Erick Wujcik, Game Designer Extraordinaire, RIP
Erick Wujcik died of cancer on Saturday, 7 June 2008. He was 57 years old.
Erick worked as a game designer for both tabletop and computer role-playing games. I remember him for two role-playing games mostly:
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Stangeness/ Palladium Games and
• Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game / Phage Press.
I ran a lot of TMNT. It was Erick's game that got me interested in TMNT. Who has not always dreamed of playing a walking and talking animal? With TMNT and its' numerous supplements, you could play just about any animal you dreamed of.
I ran some Amber Diceless. I came to this game already a fan of Roger Zelzany's Chronicles of Amber. How can it be a role-playing game if there is not dice (or cards or ... some randomizing element)? Well, it can - and a damn fine one too! I love character creation in this game. The auction is loads of fun! I never had much success running a campaign but I never had any trouble finding players for another auction.
I wish Erick had had the opportunity to revise Amber Diceless. I think some of the theories, thoughts that you can find in today's small press (indie or ... whatever) games would have made Amber Diceless even better. I am sure many of today's indie designers are inspired by Erick's designs. Phage Press was Erick's baby and one of the first small press games!
Erick worked as a game designer for both tabletop and computer role-playing games. I remember him for two role-playing games mostly:
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Stangeness/ Palladium Games and
• Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game / Phage Press.
I ran a lot of TMNT. It was Erick's game that got me interested in TMNT. Who has not always dreamed of playing a walking and talking animal? With TMNT and its' numerous supplements, you could play just about any animal you dreamed of.
I ran some Amber Diceless. I came to this game already a fan of Roger Zelzany's Chronicles of Amber. How can it be a role-playing game if there is not dice (or cards or ... some randomizing element)? Well, it can - and a damn fine one too! I love character creation in this game. The auction is loads of fun! I never had much success running a campaign but I never had any trouble finding players for another auction.
I wish Erick had had the opportunity to revise Amber Diceless. I think some of the theories, thoughts that you can find in today's small press (indie or ... whatever) games would have made Amber Diceless even better. I am sure many of today's indie designers are inspired by Erick's designs. Phage Press was Erick's baby and one of the first small press games!