Bill Coffin

{{Infobox writer

| name = Bill Coffin

| image =

| imagesize =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = William P. Coffin

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|09|17}}

| birth_place = Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Author
editor
game designer
journalist

}}

| education = B.A. English, cum laude

| alma_mater = Washington and Lee University

| period = April 1995 – present

| genre = Fantasy, science fiction

| notableworks = Heroes Unlimited: Century Station and Gramercy Island
Palladium Fantasy RPG regional adventure guides
Rifts: Coalition Wars
Septimus
Systems Failure

| spouse = Allison B. Higgins

| children =

| influences =

| awards = George A. Mahan Award for Creative Writing

}}

Bill Coffin (born September 17, 1970) is a writer of novels and role-playing games in the fantasy and science fiction genres. Perhaps best known for his work at Palladium Books from July 1998 through May 2002, he made significant contributions to several of Palladium's game series, most notably Palladium Fantasy, but also Heroes Unlimited and Rifts, and created his own game, Systems Failure.

Career

Bill Coffin is a well-received author who made many books for Palladium Books from 1988 through 2002.{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}{{rp|196}} He was a contributor to both the Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing and Rifts role-playing games.{{rp|162}} In his post-apocalyptic role-playing game Systems Failure (1999), Y2K really happened.{{rp|161}} However, due to a conflict with Kevin Siembieda, the president and co-founder of Palladium Books, Coffin left the company, much to the disappointment of his fans.{{cite web |author=Coffin |first=Bill |date=September 23, 2003 |title=Thread: What's up with Palladium and BTS? |url=http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=1450252 |access-date=July 15, 2012 |work=RPGnet tabletop roleplaying forum |publisher=Skotos Tech |at=Post 227 |location=Berkeley, CA}} Siembieda wound up firing Coffin over editorial differences and discontent against the Rifts Coalition Wars (which the two had co-authored).{{rp|162}} At the time of his departure, Coffin was the lead author of six titles in the final stages of production.{{cite journal | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W. |date=April 2002 | journal = The Rifter | issue = 18 | pages = 10–13, 15 | publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI | isbn = 978-1-57457-071-7| title = Rifter Eighteen }} He was subsequently demoted to second- and third-author status on two of these books prior to their release,Palladium Fantasy RPG—Land of the Damned Two: Eternal Torment and Wolfen Empire Adventure Sourcebook (formerly Adventures in the Northern Wilderness, Second Edition) – {{cite journal | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W. |date=July 2002 | journal = The Rifter | issue = 19 | page = 11 | publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI | isbn = 978-1-57457-076-2| title = The Rifter Number Nineteen: Your Guide to the Megaverse }} and the other four were ultimately shelved and have not been rescheduled for publication.Rifts Dimension Book Six: Cosmo-Knights (final advertisement) – {{cite journal | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W. |date=July 2002 | journal = The Rifter | issue = 19 | pages = 13, 17 | publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI | isbn = 978-1-57457-076-2| title = The Rifter Number Nineteen: Your Guide to the Megaverse }}RECON: Modern Combat (final advertisement) – {{cite journal | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W. |date=October 2002 | journal = The Rifter | issue = 20 | pages = 8, 13 | publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI | isbn = 978-1-57457-077-9| title = Rifter Twenty }}Hardware/Gizmos Unlimited: A Heroes Unlimited Sourcebook (final advertisement) – {{cite journal | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W. |date=April 2003 | journal = The Rifter | issue = 22 | page = 96 | publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI | isbn = 978-1-57457-081-6| title = The Rifter: Your Guide to the Megaverse }}Palladium Fantasy RPG—Land of the Damned Three: The Bleakness (final advertisement) – {{cite journal | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W. |date=July 2004 | journal = The Rifter | issue = 35 | page = 29C | publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI | isbn = 978-1-57457-167-7| title = The Rifter 35 Summer Swimsuit Issue }} In addition, having only received limited support from Palladium, Systems Failure has since gone out of print.{{cite journal | last1 = Stott | first1 = R. | last2 = Merrow | first2 = S. | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W |date=January 2004 | title = Questions & Answers | journal = The Rifter | issue = 25 | page = 92 | publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI | isbn = 978-1-57457-098-4 | name-list-style = amp | quote = Though adventures and source-material for it appear in The Rifter from time to time, the line is dead and the RPG will eventually go out of print.}}

In March 2007, it was revealed that Coffin was working on Septimus, a new campaign setting for the D6 Space core book for West End Games.{{cite web | url = http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?316358 | title = Thread: Bill Coffin Returns With New D6 Game | author = User: hellsreach | date = March 12, 2007 | work = RPGnet tabletop roleplaying forum | publisher = Skotos Tech | location = Berkeley, CA |access-date= July 15, 2012}} However, due to financial concerns, the publisher cancelled the project in March 2008.{{cite web | url = http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?387260 | title = Thread: Bill Coffin's Septimus Cancelled | author = User: trechiron | date = March 31, 2008 | work = RPGnet tabletop roleplaying forum | publisher = Skotos Tech | location = Berkeley, CA |access-date= July 15, 2012}} Shortly thereafter, Coffin declared that he would release the game as a PDF under Evil Hat Productions' FATE system.{{cite web | url = http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=8910813 | title = Thread: Bill Coffin's Septimus Cancelled | author = User: Bill Coffin | date = May 22, 2008 | work = RPGnet tabletop roleplaying forum | publisher = Skotos Tech | location = Berkeley, CA | at = Post 193 |access-date= July 15, 2012}}{{cite web | url = http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=8913692 | title = Thread: Bill Coffin's Septimus Cancelled | author = User: Bill Coffin | date = May 23, 2008 | work = RPGnet tabletop roleplaying forum | publisher = Skotos Tech | location = Berkeley, CA | at = Post 208 |access-date= July 15, 2012}} In May 2009, West End Games announced that they had agreed to publish Septimus again and that it would be released August 2009.{{cite web | url = http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?453411 | title = Thread: Bill Coffin's Septimus coming out August 2009, apparently | author = User: Kai Tave | date = May 17, 2009 | work = RPGnet tabletop roleplaying forum | publisher = Skotos Tech | location = Berkeley, CA |access-date= July 15, 2012}} Eric Gibson released Bill Coffin's Septimus in 2009 as a PDF, which became the last product released by West End Games.{{rp|196}}

Bibliography

= Palladium Books =

== ''Heroes Unlimited'' ==

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K. |author-link1= Kevin Siembieda

| last2 = Breaux | first2 = W. Jr.

| title = Heroes Unlimited G.M.'s Guide

|date=June 1999

| publisher = Palladium Books | location = Taylor, MI

| isbn = 978-1-57457-035-9

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Editor.

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = Century Station: An Adventure Sourcebook for Heroes Unlimited, Second Edition (HU2E)

| date =February 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-040-3

| name-list-style = amp

}}

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = Gramercy Island: An Adventure Sourcebook for HU2E

| date = November 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-055-7

| name-list-style = amp

}}

{{cite book

| last1 = Breaux | first1 = W. Jr.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| last3 = Coffin | first3 = B.

| title = The Aliens Unlimited Galaxy Guide: A HU2E Sourcebook

| date = May 2001

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-054-0

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and concepts.

== ''Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game'' ==

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game, Second Edition (PFRPG) Book 8: The Western Empire

| date = September 1998

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-015-1

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Lead author, maps.

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = PFRPG Book 9: The Baalgor Wastelands

| date = March 1999

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-022-9

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Lead author, maps.

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = PFRPG Book 10: Mount Nimro—Kingdom of Giants

| date = May 1999

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-028-1

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Lead author, maps.

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = PFRPG Book 12: Library of Bletherad

| date = July 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-047-2

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Lead author, maps.

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = PFRPG Book 13: Northern Hinterlands

| date = June 2001

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-058-8

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Coauthor, maps.

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = PFRPG—Land of the Damned One: Chaos Lands

| date = December 2001

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-059-5

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Lead author, maps.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| title = PFRPG—Land of the Damned Two: Eternal Torment

| date = June 2002

| publisher = Palladium Books

| isbn = 978-1-57457-061-8

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Coauthor.

{{cite book

| last1 = Wujcik | first1 = E. |author-link1= Erick Wujcik

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| last3 = Coffin | first3 = B.

| last4 = Bartold | first4 = T.

| last5 = Marciniszyn | first5 = A.

| last6 = Jacques | first6 = C.

| last7 = Long | first7 = K. |author-link7= Kevin Long (artist)

| title = Wolfen Empire Adventure Sourcebook

| date = February 2003

| publisher = Palladium Books | isbn = 978-1-57457-063-2

| display-authors = 3

| name-list-style = amp

}}

== ''Rifts'' ==

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Breaux | first2 = W. Jr.

| last3 = Coffin | first3 = B.

| title = Rifts World Book 23: Xiticix Invasion

| date = November 1999

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-031-1

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and concepts.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = DesRochers | first2 = F.

| last3 = Coffin | first3 = B.

| title = Rifts World Book 22: Free Quebec

| date = April 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-030-4

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and concepts.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| title = Rifts Coalition Wars: Siege on Tolkeen (RCW)—Chapter One: Sedition

| date = June 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-045-8

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and ideas.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| title = RCW Chapter Two: Coalition Overkill

| date = August 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-046-5

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Coauthor.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| title = RCW Chapter Three: Sorcerers' Revenge

| date = October 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-050-2

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and ideas.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| title = RCW Chapter Four: Cyber-Knights

| date = December 2000

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-051-9

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and ideas.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| title = RCW Chapter Six: Final Siege

| date = August 2001

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-053-3

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and ideas.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| last3 = Breaux | first3 = W. Jr.

| last4 = Carella | first4 = C. J. |author-link4= C.J. Carella

| last5 = Kornmann | first5 = C. R.

| last6 = Leonard | first6 = M.

| last7 = Lucas | first7 = B. C.

| last8 = Murphy | first8 = P.

| last9 = Nowak | first9 = P.

| last10 = DesRochers | first10 = F.

| last11 = Sumimoto | first11 = M.

| last12 = Wujcik | first12 = E.

| editor1-last = Coffin | editor1-first = B.

| editor2-last = Siembieda | editor2-first = K

| title = Rifts Game Master Guide

| date = September 2001

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-067-0

| display-authors = 3

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Compiling, additional text and ideas, selected material.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Breaux | first2 = W. Jr.

| last3 = King | first3 = H.

| last4 = Kornmann | first4 = C. R.

| last5 = Carella | first5 = C. J. |author-link5= C.J. Carella

| last6 = Murphy | first6 = P.

| last7 = Nowak | first7 = P.

| last8 = Sheiring | first8 = S.

| last9 = Sumimoto | first9 = M.

| editor-last = Coffin | editor-first = B

| title = Rifts Book of Magic

| date = October 2001

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-069-4

| display-authors = 3

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Compiling.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| last3 = Wujcik | first3 = E.

| last4 = Freiberger | first4 = K.

| last5 = Garner | first5 = B.

| last6 = Marciniszyn | first6 = A.

| last7 = Rosenstein | first7 = J.

| last8 = Sheiring | first8 = S.

| last9 = Smith | first9 = W.

| last10 = Breaux | first10 = W. Jr.

| last11 = Carella | first11 = C. J. |author-link11= C.J. Carella

| last12 = Lucas | first12 = B. C.

| title = Rifts Adventure Guide

| date = February 2002

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-072-4

| display-authors = 3

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and "words of wisdom".

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Coffin | first2 = B.

| title = Rifts Aftermath, 109 P.A.: Life After Tolkeen and a World Overview

| date = April 2002

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-068-7

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Some compilation and additional text, selected material.

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = Rifts Dimension Book Five: The Anvil Galaxy—A Phase World Sourcebook

| date = May 2002

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-019-9

| name-list-style = amp

}}

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Marciniszyn | first2 = A.

| last3 = Rosenstein | first3 = J.

| last4 = Coffin | first4 = B.

| last5 = Sheiring | first5 = S.

| last6 = Smith | first6 = W.

| title = Rifts Bionics Sourcebook

| date = September 2002

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-075-5

| display-authors = 3

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and ideas.

{{cite book

| last1 = Siembieda | first1 = K.

| last2 = Carella | first2 = C. J. |author-link2= C.J. Carella

| last3 = Coffin | first3 = B.

| last4 = Gleba | first4 = C.

| last5 = McCall | first5 = R.

| title = Rifts Dark Conversions

| date = December 2002

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-079-3

| display-authors = 3

| name-list-style = amp

}} – Additional text and ideas.

== ''Systems Failure'' ==

{{cite book

| last1 = Coffin | first1 = B.

| last2 = Siembieda | first2 = K.

| title = Systems Failure: A Complete Role-Playing Game

| date = July 1999

| publisher = Palladium Books, Incorporated

| isbn = 978-1-57457-038-0

| name-list-style = amp

}} [Out of Print] – Lead author, maps.

== ''The Rifter'' ==

{{cite journal

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W

|date=October 1998

| title = Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game: Hook, Line & Sinkers for The Western Empire | journal = The Rifter: Sourcebook and Guide to the Palladium Megaverse | issue = 4 | pages = 12–20

| isbn = 978-1-57457-014-4

}} [Out of Print]

{{cite journal

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W

|date=October 1998

| title = Long, Strange Trips: Writing Epic Campaigns for Palladium Fantasy | journal = The Rifter | issue = 4 | pages = 23–33

| isbn = 978-1-57457-014-4

}} [Out of Print]

{{cite journal

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W

|date=October 1999

| title = Systems Failure Adventure: The Guns of Sulfur Gulch | journal = The Rifter | issue = 8 | pages = 12–27

| isbn = 978-1-57457-036-6

}} [Out of Print]

{{cite journal

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W

|date=April 2000

| title = Giga-Damage: The Next BIG Thing from Palladium | journal = The Rifter: Y2K April Fool's Spectacular | issue = 9–1/2 | pages = 10–17

| isbn = 978-1-57457-042-7

}} [Out of Print] – Authored as "Peter Ferkelberger".

{{cite journal

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| editor-last = Smith | editor-first = W

|date=October 2001

| title = Siege on Tolkeen: Official "Optional" Hook, Line & Sinker Adventures | journal = The Rifter | issue = 16 | pages = 82–90

| isbn = 978-1-57457-057-1

}} [Out of Print]

= West End Games =

{{cite book

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| title = Septimus

| date=August 2009

| publisher = West End Games | location = Downingtown, PA

| isbn = 978-1-932867-18-3

}}

= Novels =

{{cite book

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| title = Overmind

|date=April 1995

| publisher = Royal Fireworks Press | location = Unionville, NY

| isbn = 978-0-88092-141-1

}}

{{cite book

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| title = Prime Mover

|date=January 1996

| publisher = Royal Fireworks Press | location = Unionville, NY

| isbn = 978-0-88092-349-1

}}

{{cite book

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| title = The Dark Britannia Saga, Volume I: Pax Morgana

|date=August 2009

| publisher = Reliquary Press | location = Atlanta, GA

| isbn = 978-0-9841833-0-2

}}

{{cite book

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| title = The Dark Britannia Saga, Volume II: Pax Arcadia

|date=July 2011

| publisher = Reliquary Press | location = Atlanta, GA

| isbn = 978-0-9841833-8-8

}}

{{cite book

| last = Coffin | first = B.

| title = The Dark Britannia Saga, Volume III: Pax Britannia

|date=November 2013

| publisher = Reliquary Press | location = Atlanta, GA

| isbn = 978-1-9365192-2-4

}}

Notes

External links

List of works at [http://index.rpg.net/display-search.phtml?key=contributor&value=Bill%2BCoffin&sort=system RPGnet game index]
Author profile at [http://www.reliquarypress.com/Reliquary_Press/Authors.html Reliquary Press]
Author profile and articles at [https://web.archive.org/web/20111027104643/http://www.lifehealthpro.com/author/bill-coffin National Underwriter Life & Health]