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{{Short description|American role-playing game publisher}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Necromancer Games
| logo = necromancergameslogo.png
| fate = Currently active
| successor =
| foundation = 2000
| defunct = {{circa|2010}}
| ___location = Seattle, Washington
| industry = [[Role-playing game]]
| key_people = [[Clark Peterson (game designer)|Clark Peterson]] and [[Bill Webb (game designer)|Bill Webb]] (founders)
| products = [[D20 System|d20 system]] licensed line
| num_employees =
| parent =
| subsid =
}}
'''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
The company was on hiatus by 2010,<ref name="hiatus" /> 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.<ref name="acquired">{{cite web|url=http://tsathogga.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/press-release.html|title=Frog God Games acquires Necromancer Games|accessdate=2012-06-09|year=2012}}</ref>
The Necromancer Games logo features a depiction of [[Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)|Orcus]].
==History==
Necromancer Games was founded in 2000 by [[Clark Peterson (game designer)|Clark Peterson]] and [[Bill Webb (game designer)|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 [[Open Gaming License|OGL]]/[[D20 system|d20]] product: [[The Wizard's Amulet]]. The adventure won an ENnie in 2001 for ''Best Free Product''.<ref name="ennie2001">{{cite web |url = http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2001.html |title = ENnie Awards-2001 |accessdate = 2006-10-25 |year = 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061007054023/http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2001.html |archive-date = 2006-10-07 |url-status = dead }}</ref> In March 2007, it was announced that [[Paizo]] would be publishing Necromancer Games products, following the cessation of the deal with [[White Wolf Publishing]].<ref name="Paizo">{{cite web |url = http://paizo.com/paizo/news/v5748eaic9kgn|title = Paizo Publishing and Necromancer Games Announce New Roleplaying Product Partnership|accessdate = 2007-05-10 |year = 2007}}</ref>
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 [[Game System License|third-party license]] for fourth edition D&D "a total unmitigated failure".<ref name="Primary source">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/necromancergames/what-is-up-with-necro-and-4e-an-update-from-orcus-t9828.html|title = What is up with Necro and 4E? An Update from Orcus| date=July 31, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Secondary source">page 179, quoting Clark Peterson of Necromancer Games. Appelcline, Shannon. Designers & Dragons: A History of the Roleplaying Game Industry (4 vols.), (Silver Spring, MD: Evil Hat Productions, 2014).</ref><ref name="Tertiary source">[https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1058&context=phd If You Love Something, Set it F e Something, Set it Free? Open Content Cop ee? Open Content Copyright Licensing and Creative Cultural Expression] yorku.ca</ref> A 2010 statement by Peterson announced the company as "dormant for some time" and unlikely to revive.<ref name="hiatus">{{cite web |url = http://necromancergames.yuku.com/topic/11431/t/Pathfinder-Post.html|title = Necromancer Games currently on hiatus; future status unknown.|accessdate = 2010-04-19 |year = 2010}}</ref>
Bill Webb went on to co-found [[Frog God Games]], focusing on adventures designed for both the ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game'' and Swords & Wizardry lines.<ref name="cofounded">{{cite web |url = http://www.talesofthefroggod.com/index.php|title = Welcome to Frog God Games.|accessdate = 2011-08-10 |year = 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2014/10/24/the-lost-lands-a-new-campaign-world-for-pathfinder/ | title=The Lost Lands: A New Campaign World for Pathfinder – Black Gate | date=October 24, 2014 }}</ref> Clark Peterson has since co-created [[Legendary Games]] focusing on plug-in material for ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game'' adventure paths and sourcebooks.<ref name="co-created">{{cite web|url = http://www.makeyourgamelegendary.com/?page_id=52|title = Products – Legendary Games.|accessdate = 2011-08-10|year = 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120616173354/http://www.makeyourgamelegendary.com/?page_id=52|archivedate = 2012-06-16}}</ref> In June 2012, Necromancer Games was acquired by Frog God Games,<ref name="acquired" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/necromancergames/necromancer-games-back-for-5th-edition|title=Necromancer Games: Back for 5th Edition!|last=|first=|date=2014-07-06|website=Kickstarter|access-date=2017-09-14}}</ref>
=="First Edition Feel"==
Here is an excerpt<ref name="roleplaynewsinterview">{{cite web | url = http://necromancergames.com/archive.html | title = Role-Play News Interview about First Edition Feel (scroll near the bottom of the page) | accessdate = 2006-10-27 | year = 2006 | url-status=dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061126123926/http://www.necromancergames.com/archive.html | archivedate = 2006-11-26 }}</ref> 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":
<blockquote>
Clark Peterson: First Edition is the cover of the old DMG ([[Dungeon Masters Guide]]) with the [[City of Brass (Dungeons & Dragons)|City of Brass]]; it is [[Judges Guild]]; it is [[Nalfeshnee|Type IV demons]] not [[Tanar'ri|Tanaari]] and [[Baatezu]]; it is the [[Vault of the Drow]] not [[Drizzt Do'Urden|Drizzt Do'urden]]; it is the [[Tomb of Horrors]] not the [[Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor|Ruins of Myth Drannor]]; it is [[orcs]] not [[Ogrillon (Dungeons & Dragons)|ogrillon]]s; it is [[Illithid|mind flayers]] not [[Illithid|Ilithids]] (or however they spell it); it is [[J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], [[Michael Moorcock|Moorcock]], [[Robert E. Howard|Howard]] and [[Fritz Leiber|Leiber]], not [[David Eddings|Eddings]], [[Tracy Hickman|Hickman]], [[Robert Jordan|Jordan]] and [[Robert Anthony Salvatore|Salvatore]]; it is definitely [[Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)|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."
</blockquote>
==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
*[[The Bonegarden|Bonegarden, The]] by Lance Hawvermale and Rob Mason
*[[The Book of Taverns|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 (Dungeons & Dragons)|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
*[[The Coils of Set|Coils of Set, The]] by Ryan Henry
*[[The Crucible of Freya]] by Clark Peterson and Bill Webb<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2015/11/09/of-necromancers-frog-gods-part-one/ | title=Of Necromancers & Frog Gods – Part One (The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes) – Black Gate | date=November 9, 2015 }}</ref>
*[[The Crystal Skull (Dungeons and Dragons)|Crystal Skull, The]] by Dave Brohmann
*[[Dead Man's Chest (game)|Dead Man's Chest]] by Lance Hawvermale, et al.
*[[Demons and Devils]] by Bill Webb and Clark Peterson
*[[The Diamond Fortress|Diamond Fortress, The]] by Phillip Larwood
*[[The Doom of Listonshire|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
*[[A Family Affair (game)|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
*[[The Grey Citadel|Grey Citadel, The]] by Nathan Douglas Paul
*[[Hall of the Rainbow Mage]] by Patrick Lawinger
*[[A Lamentation of Thieves|Lamentation of Thieves, A]] by Lance Hawvermale
*[[The Lost City of Barakus|Lost City of Barakus, The]] by W.D.B. Kenower and Bill Webb
*[[Maze of Zayene 1 : Prisoners of the Maze]] by [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob Kuntz]]
*[[Maze of Zayene 2 : Dimensions of Flight]] by [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob Kuntz]]
*[[Maze of Zayene 3 : Tower Chaos]] by [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob Kuntz]]
*[[Morrick Mansion]] by Patrick Lawinger
*[[The Mother of All Encounter Tables|Mother of All Encounter Tables, The]] by Greg Ragland, Bill Webb, Bob Bledsaw, and Greg Geilman
*[[The Mother of All Treasure Tables|Mother of All Treasure Tables, The]] by TableTop Adventures
*[[Necropolis (Necromancer Games)|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: The Dungeon of Graves: The Upper Levels|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
*[[The Six Spheres of Zailhhessh|Six Spheres of Zailhhessh, The]] by Luca Minutillo
*[[The Tomb of Abysthor|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
*[[The Tower of Jhedophar|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.
*[[The Wizard's Amulet|Wizard's Amulet, The]] by Clark Peterson and Bill Webb
*[[The Wurst of Grimtooth's Traps|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.<ref name="ennie2004">{{cite web |url = http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2004.html |title = ENnie Awards-2004 |accessdate = 2006-10-25 |year = 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020157/http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2004.html |archive-date = 2007-09-30 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
[[Tome of Horrors III]] won the Gold Award in the Category Best Adversary/ Monster Product at the 2006 Awards.<ref name="ennie2006">{{cite web |url = http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=171315&highlight=ennies |title = ENnie Awards-2006 |accessdate = 2006-10-25 |year = 2006}}</ref>
* '''ENnie Awards - 2001'''<ref name="ennie2001"/>
** ''Best Free Product'' : The Wizard's Amulet (Gold)
* '''ENnie Awards - 2003'''<ref name="ennie2003">{{cite web |url = http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2003.html |title = ENnie Awards-2003 |accessdate = 2008-01-02 |year = 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061031233431/http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2003.html |archive-date = 2006-10-31 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
** ''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'''<ref name="ennie2004"/>
** ''Best Adventure (d20)'' : Lost City of Barakus (Gold)
* '''ENnie Awards - 2005'''<ref name="ennie2005">{{cite web |url = http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2005.html |title = ENnie Awards-2005 |accessdate = 2006-10-25 |year = 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061007054035/http://www.enworld.org/ennies/2005.html |archive-date = 2006-10-07 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
** ''Best Cartography'' : City State of the Invincible Overlord (Silver)
* '''ENnie Awards - 2006'''<ref name="ennie2006"/>
** ''Best Adversary/Monster Product'' : Tome of Horrors 3 (Gold)
** ''Special Judges' Award: Grognard Award'' : Necromancer Games
==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Companies established in 2000]]
[[Category:ENnies winners]]
[[Category:Role-playing game publishing companies]]
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