Articles

Issue #138 of Polyhedron featured my second published piece, this one an article supporting the Mask of the Red Death D&D setting. It was the first of a series of four Gothic horror articles detailing ideas for the 1890’s alternate earth where Dracula, Frankenstein, and all manner of other creatures from horror and folklore are all too real. Over my many years at Wizards I tried many times to resurrect this excellent setting for games. Alas, ‘twas not to be.

I think the short story in this 1998 issue represents my first professionally published work. I called it “The Venturers,” and I remember that a halfling thief featured prominently is some sort of humorous quest that riffed on D&D tropes. But beyond that, I recall nothing.

I’ve been a huge fan of the Forgotten Realms, and one of my favorite parts of the world is the city of Waterdeep and its sprawling dungeon, Undermountain. At the time Wizards had shifted focus onto other settings, but I kept the flame alive with a series of website articles highlighting the most infamous dungeon of D&D.