📖 Overview
Ken St. Andre is an American game designer and author best known for creating Tunnels & Trolls, the second published fantasy role-playing game after Dungeons & Dragons. Released in 1975, his system introduced streamlined mechanics and a lighter tone that influenced later tabletop RPG design.
St. Andre worked as a librarian at the Phoenix Public Library while developing games and writing fantasy fiction. He founded Flying Buffalo Games and created several other role-playing games including Stormbringer and Monsters! Monsters!
Beyond game design, St. Andre authored multiple fantasy novels including Dragon Quest and Moral Entropy. His writing style emphasizes humor and accessibility, mirroring the philosophy behind his game designs.
Throughout his career, St. Andre has remained active in the gaming community, continuing to produce new material for Tunnels & Trolls and other systems. His contributions to early role-playing game development earned him induction into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame in 2018.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise St. Andre's accessible writing style and humor in both his games and fiction. Reviews frequently mention his ability to make complex gaming concepts approachable for newcomers. His fantasy novels receive credit for their light, entertaining tone rather than taking themselves too seriously.
Likes:
- Clear, straightforward writing mechanics in Tunnels & Trolls
- Humorous takes on standard fantasy tropes
- Quick-to-learn game systems compared to D&D
Dislikes:
- Some readers find his fiction writing too simplistic
- Plot depth sometimes sacrificed for comedy
- Limited world-building compared to other fantasy authors
Review Stats:
Tunnels & Trolls averages 4.1/5 on Goodreads (127 ratings)
Dragon Quest averages 3.2/5 on Amazon (14 ratings)
Stormbringer RPG averages 3.8/5 on DriveThruRPG (32 ratings)
Note: Limited review data exists online for his fiction works. Most discussion focuses on his game design contributions rather than his novels.
📚 Books by Ken St. Andre
Tunnels & Trolls (1975)
A fantasy tabletop roleplaying game system featuring simplified mechanics compared to Dungeons & Dragons, including solo adventure modules.
Buffalo Castle (1976) The first solo adventure module for Tunnels & Trolls, set in a magical castle filled with monsters and treasures.
Deathtrap Equalizer Dungeon (1977) A solo adventure module where players explore a deadly dungeon designed to test adventurers of any power level.
Naked Doom (1977) A solo adventure where the player character starts imprisoned and stripped of all possessions, requiring creative problem-solving to escape.
Arena of Khazan (1978) A gladiatorial combat-focused adventure module where players must survive increasingly difficult arena battles.
Grimtooth's Traps (1981) A system-neutral collection of detailed deadly traps designed for use in various roleplaying games.
Stormbringer (1981) A roleplaying game based on Michael Moorcock's Elric series, co-written with Steve Perrin.
Monsters! Monsters! (1982) A reverse-perspective roleplaying game where players take on the roles of monsters rather than heroes.
Buffalo Castle (1976) The first solo adventure module for Tunnels & Trolls, set in a magical castle filled with monsters and treasures.
Deathtrap Equalizer Dungeon (1977) A solo adventure module where players explore a deadly dungeon designed to test adventurers of any power level.
Naked Doom (1977) A solo adventure where the player character starts imprisoned and stripped of all possessions, requiring creative problem-solving to escape.
Arena of Khazan (1978) A gladiatorial combat-focused adventure module where players must survive increasingly difficult arena battles.
Grimtooth's Traps (1981) A system-neutral collection of detailed deadly traps designed for use in various roleplaying games.
Stormbringer (1981) A roleplaying game based on Michael Moorcock's Elric series, co-written with Steve Perrin.
Monsters! Monsters! (1982) A reverse-perspective roleplaying game where players take on the roles of monsters rather than heroes.
👥 Similar authors
Steve Jackson created Fighting Fantasy gamebooks and roleplaying games that blend fantasy storytelling with game mechanics. His work shares St. Andre's focus on accessible rules and player-driven narratives.
Dave Morris wrote Dragon Warriors and numerous gamebooks featuring branching narratives and combat systems. His writing style combines traditional fantasy elements with rule systems similar to St. Andre's Tunnels & Trolls.
Joe Dever developed the Lone Wolf series of gamebooks with detailed world-building and combat mechanics. His work features the same blend of storytelling and game rules that characterizes St. Andre's approach.
Gary Gygax created Dungeons & Dragons and wrote numerous fantasy gaming materials and novels. His influence on fantasy roleplaying parallels St. Andre's contributions to the genre.
Ian Livingstone authored multiple Fighting Fantasy books and helped pioneer the gamebook format. His work shares St. Andre's interest in creating interactive stories with clear rule systems.
Dave Morris wrote Dragon Warriors and numerous gamebooks featuring branching narratives and combat systems. His writing style combines traditional fantasy elements with rule systems similar to St. Andre's Tunnels & Trolls.
Joe Dever developed the Lone Wolf series of gamebooks with detailed world-building and combat mechanics. His work features the same blend of storytelling and game rules that characterizes St. Andre's approach.
Gary Gygax created Dungeons & Dragons and wrote numerous fantasy gaming materials and novels. His influence on fantasy roleplaying parallels St. Andre's contributions to the genre.
Ian Livingstone authored multiple Fighting Fantasy books and helped pioneer the gamebook format. His work shares St. Andre's interest in creating interactive stories with clear rule systems.