I Love RPGs and World Building
It’s no secret that I love role-playing games and storytelling. It brings me joy to bring you worlds of adventure. Everything gives me ideas. Everything. Sean’s like that too. So was Erick Wujcik. But I’m starting to think I’m a natural born storyteller. That writing and world building is part of my DNA. Here’s why.
I have been seeing a grief counselor to help me through the loss of my best friend and life partner, Kathy Simmons. From all accounts, I’m handling it pretty well, but there are good days and bad days. You never know what will cause crushing grief to swell up inside of you. Sometimes it’s a poignant reminder and sometimes it’s something insignificant or silly. You can never tell what will hit you in your heart.
Well, I found something that was one of the very last things Kathy had done for me on March 22. She died the morning of March 24th. The grief counselor said considering what it was, he wasn’t surprised that it hit me with heavy grief for the next 3-4 days. What did surprise him was when I said, “Yeah, it was heavy and difficult, but I still managed to go to work and was writing really well.”
“You were still able to write?! And write well?” Apparently he thought this was rare and amazing, and he asked me how I did it.
That was a tough question. I had to think about it for a minute.
The words that came out of my mouth were, “I think I’m a natural born storyteller.” I’ve always loved stories in every form – children’s picture books, comic books, novels, history books, movies, television, animation, anime, live theater, spoken word, role-playing games, works of art, songs, comedy and everything – my entire life. I love stories and the art of storytelling. I love the structure and methods of writing and storytelling, and by extension, world building and game design. I thrive on the act of creation whether it’s in words or pictures, or both.
Being creative is my escape. My happy place. My world within worlds. I lose myself in the worlds, heroes, and villains I’m creating or taking on new adventures. The very act of it all brings me joy. The frosting on the cake, for me anyway, is knowing that my creations will bring joy to generations of gamers who read and play my works. As I’m writing I actually think things like, “The players will love this,” or “The Game Master will have fun with that.”
So thank you for helping me through my grief, because you are my inspiration, my muses, and part of my joy. You are part of my creative process as I create new worlds of wonder and build upon existing ones.
I also know Kathy would want me to continue to bring you these worlds. She loved me and the fans so much, and she worked so hard to keep Palladium strong through the good and the bad times. So I’m doing this for her, you, me, for all of us. I hope you continue to enjoy all the things we have planned for the next several years. We put our hearts and souls into everything we do. And I need to get back to one of them right now!
Enjoy the books and art prints back in print and please stop by Booth #607 – we hope to see a lot of you at Gen Con in a few weeks. Dare to dream and keep those beautiful imaginations burning bright.
– Kevin Siembieda, Your Storytelling Friend
