The Chaosium Team

WeAreAllUs

The Return of the Great Old Ones…

In early 2015, the Great Old Ones returned. Greg Stafford, founder of Chaosium and creative force during its heyday, and Sandy Petersen, world renowned game designer who brought Cthulhu into the light three decades ago, returned to take active roles in the company.

Later that year, the four principals of Diana Jones Award-winning Moon Design Publications (Rick Meints, Jeff Richard, Neil Robinson and Michael O'Brien) joined the Chaosium ownership. Chaosium again became the licensed publisher for the RPGs RuneQuest and HeroQuest along with other products related to Gloranthan universe.

Rick, Jeff, Neil and MOB now run Chaosium. Greg Stafford served as chair of the company board and creative consultant until his passing in October 2018. Sandy Petersen acts as a creative consultant for the company, as does original RuneQuest creator Steve Perrin.

With its headquarters in Ann Arbor Michigan, Chaosium is now a company of creative professionals working in locations around the globe, including the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, and the UK. Although the "sun never rises on Chaosium", some or all of the team gets together at various times of the year: for example, the March 2019 Berlin summit, seen here.

While Stafford himself has been described as "one of the most decorated game designers of all time" and "the grand shaman of gaming", many other notable game designers have written material for Chaosium. These include David Conyers, Matthew Costello, Larry Ditillio, David A. Hargrave, Rob Heinsoo, Keith Herber, Jennell Jaquays, Katharine Kerr, Reiner Knizia, Charlie Krank, Robin Laws, Penelope Love, Mark Morrison, Steve Perrin, Sandy Petersen, Ken Rolston, Ken St. Andre, Jonathan Tweet, and Lynn Willis, among others. One of the very first RPGs by a female lead designer was published by Chaosium—Kerie Campbell-Robson’s Hawkmoon (1986). LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman's first paid job was as an editor at Chaosium, when he was 12 years old.

Chaosium began as a board game publisher, and in 2017 returned to producing board games again after a twenty year hiatus, winning multiple ENnie awards with our first two releases. In 2018, the King Arthur Pendragon RPG returned to Chaosium ownership. In 2019, Chaosium acquired the critically acclaimed 7th Sea RPG, and 7th Sea creator John Wick joined the company.

Chaosium celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015. In 2016 Greg Stafford's World of Glorantha celebrated its 50th! In 2018, it was 40 years since the debut of RuneQuest, and in 2021 it will be the 40th anniversary of Call of Cthulhu.

The Chairman of the Board and his loyal officers. If only the table was round.

The Chairman of the Board and his loyal officers (2016). If only the table was round. Vale Greg Stafford.