Bruce Heard Random Wizard: The cover of M1 As Basic/Expert came through and its February 8th, 2013 Into the Maelstrom gives dual credit lead creative, Frank, left TSR, that to you and your wife. Did your wife entire product line effectively became ever consider becoming a full time an orphan. No one in house wanted to Bruce Heard was hired by TSR after game designer? have anything to do with it and, meeting with in France. therefore, I had to suddenly farm His career there stretched from 1983 Bruce Heard: No, she didn’t. She had everything out. As a result, I became up until 1997 (When WotC acquired fun participating in the design, but it the de-facto lead designer/product TSR). If you are a fan of the Basic wasn’t her thing. manager for BECMI. My own design Dungeons and Dragons Gazetteers or direction affected especially BECMI Random Wizard: As the Acquisition the Rules Cyclopedia, you have Bruce and products. Once the Coordinator, you were in charge of Heard to thank. He was kind enough general direction was provided to a hiring freelance designers and to answer the questions below. freelance writer, I tended to remain writers to make modules, rules, and “hands-off” unless I knew there was a Random Wizard: According to your supplements. Did this represent a problem. In a way, it was a novel blog (About Bruce Heard) You were change in the method of approach, since TSR wasn’t then in originally hired by Gary Gygax as a development at TSR? Were most the habit of relying on freelance translator. After two years, your things produced in house by staff talent. An effort was made to ensure position changed to Acquisition employees before you coordinated out-of-house authors quickly became Coordinator and you also did game things? used to TSR’s way of working. TSR’s design. In 1985, the adventure M1 sales depended almost entirely on Bruce Heard: To your first question— Into the Maelstrom was released. being able to ship exactly on most definitely. To the second—yes, to Into the Maelstrom is a very unique expected release dates picked as a point. This was in part because our adventure that introduces the much as 16 months in advance. legal department demanded clear concept of using floating wooden Because of this, there was little or no descriptions of works-for-hire, which "ships of sail" in space. This predates margin for error when freelancers required in house staff doing a lot of by four years and is the were required to deliver their work. concept work ahead of time. As an first instance of such a concept in a That part was unforgiving. insufferably persistent character, I Dungeons and Dragons product that never let a contract go out unless I I am aware of. What inspired you to Random Wizard: You are, perhaps, was satisfied that the product’s most come up with the concept? Did Jeff best known for putting together the importantSample points had been file clearly and Grubb utilize your idea when making Gazetteers detailing the known fully spelled out. Especially in the Spelljammer? What was the world of Mystara. And the voyages of early years, concept work usually development process like? the Princess Ark from Dragon remained the purview of the assigned Magazine (another flying wooden Bruce Heard: This was my first designer on staff. I also insisted that ship!). The roll call of writers for the attempt at a high level adventuring, someone in-house be accountable for Gazetteers reads like a whos who of something with which I had little timely reviews of freelance deliveries, rpg writers; Aaron Allston, Ken experience. The idea of running an while I remained available to Rolston, Steve Perrin, , army and, why not, flying around, arbitrate abuses on either sides. yourself, and many more. What was seemed like something exciting, Again, in the 80’s almost everything the process like to find a writer to innovative, and appropriate to the was designed in house, so these work on a Gazetteer? Did you have to level of play. There were weak spots processes were all new. micro manage the production? Are in the design, and I probably would there any particular interesting structure it differently if I had to do moments during the 1987-1991 run something like this now. I do not of the Gazetteers that stand out in know for a fact whether Jeff used any your mind that you would like to of it as a source for Spelljammer. He’s share? a very talented writer and designer more than capable of developing Spelljammer without my odd little module! 8 Bruce Heard: Early on, getting well- Back in the 80’s when I happened to Random Wizard: You are listed as the established authors and artists for the use these two names (because they Project Coordinator on the 1991 Gazetteers was a blast. Since most sounded great) the idea was that folk Rules Cyclopedia by Aaron Allston. things were done in house, I had a from (Mystara’s The Rules Cyclopedia is held up as free hand at selecting who I wanted Vikings) settled parts of Alphatia in an the holy grail of D&D by some, as it for the Gazetteers. As TSR's product earlier age. There was also the name is a complete game covering a wide lineup outgrew in-house resources, of the King of Ar, Qissling, who in the range of levels, topics, and types of things got a bit tighter of course. real world was a WWII Danish play-- all in one rule book. When did Depending on the author, I got statesman. That one didn’t come from the idea of putting the complete involved with production, usually me and was a bit too close for basic line into one hardbound book with mappers because of the relative comfort since the Mystaran homonym come about? How long was the complexity of Mystara maps. wasn’t a great guy. I can’t think of development process? What was it Gazetteers early on adopted the 96- anything else. like working with Aaron Allston on pg format + mapsheet which at the the project? Did you have a lot of time was seen as a heavy-weight Random Wizard: In 1988, GAZ 10 The input into what was included in the format. It wasn’t long before everyone of Thar was released. This Cyclopedia? else got on that bandwagon though. Gazetteer was unique in that it was presented from the humanoid Bruce Heard: The idea came about the Random Wizard: I (Random Wizard) monsters perspective. It provided moment I got frustrated digging went to GenCon sometime between rules for playing Orcs, Kobolds, around the pile of players’ handbooks 1986 and 1989. I attended a panel of Trolls, etc... Did you do much and DM’s guides from four separate TSR employees that talked about playtesting of the rules? The rules boxed sets. And I was often frustrated Gazetteers (briefly) and then went seem to encourage a fun and with this. . . I don’t recall how long it into the plans for 2nd edition carefree style (and are quite took for Aaron and Steven to get all Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. I imaginative). Were there any sources that stuff in there, but you can count remember that there was a group of of inspiration for putting together this in terms of many months of hard young guys (from a Nordic country) this Gazetteer? Was there a reason work. Initially, yes, I had a lot of input who were upset that a Gazetteer had you tackled this Gazetteer instead of in what was to be included. Once the made up a name, and that name handing it off to someone else? project was underway, we all knew seemed to be interpreted as a slight what the target was, and as the beast against some people (in Sweden, Bruce Heard:Sample There was a filelot of grew, the type size shrank. For a TSR Norway, Finland, or somewhere playtest for the boardgame insert. product of the 90s, the RC is written around there). Did such a topic ever Unfortunately, no time was left at all in really small type with little or no reach your desk? You might have to try out RPG optional developments. room to spare. This also was one of even been present on the panel I I had to shoot from the hip for much my decisions—and of course part of was at! of this. GAZ10 indeed had a lot of my job was justifying the RC’s format crunch to it. There was no specific and page count to a very worried Bruce Heard: I have no idea which source of inspiration other than my upper management. I once had a visit name it would be. Recently a good decision to show the “monster’s” point from the VP of Finance concerned number of Swedes stumbled on my of view with some humor. It had been about the RC’s usefulness and sales references to the City of Sundsvall, a while since I’d designed GAZ3, and potential. Obviously I won that bit of Alphatia’s imperial capital. Of course the Known World’s real estate was fun. Amusing perhaps, but only in there was no direct connection with going away fast! That was the retrospect. the real Sundsvall in Sweden (or for motivation for fishing GAZ10 out of that matter Trollhattan). the mix and having some fun with it.

9 Random Wizard: You currently run About Bruce Heard, and post new detailed maps and descriptions of various parts of Mystara. Is there anything you are working on currently (or have worked on) that you would like the readers to know about?

Bruce Heard: I’'ll repeat what I said elsewhere. I’m fleshing out the Empire of Alphatia because its original treatment was just too light to make it justice. I’ve almost completely remapped the island- continent at an 8 mile per hex scale. Meanwhile, I’m writing a lot of background information to paint a very colorful picture of a world run by 1,000 archmages. I’m presently going through the various provinces of Floating Ar which may ultimately be the most amusing of the Alphatian realms. I’m about halfway through Ar now. Next stop: Ambur, a realm of wizardly astronomers.

Random Wizard: Bonus goofy question! Why did so many TSR employees, writers have beards?

Bruce Heard: It’s a Wisconsin thing, I Sample file think. You know: beer, brats, and beards. . . and cheese. When I first came from France, I only sported a mustache, didn’t drink much beer, but was OK with cheese. Two out of four: that made me average, I guess. A beard is useful for snowmobiling. Condensation from one’s breath usually freezes underneath a helmet, forming icicles clinging to one’s beard. Facial hair makes for a great winter insulation! I haven’t snowmobiled for a long time and, for my taste, snow has become far too rare in southern Wisconsin during this past decade, but I still enjoy beer and brats, and by gosh, I kept my beard.

10 In I had felt fairly Random Wizard: I recall reading, that February 14th, 2013 isolated as far as my interests in the artists (, Keith & science fiction and comic Parkinson, Clyde Caldwell) at TSR in art were concerned. It was great to the mid 80s got together and Clyde Caldwell is one of the great meet a group of other artists with the decided to set a defining style that fantasy artists who worked at TSR same interests...so the idea of taking linked their artwork together. Is during the mid to late 80s. His work the job at TSR quickly started to make there any truth to that statement? graces the covers of the Gazetteers sense to me. As a freelancer in North And if true, can you elaborate more series, Dragon Magazine, and a long Carolina I had to do a lot of on what was discussed? Did you list of books from many genres and advertising art, in addition to my have to change your style to match topics. He continues to work in the fantasy & science fiction assignments, the "other" guys? industry today and has a very busy to make ends meet. My desire was to schedule, but was gracious enough to do fantasy & science fiction art full Clyde Caldwell: I don't recall any of us answer the questions below. time, since I really didn't like doing getting together and deciding to set a advertising art. So the TSR job looked defining style for TSR. I think Random Wizard: You worked for a to be a way to fulfill my ambition. management had that in mind when while doing freelance work for TSR they hired us, and tried to put before accepting a full time position Since there was a recession going on together a team whose styles were in the mid 80s. What finally made in the early 80's and the thought of similar enough to establish a "house you decide to work for TSR? Was the receiving a steady paycheck sounded style". I'm sure the artists wanted to working environment a lot different really good, I took the job and the be viewed as individuals and would than when you worked freelance? rest is history. have fought any attempt to get us to homogenize our styles. We all saw our The TSR working environment was Clyde Caldwell: I did quite a few work as totally individual and difficult for me at first. I'm pretty shy Dragon Magazine covers, plus a different from the other artists, but and was used to working alone. painting for TSR's 1982 Days of the since we were working together every Though I enjoyed working with the Dragon Calendar, in the 3 years prior day in the same studio, I'm sure we other artists, I wasn't used to to my taking the job as a staff artist. I influenced each other's work. I know I everyone in the company stopping by was living in my home state of North learned a lot from the other artists. Carolina at the time and was pretty and looking over my shoulder as I happy freelancing. TSR offered me worked. Sample file Random Wizard: While you were the job several times and I didn't even working at TSR from 1985 to 1992, Random Wizard: Did TSR make you consider taking it. The third time they did you feel like you had made into grow a beard as a condition for your offered to fly me to Wisconsin for a the big leagues? Was there a vibe employment? (Note, please see the job interview and I thought it would that you were in a new exciting, Bruce Heard interview for be a good opportunity to go meet expanding industry at the time? Was background on the Mystery of TSR Kim Mohan and the Dragon Magazine there a lot of camaraderie with your Beards) Did you have a beard before crew on TSR's dime. I wasn't seriously coworkers? working for TSR? considering taking a job at TSR and Clyde Caldwell: I think I started at moving to wintry Wisconsin. Clyde Caldwell: I grew my first beard TSR in July of 1983. Truth to tell, we in graduate school at The University When I got to TSR I was really always felt that we were working in a of North Carolina at Greensboro. I impressed with the Art Department. I vacuum. We would get a bit of fan shaved it off for awhile, leaving a was most familiar with the artwork of mail, but nothing that would make us moustache, but my daughter thought , since both of us had done feel like we were in the "big leagues". I looked funny without the beard, so I fanzine work at the same time (and The most attention we got was at the eventually grew it back. I had the for some of the same zines), and I was yearly GenCon, where we actually got beard when I took the job at TSR and aware of his work for the Warren to meet fans of our work. And have had it ever since. I probably Magazines. I enjoyed meeting Jeff and occasionally we were asked to be an wouldn't recognize myself if I shaved he invited me over to his house that Artist Guest of Honor at other it off now! night. Larry Elmore came over and we conventions. But that felt more like all talked for hours about fantasy art being big fishes in a small pond. and TSR. 11 At the time, the gaming industry was I was doodling at my drawing board That being said, I have a website and sort of considered the red headed one day and drew a "c" followed by a do some preliminary manipulation step child of the publishing industry period. I then extended the "c" over and putting together of images in as far as art was concerned. We the period with a sort of tail. I then Photoshop...mostly for sketches. So looked up to the book cover artists as drew a line around the whole thing. It the Internet and computers have the guys who had "made it". But we took only a second or two...it was very come to play a part in my process. were working to prove that our work spontaneous. I liked it and started as gaming artists was every bit as using it as my signature for my But my paintings remain oils on good as the artists in the book fantasy & science fiction work. illustration board, done in much the publishing side of things. same way as I've done them for the When I later started working with an last 40 years or so. There was a lot of camaraderie in the agent, he wanted me to drop the TSR Art Department. We had a great symbol and go back to signing my Random Wizard: If a fan wanted to time working together and laughed a name, saying that no one would ever buy some of your artwork, where lot. We were all working hard, and in know who did my paintings. My point should they go? many cases, long hours...but I of view was that if someone was remember having a lot of fun. When I interested in who did the cover Clyde Caldwell: My website: left TSR to freelance again in 1992, I painting, they would take the time to www.clydecaldwell.com really missed working with the other look at the artist's credit in the book. Random Wizard: If a fan wanted to artists. My father always thought the symbol meet you for an autograph, where Jeff Easley and I still live near each looked like a fish. should they go (for 2013)? other and are still good friends. We Clyde Caldwell: I haven't been doing stay in touch and get together for Random Wizard: Has your method of too many conventions in recent years lunch whenever our schedules line work changed any with the advent of and have no plans to do any this year. up. the Internet, personal computers, digital image editing software, and Random Wizard: Is there anything Random Wizard: Is the module "B9 the like? What is your preferred else you would like readers to know Castle Caldwell and Beyond" named medium and process for making your about? Something you are up to? after you? art? Maybe a kickstarter or the like? Clyde Caldwell: Yes...though the legal Clyde Caldwell:Sample I felt like fileI was old Clyde Caldwell: I'll be 65 on February department at TSR had some enough to be able to ride out my 20th, so have slowed down my output misgivings about it, as I recall. So it career utilizing traditional methods a bit as I've gotten older. My wife, was less evident than it otherwise rather than trying to make the change Sharon, retired a couple of years ago, would have been. to digital. So I don't do any digital and we've wanted to spend a little illustration. When I finish an image, I more time together. However I'm still Random Wizard: You have a like to have a physical, one of a kind, doing the occasional book cover, distinctive symbol you place as a original painting or drawing that I can taking on quite a few private signature on your paintings. Is there hang on my wall, sell, or what have commissions and have just finished a story behind the symbol? you. my first personal painting that I've Clyde Caldwell: When I was had time to do in 10 years, 'Dark freelancing in North Carolina, as I Temptress'. I'm hoping to offer a mentioned earlier, I was doing both limited edition print of 'Dark fantasy & science fiction artwork and Temptress' through my website soon. advertising artwork. I was signing the I'm working on a private commission ad work with "Caldwell" and decided painting even as I type this. to differentiate my fantasy & science fiction work by signing it with a We're discussing attempting a symbol similar to that used at the Kickstarter career spanning art book time by Jeff Jones. He signed many of at some point in the future...but so his paintings with a "J" surrounded by far, that's just in the talking stages. a box. 12 Jennell Jacquays It’s meant a variety of work and Looking back, I had reasons for February 22nd, 2013 challenges. It also explains why I’ve leaving Judges Guild and one of them changed jobs within companies that was definitely for NOT being treated I’ve worked for (I held different types like one of their star performers. Sure, Jennell Jacquays is a multi talented of positions at both TSR and this was a business that ran on tight individual who has tackled a variety Ensemble Studios while working on margins, but I was making minimum of careers (just read the first question staff). wage – which for the record was for a brief sampling of the many $2.65 an hour. It doesn’t mean that shifting career things she has done). She graciously gears is easy or simple. I’ve had to At some point during 1979, I received tackles the old days at Judges Guild, learn and relearn a LOT as I go along a 10 cent an hour raise. Yes, Dark TSR, and even ventures into a and still do, nearly every day. There’s Tower, Caverns of Thracia, Book of controversial event that occurred at id a lot of truth in the old adage, “Jack of Treasure Maps, Duck Tower, Hellpits software at the turn of the century. All Trades, Master of None” (or Jill in of Nightfang, all the illustration work, Random Wizard: You have had a my case). the game covers, all the work on The career in many areas of industry that Dungeoneer, was all done for $2.65 Random Wizard: Many in the old many folks dream about, you an hour. And because I worked from school RPG community applaud your designed RPG adventures for Judges home studio in Michigan (not in adventure "The Dark Tower" and hold Guild, TSR, Chaosium, SPI, worked as Decatur, IL … no way), you KNOW I it in very high regard. It was one of an illustrator for various RPG worked to get stuff done, and didn’t the only non TSR adventures to companies, worked for Coleco on punch a clock. In fact, I remember make the top 30 list of Dungeon video game conversions such as being at my easel on Thanksgiving Magazine. You probably get tired of Donkey Kong, did conceptual design Day in 1978, working on some art. answering questions about and content design work for Epyx, something you wrote over 30 years Looking back, I remember thinking Interplay, EA, and the list goes on ago, but do you ever feel that your that I could do better than this. So and on. Do you believe that you were older work never got the credit it after a road trip vacation with buddies able to tackle different fields of work deserved? That it would be known by across the USA in the fall of 1979, over the years because of an innate a wider audience if it had been after working for JG for a full year, I natural creative talent you possess? distributed by TSR and was now came back home … and gave my Or was there a lot of hard work you available in the dndclassics website notice. had to go through to change to Sample file that recently opened? different modes of work? As far as it being distributed by TSR … Jennell Jacquays: “Back in the Day” well, they were mostly only Jennell Jacquays: I’ve always liked both Dark Tower and “Caverns of publishing Gary’s work at that point making things. My friend Thracia” had their following, but they (1978-79) and those were primarily calls herself a “Maker.” She and I were just a part of a growing mix of convention tournaments. Checking share a similar talent background. I’ve adventures for D&D and other games. Wikipedia, only Mike Carr and chosen to adopt the moniker “She I knew they were a cut above what Lawrence Shick were published by Who Does All the Stuff.” It basically Judges Guild was otherwise producing TSR in that time frame … and they comes down to being creative, being (and perhaps had a bit of an ego back were staff. TSR hadn’t realized what intelligent, and maybe (just maybe) then because I knew that), but I never JG found already … that there was a having a short attention span. I saw them as becoming classics. market for premade game content. REALLY like doing a variety of things They came to the party after someone for my work. In fact, when work else had thrown it. becomes repetitive problem solving in just one area (or not even problem History seems to have done right by solving, just repetitive work), I me as far as credit for that body of become bored and need to shift my work though. In a very real sense, my focus to other types of problem efforts on the early FRP products are solving. It’s why being freelance as an what made my career as successful as illustrator, designer, etc. has generally it later became. worked for me. 13 Random Wizard: You put together Random Wizard: You wrote a Random Wizard: You have painted I12 Egg of the Phoenix and are co- dungeon level for TSR for WG7 some great fantasy art scenes on a credited on the cover with Frank Castle entitled There's No variety of products. I recently ran Mentzer. The module was published Place Like Up. Do you remember across a Nautiloid SpellJammer ship in 1987, a year or more after Frank much about what direction (if any) you painted for Dungeon Magazine Mentzer left TSR. Did you get a you given on the style and that is being shown through the RPG chance to talk to presentation of the adventure you Google Circles and is still quite about the material as you were wrote? I vaguely recall that popular. Do you continue to paint working on it? Or was it simply a whimsical and slightly off kilter currently? process of combining the older RPGA adventures were popular in the modules? Did you enjoy working on mid-80s (Paranoia, Orcs of Thar, Jennell Jacquays: I set my brushes the project? Toon). down in 1997 when I left TSR to work on software products. I’m about to Jennell Jacquays: I worked as a Jennell Jacquays: It was basically to take them back up for a novel cover freelance editor on the project. It was do something humorous, possibly in for a young author and also am 1986 and I was living in Connecticut an old school vein. I realize we won planning to paint the cover for the at the time and really just getting my an for this project, but next book in the CityBook line. I am (second) freelance career going. This it really could have been so much doing art again, but I mostly focus on was perhaps my second editing better if the contributors had actually using digital tools and am starting to project for TSR. The original been coordinated by a designer who be able to replicate pretty much any assignment was to put Frank’s RPGA made some attempt at inter-level effect that I used to create with ink. modules together into a single continuity. Next step … paint! commercial project, be mindful of the page count and make a new art order Had that happened, Castle Greyhawk Random Wizard: You worked at id for it. might have been legendary. I tried to Software in the late 90s. I read a do a little of that with my quote that made it sound like you In retrospect, I may have contribution, but it was something were not happy that the company misinterpreted the assignment and that really needed to be handled dropped a project you were working made them into a single unified outside the design contributors. I on. In 2000, the company switched storyline. My “handlers” at TSR didn’t guess the best way to say it is “If I had focus to concentrate on a new seem to mind what I finally sent in. I been coordinatingSample the project, file I would version of Doom. Can you say what think I did an OK job with it. I have done it differently” … including the original project was about (now remember being a little crestfallen coming in after the fact with a fairly that it is 13 years later)? Can you talk when at least one reviewer whose heavy hand to blend the individual about what was happening at the opinion I respected bashed it … hard content chapters together … that was company at the time? … and I don’t think Frank liked it how I handled some of the CityBook much either. I did NOT communicate content and I’m not going to Jennell Jacquays: Certainly. Please with Frank during the project or for apologize for it. understand that the following is from that matter, years afterward. I don’t my perspective, how I saw events think I ever directly interacted with a unfolding. Despite id being a very designer/author when I was working small company (I don’t think we were freelance as editor. Everything filtered ever larger than 15 people while I through my assignment editor was there), there were layers within (usually Bruce Heard or Karen Conlin, it, clicks, factions, etc. I was never an sometimes Anne Brown). insider.

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