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From: kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com>
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Subject: {Game Developer] Obituary: Jim Ward, Dungeons & Dragons designer,
 died at age 72
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:29:03 +0100
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Source: 
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/obituary-jim-ward-dungeons-dragons-designer-died-at-age-72

Obituary: Jim Ward, Dungeons & Dragons designer, died at age 72

Ward joined TSR during Dungeons & Dragons' first boom, and worked on 
several add-ons for the TTRPG, plus his own science-fantasy game, 
Metamorphosis Alpha.

Justin Carter, Contributing Editor

March 19, 2024

Jim Ward, a longtime game designer for the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop 
game, passed away on March 18 at 72 years old.

Born May 23, 1951, Ward began his game career in 1976 with his and Rob 
Kuntz's Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes rulebook for TSR. That same year, he 
created Metamorphosis Alpha, TSR's fourth role-playing game ever and its 
first science-fantasy RPG.

At TSR, Ward worked on various modules and supplements. This was at the 
same time D&D was in its first popularity boom, and the Ruins of 
Adventure supplement he co-made with David Cook, Steve Winter, and Mike 
Breault was adapted into the 1988 Pool of Radiance video game.

He'd also work his way up the executive ranks, becoming its creative 
services VP before exiting in 1996 from disagreements with fellow 
higher-ups.

For his work at the time, Ward was inducted into the Academy of 
Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame in 1989.

After leaving TSR, Ward designed a collectible card game for Dragon Ball 
Z by the late Akira Toriyama. He'd later help make similar games for 
Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, Core Design's Tomb Raider, and the TV 
series Babylon 5.

Eventually, he'd go to co-found his own company, Fast Forward 
Entertainment, with the likes of fellow role-playing designers like 
Timothy Brown and Lester W. Smith. He'd later join Troll Games as a 
writer for game supplements like Castles & Crusades.

"I appreciate everything Jim did to help me out when I was working for 
Gary Gygax many years ago," wrote Hyperborea writer Jeffrey Talanian. 
"He was so kind, generous, and patient with me. [...] A pleasure to be 
around. A sad day, indeed."

"James leaves behind a legacy that transcends the bounds of time and 
space, continuing to inspire future generations of writers, gamers, and 
dreamers," reads his Facebook eulogy. "His spirit will forever dwell in 
the worlds he brought to life and the hearts of those who knew him.