Richard S. "Rick" Krebs is a

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 ...

and

simulation game Simulation video games are a diverse super-category of video games, generally designed to closely simulate real world activities. A simulation game attempts to copy various activities from real life in the form of a game for various purposes such ...

designer. His initial game design was in the early 1960s when he created simulation games using toothpicks, American plastic bricks, cardboard chits, bingo chips and the box-like design of his bed quilt (buildings). The periods covered by these rules began with medieval & fantasy knights, through gangster wars, and continued into modern warfare. His mother frequently commented that Rick used to get in trouble with the neighborhood kids, as he was always changing or making up new rules.Baker, E. J., online and email interviews of subject, during November 1983 Briefly, putting aside his toys and games, Krebs trained as a social/cultural/intellectual historian, and received a

B.A. A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree ...

from

Albright College Albright College is a private liberal arts college in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1856 and had an enrollment of 1,652 students as of fall 2023. History Albright College traces its founding to 1856 when "Union Sem ...

in 1971. His senior thesis was on the biographer/journalist/historian, Burton J. Hendrick.

Game career

Rick Krebs is the original game designer for

TSR, Inc. TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. Gygax had bee ...

's ''

Gangbusters ''Gang Busters'' is an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." It premiered on January 15, 1936 and was broadcast for more 21 years through November 27, 1957. H ...

'', a historical role-playing game set in the 1920s. Krebs's professional involvement in the industry goes back to a fantasy

fanzine A fanzine (blend word, blend of ''fan (person), fan'' and ''magazine'' or ''zine'') is a non-professional and non-official publication produced by enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre) for the pleas ...

'' Phanta Carta'', and the first edition ''

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Several different editions of the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game have been produced since 1974. The current publisher of ''D&D'', Wizards of the Coast, produces new materials only for the most current edition of the ...

'' game, where he contributed to and is credited in the Preface to the 1979 ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeon Master's Guide The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (''DMG'' or ''DM's Guide''; in some printings, the ''Dungeon Masters Guide'' or ''Dungeon Master Guide'') is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' co ...

''. He also wrote the articles, "D&D meets the Electronic Age", and "

Non-player character A non-player character (NPC) is a character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster (or referee) rather than by a ...

s Have Feelings Too", for ''

Dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...

'' magazine. He founded and operated the original Gamer's Guild game store from 1977 to 1982. During this time created ''the Krebikoff Gambit'' for use in the

Cosmic Encounter ''Cosmic Encounter'' is a science fiction–themed strategy board game designed by "Future Pastimes" (collectively, Peter Olotka, Jack Kittredge and Bill Eberle, with Bill Norton) and originally published by Eon Games in 1977. In it, each playe ...

board game, designed a simplified rule set for space gaming with miniature figures, and rules for English Civil War military miniatures. In the mid 1990s, he worked on the

play-by-mail game A play-by-mail game (also known as a PBM game, PBEM game, turn-based game, turn based distance game, or an interactive strategy game.) is a game played through postal mail, email, or other digital media. Correspondence chess and Go (game), Go wer ...

''ElderLords'' (based on his D&D campaign), promoted and designed adventures for the computer game '' Eamon adventures'', created and programmed ''Radio Horse Racing'', a computerized horse racing simulation, created the 'rainbow doozi' cyber creaturatons and refined several artificial intelligence computer games. Maintained a correspondence with

Gary Gygax Ernest Gary Gygax ( ; July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008) was an American game designer and author best known for co-creating the pioneering tabletop role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') with Dave Arneson. In the 1960s, Gygax creat ...

from 1975 until Mr Gygax's death in 2008. Created and produced "Foam Wars" gaming system as well as "No Paint Armies" using "Granny Grate".

Krebs's Law of Gaming

"The one rule, to rule them all, is to have fun."online
Original D&D discussion
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References

Sources

* Swan, Rick. ''

The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games ''The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' is a book written by Rick Swan and published by St. Martin's Press in 1990 that explains role-playing games and provides reviews of those that were on the market at the time. Contents ''The Complete G ...

'' (St Martin Press, 1990). {{DEFAULTSORT:Krebs, Rick Albright College alumni American game designers Dungeons & Dragons game designers Living people Year of birth missing (living people)