John Wick

John Wick

Game designer, best known as one of the creators of the games 'Legend of the Five Rings' and '7th Sea'
Country: USA

Content:
  1. John Wick - Game Designer and Creator
  2. Early Career and Freelancing
  3. Legend of the Five Rings and 7th Sea
  4. 7th Sea - A Grand Adventure
  5. Individual Projects and Ventures

John Wick - Game Designer and Creator

John Wick is a renowned game designer, best known for his involvement in creating the popular tabletop role-playing games, 'Legend of the Five Rings' and '7th Sea'. He has also published his own game, 'Orkworld', and co-founded the company 'Wicked Dead Brewing Company', releasing several successful games such as 'Cat', 'Schauermärchen', 'Enemy Gods', and 'Thirty'.

Early Career and Freelancing

In 1995, John Wick was living in Southern California and working as a freelancer. During this time, he wrote articles for 'Shadis Magazine' and 'Alderac Entertainment Group', catching the attention of editor D.J. Trindle. Trindle played a crucial role in helping Wick secure a permanent position in the industry.

Legend of the Five Rings and 7th Sea

Wick's involvement in the gaming industry took off when he became a part of the team developing the collectible card game 'Legend of the Five Rings'. Working alongside Matthew D. Wilson, the art director, and David Williams, the head developer, Wick served as the script editor, responsible for creating compelling characters and intricate plot details. He contributed to the release and development of several sets, including 'Emerald Edition', 'Obsidian Edition', 'Jade Edition', and played a key role as the lead developer in the narrative, art, and character aspects of 'The Scorpion Coup'. After his successful tenure at 'L5R', Wick joined 'AEG' to work on the project '7th Sea'.

7th Sea - A Grand Adventure

'7th Sea' started as a small independent project, created by Wick and his wife. However, it quickly grew into a larger-scale endeavor. The game's setting, called Théah, incorporated elements from Europe during the Restoration period, featuring pirates, musketeers, explorers, and magic. Wick took on a significant portion of the project, writing player and game master's guides, as well as several other books.

Individual Projects and Ventures

Leaving 'AEG', Wick joined 'Totally Games', a company specializing in developing games for the 'Xbox' console. He also wrote and designed his own game, 'Orkworld', a fantasy project where orcs were the heroes, and humans, dwarves, and elves were the 'monsters'. 'Orkworld' was published in the same year as the third edition of 'Dungeons & Dragons' and received an Origins Award. The game was illustrated by artist Thomas Denmark.

In 2004, Wick co-founded 'Wicked Dead Brewing Company' with his friend Jared Sorensen. Together, they released a dozen role-playing games, tabletop games, and books. Wick also published his novel 'No Loyal Knight' through this company.

In 2009, Wick established his own company, 'John Wick Presents', which published projects such as 'Houses of the Blooded', 'Curse of the Yellow Sign', and 'Blood & Honor'. Wick maintains a blog on 'LiveJournal', where he shares updates on his current projects and future plans. Additionally, he is the founder and drummer of the band 'The Awful Lot'.

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