Graeme Davis (game designer)

This article is about the role-playing game author. For the medievalist, see Graeme Davis (mediaevalist).

Graeme Davis
Born
Isleworth, London, England
NationalityEnglish
OccupationGame Designer

Writer

Editor

Graeme Davis is a game designer, writer, and editor in the tabletop role-playing game industry.

Biography

Davis started playing Dungeons & Dragons in the mid-1970s, shortly after it was first imported into the United Kingdom.[1] After leaving school, he worked in the banking industry before studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree in archaeology at the University of Durham in 1979. He graduated in 1982.[2] That year, Davis wrote his first paid article about Dungeons & Dragons for Games Workshop's White Dwarf magazine.[1] Other opportunities followed with White Dwarf and TSR, Inc.'s Imagine.

Davis was one of the original designers of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.[3][4] Games Workshop developed Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay into its new subsidiary Flame Publications in 1989, where Davis remained on staff.[5]

Davis wrote the Fighting Fantasy Gamebook, Midnight Rogue, in 1987.[6]

Davis published his first novel, Blood and Honor,[7] book four in the Eberron The War-Torn series, in 2006.

Since 2009, Davis has been the line editor for Rogue Games' historical horror RPG Colonial Gothic, contributing to several titles in the line.

In 2022, Davis wrote Mythic Britain & Ireland, an expansion for Vaesen,[8] which won three 2023 Gold ENNIE Awards: Product of the Year, Best Setting, and Best Interior Art.[9] In an interview with Wargamer, Davis explained that he had worked hard to honor the diversity of British and Irish folklore, and that his strategy for writing adventures was "not to overthink, trust yourself, and always keep the players in mind."[8]

Published works (as primary or contributing writer)

  • Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st edition (1986) and 2nd edition (2005)
  • "Rough Night in the Three Feathers", WFRP 1 ed. module published in White Dwarf 94 (1987), updated for WFRP 2e in Plundered Vaults (2005)[10]
  • Midnight Rogue, Fighting Fantasy, Puffin Books, 1987.
  • Celts Campaign Sourcebook, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd ed. TSR (1992)
  • GURPS Vikings (Steve Jackson Games; 2nd ed. 2002) ISBN 978-1-55634-512-8 (+ other GURPS titles)
  • Creatures of Freeport (Green Ronin; 2004)[11]
  • Ashes of Middenheim (WFRP 2nd edition scenario), 2005.
  • Blood and Honor (Eberron novel, September 2006)
  • The Edge of Night (adventure for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, 3rd edition; Fantasy Flight Games; 2010)[12]
  • Mythic Britain & Ireland, an expansion for Vaesen (RPG), Free League Publishing, 2022[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Graeme Davis". Archived from the original on 24 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Results of Final Examinations held in June 1982". Durham University Gazette. 27 (New series): 53. 1983. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. ^ John Foody. "The Warpstone Interview: Graeme Davis". Warpstone. Hogshead Publishing. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  4. ^ Marcus Widmer. "Interview with Graeme Davis". Strike to Stun #2. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  5. ^ Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-907702-58-7.
  6. ^ Jonathan Green, YOU Are The Hero: A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. Haddenham, Buckinghamshire : Snowbooks Ltd, 2014. ISBN 1909679380 (p.122)
  7. ^ Davis, Graeme (2006). Blood and Honor. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4069-1.
  8. ^ a b "'Not knowing what you're up against is the most worrying feeling'- talking Vaesen: Mythic Britain and Ireland". Wargamer. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  9. ^ "2023 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards". Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  10. ^ Mark Pook. "Plundered Vaults (Review)". RevolutionSF. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  11. ^ "Creatures of Freeport - RPG Review - GameWyrd". Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  12. ^ Little, Jay. "Putting the Uber in Ubersreik: A Designer Diary". Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Vaesen: Mythic Britain and Ireland review – pretty great Britain". Wargamer. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2023.