Tue - May 6, 2003

About Me


I was born in Watertown, SD in May of 1968. South Dakota was good to me, and before leaving, I became a good wrestler (SD State Wrestling Champion, 2nd), and an even better debater (SD State Debate Champion, 1st).

Science fiction was my first companion, but I later spent way too much time playing D&D with friends I still have today.

I attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. Six years of collegiate life suited me, and the stories of my exploits could fill several sociology case books, but in the end I graduated with a degree in Environmental, Population, & Organismic Biology (with a nod to Molecular & Cellular Biology) in 1992. With ink still wet on the diploma, I took a job as a Research Associate in Process Chemistry at NeXstar (since bought out by Gilead ).

I was on track; I was on the road to a fabulous career in science. While at NeXstar, I fulfilled one of my earliest goals: I learned how to artificially synthesize DNA (plus RNA and other complex biomolecules).

Eventually, I began to dabble in freelance game design (for I.C.E.) and online text-generated virtual worlds (specifically, the Tolkien inspired Elendor MUSH). As my work environment at NeXstar soured, I began to wonder if I had made a "monumental mistake." When the opportunity to make my hobby my profession presented itself (i.e., when I got an offer to make stuff up for money), I did not hesitate; I abandoned science for a Design position at TSR in October, 1995.

In August of 1997, Wizards of the Coast purchased TSR--I now live in Seattle, WA with my wife Dee and our five cats and one dog.

A few years ago I began instruction in muay thai kickboxing, and in the years since then I've added in jujutsu and jeet kune do, too. In fact, I am the employee lead for the kickboxing program at Wizards.

PROMOTION
You can read interviews I've done by Grasping for the Wind (1), Wizards of the Coast ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10), by Malhavoc Press ( 1 ,2 ,3 , 4 and 5), and by planewalker.com (1).

I also appear in a few podcasts, one by Wizards of the Coast ( 1 ) and one by Your Mother Hates This Podcast (1 ).

You should also know that I moved my website to http://www.brucecordell.com (which is hosted at http://brucecordell.blogspot.com)

See also:

Bruce Cordell. (2007, November 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:58, November 21, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bruce_Cordell&oldid=171890497


Posted at 03:16 PM      

Fri - May 2, 2003

Design Credits


Novel and Short Story Credits:

Stardeep (Forgotten Realms novel)

Darkvision (Forgotten Realms novel, part of the "Wizards" quadrilogy)




Lady of Poison (Forgotten Realms novel, #1 in the "Priests" quadrilogy)

Oath of Nerull (My turn to be T. H. Lain)

"Black Arrow", Realms of War, Wizards of the Coast, 2008

"Not all that Tempts", Dragon's Return, Malhavoc Press, 2005

"Hollows of the Heart", Children of the Rune, Malhavoc Press, 2004

D&D Insider

Blood Road, Roll vs Role (with Chris Sims)

Wizards, Design and Development

Elves, Design and Development

Tomb of the Astronomer, Realmslore

4th Edition Playtest Report, Dave Noonan's Castle Smoulderthorn


Game Design Credits:

Ruins of the Wild, Wizards of the Coast, 2007

The Sinister Spire, Wizards of the Coast, 2007 (Lead Designer)

Cormyr: Tearing of the Weave, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (Co-Designer)

Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (Co-Designer)



Player's Handbook II, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (additional design)

Complete Psionic, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (Lead Designer)

Races of the Dragon , Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Developer)

Hecatomb, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Design (world and set 1) Team Member)

Fantastic Locations: Hellspike Prison, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Additional Design)

Magic of Eberron, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Designer)

Weapons of Legacy, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Designer)

Dungeon Master's Guide II, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Developer)

Sandstorm, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Designer)

Grasp of the Emerald Claw, Wizards of the Coast, 2004

Libris Mortis: Book of the Undead, Wizards of the Coast, 2004 (Co-Designer)



Planar Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2004 (Co-Designer)

Hyperconscious, Malhavoc Press, 2004

Expanded Psionics Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2004

Underdark, Wizards of the Coast, 2003 (Lead Designer)

Miniatures Handbook, Wizards of the Cost, 2003 (Co-Designer)

When The Sky Falls, Malhavoc Press, 2003

Mindscapes: Beasts of the Id, Malhavoc Press, 2003

Mindscapes: A Psion’s Guide, Malhavoc Press, 2003 [Silver ENny, Best Electronic Product]

Epic Level Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2002 (Co-Designer)

Call of Cthulhu,Wizards of the Coast, 2002 [Enny Award] (Co-Designer)

Bastion of Broken Souls,Wizards of the Coast, 2002



If Thoughts Could Kill, Malhavoc Press, 2001 [Enny Award for Best Adventure]

Enemies and Allies, Wizards of the Coast, 2001 (Co-Designer)

Heart of Nightfang Spire, Wizards of the Coast, 2001

Manual of the Planes, Wizards of the Coast, 2001 [Enny Award] (Co-Designer)

Tome and Blood, Wizards of the Coast, 2001 (Co-Designer)

Psionics Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2001

Sunless Citadel, Wizards of the Coast, 2000

Die Vecna Die!, Wizards of the Coast, 2000 [Last Adventure of 2nd Edition D&D] (Co-Designer)

Reverse Dungeon, Wizards of the Coast, 2000 (Co-Designer)

The Killing Jar, Wizards of the Coast, 2000

Diablo II: The Awakening, Wizards of the Coast, 2000 (Co-Designer)

Bastion of Faith, Wizards of the Coast, 1999

Return to White Plume Mountain, Wizards of the Coast, 1999

The Shattered Circle, Wizards of the Coast, 1999

Tangents, Wizards of the Coast, 1999

Guide to the Ethereal Plane, Wizards of the Coast, 1998

Return to the Tomb of Horrors, Wizards of the Coast, 1998 [Origins Award for Best Adventure]



Dungeon Builder’s Guidebook, Wizards of the Coast, 1998

Dawn of the Overmind, Wizards of the Coast, 1998

Masters of Eternal Night, Wizards of the Coast, 1998

A Darkness Gathering, Wizards of the Coast, 1998

The Illithiad, Wizards of the Coast, 1998

Sea of Blood, Wizards of the Coast, 1998

Night of the Shark, TSR, 1997

Evil Tide, TSR, 1997

College of Wizardry, TSR, 1997

Gates of Firestorm Peak, TSR, 1996

Creatures & Monsters, I.C.E., 1995 (Design Contributor)

Space Master Companion II, I.C.E.1993 (Design Contributor)


Magazine Credits:

Psicrystal Substitutions, Dragon issue 345

Return to the Far Realm, Dragon Issue #330




30 Greatest Adventures (contributor) Dungeon issue #116

Expanded Psionics Preview Article #5, Issue #319 (new psionic base class: Erudite)

Expanded Psionics Preview Article #4, Issue#318 (new psionic monsters: larval flayer & shadow eft)

Expanded Psionics Preview Article #3, Issue#317 (new psionic powers)

Expanded Psionics Preview Article #2, Issue#316 (New psionic feats)

Expanded Psionics Preview Article #1, Issue#314 (new race: Synad)

Oath & Order (supporting the novel Oath of Nerull), issue #299

Psionic Feats

Githzerai in Limbo

Mage Vs. Machine (see Todd Lockwood's Cover)

Sheens Revisited

Vs. Vampires

Greyhawk Adventure Seeds

Weapons of Fallout

Illithid Hunters

Below the Tomb of Horrors


Web Site Articles:
Chainmail articles covering model tactics on the Wizards of the Coast website from here until the cows come home.


Posted at 10:14 AM      

Fri - April 4, 2003

New Web Page


In an attempt to make my life easier while at the same time increasing the amount of attention I can devote to my website, I've decided to attempt a new format. The way this works is that you'll notice three text links below this entry. The first indicates what 'category' the entry falls into. For instance, this entry 'New Web Page' is in the Small Talk category. So, if you click on Small Talk below, you'll see all the entries filed in the Small Talk Category.

The next text link you'll see is Read More. I'd prefer if Read More were the first link, because this is the one you want to click to see the entire entry--in most cases, what you see when you get here is a list of 'abstracts,' with the meat of the entry hidden behind Read More.

The last link allows you to email me with comments, if you feel so moved.


Yes, it's a true-blue web blog. But, with the ease that I can now make new entries and edit old entries, I have to believe that I'll be better at updating the site. So, here's to hoping!

Posted at 07:02 PM      

Thu - April 3, 2003

Friends


Here we have my wife Dee and I on a recent trip to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, a few hours west of Seattle.




More pictures can be found under Read More below.

The picture below shows my wife Dee, and most of my oldest friends. Starting with me (center, back), and going around the table to your left (my right) is my wife Dee, Richard Bue, Monte Cook, Bret Holien, Bob Baxter, Sue Cook, and then we've completed the ring. I met Dee in 1995 when TSR hired her to manage Gen Con--could love be far behind? I met Monte and JD in Industrial Arts class in 8th grade (JD, also known as Mr. Unseelie, is not pictured here). Monte introduced me to his future wife Sue in 1994 (or 93?). Rich and I met as rivals for First Chair Viola in 6th grade in the year 1980, though he and I later skipped many a football practice in favor of A&W rootbeer floats. Bret and I were thrown together as debate partners in 9th grade, where we won our first tournament. Though I met Bob long before, he was my debate partner in 12th grade, when we won the SD state tournament.



Dee and I have made two great friends in our time here in the Great Northwest--that being Greg and Teresa (seen in the image directly below). Teresa worked with my wife Dee during her time at Boeing. Greg and I share an interest in Macs, brewing, videography, and general technical geekery.




One day, my friend Ray Kelly and I drove down to New Mexico and camped overnight in a meadow. At dawn the following day we hustled down a train track, trying to get to a train trestle before noon. See, that was when the train was due. We got to the trestle with time to spare. We learned it was 180 feet over a gorge. Then we threw ourseleves off. We made our peace with the world before taking that leap. Just in case. The man you see below is Ray. One might expect that he is terrified byond the capacity for rational thought. In about 2 seconds the amount of adrenaline he experiences will be sufficient to power a 3rd world country.  Wahoo!


Posted at 08:02 PM      

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