- Source: Necromancer Games
Necromancer Games was an American publisher of role-playing games. With offices in Seattle, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the company specialized in material for the d20 System. Most of its products were released under the Open Game License of Wizards of the Coast.
The company's slogan, "Third Edition Rules, First Edition Feel," alluded to the fact that while its products used the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons rules system, they strove to mimic the flavor and style found in the game's first edition (1977–1989).
The company was on hiatus by 2010, the two founders having started two separate new game companies, Frog God Games and Legendary Games. In June 2012, Necromancer Games was acquired by Frog God Games.
The Necromancer Games logo features a depiction of Orcus.
History
Necromancer Games was founded in 2000 by Clark Peterson and Bill Webb, the same year Wizards of the Coast released the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The company partnered with several other gaming companies to release various products, including Judges Guild, Kenzer & Company, Malhavoc Press, Reaper Miniatures, Troll Lord Games, and White Wolf Publishing.
In August 2000, Necromancer Games released the first ever OGL/d20 product: The Wizard's Amulet. The adventure won an ENnie in 2001 for Best Free Product. In March 2007, it was announced that Paizo would be publishing Necromancer Games products, following the cessation of the deal with White Wolf Publishing.
Following the announcement of the impending fourth edition of Dungeons & Dragons in August 2007, Necromancer announced plans to support that edition with a variety of new products. However, neither any 4th edition nor any remaining 3rd edition products were ever released. While initially enthusiastic about 4th edition and the prospect of being able to publish third-party products for that game, in July 2008 company co-founder Clark Peterson declared the third-party license for fourth edition D&D "a total unmitigated failure". A 2010 statement by Peterson announced the company as "dormant for some time" and unlikely to revive.
Bill Webb went on to co-found Frog God Games, focusing on adventures designed for both the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and Swords & Wizardry lines. Clark Peterson has since co-created Legendary Games focusing on plug-in material for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game adventure paths and sourcebooks. In June 2012, Necromancer Games was acquired by Frog God Games, which now offers older Necromancer products on its website.
In July 2014 a Kickstarter was launched by Frog God to fund a series of products for the then-upcoming 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, under the Necromancer Games label.
"First Edition Feel"
Here is an excerpt from an interview done by Role-Play News in 2000 with Clark Peterson and Bill Webb about their view on what is the "First Edition Feel":
Clark Peterson: First Edition is the cover of the old DMG (Dungeon Masters Guide) with the City of Brass; it is Judges Guild; it is Type IV demons not Tanaari and Baatezu; it is the Vault of the Drow not Drizzt Do'urden; it is the Tomb of Horrors not the Ruins of Myth Drannor; it is orcs not ogrillons; it is mind flayers not Ilithids (or however they spell it); it is Tolkien, Moorcock, Howard and Leiber, not Eddings, Hickman, Jordan and Salvatore; it is definitely Orcus and the demon-princes and not the Blood War; it is Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound not Elminster's Evasion; and it is Artifacts and Relics from the old DMG (with all the cool descriptions).
I always say we want to be the VW Bug of roleplaying companies, meaning that we want to have a modern style and appeal but an obvious link to the past. One of the ways we do that is how we design the modules. For example, we use full color covers (not that funky mono-color of the old modules). But our modules have the same basic format of the old modules—inset art, module number in the upper left corner, diagonal band in the upper left corner, logo placement, etc. I guarantee you, when you look at one of our modules you will flash back to the old ones—just like when you see a new VW bug. And hopefully you will say "Man, that is just like an old module except cooler."
Products
Necromancer Games released 57 third-edition-compatible products, alone and in partnership with other companies:
Aberrations by Casey W. Christofferson
Ancient Kingdoms: Mesopotamia by Morten Braten
Bard's Gate by Casey W. Christofferson, Scott Greene and Shane Glodoski
Bonegarden, The by Lance Hawvermale and Rob Mason
Book of Taverns, The by Chris Jones
Caverns of Thracia by James Collura,Bob Bledsaw based on material by Jennell Jaquays
Chaos Rising by Jim Collura
City of Brass by Casey W. Christofferson, Scott Greene, and Clark Peterson
City State of the Invincible Overlord by Patrick Lawinger, Bob Bledsaw and Greg Geilman
Coils of Set, The by Ryan Henry
Crucible of Freya by Clark Peterson and Bill Webb
Crystal Skull, The by Dave Brohmann
Dead Man's Chest by Lance Hawvermale, et al.
Demons and Devils by Bill Webb and Clark Peterson
Diamond Fortress, The by Phillip Larwood
Doom of Listonshire, The by Ari Marmell
Eldritch Sorcery by Patrick Lawinger, Scott Greene, David Mannes
Elemental Moon by Lance Hawvermale and Andy Luke Crossness
Family Affair, A by Carla Harker
Fane of the Witch King by Steven Montano
Feast of the Gobbler by Casey W. Christofferson
Glades of Death by Patrick Lawinger, Jeff Harkness, and Gary Schotter
Grey Citadel, The by Nathan Douglas Paul
Hall of the Rainbow Mage by Patrick Lawinger
Lamentation of Thieves, A by Lance Hawvermale
Lost City of Barakus, The by W.D.B. Kenower and Bill Webb
Maze of Zayene 1 : Prisoners of the Maze by Rob Kuntz
Maze of Zayene 2 : Dimensions of Flight by Rob Kuntz
Maze of Zayene 3 : Tower Chaos by Rob Kuntz
Morrick Mansion by Patrick Lawinger
Mother of All Encounter Tables, The by Greg Ragland, Bill Webb, Bob Bledsaw, and Greg Geilman
Mother of All Treasure Tables, The by TableTop Adventures
Necropolis by Gary Gygax
Player's Guide to the Wilderlands by Bob Bledsaw, Greg Geilman, Clark Peterson, James Mishler, Rob Conley, Steve Stottrup, Steve Edwards and Patrick Lawinger
Raise the Dead by Lance Hawvermale and Casey Christofferson
Rappan Athuk 1 : The Dungeon of Graves by Bill Webb and Clark Peterson
Rappan Athuk 2 : The Middle Levels by Bill Webb and Clark Peterson
Rappan Athuk 3 : The Dungeon of Graves by Bill Webb, W.D.B. Kenower and Clark Peterson
Rappan Athuk Reloaded by Bill Webb, Greg Ragland, W.D.B. Kenower and Clark Peterson
Shades of Gray by Michael R. Proteau
Siege of Durgam's Folly by Mike Mearls
Set's Daughters by Jay Barnson
Six Spheres of Zailhhessh, The by Luca Minutillo
Tomb of Abysthor, The by Clark Peterson and Bill Webb
Tome of Horrors by Scott Greene
Tome of Horrors Revised by Scott Greene
Tome of Horrors II by Scott Greene
Tome of Horrors III by Necromancer staff
Tower of Jhedophar, The by Casey W. Christofferson
Trouble at Durbenford by Robert J. Schwalb
Vault of Larin Karr by W.D.B. Kenower
Vampires and Liches by Casey W. Christofferson and Bill Webb
Vindication! by Bob Sarvas
What Evil Lurks by Lance Hawvermale
Wilderlands of High Fantasy by Bob Bledsaw, Greg Geilman, Rob Conley, Steve Stottrup, Steve Edwards, Gabor Lux, James Mishler, Casey W. Christofferson, Clark Peterson, and Patrick Lawinger Based on Content from Judges Guild.
Wizard's Amulet, The by Clark Peterson and Bill Webb
Wurst of Grimtooth's Traps, The
Role Playing Games Awards
Necromancer Games was recognized several times with Gen Con's ENnies award. The most notable award was the Gold Award in the category Best Adventure for Lost City of Barakus in 2004.
Tome of Horrors III won the Gold Award in the Category Best Adversary/ Monster Product at the 2006 Awards.
ENnie Awards - 2001
Best Free Product : The Wizard's Amulet (Gold)
ENnie Awards - 2003
Best Cartography : Necropolis by Gary Gygax (Silver)
Best Graphic Design & Layout : The Vault of Larin Karr (Silver)
Best Monster Supplement : Tome of Horrors (Gold)
Best Official Website : Necromancer Games (Gold)
ENnie Awards - 2004
Best Adventure (d20) : Lost City of Barakus (Gold)
ENnie Awards - 2005
Best Cartography : City State of the Invincible Overlord (Silver)
ENnie Awards - 2006
Best Adversary/Monster Product : Tome of Horrors 3 (Gold)
Special Judges' Award: Grognard Award : Necromancer Games