Kenzer & Company
In 1994, Kenzer & Company released The Kingdoms of Kalamar from an office in Waukegan, Illinois. David Kenzer and his team operated as a small publisher without initial legal protection for their fantasy setting. They chose to create unlicensed supplements compatible with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons instead of seeking official permission first. This decision placed them in a unique position within the gaming industry during that era. TSR owned the trademark for Dungeons & Dragons at the time but never threatened legal action against Kenzer & Company despite having done so with other similar publishers. Barbara Blackburn served as Assistant Editor while Jolly Blackburn worked as Vice-President and creator of Knights of the Dinner Table. The company focused on building a reputation through quality content rather than corporate backing or established brand recognition.
The Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting evolved significantly from its 1994 launch into modern licensing agreements. Wizards of the Coast made the d20 System available under the Open Game License shortly after announcing the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Kenzer & Company acquired a license to produce official Dungeons & Dragons material using the Kalamar setting exclusively during this period. When the fourth edition arrived, Wizards of the Coast introduced the Game System License which represented significant restrictions compared to previous policies. Kenzer & Company responded by releasing an updated version of Kingdoms of Kalamar that did not conform to the new GSL requirements. David Kenzer acted as an expert in copyright law to navigate these complex legal landscapes. The campaign setting remains a core product line even as it shifted between licensed and unlicensed status over decades.
KenzerCo produces the monthly publication known as Knights of the Dinner Table which functions as both comic book and RPG magazine. Jolly Blackburn created the series while Barbara Blackburn served as staff writer for the project. The magazine became perhaps their best known product within the gaming community due to its unique format and content. Spinoffs such as Knights of the Dinner Table Illustrated and Spacehack expanded the comic line further. Fuzzy Knights web strips provided additional digital content for fans of the franchise. Mark Plemmons worked as senior editor and art director while also managing convention operations for the brand. The publication maintained a loyal following through consistent monthly releases and engaging storytelling about tabletop gamers themselves.
Kenzer & Company expanded beyond role-playing games into board games card games and miniature games over time. Their product line includes Fairy Meat miniatures game alongside Monty Python and the Holy Grail card game. Dwarven Dig Elemental and The Great Space Race represent additional board games developed by the publisher. Black Gate serves as a fantasy literature magazine licensed through the organization. Brian Jelke worked as Vice-President and game designer while Jennifer Kenzer served as Chief Financial Officer. Mark Plemmons managed HackMaster Association operations alongside his editorial duties. The company now produces comics such as Knights of the Dinner Table Illustrated and Spacehack within the Dungeons & Dragons licensed line. Aces & Eights: Shattered Frontier stands as another major role-playing game title in their catalog.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Kenzer & Company release The Kingdoms of Kalamar?
Kenzer & Company released The Kingdoms of Kalamar in 1994 from an office located in Waukegan, Illinois. David Kenzer and his team operated as a small publisher without initial legal protection for their fantasy setting.
Who created Knights of the Dinner Table at Kenzer & Company?
Jolly Blackburn created the series while Barbara Blackburn served as staff writer for the project. The magazine became perhaps their best known product within the gaming community due to its unique format and content.
Why did Kenzer & Company stop using the Game System License for Dungeons & Dragons?
Wizards of the Coast introduced the Game System License which represented significant restrictions compared to previous policies when the fourth edition arrived. Kenzer & Company responded by releasing an updated version of Kingdoms of Kalamar that did not conform to the new GSL requirements.
What board games does Kenzer & Company produce today?
Their product line includes Fairy Meat miniatures game alongside Monty Python and the Holy Grail card game. Dwarven Dig Elemental and The Great Space Race represent additional board games developed by the publisher.