Nigel Findley


Nigel D. Findley was a Canadian game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing games.

Biography

Nigel Findley was born in Venezuela in 1959 to Canadian parents, and lived in Spain, Nigeria, the United States, and England before moving with his family to Vancouver in 1969.
Although Findley started his career in business, in the mid-1980s he began to design games and write RPG articles and adventures for publication in his spare time. He was successful enough that in 1990, he decided to become a full-time freelance writer, and eventually authored or co-authored twelve novels as well as over one hundred other publications. He wrote material for many game companies, including fantasy role-playing adventures and supplements for TSR, Shadowrun supplements and fiction for FASA, Role Aids supplements for Mayfair, The Primal Order for Wizards of the Coast, and various works for West End Games and White Wolf Publishing. He is credited with parts of the design of Greyhawk Adventures and Fate of Istus, and was the sole author of Greyspace.
RPG historian Shannon Appelcline noted that Findley's Shadowrun adventure The Universal Brotherhood was particularly well received.

Awards

Findley died at home in Vancouver from a sudden heart attack on February 19, 1995, at the age of 35.

Legacy

  • Following his death, the Origins Awards instituted the "Nigel D. Findley Memorial Award" for best role-playing product of the year. The award was given out between 1995 and 2001. Castle Falkenstein was the first recipient; The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game was the final winner.
  • Lisa Smedman, Editorial Director of Vancouver RPG magazine Adventures Unlimited wrote, "If a novel had his name on it, readers could be guaranteed that it was fast-paced, fun, and action-packed. If an adventure bore his byline, players could be assured of Machiavellian plot twists, innovative settings, and authentically motivated characters... Those of us who worked with him directly or knew him as a friend can testify to his easygoing nature, his willingness to work with others, his refusal to brag about his many accomplishments and his generosity of spirit."

    Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

  • Dragon magazine
  • * "The Ecology of the Peryton"
  • * "The Ecology of the Will-o-Wisp"
  • * "The Ecology of the Greenhag"
  • * "The Ecology of the Gibbering Mouther"
  • * "The Mind of the Vampire"
  • * "Picture This!"
  • Dungeon magazine
  • * "Caermor"
  • * "Nightshade"
  • * "Light of Lost Souls"
  • * "A Question of Balance"
  • * "Necropolis"
  • * "The Serpent's Tooth"
  • * "White Fang"
  • All game worlds
  • * The Castle Guide Design
  • * Tome of Magic Design
  • * Dungeons of Despair Coauthor
  • Forgotten Realms
  • * Draconomicon
  • * Ninja Wars
  • * Cult of the Dragon, FR Additional/original design
  • Greyhawk
  • * Greyhawk Adventures Additional design
  • * Fate of Istus Coauthor
  • Lankhmar
  • * Thieves of Lankhmar
  • Ravenloft
  • * Van Richten's Guide to Vampires
  • * Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts
  • * Both reprinted in Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium: Volume One
  • Spelljammer
  • * Skull & Crossbows
  • * Practical Planetology
  • * Into the Void
  • * Greyspace crossover with Greyhawk
  • * The Broken Sphere
  • Role Aids
  • * Witches
  • * Psionics
  • * To Hell and Back, Realms of Fantasy
  • * ''Seed of Darkness''

    Shadowrun

  • Sourcebooks
  • * The Universal Brotherhood
  • * Paranormal Animals of North America
  • * The Neo-Anarchist's Guide to North America "Quebec and Quebec City"
  • * Native American Nations, Volume One
  • * Native American Nations, Volume Two
  • * The Neo-Anarchists' Guide to Real Life
  • * Shadowrun, Second Edition Additional Material
  • * Tir Tairngire
  • * Corporate Shadowfiles
  • * Lone Star
  • * Denver: The City of Shadows with Tom Dowd and Tom Wong
  • * Aztlan
  • * Underworld Sourcebook Concepts
  • * Shadowrun Gamemaster Screen: "Critters" Other original design
  • Adventures
  • * One Stage Before
  • * Paradise Lost with Tom Wong
  • * Double Exposure with Fraser Cane
  • * Harlequin's Back "Aftermath" and Story Development
  • * "Denver Double Cross"
  • Novels
  • * 2XS
  • * Shadowplay
  • * Lone Wolf
  • * ''House of the Sun''

    Other RPGs

  • Battletech: Virtual World
  • * No Limits
  • Bloodshadows
  • * Padarr Citybook
  • * Fires of Marl Additional Material
  • Buck Rogers XXVC
  • * Phases of the Moon
  • Chill
  • * Horrors of North America
  • * Voodoo
  • Earthdawn
  • * Denizens of Earthdawn Volume Two
  • * The Adept's Way Coauthor
  • * Lost Kaer
  • GURPS
  • * GURPS Illuminati
  • * "Playing With Your Mind, Secret Knowledge from GURPS Illuminati"
  • * Supporting Cast with Fraser Cain
  • * Warehouse 23 Additional Material
  • The Primal Order
  • * Pawns: The Opening Move
  • * Knights: Strategies in Motion
  • Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
  • * Planet of the Mists
  • * Goroth: Slave of the Empire
  • * "Forbidden Fruit"
  • Storytelling System
  • * The Succubus Club Coauthor
  • * "Raiko"
  • * Awakening: Diablerie Mexico
  • ** Reprinted in the Diablerie compilation
  • * Dark Alliance: Vancouver with Geoff McMartin
  • * Street Fighter Player's Guide Additional Writing
  • * Chicago Chronicles Vol. 1 Coauthor
  • Torg
  • * Kanawa Personal Weapons
  • * Kanawa Heavy Weapons
  • * Kanawa Land Vehicles
  • * Out of Nippon
  • Underground
  • * Underground Notebook,
  • * Underground Player's Handbook Coauthor
  • The Whispering Vault
  • * ''Dangerous Prey''