Christopher Perkins

Christopher Perkins is a game designer and writer best known for his extensive work with Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) at both TSR, Inc. and later Wizards of the Coast. He served as Story Designer for D&D and held the position of Principal Story Designer for the game's 5th Edition. During his career, Perkins has written and contributed to numerous D&D adventure modules and sourcebooks, including Curse of Strahd, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, and Tales from the Yawning Portal. He also gained recognition as the Dungeon Master for various D&D live-play shows, including Acquisitions Incorporated and Dice, Camera, Action! Prior to joining Wizards of the Coast, Perkins was the editor-in-chief of Dungeon magazine from 1996-2000, where he helped shape the publication's content and maintained its editorial direction. His influence on tabletop roleplaying games extends beyond writing, as he has been involved in game design, world-building, and story development across multiple D&D campaigns and settings.

D&D players and Dungeon Masters praise Perkins' adventure design in Curse of Strahd and Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Readers highlight his ability to create memorable NPCs and weave complex narratives that remain accessible to run. Liked: - Clear organization and DM guidance in published adventures - Balance of structured plot with room for customization - Integration of horror elements in Curse of Strahd - Engaging NPCs with detailed motivations - Practical tips shared through his "DM Experience" column Criticism: - Some adventures require significant prep time - Occasional editorial oversights in early printings - Price point of hardcover adventures deemed high by some - Dragon Heist criticized for linear structure in certain chapters Online Ratings: Curse of Strahd: 4.7/5 on Amazon (2,800+ reviews) Waterdeep Dragon Heist: 4.6/5 on Amazon (1,900+ reviews) DMsGuild Community Content: Average 4.5/5 across publications Note: Most reviews focus on products rather than Perkins individually, as D&D books are collaborative works.

Book of Exalted Deeds (2003) A Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook focused on celestial beings, good-aligned magic, and rules for playing righteous characters in the 3.5 edition.

Xanathar's Guide to Everything (2017) A rules expansion for D&D 5th Edition containing new character options, spells, and tools for Dungeon Masters.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (2018) An urban adventure module set in the city of Waterdeep where players pursue a hidden vault of gold while dealing with various criminal factions.

Curse of Strahd (2016) A gothic horror adventure module that takes players to the domain of Barovia to face the vampire lord Strahd von Zarovich.

Tales from the Yawning Portal (2017) A collection of seven classic D&D dungeons updated and converted to the 5th Edition ruleset.

Monte Cook Former D&D designer who created Numenera and the Cypher System. He wrote numerous D&D adventures and rulebooks including Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil and the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide.

Ed Greenwood Creator of the Forgotten Realms setting used extensively in D&D campaigns and novels. He authored hundreds of articles for Dragon magazine and wrote foundational sourcebooks that defined the realm's lore and characters.

Gary Gygax Co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons who wrote the original rulebooks and adventure modules. His work includes Temple of Elemental Evil and the Monster Manual, establishing core concepts still used in tabletop RPGs today.

Tracy Hickman Co-creator of the Dragonlance setting and author of numerous D&D modules. He wrote the Ravenloft adventure module and collaborated on many TSR publications during the 1980s.

Bruce Cordell Longtime D&D designer who authored influential adventures like Return to the Tomb of Horrors and Gates of Firestorm Peak. He contributed to multiple editions of D&D rules and created memorable dungeons and campaigns.