Skip Williams

Ralph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer. He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry. He is best known as co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition and as the longtime author of Dragon Magazine's column "Sage Advice."

Career

Born in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Williams was informally acquainted with many of the people who developed and influenced the original Dungeons & Dragons game, going to school with Gary Gygax's son Ernie and participating in a gaming group that Gary used to playtest some of the AD&D rules.^[1] Williams started out working as a part-time clerk in TSR's Dungeon Hobby Shop in 1976.^[2] Williams first worked for TSR in an administrative capacity, working as a cashier, in shipping, and doing various office tasks.^{[citation needed]} Williams directed the Gen Con game fair from 1980-1983.^[2] Williams was laid off after a time but continued to work for TSR in a freelance role, performing odd jobs; it was in this circumstance in 1987 that he came to write "Sage Advice" in the pages of Dragon - Williams recalls that Dragon editor Roger E. Moore simply couldn't find anyone else willing to regularly write the column.^[1] Williams held the position until 2004.^{[citation needed]} In 1989, Williams joined the RPGA staff for a few years before becoming a roleplaying game designer for TSR.^[2] From 1990 to 1992 he was also Associate Editor of Polyhedron magazine.^{[citation needed]}

When TSR was purchased by Wizards of the Coast, he moved from Wisconsin to Washington.^{[citation needed]} Williams was promoted to Senior Designer, and worked on the 3rd Edition design team. Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams all contributed to the 3rd edition Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual, and then each designer wrote one of the books based on those contributions.^[3] Williams also worked on the new edition of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.^[2] Although he was released from Wizards of the Coast in 2002 and has since moved back to Wisconsin, he continued to produce D&D and d20 material on a freelance basis up until 2005. His publications from this time include "Cry Havoc!" published by Monte Cook's Malhavoc Press and Races of the Wild from Wizards of the Coast. He has appeared as the author of the "Ask The Kobold" column for Kobold Quarterly.

References

External links

• Pen & Paper listing for Skip Williams

v t e d20 System Role-playing game system published by Wizards of the Coast Main authors Monte Cook Jonathan Tweet Skip Williams Games Dungeons & Dragons d20 Modern d20 Future d20 Apocalypse d20 Past Star Wars Roleplaying Game The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game See also System Reference Document Open Game License Game System License OGL System Pathfinder Roleplaying Game