Terry Kuntz
{{Short description|American game designer}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Terry Kuntz
|image =
|image_size = 225
|caption =
|birth_name = Theron O. Kuntz
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|12|25|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
| spouse =
|nationality = American
|other_names =
|known_for =
|education =
|employer =
|occupation = Game designer
|website = }}
Theron O. Kuntz (born December 25, 1953, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin{{cite journal | last = Kask | first = Tim | author-link = Tim Kask | title = In the Cauldron | journal = The Strategic Review | issue = #5 | pages = 2, 8 | publisher = TSR, Inc. | location = Lake Geneva, Wisconsin | date = December 1975 }}) is a game designer who was an early associate of Gary Gygax and employee of TSR.
Biography
Kuntz was born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin on December 25, 1953, and he moved with his family to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 1955. Kuntz became involved in miniatures wargaming at age 15 through his brother Rob, who played miniatures and board games at the house of his friend Gary Gygax, where the three of them would play miniatures battles on his sand table. Kuntz was also a member of the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association with Gygax and his brother.{{cite journal|last=Livingstone|first=Ian|date=August–September 1979|title=White Dwarf interviews Gary Gygax|journal=White Dwarf|publisher=Games Workshop|location=London|issue=14|pages=23–24}}
In the early 1970s, Terry, Rob, and Gygax's friend Don Kaye joined Gygax's children Ernie and Elise for the second session of Gygax's new game, the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.Gygax: "In a couple of days time Don Kaye (Murlynd), Rob (Robilar, Otto) and Terry (Terik) Kuntz joined the gang." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part I, Page 8) | publisher = EN World | date = 2006-08-06 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/22566-q-gary-gygax-part-i-10.html#post351526 | access-date = 2009-03-15}} Don Kaye played Murlynd, Rob Kuntz played Robilar, and Terry Kuntz played Terik.{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}{{rp|24}} Terry conceived of the monster known as the beholder, and Gygax later detailed the monster so it could be published.{{cite web |url=http://ridureyu.tripod.com/ggygax.html |title=Gary Gygax Interview |access-date=2007-02-19}} Kuntz also created the magic weapon, the Energy-draining Sword.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}
Kuntz graduated from college in 1974 with a vocational diploma in mechanical drafting and design, but had difficulty finding a job in that field. During 1974, TSR offered Kuntz employment with the company to help design rules, games, and to manage The Dungeon Hobby Shop.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} Kuntz joined TSR in 1975.{{rp|8}}
Early designs
- Castle Greyhawk Campaign proto-RPG development
- "Wargaming: A Moral Issue?" for Dragon magazine
- The Maze of Zayene D&D module
- The Empire of Zothar D&D-variant constructed nation
- Twilight of the Gods boardgame
- Treasure Search boardgame (lost)