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Randy Richards[1] is a self-described game designer and author of Dungeons & Dragons adventures and articles. His first published article, "Dark Magic in New Orleans"[2] appeared in Dungeon magazine issue #71 in 1998; his book, Dreadmire (ISBN 0977338339) a campaign setting for the d20 rules system, was published under the name Spellbinder Games in 2005 and released in 2006.

Biography

Randy Richards originally hails from Chalmette, Louisiana, the actual location of the "Battle of New Orleans". He currently lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he runs a photography business and writes professionaly.

Randgary 1 -1-

Randy Richards & Gary Gygax, at Gen Con in 1998


Community Notability

On February 3rd, 2009, the Metro section of the Advocate newspaper featured a photo and caption of Randy Richards pretending to talk on a toy Star Trek communicator when he appeared uninvited at a meeting of the U.S.S. Corsair,[3] the Baton Rouge chapter of Starfleet International.[4] Although the accompanying article does not state the precise reason for the inclusion of this photograph, featuring as it does Randy wearing a Dr. McCoy costume and pretending to talk on a toy Star Trek communicator, it may have something to do with the fact that he was the only person present dressed as a TV character. Neither he nor any of his products, services, or associated organizations are mentioned in the text, the main thrust of which is that Star Trek fans are normal people.[5]

In April of 2008, Randy Richards was featured as "Business Person of the Month" by the Baton Rouge, Louisiana library system[6]. Many Baton Rouge science fiction fans consider his interview as part of this feature controversial. In it he claims, Sci-Fi fans and Gamers do not socialize much, and have a hard time connecting with others with the same interests. He also states, [b]efore Katrina, it was hard to find Sci-Fi and Gaming fans in Baton Rouge. Randy then proceeds to give credit to Babelcon, a small science fiction convention with which he is associated, with the increase. Some feel that he was stereotyping fans in general and writing off the long history of Baton Rouge science fiction fandom of which he knew nothing.

Randy Richards' Hurricane Katrina photographs are part of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade's[7] "Life in the Wake of Katrina" tour[8].

In 2006 Randy Richards won a third place award in the Adult Landscape category of the LUMCON Bayous of Louisiana photography contest.[9]

Randy Richards is a professional voiceover artist and has done several local radio spots[10].

Randy Richards has appeared on local TV newscasts[11] for his photojournalism after Katrina, and in a TV commercial for Cox Cable (see below).

Published works

  • Dark Magic in New Orleans. Dungeon #71 (TSR Inc., 1998)[12].
  • Dreadmire[13] (Spellbinder Games, 2006).
  • Suel Imperium: Age of Glory. Available online: [14]
  • The Impossibly Precarious Balancing Truck[15] as part of the nationally traveling photo exhibit Life in the Wake of Katrina[16] (scroll to bottom of page)]
  • A Dreadmire Adventures supplement was put on hold due to the introduction of 4th Edition D&D.

Guest Appearances

Randy Richards has been a guest at local gaming and fantasy conventions across the U.S., including Dragon*Con[17] as a D&D author guest in 1998 and 2006; Gen Con[18] where he hosted panel discussions with Gary Gygax in 1998; Crescent City Con[19] as an Gaming Guest in 1998 and 2001; BabelCon[20] as an author guest in 2006, 2007 and 2008 (scheduled); ConCarolinas[21] as a Gaming Guest in 2006, 2008 and 2009; CoastCon[22] as a D&D Guest in 1998, 2000, and 2006 and was elected to their board of directors that year. Two months after his election as a member-at-large, he was removed by vote of his fellow governing committee members[23]. Richards was subsequently elected to the board of directors of the Science & Engineering Education Foundation, the organizers of BabelCon[20] in 2006. He was subsequently re-elected to his directorship within that organization in 2007 and 2008. In 2008 he became an officer of Star One Delta[24], a local sci-fi/science organization.

External Links

References

Photo Gallery

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