Chris Perkins (game designer)
On the 1st of May 1988, a writer named Christopher Zarathustra published an adventure called Wards of Witching Ways. This story appeared in Dungeon magazine issue number eleven. The man behind the pseudonym was actually Chris Perkins, born on the 29th of February 1968. He used this fake name to get his first break in the industry before anyone knew him by his real identity. Perkins later officially began working for Wizards of the Coast in 1997 as the editor for Dungeon magazine. A few years after that start, he rose to become the editor-in-chief of all Wizards periodicals.
Perkins served as the senior producer for Dungeons and Dragons while leading teams of designers and editors. In 2007, he held the title of story manager just before the release of the game's fourth edition. During that same development period, he worked on the Star Wars Saga Edition while ideas flowed freely between his team and the fourth edition group. He joined the SCRAMJET team led by Richard Baker alongside James Wyatt and Matthew Sernett. This group updated the setting and cosmology of Dungeons and Dragons as they built the new edition. Later, Perkins wrote a blog titled The Dungeon Master Experience on the Wizards of the Coast website for over two years. He shared advice about running campaigns through the lens of his homebrew world called Iomandra. The blog became inactive after a penultimate posting in March 2013 where he announced it would end at least for a while.
Chris Perkins spent twenty-eight years working for Wizards of the Coast before announcing his retirement in April 2025. As Game Architect for the brand, his primary responsibility involved managing the team of designers and editors who created tabletop game products. He also supported other D&D teams and business partners throughout his tenure. In October 2024, Perkins stated that although he made substantial contributions to the Monster Manual released in 2025, the Dungeon Master Guide from 2024 was his last official book credited as product lead. His position shifted from Game Design Architect to Creative Director during this final phase. He had been committed to staying with Wizards until after the fiftieth anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons. That goal gave him time to work on succession planning and exit strategies before leaving the company.
In June 2025, both Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford joined Critical Role Productions tabletop game imprint Darrington Press. Perkins became the company's Creative Director while Crawford took the role of Game Director. Their new positions matched their former roles at Wizards of the Coast. Perkins stated that what brought him out of retirement was the chance to work with Jeremy and the brilliant folks at Critical Role. He wanted to create things that have a lasting positive impact on the world. In July 2025, Darrington Press announced that Perkins would be creating an interconnected adventure supplement for their tabletop role-playing game Daggerheart. His free time is spent running a Dungeons and Dragons campaign set in his homebrew world of Iomandra.
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Common questions
When was Chris Perkins born and what pseudonym did he use for his first published work?
Chris Perkins was born on the 29th of February 1968. He used the pseudonym Christopher Zarathustra to publish Wards of Witching Ways in Dungeon magazine issue number eleven on the 1st of May 1988.
What roles did Chris Perkins hold at Wizards of the Coast between 1997 and 2025?
Chris Perkins began working for Wizards of the Coast in 1997 as editor for Dungeon magazine before becoming editor-in-chief of all periodicals. He later served as senior producer, story manager during the fourth edition development, and Game Architect until announcing his retirement in April 2025.
Why did Chris Perkins leave Wizards of the Coast in 2025?
Chris Perkins left Wizards of the Coast after fulfilling his goal to stay until after the fiftieth anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons. He announced his departure in April 2025 to focus on succession planning and exit strategies while serving as Creative Director from October 2024 onward.
What positions did Chris Perkins take at Darrington Press in June 2025?
In June 2025, Chris Perkins joined Critical Role Productions imprint Darrington Press as Creative Director alongside Jeremy Crawford who became Game Director. Their new titles matched their former responsibilities at Wizards of the Coast.
What project is Chris Perkins developing for Darrington Press in July 2025?
Darrington Press announced in July 2025 that Chris Perkins would create an interconnected adventure supplement for their tabletop role-playing game Daggerheart. He continues to run a Dungeons and Dragons campaign set in his homebrew world called Iomandra during his free time.