View source for Chaosium

{{Short description|Game publisher}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox publisher
| name = Chaosium Inc.
| image = Chaosiumlogo.png
| caption =
| parent =
| status =
| traded_as =
| predecessor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1975}}
| founder = [[Greg Stafford (game designer)|Greg Stafford]]
| successor =
| country = United States
| headquarters = [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]]
| distribution =
| keypeople = {{Unbulleted list|[[Greg Stafford (game designer)|Greg Stafford]]|[[Sandy Petersen]]|[[Rick Meints]]|Jeff Richard|Neil Robinson|[[Michael O'Brien (game designer)|Michael O'Brien]]}}
| publications = Games, Books
| topics =
| genre = [[Tabletop role-playing game|Role-playing games]], [[Board Game|Board games]], [[Fantasy|Fantasy fiction]], [[Horror fiction]], [[Weird fiction]]
| imprints =
| revenue =
| owner =
| numemployees = 16
| website = [http:// chaosium / chaosium ]
}}

'''Chaosium Inc.''' ({{IPAc-en|k|eɪ|ˈ|ɒ|s|i|ə|m}} {{Respell|kay|OSS|ee|əm}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https:// youtube /watch?v=DJZowd3FQLc|title=Meet Dustin &#124; Chaosium Interview|work=YouTube|date=October 13, 2023|accessdate=December 30, 2023}}</ref>) is a publisher of [[tabletop role-playing game]]s established by [[Greg Stafford (game designer)|Greg Stafford]] in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fictitious Business Name Statement 1975 |url=https://twitter /Chaosium_Inc/status/1057576370681798656/photo/1 |access-date=August 31, 2020 |website=Twitter |publisher=Twitter }}</ref> Chaosium's major titles include ''[[Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)|Call of Cthulhu]]'', based on the [[horror fiction]] stories of [[H. P. Lovecraft]]'', [[RuneQuest]] Glorantha'', ''[[Pendragon (role-playing game)|Pendragon]]'', based on [[Thomas Mallory]]'s ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'', and ''[[7th Sea (role-playing game)|7th Sea]]'', "swashbuckling and sorcery" set in a fantasy 17th century Europe.

Many of Chaosium's product lines are based upon literary sources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https:// chaosium /about-us/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012212325/https:// chaosium /about-us/ |archive-date=October 12, 2019 |website=Chaosium Inc.}}</ref> While Stafford himself has been described as "one of the most decorated game designers of all time" <ref>{{Cite web |title=Prince Valiant Storytelling Game by Greg Stafford |url=https:// kickstarter /projects/1861515217/prince-valiant-storytelling-game-by-greg-stafford |access-date=November 18, 2016 |website=kickstarter }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2019}} and "the grand shaman of gaming",<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2016 |title=Interview with Robin D. Laws |url=https://juegosydados.wordpress /2016/07/19/interview-with-robin-d-laws/ |access-date=November 18, 2016 |website=Juegos y Dados}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2019}} multiple other notable game designers have written for Chaosium. These include [[David Conyers]], [[Matthew Costello]], [[Larry DiTillio]], [[Paul Fricker (game designer)|Paul Fricker]], [[David A. Hargrave]], [[Rob Heinsoo]], [[Keith Herber]], [[Jennell Jaquays]], [[Katharine Kerr]], [[Reiner Knizia]], [[Charlie Krank]], [[Robin Laws]], [[Penelope Love]], [[Mark Morrison (game designer)|Mark Morrison]], [[Steve Perrin]], [[Sandy Petersen]], [[Ken Rolston]], [[Ken St. Andre]], [[Jonathan Tweet]], [[John Wick (game designer)|John Wick]], and [[Lynn Willis]], among others.

==History==
===1975–1980===
Greg Stafford founded "The Chaosium" in 1975, deriving the name partly from his home, which was near the [[Oakland Coliseum]], combining "coliseum" with "chaos". His purpose was to publish his first board game ''[[White Bear and Red Moon]]'' (later renamed ''Dragon Pass''), a board game set in his fantasy world of [[Glorantha]].

In 1978, Chaosium published Steve Perrin's roleplaying game ''[[RuneQuest]]'', also set in Glorantha, following up with a second edition in 1980 and various supplements over the next six years.

===1980s: Growth and licensing with Avalon Hill===
In 1980, the company officially incorporated as Chaosium Inc. That year, Stafford and Lynn Willis simplified the ''RuneQuest'' rules into the 16-page [[Basic Role-Playing]] (BRP). These [[GNS Theory#Simulationism|simulationist]], skill-based generic rules formed the basis of many of Chaosium's later [[Dice notation#Percentile dice| "d100" ]] RPGs, most notably ''[[Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)|Call of Cthulhu]]'', first published in 1982.

Chaosium entered into a licensing agreement with [[Avalon Hill]] in 1983 to produce a third edition of ''RuneQuest''. Avalon Hill manufactured and marketed the game, while Chaosium was responsible for acquisitions, design, development, and layout. [[Ken Rolston]] managed the line as "Rune Czar".

One of the first RPGs by a female lead designer was published by Chaosium: [[Kerie Campbell-Robson]]'s 1986 release [[Hawkmoon (role-playing game)|Hawkmoon]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Appelcline |first=Shannon |title=Designers & Dragons: The '70s |publisher=Evil Hat Productions |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-61317-075-5 |edition=2 |volume=1 |page=267}}</ref> 1986 also saw the release of ''[[Ghostbusters (role-playing game)|Ghostbusters]]'' with [[West End Games]]. Designed by Sandy Petersen, Lynn Willis, and Greg Stafford, it was the first RPG to use the [[dice pool]] mechanic. West End would also use the system as the basis of ''[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game]]'' and, eventually, the [[D6 System]].<ref name= "DD80-89" >{{cite book |last1=Appelcline |first1=Shannon |title=Designers & Dragons. '80-'89: A history of the roleplaying game industry |date=2014 |publisher=Evil Hat Productions |location=Silver Springs, MD, USA |isbn=978-1-61317-081-6 |edition=2nd}}</ref>{{rp|249–250}}

===Late 1990s–early 2010s: Financial struggle===
In 1996, it was prematurely reported that Chaosium had secured the rights to publish a collectible card game based on the video game [[Doom (series)|Doom]].<ref name= "Duelist3" >{{Citation |last=Varney |first=Allen |title=Inside the Industry |date=February 1997 |work=The Duelist |issue=#15 |pages=84}}</ref>

In 1998, following the financial failure of the collectible card game ''[[Mythos (card game)|Mythos]]'', Greg Stafford resigned as Chaosium president and left the company, along with Sandy Petersen (although they both remained shareholders). Chaosium effectively split up into various successor companies, each maintaining its focus on a few of the company's products. Stafford took the rights to his game setting Glorantha, setting up the company [[Issaries, Inc.]] to continue publishing this line (later licensing it to [[Moon Design Publications]], along with the game [[HeroQuest (role-playing game)|HeroQuest]]).

Long-time employees and part-owners Charlie Krank and Lynn Willis remained at Chaosium as President and Editor-in-Chief respectively, continuing on with ''Call of Cthulhu'' as the main product line. Lynn Willis retired in 2008 due to poor health and died in 2013.

===Mid 2010s: The return of Stafford and Petersen===
Problems and delays fulfilling the [[Kickstarter]]s for the 7th edition of ''Call of Cthulhu'' led Stafford and Petersen to return to active roles at Chaosium in June 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition |url=https:// kickstarter /projects/448333182/call-of-cthulhu-7th-edition/posts/1251694 |access-date=June 11, 2015 |website=Kickstarter}}</ref> Charlie Krank subsequently left the company.

Later that year at [[Gen Con]] 2015, Stafford and Petersen announced Moon Design Publications were now part of the Chaosium ownership, and the four principals of Moon Design ([[Rick Meints]], Jeff Richard, [[Michael O'Brien (game designer)|Michael O'Brien]], and [[Neil Robinson (game designer)|Neil Robinson]]) had become the new Chaosium management team. Chaosium once again became the licensed publisher for ''RuneQuest'', ''HeroQuest'', and other products related to Glorantha and continued to publish the ''Call of Cthulhu'' line.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=July 30, 2015 |title=Greg Stafford Announces New Ownership Group For Chaosium At Gen Con |url=http:// chaosium /blog/greg-stafford-announces-new-ownership-group-for-chaosium-at-gen-con |access-date=November 18, 2016 |website=Chaosium Blog}}</ref> Stafford served as chair of the company board and creative consultant until his death in October 2018. Since retiring from the board in 2019, Petersen has done occasional freelance work for the company, as did original RuneQuest creator Steve Perrin until his death in 2021.

As part of its financial reorganization, the new management closed the company office and warehouse in [[Hayward, California]], ending Chaosium's long association with the [[San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2015 |title=Chaosium Leaves California |url=http:// yog-sothoth /articles.html/_/main/chaosium-leaves-california |website=Yog-Sothoth}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The company is now based in [[Ann Arbor]], [[Michigan]] and uses a [[fulfillment house]] model for distribution of product.

Delivery of the core rewards of the Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Kickstarter finally commenced in April 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riggs |first=Ben |date=April 29, 2016 |title=Cthulhu Company Kickstarted itself to Death, Then This Happened |url=http://geekandsundry /cthulhu-company-kickstarted-itself-to-death-then-this-happened |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629142853/http://geekandsundry /cthulhu-company-kickstarted-itself-to-death-then-this-happened/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2016 |website=Geek and Sundry}}</ref> The new edition went on to win nine of the ten awards it was nominated for at the [[Gen Con]] 2017 [[ENnies|ENnie Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 Noms and Winners |url=http:// ennie-awards /blog/2017-noms-and-winners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317231801/http:// ennie-awards /blog/2017-noms-and-winners |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |access-date=March 17, 2018 |website=ENnie Awards}}</ref>

===Late 2010s to Present: Expansion===
After the consolidation and reorganization of the mid-decade, the company was again poised to expand its offerings through a combination of acquisitions, new licenses, and distribution deals.

Greg Stafford's ''[[Pendragon (role-playing game)|King Arthur Pendragon]]'' and ''[[Prince Valiant: The Story-Telling Game|Prince Valiant]]'' roleplaying games returned to Chaosium ownership on December 11, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=December 11, 2018 |title=Greg Stafford's King Arthur Pendragon RPG returns to Chaosium ownership |url=https:// chaosium /bloggreg-staffords-king-arthur-pendragon-rpg-returns-to-chaosium-ownership/ |access-date=December 7, 2021 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref>

On April 2, 2019, Chaosium acquired the rights to the ''[[7th Sea (role-playing game)|7th Sea]]'' product line (both Second Edition and Khitai Kickstarters) from John Wick, including back stock of books published so far.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=April 2, 2019 |title=John Wick joins Chaosium |url=https:// chaosium /blogjohn-wick-joins-chaosium/ |access-date=April 3, 2019 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref>

On November 30, 2019, Chaosium acquired the rights to produce a role-playing game based on [[Ben Aaronovitch]]'s ''[[Peter Grant (book series)|Rivers of London]]'' urban fantasy novels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=November 30, 2019 |title=Chaosium Announces Rivers of London Roleplaying Game |url=https:// chaosium /blogchaosium-announces-rivers-of-london-roleplaying-game/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref>

In the spring of 2020, Chaosium took over distribution of the English translations of Spanish fantasy game ''[[Aquelarre (role-playing game)|Aquelarre]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=May 28, 2020 |title=Announcing Aquelarre, the "best RPG not available in English", now available in English! |url=https:// chaosium /blogannouncing-aquelarre-the-best-rpg-not-available-in-english-now-available-in-english/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref> and French Ice Age roleplaying game ''Würm'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=April 28, 2020 |title=Announcing Würm - The Ice Age Roleplaying Game |url=https:// chaosium /blogannouncing-wrm-the-ice-age-roleplaying-game/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref> both of which had been successfully kickstarted by [[Stewart Wieck|Nocturnal Media]]. In February 2021, they added ''Upwind'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=February 2, 2021 |title=Chaosium is distributing ''Upwind'', the RPG of lost science, elemental magic, and unchartered skies |url=https:// chaosium /blogchaosium-is-distributing-upwind-the-rpg-of-lost-science-elemental-magic-and-unchartered-skies/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref> an original game kickstarted by Nocturnal Media and [[Biohazard Games]], to that list.

On August 20, 2021, Chaosium acquired the rights to ''Cthulhu Britannica'' and ''World War Cthulhu'', formerly produced under license by [[Cubicle 7]] until 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=April 2, 2019 |title=Chaosium acquires Cubicle 7's Cthulhu Britannica and World War Cthulhu lines |url=https:// chaosium /blogchaosium-acquires-cubicle-7s-cthulhu-britannica-and-world-war-cthulhu-lines/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref>

On October 26, 2021, Moon Design Publishing announced it was forming a partnership with Black Monk Games of Poland and a new company, The Chaosium Group, was being formed to manage both.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=October 26, 2021 |title=Moon Design Publications and Black Monk Games join forces to form The Chaosium Group |url=https:// chaosium /blogmoon-design-publications-and-black-monk-games-join-forces-to-form-the-chaosium-group/ |access-date=October 27, 2021 |website=Chaosium press release}}</ref>

==Fiction==
Chaosium began publishing a line of non-game books (primarily fiction) in 1993. Many titles are themed around H. P. Lovecraft's [[Cthulhu Mythos]] and related topics, although the first work published was Greg Stafford's fantasy work ''King of Sartar'', set in his mythic world [[Glorantha]].

''Cassilda's Song'', a 2015 anthology based on [[Robert W. Chambers]]'s [[King in Yellow]] and written entirely by women, was nominated for two 2016 [[World Fantasy Award]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2016 |title=2016 World Fantasy Awards Finalists |url=http:// locusmag /News/2016/07/11044/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819112044/http:// locusmag /News/2016/07/11044/ |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=November 18, 2016 |website=Locus Online News}}</ref>

In May 2017, Chaosium appointed award-winning author and editor [[James Lowder]] as executive editor of fiction.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Chaosium appoints James Lowder as new Executive Editor of Fiction |date=May 7, 2017 |url=https:// chaosium /blog/chaosium-appoints-james-lowder-as-new-executive-editor-of-fiction/ |last1=O'Brien |first1=Michael |access-date=July 28, 2017 |work=Chaosium}}</ref> Lowder had previously served as a consultant for Chaosium, helping the company and freelancers resolve payment and contract problems with past fiction projects.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Chaosium Appoints James Lowder as new Consulting Editor for Fiction |date=August 26, 2015 |url=https:// chaosium /blog/chaosium-appoints-james-lowder-as-new-consulting-editor-for-fiction/ |last1=O'Brien |first1=Michael |access-date=July 28, 2017 |work=Chaosium}}</ref>

Although not published by Chaosium, the ongoing ''[[Wild Cards]]'' series of [[superhero]] science fiction originated from a long-running ''[[Superworld]]'' campaign gamemastered by [[Game of Thrones]] author [[George R. R. Martin]] and his circle of fellow writers who played in his game.<ref name= "designers" >{{Cite book |last=Appelcline |first=Shannon |title=Designers & Dragons |publisher=Mongoose Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-907702-58-7 |pages=87}}</ref>

==Magazines==
Three magazines have been published by Chaosium to promote its products:

* ''Wyrm's Footnotes'' ran for fourteen issues from 1976 to 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2017 |title=Wyrm's Footnotes Submissions |url=https:// chaosium /wyrms-footnotes-submissions/ |access-date=July 12, 2020 |website=chaosium |publisher=Chaosium}}</ref> For the first ten issues, it was a source of supporting material for ''White Bear and Red Moon''. In 1981, starting with Issue #11, it became the official ''RuneQuest'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glorantha Magazine Indices |url=http:// erzo.org/shannon/gaming/indices/glorantha-index.shtml#wyrms |access-date=December 18, 2014 |publisher=Erzo.org |archive-date=February 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220161845/http:// erzo.org/shannon/gaming/indices/glorantha-index.shtml#wyrms |url-status=dead }}</ref> The last edition published during its initial run was Issue #14, dated April 1982.<ref name= "dragon75" >{{Cite journal |last=Rolston |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Rolston |date=July 1983 |title=Companion fills the Glorantha gap |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]] |issue=75 |pages=70}}</ref> The magazine was revived in 2012 by [[Moon Design Publications]], continuing the issue numbering at 15, despite the 30-year hiatus. Issues 1 to 14 were republished in PDF format in 2019.
* ''[[Different Worlds]]''. Forty-seven bimonthly issues from ''Different Worlds'' were published. Chaosium, from 1979 to 1985, published the first thirty-eight and [[Sleuth Publications]], from 1985 to 1987, the final nine. [[Tadashi Ehara]] was the editor of the magazine during the periods concerned by both publishing houses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Different Worlds Magazine Cover Listing - RPGnet RPG Game Index |url=http://index.rpg.net/display-search.phtml?key=magazine&value=Different+Worlds&type=pictures |access-date=December 18, 2014 |publisher=Index.rpg.net}}</ref>
* ''[[Starry Wisdom]]'', a [[H. P. Lovecraft|Lovecraft]]-themed magazine, three issues of which Chaosium published in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Starry Wisdom Issue 1 |url=http:// chaosium /starry-wisdom-issue-1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316103809/http:// chaosium /starry-wisdom-issue-1/ |archive-date=March 16, 2015 |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website= chaosium }}</ref>

==Reception==
Chaosium won the 2017 Silver [[ENnies|Ennie Award]] for "Fan’s Choice for Best Publisher".<ref>{{cite web |url=http:// ennie-awards /blog/about-us/2017-noms-and-winners |title=2017 Noms and Winners &#124; ENnie Awards |website= ennie-awards |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823074115/http:// ennie-awards /blog/about-us/2017-noms-and-winners |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http:// chaosium }} of Chaosium
* [http:// rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory3.phtml A 3rd-party Chaosium history guide]

[[Category:1975 establishments in California]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1975]]
[[Category:Companies based in Ann Arbor, Michigan]]
[[Category:Design companies established in 1975]]
[[Category:ENnies winners]]
[[Category:History of Hayward, California]]
[[Category:History of Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1975]]
[[Category:Publishing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Role-playing game publishing companies]]
[[Category:Trading card companies]]