Complete (Psionic) Surprise

[stevekenson]

Well, it seems that I managed to get my first published credit in a D&D book sooner than I thought without even knowing it!

Apparently, Wizards of the Coast used material I wrote in an article in Dragon magazine #281 called "Mind Lords of Talaron" in their Complete Psionics sourcebook as the "Six Hidden Houses" (and did credit me for it in the book, according to a friend who owns it).

Now Dragon articles are work-for-hire, so Wizards can do whatever they want with the text, but it still would have been nice to have notification and maybe a copy of the book. I guess I'm going to have to at least take a closer look at it next time I'm in a game store....

Comments

[maliszew.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I didn't tell you this. I thought you knew already ...

In that case, you do know that WotC also used OGC from M&M in Unearthed Arcana, right?

Figured I'd ask just in case :)

[xomec.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that I knew, but that was back when I was regularly buying and reading new D&D books... I suppose, technically, Unearthed Arcana is really my first "published credit" in a D&D book, even if it's just for Open Content (and a system that UA kind of mucked up IMHO).

[thecaptainsblog.livejournal.com]

Apparently it's just not normal to tell people when Dragon material is picked up. I just recently discovered articles of mine were used for some of the Races of... books that I never knew about.

[wisepiscean.livejournal.com]

Well it figures you wrote that piece since it was my favorite part of that sourcebook ... just never looked to see who wrote it.

[mouseferatu.livejournal.com]

Heh. I had a similar experience with Dragon Magic when I discovered my name in the "Additional Design" credits. Apparently one spell--one--that I'd written for Complete Mage was determined to be a better fit in this book instead.

While I agree it'd be nice to be told these things, I do give WotC kudos for at least crediting them. Many companies wouldn't even bother with such a minor contribution that they'd already paid for anyway.

[phenixhawk.livejournal.com]

very cool. always nice to get a suprise =)