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Kevin Siembieda

Kevin Siembieda (born April 2, 1956) is an American artist, writer, designer and publisher of role-playing games.

Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda at Gen Con 2014
Born
Kevin Henry Siembieda

(1956-04-02) April 2, 1956 (age 68)
Detroit, Michigan, US
EducationCollege for Creative Studies
Occupations
  • Author
  • designer
  • illustrator
  • publisher of role-playing games at Palladium Books
Years active1979–current
Notable workHeroes Unlimited
The Mechanoid Invasion
Palladium Fantasy RPG
Rifts
SpouseMaryann Donald (1985–2004)

Career

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Siembieda is a third-generation Polish American.[1] He attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit from 1974 to 1977.[2]: 155  He wanted to work as a comic book artist, but found the industry difficult to break into and published a small-press comic (A+ Plus, 1977-1978) with his company, Megaton Publications.[2]: 155  In 1979 Siembieda discovered the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Rulebook and joined a role-playing group, the Wayne Street Weregamers, which met at Wayne State University in Detroit (where he befriended Erick Wujcik, who ran the group).[2]: 155  Siembieda ran a game for the group, the Palladium of Desires, a combination of AD&D and his house rules.[2]: 155  By 1980 the Weregamers became the Detroit Gaming Centre, with Siembieda its assistant director and Wujcik its director.[2]: 155  Siembieda tried to interest gaming companies in his RPG with little interest; only Judges Guild made him an offer, but he accepted an employment offer from them instead.[2]: 155–156  He worked as an artist for Judges Guild for four months before working as a freelance artist for other publishers and trying to sell his RPG to them.[2]: 156 

Siembieda is the co-founder and president of Palladium Books.[3] He founded the company in April 1981 to publish his fantasy role-playing game, but had insufficient funds to publish any books; the mother of his friend Bill Loebs loaned Siembieda $1,500 to publish his first RPG book, The Mechanoid Invasion (1981).[2]: 156  By 1983 the company was successful enough for Siembieda to rent warehouse space and release his fantasy RPG, the Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game[2]: 157  with a loan of $10,000 from his friend Thom Bartold who had also loaned him funds to print the other two books in the Mechanoid Trilogy, Journey and Homeworld in 1982.[citation needed] These were not just loans, but investments, and Siembieda established a system of paying royalties not just to the writers and artists, but also to those who lent him the capital needed to print the books: his investors.[citation needed] The following year, he branched the Palladium system to the superhero genre with Heroes Unlimited.[2]: 157  A freelancer contacted Siembieda about producing a licensed role-playing game based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book, so Siembieda obtained the rights, but was dissatisfied with the supplement the freelancer produced; Erick Wujcik redesigned the game in five weeks, and it was published in 1985 as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness.[2]: 158  Siembieda next obtained the license to publish a game based on the Robotech anime series, so he designed the Robotech role-playing game and published in 1986.[2]: 158–159 

Siembieda wrote the RPG Rifts (1990) as a trade paperback in a two-column format which he laid out by hand.[2]: 160  He supported Wujcik in founding his own company, Phage Press.[2]: 160  In 1992, Siembieda sued Wizards of the Coast over its first RPG book, The Primal Order; GAMA president Mike Pondsmith helped the parties reach a compromise in March 1993.[2]: 161  Siembieda also disagreed with White Wolf magazine and GDW over the coverage in their magazines regarding Palladium games.[2]: 161  He demanded that websites devoted to Rifts and Palladium be taken down, believing that they violated his intellectual property, but eventually softened his stance in 2004.[2]: 161  Siembieda fired Bill Coffin over editorial differences and dissatisfaction with the Rifts Coalition Wars that Siembieda and Coffin co-authored.[2]: 162  He announced on April 19, 2006 that Palladium Books was approaching bankruptcy, due to a former employee who had embezzled from the company.[2]: 162  Siembieda filed a lawsuit on May 7, 2010 against Trion Worlds for its MMORPG Rift: Planes of Telara, and a settlement was reached in October 2010.[2]: 163  Role-playing games Siembieda has created include Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game (1983), Heroes Unlimited (1984), Robotech (1986), and Rifts (1990).[4]

He is also an artist, and has occasionally illustrated Palladium Books products. Siembieda contributed art and cartography to several early Judges Guild products for the Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller lines.[5]

In 2015, he was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame.

Early illustration credits

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Judges Guild

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Dungeons & Dragons

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  • Nevins, Paul & Faust, Bill (October 1979). Verbosh. Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 108]. - Front cover, interior art; maps (with B. Faust)
  • Mayeau, Michael E. (1979). Operation Ogre. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 109]. - Front cover; interior art (with Gerald Busby and Ed L. Perry)
  • Hinnen, Bryan (1979). The Mines of Custalcon. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 111]. - Front cover (with Ken Simpson and Rick Houser)
  • Karczag, Paul (November 1979). The Maltese Clue. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D). [JG 114]. - Interior art.
  • Emigh, Dave (1980). The Sword of Hope. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 118]. - Interior art (with Aaron Arocho, Michael D. Reagan and Jennell Jaquays)
  • Emigh, D. (1980). Tower of Ulission. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 119]. - Interior art (with A. Arocho, Bob Bingham and P. Jaquays)
  • Pruehs, Allen V. & Pruehs, Ree Moorhead (1980). Escape from Astigar's Lair. AD&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 124]. - Front cover; interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Bledsaw, Bob & Hippenhammer, Creighton (1980). City State of the World Emperor. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 150]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Bledsaw, B.; Hippenhammer, C.; Kraft, Rudy & Miner, Clayton (1980). City State of the World Emperor—Book I: Map Guide. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 155]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Bledsaw, B.; Hippenhammer, C.; Kraft, R.; Miner, C. & Holmer, Mark (1980). City State of the World Emperor—Book II: Shops. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 156]. - Interior art
  • Bledsaw, B.; Hippenhammer, C.; Kraft, R.; Miner, C.; Holmer, M. & Hinnen, B. (1980). City State of the World Emperor—Book III: City. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 157]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Dale, Geoffrey O. (March 1980). The Treasure Vaults of Lindoran. AD&D. [JG 190]. - Front cover (with Bill Hadley); interior art (with P. Jaquays).[6]
  • Kraft, R. (1980). Portals of Torsh. AD&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 260]. - Interior art (with Brian Wagner, David Allen, Robert Bledsaw, Jr., and Carol Lind).
  • Hinnen, B. (1980). Spies of Lightelf. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 270]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Jaquays, P. (1980). Wilderlands of the Fantastic Reaches. D&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 300]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Bledsaw, B. & Adams, Gary (1980). Modron. D&D (5th printing, 2nd ed.). Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 34]. - Interior art (with Pixie Bledsaw, E. L. Perry, and K. Simpson)
  • Mayeau, M. E. (1980). The Dragon Crown. D&D (2nd printing, 1st ed.). Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 76]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Blake, R. J. (1980). Of Skulls and Scrapfaggot Green. D&D (4th printing, 2nd ed.). Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 80]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Kraft, R. (1981). Portals of Irontooth. AD&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 560]. - Interior art (with K. Simpson, Erin McKee, A. Arocho and E. L. Perry)
  • Mattson, John (1981). House on Hangman's Hill. AD&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 670]. - Front cover; interior art (with E. McKee, E. L. Perry and K. Simpson)
  • Kraft, R. (1981). Portals of Twilight. AD&D. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 770]. - Interior art (with E. McKee, R. Houser, K. Simpson, Paul W. Vinton and the Sorceror's Guild)

RuneQuest

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  • Kraft, R. (1979). Broken Tree Inn. RuneQuest. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 107]. - Interior art (with P. Jaquays and A. Arocho)
  • Nevins, P. & Faust, B. (1980). City of Lei Tabor. RuneQuest. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 310]. - Front cover; interior art (with A. Arocho and B. Faust)
  • Kraft, R. (1980). Duck Pond. RuneQuest. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 380]. - Front cover

Traveller

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  • Nevins, P. & Faust, B. (1979). Dra'k'ne Station. Traveller. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 105]. - Front cover; interior art (with P. Jaquays)
  • Sering, Dave (1980). Tancred. Traveller. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 330]. - Interior art (with A. Arocho and Peter Jenkins)
  • Harm, Ray; Reagan, M. D. & Hauffe, Dan (1980). Darthanon Queen. Traveller. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 340]. - Interior art (with P. Jenkins)

Universal Fantasy

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  • Wilson, Charles M. (1981). Masters of Mind. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 690]. - Interior art (with K. Simpson and E. L. Perry)
  • Mortimer, Edward R. G.; Mortimer, Diane & Mortimer, John (1982). Prey of Darkness. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 840]. - Front cover; interior art (with R. Houser, P. Jaquays and J. Mortimer)
  • Hinnen, B. (1982). Shield Maidens of Sea Rune. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 1010]. - Interior art (with K. Simpson, J. Mortimer and P. W. Vinton)
  • Hinnen, B. & Hauffe, D. (1982). Pirates of Hagrost. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 1030]. - Back cover

Judges Guild Journal

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  • Anshell, Charles; Gooding, Penny, eds. (August–September 1979). "Judges Guild Journal". Judges Guild Journal. No. 16. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 103]
  • Anshell, C.; Gooding, P., eds. (October–November 1979). "Judges Guild Journal". Judges Guild Journal. No. 17. [JG 110] - Front cover, interior art.
  • Anshell, C.; Gooding, P., eds. (December 1979 – January 1980). "Judges Guild Journal". Judges Guild Journal. No. 18. [JG 121] - Interior art
  • Anshell, C.; Gooding, P., eds. (February–March 1980). "Judges Guild Journal". Judges Guild Journal. No. 19. [JG 160] - Front cover, interior art
  • Anshell, C.; Bledsaw, Bob, eds. (April–May 1980). "Judges Guild Journal". Judges Guild Journal. No. 20. [JG 200] - Interior art

Dungeoneer Journal

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  • Anshell, C.; Reagan, Michael D., eds. (October–November 1980). "Dungeoneer Journal". Dungeoneer Journal. No. 23. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 390] - Interior art.
  • Anshell, C.; Reagan, M. D., eds. (December 1980 – January 1981). "Dungeoneer Journal". Dungeoneer Journal. No. 24. [JG 450] - Front cover, interior art
  • Anshell, C.; Reagan, M. D., eds. (February–March 1981). "Dungeoneer Journal". Dungeoneer Journal. No. 25. [JG 470] - Front cover, interior art

Pegasus

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  • Reagan, M. D.; Anshell, C., eds. (June–July 1981). "Pegasus". Pegasus. No. 2. Decatur, IL: Judges Guild. [JG 610] - Interior art
  • Reagan, M. D.; Anshell, C., eds. (August–September 1981). "Pegasus". Pegasus. No. 3. [JG 620] - Interior art
  • Vinton, Paul W.; Mortimer, Edward R. G., eds. (February–March 1982). "Pegasus". Pegasus. No. 6. [JG 870] - Interior art
  • Homer, Mark S., ed. (December 1982 – January 1983). "Pegasus". Pegasus. No. 11. [JG 1190] - Interior art
  • Maddin, Mike, ed. (February–March 1983). "Pegasus". Pegasus. No. 12. [JG 1210] - Interior art

FASA

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TSR

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Palladium role-playing games

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References

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  1. ^ "Likewise, though I am of Polish descent, I am third generation American and can speak virtually none of the Polish language and know little about "traditional" Polish customs." Kevin Siembieda, Rifts Conversion Book, 1991.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN 978-1-907702-58-7.
  3. ^ "Palladium Books Personalities: In-House Staff". Westland, MI: Palladium Books. 4 December 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  4. ^ Houghton, Z. (July 13, 2009). "Mega-Interview with Kevin Siembieda". RPG Blog II. Mountain View, CA: Google / Blogger. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
  5. ^ "Judges Guild Booty List". The Acaeum. Chicago, IL: HostForWeb. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  6. ^ Fawcett, W. (December 1980). Jacquet, J (ed.). "The Dragon's Augury: Here Comes the Judges Guild". Dragon. No. 44. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR. p. 75. ISSN 0279-6848. The art by Kevin Siembieda is excellent and adds to the text in several places
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