
Greg Stolze - One of the two creators of Unknown Armies. Creator of the Ransom business model. Writes a decent Vampire novel. Currently does feelancing for White-Wolf and some other stuff.

Quote from: KrakaJakJustin Achilli

this guy is one of the biggest assholes in gaming.

EDIT:Oh...........that one! TSR, nevermind.

Quote from: Mcrowthis guy is one of the biggest assholes in gaming.

That's a pretty elite crowd that you put him atop. I must ask what he did to deserve that rating from you, show up at your house and urinate in you car's gas tank?

Quote from: blakkieThat's a pretty elite crowd that you put him atop. I must ask what he did to deserve that rating from you, show up at your house and urinate in you car's gas tank?

more like pissed in my cornflakes.

I don't know if you ever seen him around on any forums before, but all he does is insult all of the WW fans. Not to mention he might be the king of elitists and major swine. It seems pretty dumb to insult the people who are sticking up for your company.

Justin Achilli may be a dick, but I'm pretty sure Lorraine Williams had him beat back in her day.

Personally, Justin Achilli is awesome .  I think he's more taking the piss out of people that take shit too seriously.  That's always been my impression.  Besides, everyone knows the biggest asshole in online gaming is Gareth-Michael Skarka.  You can't mess with the king.

Rebecca Borgstrom is another big name, and is either loved or hated by those that know her.  She created Nobilis and has worked on several books for Exalted.  She's known for very flowery, imaginative gaming materials, but can tend towards obfuscation, often having little in the way of examples and mixing rules and flavor text.  Nobilis is pretty much king of the hill in pretention anyway, the thing looks like a coffee table art book or something.

CJ Carella is probably my favorite.  He's the creator of the Unisystem, author of Buffy, Angel, Witchcraft, and Armageddon among others.  He doesn't tend to get too involved in online discussions, I like him purely for his writing ability.  Clean and straightforward, with a lively style that makes even combat modifiers easy to read.

Quote from: jrientsJustin Achilli may be a dick, but I'm pretty sure Lorraine Williams had him beat back in her day.

not sure who that is. Who did she work for?

Quote from: MaddmanPersonally, Justin Achilli is awesome .  I think he's more taking the piss out of people that take shit too seriously.  That's always been my impression.  Besides, everyone knows the biggest asshole in online gaming is Gareth-Michael Skarka.  You can't mess with the king.

Rebecca Borgstrom is another big name, and is either loved or hated by those that know her.  She created Nobilis and has worked on several books for Exalted.  She's known for very flowery, imaginative gaming materials, but can tend towards obfuscation, often having little in the way of examples and mixing rules and flavor text.  Nobilis is pretty much king of the hill in pretention anyway, the thing looks like a coffee table art book or something.

CJ Carella is probably my favorite.  He's the creator of the Unisystem, author of Buffy, Angel, Witchcraft, and Armageddon among others.  He doesn't tend to get too involved in online discussions, I like him purely for his writing ability.  Clean and straightforward, with a lively style that makes even combat modifiers easy to read.

Justin seems to be a love'm or hate'm type of guy.

man, I forget how many jerks ther are in the RPG business. Skarka & Borgstrom, those two set the standard.

Quote from: Mcrownot sure who that is. Who did she work for?

More thany anyone else, she is responsible for running TSR into the ground.  She reputedly had absolute contempt for the customers.

Quote from: MaddmanShe's known for very flowery, imaginative gaming materials, but can tend towards obfuscation, often having little in the way of examples and mixing rules and flavor text.

Incidentally, the second edition of Nob did add a wealth of clarifications, including the 20-page "Example of Play" which is still available for download (just scroll down to the bottom of the page).

Quote from: Mcrowman, I forget how many jerks ther are in the RPG business. Skarka & Borgstrom, those two set the standard.

Really? I can't say that I've ever seen Borgstrom to be anything other than unfailingly polite, even in the face of pure trolling.

Quote from: GrimGentReally? I can't say that I've ever seen Borgstrom to be anything other than unfailingly polite, even in the face of pure trolling.

hmmm........ Myabe I'm mixing her up for someone else.

Whos the female RPG designer who talks about how she has a degree in role-playing design? I think she either lives or lived in Minnesota @ one time.

that's the person I'm thinking of.