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Richard BakerAmerican author and game designer
Date of Birth: 12.09.1950
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Richard Baker: American Author and Game Designer
- Military Career
- Joining TSR
- Contributions to Dungeons & Dragons
- Post-TSR Years
Richard Baker: American Author and Game Designer
Early Life and EducationRichard "Rich" Baker was born and raised in Florida. His family relocated to New Jersey when he was ten years old. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1988, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. Baker went on to serve in the United States Navy as a junior officer.
Military Career
Baker spent three years on board the USS Tortuga, an amphibious dock landing ship. The Tortuga was the only ship ever named after the Dry Tortugas, a small group of islands in the Florida Keys. Leaving the service as a lieutenant, Baker married Kim Rohrbach, a classmate from college.
Joining TSR
Baker joined TSR, Inc. in 1991 as a writer and editor. Despite having no prior publications, he impressed the company with his knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons and was quickly hired. Baker worked on a variety of TSR product lines and by 1998 had credits on over 30 games and numerous magazine articles.
Contributions to Dungeons & Dragons
Baker played a significant role in the development of the Dungeons & Dragons universe. He was the lead designer for Rock of Bral, and contributed to renowned settings such as Forgotten Realms, Planescape, and Ravenloft. He co-designed Birthright, which won the Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Supplement in 1995. Baker also oversaw the development of the Player's Option series, a second edition AD&D rulebook supplement that he later praised for its innovative approach.
Post-TSR Years
Baker has lived in several states since his time at TSR, including New Jersey, Rhode Island, Louisiana, and Wisconsin. He currently resides in Auburn, Washington with his wife, Kim, their two daughters, and their cats. Baker is an avid fan of Golden Age SF and the Philadelphia Phillies.
