1. Early Life and Education
Born into a military family, Michael Pondsmith is the son of a psychologist and a Air Force officer. Due to his parents' careers, he traveled extensively around the world with the U.S. Air Force for the first 18 years of his life. He pursued higher education at the University of California, Davis, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and a Bachelor of Science in behavioral psychology.
Pondsmith recalls designing games even as a child. His formal introduction to pen-and-paper role-playing games came during college when a friend acquired a copy of the original Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). With significant experience in naval wargaming, he was drawn to the gameplay mechanics of D&D but found its fantasy setting less engaging. His interest intensified upon acquiring Traveller, a science fiction role-playing game published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop. Dissatisfied with its mechanics, Pondsmith personally rewrote the game under the title Imperial Star. He later praised Traveller as the best role-playing game he had ever encountered in Green Ronin's award-winning book, Hobby Games: The 100 Best.
2. Early Career and Transition to Game Design
Before becoming a prominent pen-and-paper game designer, Pondsmith began his career in the video game industry as a graphic designer. His first professional role after college involved designing packaging and advertising materials for the now-defunct California Pacific Computer Company (CPCC). A primary focus for CPCC in its early days was repackaging Japanese games for the Western market, a task Pondsmith was involved in. He later moved on to create designs for original titles produced by Bill Budge and for the early Ultima games designed by Richard Garriott, all published by CPCC. His tenure at CPCC concluded due to internal issues faced by the company's owner. Following this, he managed a typesetting house at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Pondsmith noted that in the early 1980s, opportunities in video game design were limited due to technological constraints, with most CPCC games being developed for Apple II machines. However, his familiarity with pen-and-paper games, which he actively played, sparked his interest in paper game design. Leveraging his typesetting side-job, he gained access to advanced computers and software used for book and magazine layout. This access enabled him to write Mekton, a mecha game inspired by Japanese manga he had discovered. The significant interest generated by his work on paper games eventually led game design to become his primary career, though he continued to design and lay out most of R. Talsorian Games' publications.
3. Founding R. Talsorian Games
The success of his early game designs, particularly Mekton, convinced Pondsmith that he could sustain a career in game design. Consequently, he founded R. Talsorian Games (RTG) in 1985. Based in Washington, RTG was one of the pioneering role-playing game publishers to adopt desktop publishing technologies.
Regarding the company's unusual name, Pondsmith has stated that "R. Talsorian is a real person who never plays RPGs." In a 2016 interview, he further clarified that the name derived from one of the company's early investors, described as a "raisin farmer in Fresno." Pondsmith and his associates followed the advice of fellow game designer Warren Spector to avoid naming the company after himself, opting instead for "the one person who would never show up at a convention ever," Talsorian.
4. Major Tabletop RPG Contributions
Michael Pondsmith has made significant contributions to the tabletop role-playing game industry, developing several highly influential game lines that have left a lasting impact on the genre.
4.1. Mekton Series
The first game Pondsmith designed from the ground up was Mekton, released in 1984. This mecha-themed game was heavily influenced by Japanese manga and anime. Pondsmith admitted that he primarily based his work on the Japanese Mobile Suit Gundam manga, which he had acquired. Unable to understand the Japanese text, he creatively recreated the world dynamics based solely on the comic books' imagery. The game's initial public testing took place at a local convention. The first public release of Mekton focused entirely on its battle mechanics, lacking any role-playing elements, making it a pure tactical wargame.
In 1986, Mekton was re-released as a proper role-playing game, with Pondsmith and Mike Jones credited as authors. In 1987, RTG released Mekton II, a new edition featuring mechanics based on the Interlock System, which would later be adapted for the Cyberpunk line. Subsequent iterations include Mekton Z (1995), Mekton Z Plus (1995), and Mekton Zeta (2000), a reprint under the ANimechaniX brand.
4.2. Cyberpunk Series
The Cyberpunk series is one of Michael Pondsmith's most renowned creations, known for its gritty, dystopian future setting.
In 1988, R. Talsorian Games launched Cyberpunk The Roleplaying Game of the Dark Future. Set in the year 2013 and often referred to as Cyberpunk 2013, the initial release was a boxed product containing three separate books authored by Pondsmith, with contributions from Mike Blum, Colin Fisk, Dave Friedland, Will Moss, and Scott Ruggels. Cyberpunk 2013 was the second game to utilize the Interlock System. Pondsmith attributes the creation of Cyberpunk to his interest in the genre, primarily sparked by Ridley Scott's 1982 film Blade Runner. His motivation was to recreate the film's advanced technology and dark, film noir aesthetic. Cyberpunk has become the most expansive product line in the RTG library, boasting forty-four sourcebooks totaling over 4,700 pages, and has an estimated 5 million players to date.
In 1990, Pondsmith released Cyberpunk 2020, a handbook with an updated story arc and refined mechanics, while maintaining compatibility with existing expansions. In 1993, RTG introduced Cybergeneration, an alternate timeline for the Cyberpunk line. This sourcebook was expanded with additional material, and a second edition was released in 1995, further exploring its themes. The license for Cybergeneration was later acquired by Jonathan Lavallee, owner of Firestorm Ink, a company specifically founded in 2003 to continue RTG's product line.
In 1996, Wizards of the Coast licensed Cyberpunk for their collectible card game Netrunner. Designed by Richard Garfield, Netrunner featured locations, entities, and characters familiar to Cyberpunk 2020 players. The game was recognized as one of "The Millennium's Most Underrated Games" in 1999 by Pyramid magazine, published by Steve Jackson Games. Mike Pondsmith is listed in the game's credits in the 'special thanks' section and makes a cameo appearance as "Omni Kismet, Ph.D.", an anagram of his name. On May 10, 2012, Fantasy Flight Games announced the release of Android: Netrunner, a new card game based on Netrunner, under license from Wizards of the Coast. Another short-lived card game based on Pondsmith's intellectual property was Cyberpunk CCG, designed by Peter Wacks and published by Social Games in 2003.
In 1989, West End Games released Alice Through the Mirrorshades, a crossover game compatible with both Cyberpunk and Paranoia, designed by Edward Bolme. During the peak popularity of Cyberpunk, at least two fan magazines were created with Pondsmith's approval: Interface Magazine, which evolved from the unofficial Cyberpunk Update run by Chris Hockabout, and the UK-published 'Punk '21.
In 2000, Pondsmith announced that he was working on the third edition of Cyberpunk. Development for this edition began even earlier, immediately after the release of the Dragon Ball Z Adventure Game in 1999. Initially titled Cyberpunk 203X, the game was slated for a spring 2001 release. The first two-page preview was released on August 20, 2001, marking the first of several delays. During the extended development, Pondsmith released another preview on December 31, 2004. The game's early manuscript was previewed, and its first public playtesting occurred at I-Con in Ronkonkoma, New York, between April 8 and 10, 2005. Written by Pondsmith, Mike Blum, Colin Fisk, Dave Friedland, Will Moss, and Scott Ruggels, Cyberpunk v3.0 was finally released on December 13, 2005, to mixed reviews. The game's illustrations were particularly criticized for being photographs of slightly modified action figures, which Pondsmith collected at the time. Despite the mixed reception, the game was successful enough to warrant several accessories and supplements, including DataPack (originally Dossier Pak), FlashPak, Gangbook, and AltCult Insider, announced shortly after the core book's release. Cyberpunk v3.0, like its predecessors, drew inspiration from classic cyberpunk literature by authors like Neal Stephenson and William Gibson, but also incorporated ideas from new literary sources, Japanese animation, and films. According to Pondsmith, it was designed as a commentary on the 21st century, exploring corporate influences on daily life, group ideologies, the role of government, warfare, and advancements in biotechnology.
In addition to his work at RTG, Pondsmith contributed to Hero Games' Champions line, primarily as an editorial assistant on books such as Alliances for Champions: New Millennium. This experience introduced him to the Hero System mechanics, which he later decided to merge with the Interlock System used in most RTG games up to that point. This fusion resulted in the Fuzion system, adopted in later RTG titles, most notably the third edition of the Cyberpunk game. In the foreword to Cyberpunk v3.0, Pondsmith justified these changes as necessary for streamlining the game and attracting new players, though these modifications also received mixed reviews. Pondsmith jointly holds the rights to Fuzion with Steve Peterson and Ray Greer of Hero Games.
4.3. Castle Falkenstein
In 1994, R. Talsorian Games released Pondsmith's steampunk-themed fantasy role-playing game, Castle Falkenstein. This game was notable for its unique mechanics, which relied on playing cards instead of dice, and was designed with live action role-playing in mind. Castle Falkenstein remains Pondsmith's most critically acclaimed game to date, earning the 1994 Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Rules and the 1995 Nigel D. Findley Memorial Award for Best Role-Playing Product. In 2000, Castle Falkenstein was adapted to the GURPS system by James Cambias and Phil Masters, and published by Steve Jackson Games.
4.4. Other RPG Contributions
Pondsmith had a brief association with TSR, Inc., where he worked on Buck Rogers XXVC, a science-fiction RPG. He also contributed to two sourcebooks for the Dungeons & Dragons game: Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms for Oriental Adventures in 1988, and Hall of Heroes for Forgotten Realms in 1989. Additionally, he made minor, uncredited contributions to the original Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, released in 1987 by West End Games.
Pondsmith also served as president of the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA). In his capacity as GAMA President in 1993, he arbitrated an out-of-court settlement between Palladium Books and Wizards of the Coast concerning Wizards' use of Palladium system integration notes in The Primal Order.
4.5. Board Games
In 1990, during his time with TSR, Pondsmith co-designed three two-player board games for the publisher, all with Paul Lidberg: Attack in the Asteroids, Battle for the Sprawls, and Craters of Tharsis. R. Talsorian Games later released Pondsmith's board game GoDice! in 2006. The initial 1984 release of Mekton is also considered to be a board game due to its focus on tactical combat mechanics rather than role-playing elements.
5. Video Game Industry Involvement
Michael Pondsmith has actively engaged with the video game development industry, contributing his design expertise to various projects.
5.1. Work at Microsoft and Monolith Productions
After facing challenges in the role-playing game industry, Pondsmith announced on February 15, 1998, that R. Talsorian Games would operate only part-time, leading to a hiatus for its major game lines. This also resulted in Hero Games separating from R. Talsorian Games in September 1998. In late 2000, Pondsmith accepted a position at Microsoft to produce games for the Xbox. As a design manager at Microsoft, he contributed to various games, primarily exclusive titles for the original Xbox console, released by Microsoft Game Studios. In MechCommander 2, released in 2001, he played the role of Steel, a character featured in cut-scenes, and also voiced the character for in-game chatter. He was also credited in Stormfront Studios' Blood Wake, released in the same year. His last credited Microsoft title was Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (2003). In 2004, he left Microsoft to join Monolith Productions, where he worked on The Matrix Online (2005). During his time at Microsoft, his wife, Lisa Pondsmith, managed to keep R. Talsorian Games in business with limited publications.
The idea for a Matrix game was initially pitched internally at Microsoft by Pondsmith and a coworker. Despite advanced discussions with The Wachowskis, the film's producers, the project never materialized. Pitches to Shiny Entertainment were also unsuccessful. Pondsmith later learned that a Matrix game was being developed at Monolith Productions. Given the opportunity to join the live team, responsible for maintaining the game and producing content post-launch, he decided to join Monolith. Pondsmith ultimately focused on mission design for the game under Online Creative Director and Lead Game Designer Toby Ragaini.
5.2. Collaboration on Cyberpunk 2077
On May 30, 2012, it was confirmed that Pondsmith was collaborating with CD Projekt Red on a video game set in the Cyberpunk universe. On October 18, 2012, the game's title and setting were revealed as Cyberpunk 2077. Immediately following this announcement, it was confirmed that Pondsmith was also developing a new edition of the Cyberpunk pen-and-paper RPG, intended to evolve the genre. In an interview with GameSpot, CD Projekt's Marcin Iwiński stated that Pondsmith's involvement in the video game primarily focused on the game world and mechanics. His input, though consistent, was not a daily occurrence due to the geographical distance between the parties. Video game creators, along with Mike Pondsmith and other RTG designers, contributed to the newly formed cyberpunk.net blog. Mike Pondsmith also lent his voice to two characters in Cyberpunk 2077, one of whom is Maximum Mike, the DJ of Morro Rock Radio, a continuation of his alter-ego persona from the Cyberpunk sourcebooks.
6. R. Talsorian Games: Company Operations
R. Talsorian Games is a prominent role-playing game publisher based in Washington. Founded in 1985 in California by Mike Pondsmith, it distinguished itself as one of the first RPG publishers to embrace desktop publishing. Currently, Lisa Pondsmith, Mike Pondsmith's wife, serves as the company's general manager, while Mike Pondsmith remains the owner, CEO, and lead designer.
Pondsmith uses an alter-ego, "Maximum Mike," across many of the Cyberpunk books. Unlike recurring characters such as Morgan Blackhand, Johnny Silverhand, or Nomad Santiago, Maximum Mike breaks the fourth wall and communicates directly with the reader. Pondsmith's likeness and name were also indirectly used in the Cyberpunk world under a different name; he is featured as "Omni Kismet, Ph.D.", one of the characters in the Netrunner CCG, with the character's name being an anagram of his.
7. Personal Life and Public Activities
Michael Pondsmith's personal life is closely intertwined with his professional endeavors, with his family actively involved in R. Talsorian Games. He also maintains a visible presence within the gaming community and has pursued an academic career in game design.
7.1. Family and Personal Interests
Pondsmith is married to Lisa Pondsmith, and they have a son, Cody. Both Lisa and Cody are involved in the operations of R. Talsorian Games. Mike and Lisa first met earlier in their lives, but their relationship began around 1977 while they were still in college, and they married in February 1982. Lisa serves as the general manager of RTG and has received credits in various titles, most notably as a co-author, alongside Jeff Grubb, of The Memoirs of Auberon of Faerie sourcebook for the Castle Falkenstein system. Cody is credited as a member of the production staff in the Cyberpunk V3.0 supplement Flashpak and has also been involved in the promotion and community communications related to RTG's steampunk title, Castle Falkenstein.
Before his career in game design, Mike Pondsmith worked as an amateur paleontologist. In his spare time, he collects plastic GI Joe action figures, which were prominently featured in the Cyberpunk v3.0 core rulebook. He also enjoys outdoor activities, reading, and engaging with radio-controlled cars and planes.
7.2. Public Appearances and Conventions
Pondsmith has been a highly active member of gaming communities and has made frequent appearances at numerous gaming conventions over the years. He has attended many Gen Con events, with his experiences being featured in Robin D. Laws' book 40 Years of Gen Con, published in August 2007 by Atlas Games. His convention appearances include I-CON, A-Kon, Norwescon, Origins, DexCon, and DunDraCon, among others. Pondsmith was a guest of honor at Ropecon 1999, Astronomicon 2001, and I-CON 25 (March 24-26, 2006). Both Mike and his son Cody regularly run various games during different gaming conventions. Pondsmith has also appeared on stage to discuss the Cyberpunk 2077 video game during two of CD Projekt Red's conferences.
7.3. Academic Career
Between 2010 and 2011, Pondsmith held a teaching position in the Department of Game Software Design and Production at the DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond. During his tenure, he taught game design classes, specifically "Game History" (GAT 110) and "Game Mechanics I" (GAT 210).
8. Awards and Industry Influence
Michael Pondsmith has received numerous accolades throughout his career, underscoring his significant influence on the game design industry, particularly within the cyberpunk genre.
8.1. Major Awards and Honors
Various games designed or co-created by Mike Pondsmith have received prestigious awards:
- Teenagers from Outer Space received the RPGA Gamer's Choice Award in 1987 for Best Other Category Role-Playing Game.
- Castle Falkenstein was honored with the 1994 Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Rules and the 1995 Nigel D. Findley Memorial Award for Best Role-Playing Product.
- Six Guns and Sorcery, a supplement for Castle Falkenstein, received the 1996 Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Supplement.
- Cyberpunk earned the 1989 Origins Gamer's Choice Award for Best Science-Fiction Role-Playing Game.
- Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms, a Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook he contributed to, received the 1989 Origins Gamer's Choice Award for Best Role-Playing Accessory.
On July 1, 2006, Michael Pondsmith was inducted into the Origins Awards Hall of Fame, alongside Jolly R. Blackburn, Rodger MacGowan, Dennis Mize (posthumously), Aaron Allston, and the game Star Fleet Battles. On September 12, 2020, he was presented with the Jerry Lawson Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth annual Black in Gaming awards.
8.2. Industry Influence and Legacy
Pondsmith is widely recognized for his pioneering role in establishing the cyberpunk genre within tabletop role-playing games. His creation of the Cyberpunk series not only defined many of the genre's tropes in gaming but also influenced subsequent media, including video games and literature. His development of the Interlock System and his involvement in the creation of the Fuzion system demonstrated his innovative approach to RPG mechanics, impacting game design beyond his own company. His enduring legacy is marked by his ability to create immersive worlds and engaging systems that have captivated millions of players and inspired a new generation of designers.
9. Bibliography
Mike Pondsmith has worked on or contributed to various products for R. Talsorian Games and TSR, Inc. over the years, and has also authored several articles in gaming magazines.
For R. Talsorian Games:
| Title | Year | Co-creator | Description | ISBN | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mekton | 1984 | Boxed set, initially a tactical board game | |||||
| Mekton: the Game of Japanese Robot Combat | 1985 | Mike Jones | |||||
| Roadstriker (Mekton) | 1986 | Clive Hendrik, Derek Quintanar | 0-937279-00-5 | ||||
| Advanced Combat System | 1986 | 0-937279-02-1 | |||||
| Mekton II | 1987 | 0-937279-04-8 | |||||
| Teenagers from Outer Space | 1987 | 0-937279-08-0 | |||||
| Cyberpunk: The Roleplaying Game of the Dark Future (also known as Cyberpunk 2013) | 1988 | Boxed set containing: View from the Edge, Friday Night Firefight and Welcome to Night City | |||||
| Solo of Fortune (Cyberpunk 2013) | 1989 | Colin Fisk, David Friedland, Will Moss, Derek Quintanar, and Scott Ruggels | 0-937279-06-4 | ||||
| Rockerboy (Cyberpunk 2013) | 1989 | David Ackerman, Colin Fisk, Will Moss, Scott Ruggels, Sam Shirley, and Glenn Wildermuth | 0-937279-10-2 | ||||
| Near Orbit (Cyberpunk 2013) | 1989 | Dave Ackerman, Glenn Wildermuth | 0-937279-08-0 | ||||
| Teenagers from Outer Space: 2nd Edition | 1989 | 0-937279-08-0 | |||||
| Roadstriker II (Mekton II) | 1990 | Clive Hendrik, Derek Quintanar | 0-937279-14-5 | ||||
| Cyberpunk 2020 | 1990 | Mike Blum, Colin Fisk, Dave Friedland, Will Moss, Scott Ruggels | 0-937279-13-7 | ||||
| Night City (Cyberpunk) | 1991 | Edward Bolme, Colin Fisk, Mike MacDonald, Will Moss, Lisa Pondsmith, Sam Shirley, John Smith, and Anders Swensen | 0-937279-11-0 | ||||
| Chromebook (Cyberpunk) | 1991 | Colin Fisk, Dave Harmer, Mike Masarati, Derek Quintanar, Mike Rotor, John Smith, Kevin Stein, William Tracy, Karl Wu, Andrew Strassmann, Ben Wright, Jeff Hexter, Glenn Goddard, and Marcus Pregent | 0-937279-17-X | ||||
| Home of the Brave (Cyberpunk) | 1992 | Credited as contributor; main authors: Edward Bolme, Michael MacDonald, Craig Sheeley, and Ross "Spyke" Winn | 0-937279-36-6 | ||||
| Chromebook 2 (Cyberpunk) | 1992 | Ben Wright, Mike Roler, Jeff Hexter, Marcus Pregent, Craig Sheeley, Mike MacDonald, Ross Winn, Colin Tipton, and Michael Todd | 0-937279-29-3 | ||||
| Dream Park Role Playing Game | 1992 | 0-937279-27-7 | |||||
| Operation: Rimfire (Mekton II) | 1993 | Additional material with main author Michael MacDonald | 0-937279-37-4 | ||||
| CyberGeneration | 1993 | David Ackerman, Edward Bolme, Karl Wu | 0-937294-04-7 | ||||
| Bastille Day (CyberGeneration) | 1993 | David Ackerman, Edward Bolme | 0-937279-41-2 | ||||
| Star Riders (TFOS2) | 1993 | Hans Guévin | 2-921573-10-5 | ||||
| MediaFront (Cyberpunk) | 1994 | Credited for design; authors: David Ackerman, Edward Bolme, Eric Heisserer, Will Moss, and Justin Schmid | 0-937279-52-8 | ||||
| Listen Up, You Primitive Screwheads | (Cyberpunk) | 1994 | Eric Heisserer, Craig Neeley, Mike Roter, Ross Winn, Charlie Wong, and Benjamin Wright | 0-937279-45-5 | |||
| Eco Front (CyberGeneration) | 1994 | Credited for design; authors: David Ackerman and Edward Bolme | 0-937279-50-1 | ||||
| Castle Falkenstein | 1994 | 0-937279-44-7 | |||||
| Neo Tribes (Cyberpunk) | 1995 | Credited for guidance; authors: Eric Oppen and Ross Winn | 0-937279-72-2 | ||||
| CyberGeneration Evolve or Die Revolution 2 | 1995 | David Ackerman, Edward Bolme, and Karl Wu | 0-937279-74-9 | ||||
| Mekton Z | 1995 | Mike MacDonald | 0-937279-54-4 | ||||
| Mekton Z Plus | 1995 | Contributor; main authors: Michael MacDonald and Benjamin Wright | 0-937279-60-9 | ||||
| The Lost Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (Castle Falkenstein) | 1995 | Edward Bolme and Mark Schumann | 0-937279-68-4 | ||||
| Comme Il Faut (Castle Falkenstein) | 1995 | Hilary Ayers, Gilbert Milner, Barrie Rosen and Ross "Spyke" Winn | 0-937279-55-2 | ||||
| The Book of Sigils (Castle Falkenstein) | 1995 | Edward Bolme, Michael MacDonald, and Mark Schumann | 0-937279-61-7 | ||||
| Steam Age (Castle Falkenstein) | 1995 | David Ackerman, Paul A. Lidberg, Derek Quintanar, Barrie Rosen, Mark Schumann, and Chris Williams | 0-937279-56-0 | ||||
| Starblade Battalion (Mekton) | 1996 | Michael MacDonald, Mark Schumann, and Benjamin Wright | 0-937279-78-1 | ||||
| Mekton Empire | 1996 | Credited as source material author and interior artist; author: Guy W. McLimore Jr. | 0-9737271-5-2 | ||||
| Mecha Manual 2: Invasion Terra Files (Mekton) | 1996 | Credited as editor; authors: Craig Sheely and Benjamin Wright | 0-937279-69-2 | ||||
| Rache Bartmoss' Brainware Blowout | 1996 | David Ackerman-Gray, Edward Bolme, Craig Sheeley, Chris Williams and Benjamin Wright | 0-937279-84-6 | ||||
| Teenagers from Outer Space 3rd edition | 1997 | 0-932799-94-9 | |||||
| The Memoirs of Auberon of Faerie (Castle Falkenstein) | 1997 | Credited for layout and design; authors: Lisa Pondsmith and Jeff Grubb | 0-937279-64-1 | ||||
| Champions, New Millennium: Alliances | 1997 | 0-937279-88-9 | |||||
| Bubblegum Crisis: Before and After | 1997 | Credited for other writing contributions | 0-937279-92-7 | ||||
| The DragonBall Z Adventure Game | 1999 | Paul Sudlow | 1-891933-00-0 | ||||
| Mekton Zeta | 2000 | Mike MacDonald | Reprint from 1995 under ANimechaniX brand with new cover and no color interior | 0-937279-95-1 | |||
| Dragonball Z Book 2: The Frieza Saga | 2001 | 1-891933-04-3 | |||||
| Cyberpunk v3.0 | 2005 | Lisa Pondsmith and Will Moss | 1-891933-03-5 | ||||
| Cyberpunk Flashpak | 2006 | 1-891933-19-9 | |||||
| Beyond the Edge: Inside the Edgerunner Altcult | 2008 | Ken MacKriell | 978-1-891933-22-6 | ||||
| Cyberpunk Red | 2020 | James Hutt, Cody Pondsmith, Jay Parker, J Gray, David Ackerman, Jay Kovach | 978-1-950911-06-6 |
For TSR:
- Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Oriental Adventures) (1988) with Jay Batista, Deborah Christian, John Nephew, Rick Swan (ISBN 0-88038-608-8)
- Hall of Heroes (Forgotten Realms) (1989) with Jeff Grubb, James Lowder, David Edward Martin, Bruce Nesmith, Kate Novak, Steve Perrin, R. A. Salvatore (ISBN 0-88038-711-4)
- Buck Rogers XXVc: The 25th Century Science Fiction Role Playing Game (1990)
- Boxed set containing: Characters & Combat, The World Book, The Technology Book, maps, cards, counters