Jim Nelson is an artist whose work has appeared in

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...

Career

Nelson was interested in art at an early age and went to

Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. It was founded as "Northern Illinois State Normal School" in 1895 by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld, initially to provide the state with c ...

to study art. He first worked professionally in 1986 for the game publisher

FASA FASA Corporation was an American publisher of role-playing games, wargaming, wargames and board games between 1980 and 2001, after which they closed publishing operations for several years, becoming an IP holding company under the name FASA In ...

, and while there worked on several ranges including ''

Shadowrun ''Shadowrun'' is a science fantasy tabletop role-playing game set in an alternate future in which cybernetics, magic in fiction, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy, and crime fiction, crime, wit ...

'', ''

BattleTech ''BattleTech'' is a wargaming and military science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2001, which was in turn acquired by Topps in 2003; and published since 2007 by Catalyst Game Labs. The trademark ...

'', and ''

Earthdawn ''Earthdawn'' is a fantasy role-playing game, originally produced by FASA in 1993. In 1999 it was licensed to Living Room Games, which produced the ''Second Edition''. It was licensed to RedBrick in 2003, who released the Classic Edition in 200 ...

''. In 1998, Nelson moved to

Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (WotC or Wizards) is an American game Publishing, publisher, most of which are based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science-fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail game stores. In 1999, toy ...

, who had just acquired TSR, creators of ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...

''. His ''D&D'' work included ''

Races of Stone ''Races of Stone'' (sometimes abbreviated to RoS) is an optional sourcebook for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. Contents ''Races of Stone'' focuses on gnomes, dwarves, and a new race, called goliaths, ...

'' (2004), ''

Races of Destiny ''Races of Destiny'' is a supplement for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game. Contents This book deals with races that live primarily in urban settings, specifically humans, half-orcs, and a new race called the Illu ...

'' (2004), ''

Sandstorm A dust storm, also called a sandstorm, is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Fine particles are transported b ...

'' (2005), ''

Lords of Madness ''Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations'' is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) in 2005 that details "aberrations" — creatures said to ...

'' (2005), '' Stormwrack'' (2005), ''Player's Handbook II'' (2006), ''Monster Manual IV'' (2006), '' Complete Mage'' (2006), and the 4th edition ''

Monster Manual The ''Monster Manual'' (''MM'') is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game, first published in 1977 by TSR. The ''Monster Manual'' was the first hardcover ''D&D'' book and ...

'' (2008). He also created cards for '' Magic: The Gathering'', ''

Hearthstone ''Hearthstone'' is a 2014 Online game, online digital collectible card game, digital collectible card video game produced by Blizzard Entertainment, released under the free-to-play model. Originally subtitled ''Heroes of Warcraft'', ''Hearthsto ...

'', '' Hex: Shards of Fate'', ''

Anachronism An anachronism (from the Greek , 'against' and , 'time') is a chronological inconsistency in some arrangement, especially a juxtaposition of people, events, objects, language terms and customs from different time periods. The most common type ...

'' and '' Vampire: The Eternal Struggle''. Nelson became a freelance artist in 2000.

Reception

In his 2023 book ''Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground'', RPG historian Stu Horvath reviewed the dystopian role-playing game ''

'' and noted, "It is Jim Nelson who exemplifies ''Shadowrun''s overwrought urban look."

References

External links

Jim Nelson's website
* Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Role-playing game artists Year of birth missing (living people) {{D&D-stub