Ed Greenwood

Last updated
Ed Greenwood
Ed-Greenwood-at-Gen-Con.jpg
Greenwood at Gen Con Indy 2012
Born (1959-07-21) July 21, 1959 (age 65)
OccupationWriter, game designer
Nationality Canadian
Period1979–present
Genre Role-playing games, fantasy

Ed Greenwood (born July 21, 1959) is a Canadian fantasy writer and the creator of the Forgotten Realms game world. He began writing articles about the Forgotten Realms for Dragon magazine beginning in 1979, and subsequently sold the rights to the setting to TSR, the creators of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, in 1986. He has written many Forgotten Realms novels, as well as numerous articles and D&D game supplement books.

Contents

Early life and the Forgotten Realms

Greenwood grew up in the upscale Toronto suburb of Don Mills. [1] He began writing stories about the Forgotten Realms as a child, starting in the mid-1960s; they were his "dream space for swords and sorcery stories". [2] Greenwood conceived of the Forgotten Realms as one world in a "multiverse" of parallel worlds which includes the Earth. He imagined such worlds as being the source of humanity's myths and legends. [1]

Greenwood discovered the Dungeons & Dragons game in 1975 and soon became a regular player. [1] He used the Realms as a setting for his campaigns, which centred on the fictional locales of Waterdeep and Shadowdale, locations that would figure prominently in his later writing. [3] According to Greenwood, his players' thirst for detail pushed him to further develop the Forgotten Realms setting: "They want[ed] it to seem real, and work on 'honest jobs' and personal activities, until the whole thing [grew] into far more than a casual campaign." [1]

Beginning with the periodical's 30th issue in 1979, Greenwood published a series of articles set in the Realms in The Dragon magazine, the first of which was about a monster known as The Curst. [1] [2] [4] : 19  Greenwood's articles in The Dragon often featured the wizard Elminster describing magic items, monsters, and spells. [3]

Partnership with TSR

In 1986, the American game publishing company TSR began looking for a new campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, [2] and assigned Jeff Grubb to find out more about the setting used by Greenwood in his articles for Dragon magazine. [3] [4] : 19  According to Greenwood, Grubb asked him "Do you just make this stuff up as you go, or do you really have a huge campaign world?"; he answered "yes" to both questions. [1] TSR felt that the Forgotten Realms would be a more open-ended setting than the epic Dragonlance setting, and chose the Realms as a ready-made campaign for AD&D 2nd Edition. [1]

Greenwood agreed to work on the project, and began to prepare his Forgotten Realms material for official publication. [2] He sent TSR a few dozen cardboard boxes stuffed with pencil notes and maps, and sold all his rights to the Realms to TSR for a token fee—just $5,000 and a promise to publish Greenwood's novels. [1] [5] The following year, Greenwood and coauthor Jeff Grubb wrote and published the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (1987). [5]

The campaign setting was a major success, and Greenwood continued to be involved with the evolution of the Forgotten Realms over the next decades. He went on to write numerous Forgotten Realms novels. Many of these center around the wizard Elminster, whom Greenwood has frequently portrayed at conventions and gaming events.[ citation needed ]

When TSR was in dire financial difficulties in 1996–1997, Greenwood offered to write some material for them for free to help get them back on their feet. Nothing came of the offer, but after Wizards of the Coast purchased TSR in 1997 and stabilized its finances, CEO Peter Adkison personally called Greenwood at the library he was working at to encourage him to continue writing Realms material. Greenwood responded he was happy to continue writing for the Realms for as long as he could. [5]

Greenwood feels his work on the Realms that he likes best are "those products that impart some of the richness and color of the Realms, such as the novel I wrote with Jeff Grubb, Cormyr; the Volo's Guides; Seven Sisters ; The Code of the Harpers ; City of Splendors; and stuff that lots of gamers have found useful, such as Drow of the Underdark and Ruins of Undermountain ." [1]

Greenwood has also been contributing editor and creative editor of Dragon magazine. [6]

Personal life and other activities

Greenwood has published over two hundred articles in Dragon Magazine and Polyhedron Newszine , is a lifetime charter member of the Role Playing Game Association (RPGA) network, and has been a Gen Con Game Fair guest of honor many times. [7] Greenwood has written over thirty-five novels for TSR, and written, co-written, or contributed to over two hundred books and game products from other publishers. [8] Greenwood has also contributed to The Book of All Flesh (2001), an anthology based on All Flesh Must Be Eaten , [4] : 341  and written short stories based on the Silver Age Sentinels role-playing game. [4] : 337  Greenwood's Castlemourn fantasy setting was published by Margaret Weis Productions. [4] : 353  [9] He is co-creator (with fantasy novelist Lynn Abbey) of the Mornmist fantasy setting. [6]

He has also contributed to most Forgotten Realms gaming accessories, and authored many more—including the detailed Volo's Guide series—and continues to DM his own campaign. He writes regular Realmslore columns for the Wizards of the Coast website.

In addition to all these activities, Greenwood works as a library clerk (and sometimes as a librarian) and has edited over a dozen small press magazines. [7] When not appearing at conventions, he lives in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Ontario. [7]

As of 1998, Greenwood lived in applegrowing country on Lake Ontario, still working full-time at the North York Community Library, as he had since 1974, and continued to run his original Waterdeep campaign with the same core group he started with, albeit meeting only sporadically. [1]

Castlemourn

Castlemourn is a campaign setting by Greenwood for Dungeons & Dragons . [10] [11] [12] : 349  Margaret Weis Productions introduced the setting to publication with A Player's Guide to Castlemourn (2006), followed by the d20-based Castlemourn Campaign Setting (2007), and then the company released the Castlemourn Cortex System Quickstart (2008) as part of the second Free RPG Day and then closed down the line. [12] : 349 

Setting

Castlemourn is a land searching for its past. Its people are unaware of their origins, the greatness of their history, or what disaster brought about the Dark Age that has engulfed the land. Some three hundred years before the setting's current era, there existed a magical place of shining towers and marvelous wonders called the Realm of Castles. Legends tell of a great war against fell creatures that destroyed the realm, leaving scorched ruins and crumbling citadels. Whatever befell this realm was so terrible that the gods have "cordoned" it off. No one is permitted to leave Castlemourn and those who find their way there, do so at their own peril, as adventurers, treasure hunters, and questors scour the land searching for relics, artifacts, and clues to their past. Castlemourn is a post-apocalyptic fantasy setting where kingdoms fight for power through political intrigue and outright warfare; where the brave seek their fortunes in dangerous ruins, and where everyone fears the unspeakable evil that shadows their land.

Races

In Castlemourn, one can find almost all of the core races, except half-orc. However, their base abilities all changed in some ways.

  • Dwarves: Dwarves are a stout miner race, just like in the core settings. However, they perceive the world as an illusion, so they are more prone to be affected by illusions, but can ignore real dangers, as if they were only illusions.
  • Elves: Elves are lithe creatures of the woods, who glow with light, and therefore hardly can hide from others.
  • Half-Elves: Just like their elven ancestors, they glow, but with a dimmer light.
  • Halflings: Small people, who are the masters of forging magical items.
  • Gnomes: Gnomes are little humanoids, who swore to commit a great task in their lives.
  • Godaunts: Fell beasts, who are looked down by other races. They are the equivalent of the half-orc.
  • Thaele: Vampire-like mysterious race.

Classes

There is only one extra class beside the core classes of D&D: the buccaneer. The buccaneers are pirates, seafaring swashbucklers. There are six prestige classes as well: dusked, faithless one, rhymesword, servant of the Seven, truesword knight and waymaster.

Awards and honors

Greenwood won "best player" at the 1984 Gen Con AD&D Open tournament and several Gamer's Choice Awards and Origins Awards for his game design. [6] He was inducted into the Gamer's Choice Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Academy of Adventure Gaming's Hall of Fame in 2003. [6] Order of Cramahe 2017. [13] He received the Port Hope Civic Awards Arts & Culture Award 2019. [14] He was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Hall of Fame in 2022. [15]

Bibliography

Anthology novellas

Non-Forgotten Realms novels

Other fiction anthology contributions

Anthologies edited

Role-playing games

Video games

Critical studies and reviews of Greenwood's work

The Iron Assassin

Media mentions

Ed Greenwood has appeared in the following podcasts, newspaper and magazine articles, websites, and podcasts.

Podcasts

Magazines

Radio interviews

Related Research Articles

Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories. Several years later, it was published for the D&D game as a series of magazine articles, and the first Realms game products were released in 1987. Role-playing game products have been produced for the setting ever since, in addition to novels, role-playing video game adaptations, comic books, and the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elminster</span> Character in Dungeons & Dragons fantasy

Elminster Aumar is a fictional character appearing in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He is also known as the Sage of Shadowdale, and is depicted as a powerful wizard featured in several novels by Forgotten Realms creator Ed Greenwood. Certain aspects of his appearance and demeanor seem to echo Gandalf, Merlin, or Odin.

Jeff Grubb is an author of novels, short stories, and comics, as well as a computer and role-playing game designer in the fantasy genre. Grubb worked on the Dragonlance campaign setting under Tracy Hickman, and the Forgotten Realms setting with Ed Greenwood. His written works include The Finder's Stone Trilogy, the Spelljammer and Jakandor campaign settings, and contributions to Dragonlance and the computer game Guild Wars Nightfall (2006).

Mystra is a fictional goddess in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volothamp Geddarm</span> Forgotten Realms fictional character

Volothamp "Volo" Geddarm, created by Jeff Grubb, is a fictional character of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

The Harpers are a fictional and semi-secret organization in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the role playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

Neverwinter is a fictional city-state in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Neverwinter was founded by Lord Halueth Never. It sits on the northwestern coast of the subcontinent of Faerûn.

<i>Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting</i> Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook

The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published by TSR in 1987 for the first edition of the fantasy role-playing game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons that describes the campaign setting of the Forgotten Realms. It contains information on characters, locations and history. Various revised and updated editions have been produced over the years.

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<i>Hall of Heroes</i> (Forgotten Realms)

Hall of Heroes is an accessory for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The 128-page book, with product code TSR 9252, was published in 1989, with cover art by Jeff Easley and interior art by Ned Dameron.

<i>Heroes Lorebook</i> 1996 role-playing game accessory

Heroes' Lorebook is an accessory for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Forgotten Realms Adventures</i> 1990 tabletop role-playing game supplement

Forgotten Realms Adventures is an accessory for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book, with product code TSR 2106, was published in 1990, and was written by Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood, with cover art by Clyde Caldwell and interior art by Steven Fabian, Ned Dameron, Larry Elmore, Caldwell, and Jeff Easley.

<i>The Magister</i>

The Magister is an accessory for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book, with product code TSR 9229, was published in 1988 by TSR. It was written by Ed Greenwood and Steve Perrin, with cover art by Jeff Easley and interior art by Valerie Valusek.

<i>The Code of the Harpers</i>

The Code of the Harpers is an accessory for the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Ed Greenwood and was published by TSR. The module featured cover art by Jeff Easley and interior art by Scott Rosema.

<i>Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms</i> Tabletop role-playing game supplement

Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms is an accessory and campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Pages from the Mages</i> 1995 role-playing game accessory

Pages from the Mages is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995.

<i>The Sundering</i> Fictional event from Dungeons & Dragons

The Sundering refers to two events that occurred in the fictional timeline of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It is also the title of both a series of novels published by Wizards of the Coast and a multimedia project Wizards of the Coast used to transition Dungeons & Dragons from 4th Edition to 5th Edition. This project explored the Second Sundering story and included the aforementioned book series, the free-to-play mobile game Arena of War developed by DeNA and an adventure series for the 4th Edition D&D Encounters program.

<i>Ed Greenwood Presents Elminsters Forgotten Realms</i>

Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms is an edition-neutral sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms published during the 4th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 Winter, Steve; Greenwood, Ed; Grubb, Jeff. 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons , pages 74-87. (Wizards of the Coast, 2004).
  3. 1 2 3 Grubb, Jeff; Greenwood, Ed. Forgotten Realms Adventures (TSR, 1990)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN   978-1-907702-58-7.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Riggs, Ben (2022). Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons. St. Martin's Press. pp. 78–81, 183, 269. ISBN   9781250278043.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Greenwood, Ed (2007). "Thurn and Taxis". In Lowder, James (ed.). Hobby Games: The 100 Best . Green Ronin Publishing. pp. 312–314. ISBN   978-1-932442-96-0.
  7. 1 2 3 "Ed Greenwood". Archived from the original on June 25, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Ed Greenwood". Book Series in Order. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  9. ↑ Lowder, James, ed. (2010). Family Games - The 100 Best. Green Ronin. p. 173. ISBN   978-1-934547-21-2.
  10. ↑ Lowder, James (2010). Family games : The 100 best. Green Ronin. ISBN   9781934547212.
  11. ↑ "Dungeons & Dragons World - Magazines - Dragon Magazine".
  12. 1 2 Shannon Appelcline (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '90s. Evil Hat Productions. ISBN   978-1-61317-084-7.
  13. ↑ "Inaugural Order of Cramahe Presented". Cramahe Now - News Magazine. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "Port Hope - Civic Awards". www.porthope.ca. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  15. ↑ "CSFFA Hall of Fame – Inductees". www.csffa.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
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  17. ↑ "Elminster's Candlekeep Companion - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild". www.dmsguild.com. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  18. ↑ "Dungeons & Dragons Returns to Candlekeep". ComicBook.com. April 28, 2020. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  19. ↑ "Darkhold: Secrets of the Zhentarim - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild". www.dmsguild.com. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  20. ↑ "Explore the Dark Side of Dungeons & Dragons With Darkhold: Secrets of the Zhentarim". ComicBook.com. August 18, 2020. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  21. ↑ "Rashemen - Campaign Guide - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild". www.dmsguild.com. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  22. ↑ Zambrano, J. R. (2022-01-31). "D&D: Faerun Creator Will Soon Debut 'Thay: Land Of The Red Wizards'". Bell of Lost Souls. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  23. ↑ "Thay Land Of The Red Wizards - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild". www.dmsguild.com. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  24. ↑ "Dungeons & Dragons: arriva Thay: Land of the Red Wizards il manuale sui Maghi Rossi di Thay" [Dungeons & Dragons: Thay: Land of the Red Wizards is here, the manual on the Red Wizards of Thay]. Tom's Hardware (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  25. ↑ "Open Design 004: Dwarves of the Ironcrags". Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  26. ↑ "RPG Countdown (29 July 2009)". Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  27. ↑ 69: World Building with Ed Greenwood 01 Apple Podcast Preview , retrieved 2016-03-20
  28. ↑ On the Realms with Ed Greenwood , retrieved 2020-02-19
  29. ↑ "Ed Greenwood, Patron Saint of RPGs - Part 1: Who are you?". A Role to Play podcast. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  30. ↑ "Ed Greenwood, Patron Saint of RPGs - Part 2: Wizard at Large". A Role to Play podcast. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  31. ↑ "Ed Greenwood, Patron Saint of RPGs - Part 3: Librarian Writ Large". A Role to Play podcast. 16 February 2024.
  32. ↑ Epic Realms Ed Greenwood Interviews , retrieved 2024-04-23
  33. ↑ To Believe the Magic Is Real: A Conversation with Ed Greenwood Clarkesworld Magazine , December 2008
  34. ↑ "Ed Greenwood: 10 min interview on Sounds Like Canada". CBC Radio One. 2007-08-28. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
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