Interview: Steve Kenson

Graveyard Greg: Who are you?

Unknown Stranger: Hi, I'm Steve Kenson, freelance RPG writer. You may know me from such RPG products as "Magic in the Shadows" for Shadowrun and "The Enchanted" for Changeling: the Dreaming. Those two just happen to have my name on the cover. Most of the time I'm one of those names on the credits page most people skip over, listed under "Writing".

GG: Give us a list of your gaming credits...I'm sure they are extensive...

SK: Four novels and over forty game products. I'm best known for my work on Shadowrun, things like Magic in the Shadows, the Underworld Sourcebook, and work on the Shadowrun, 3rd edition, magic rules. I've also done writing for Champions, Changeling, Earthdawn, Feng Shui, In Nomine, Marvel Super Heroes, Star Trek, and Vor: the Maelstrom. I've also got projects in the pipeline for Aberrant, Crimson Skies, Kindred of the East, and a few other things. Anyone who wants the gory details of my resume can visit my website at http://members.aol.com/talonmail

GG: I knew you had done a lot of stuff--I already looked at the website.

What made you decide to freelance for the Gaming Industry?

SK: Sheer masochism, coupled with a love of being underpaid. Seriously, I was in a corporate job I hated, doing some freelancing on the side. When I managed to get my first real work (writing Awakenings for FASA) I decided to quit my day job and make a go at freelancing full-time. In hindsight it was probably a mistake to make the jump to freelancing quite so quickly. There were a couple of lean years while I got myself established, but things have worked out. I'm certainly a lot happier with my job these days!

GG: Well, there's something to be said about sheer masochism, eh?

If you had to do anything besides this, what would you do?

SK: That's tough, since writing RPG stuff is really my "dream job." I suspect I'd still be writing in some fashion, either fiction or possibly journalism.

GG: What Gaming Project are you currently working on?

SK: I'm writing a novel set in FASA's "Crimson Skies" universe that follows the career of the main character from the battlefield of World War I through to almost the "present day" of Crimson Skies (1937). I've been reading pilot Eddie Rickenbacker's memoirs, "Fighting the Flying Circus," as part of my research. It's interesting reading about an era when airplanes were just coming into common use.

GG: Favorite day of the week?

SK: There are several but I'd have to go with either Saturday (for morning cartoons) or Wednesday (gaming night!). Monday is the only day I have trouble with, even when you freelance Monday can be hard to face sometimes.

GG: Mondays suck. Saturdays rule!

What is Talon Studio?

SK: Talon Studio is the "official" name of my freelance business, mostly for purposes of documentation, paperwork, and having a cool logo to put on my web page. It's named after Talon, my first Shadowrun character, and my longest running character in any game. He also went on to star in two of my Shadowrun novels (so far).

GG: Speaking of Gaming Novels, let's recap:

You've written four gaming novels--three of which involve Shadowrun--do you like writing gaming novels, or is it just another way to make some $$$?

SK: I don't see that the two have to be mutually incompatible (although in this business they usually are). I got into novel writing as a natural extension of gaming. I do both because I like making up and telling stories. Novels are a different venue from game product and I think doing the novels has helped make me a better writer.

GG: Mental note to self: Write more novels!

What's one thing people find interesting about you?

SK: I suppose the fact that I actually make a living writing games. My gamer friends and acquaintances think it's really cool and non-gamer people just smile and nod and pretend they know what I'm talking about. It's usually easier to tell them I write novels, since that's something they get right away.

GG: In your opinion, what's the best aspect about Gaming?

SK: For me it has always been the ability of RPGs to stimulate the imagination; giving us a context for creating characters, stories, worlds, weird creatures, and things like that. I still love to read a really well done new game or product that shows imagination and artistry, so many of them are real labors of love.

GG: Same question again, only this time, what's the worst aspect of Gaming?

SK: I'd say its the divisiveness that sometimes pits gamers against each other or against the people making games. Everyone's so quick to dismiss that company or that product, or to complain based on little or no information. Gamers often get very emotionally attached to their favorite games, and that can lead to some people behaving very childishly.

GG: Speaking of Gaming, it's time for the ever-popular CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH question!

In the ring--Unisystem in hand--is CJ CARELLA, writer of many books for Palladium (like Nightbane RPG) and Eden Studios (Witchcraft)! His opponent is none other than Christian T. Petersen, co-creator of the DISKWARS game!

Who would win, and how?

SK: Petersen breaks out a playtest copy of the new RED ALERT expansion for DISKWARS, trusting to its Star Trek ties to provide the power he needs to overcome his foe. But Carella already has a dark-bound tome open in his hand, chanting in forgotten tongues to ancient powers beyond the ken of mortal man.

A dark rift opens behind Petersen, spewing forth tentacles that reach hungrily for him. Petersen struggles but his most powerful technobabble is no match for the forces of the unknown. Carella smiles wickedly and prepares for the finishing incantation, only to discover the expansion book he needs is nowhere to be found! Ye gods, it hasn't yet been published!

Petersen rallies, severing tentacles and covered in foul ichor. He readies a devastating countermove as Carella casts about for the unfinished manuscript he has somewhere. Then, at the last moment, Carella finds another publisher to deliver the needed tome. Blocking Petersen's attack with the odd-sized volume, he completes the spell, dragging the rival designer down into the depths, to feed the Dark Powers in payment for their assistance once again.

GG: Way to go, CJ!

What's in the future for your freelancing career?

SK: I hope to continue to expand my range of experience and stretch my writing abilities. I'm excited by many of the new games that have come out in the past year or so like Aberrant (which I've recently written some things for), and I'm hoping against hope to one day freelance for games like Wizards' new Star Wars line. With some additional novel-writing experience, I'd also like to write some non-gaming fiction.

GG: Any last remarks before I go to lunch?

SK: I'm delighted by the number and quality of gaming resources becoming available on the Internet these days. It used to be that it was hard to get in touch with fellow gamers outside of conventions or magazines like Dragon. The 'net is providing a new kind of gaming community that's generating all kinds of great ideas and information. Fortunately game companies are starting to realize what a resource the 'net is too, and are finally starting to make use of it (some more than others).

GG: Thanks for your time, Steve!

SK: My pleasure!