Jamie Chambers

{{short description|American game designer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox person | name = Jamie Chambers | image = JamieChambers.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Felicia Day (Left) and Jamie Chambers (Right) | birth_name = James Edwin Vartanian Chambers | birth_date = January 25, 1975 | birth_place = Atlanta, GA | spouse = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | employer = | occupation = Game designer | website = }}

'''Jamie Chambers''' (born January 25, 1975)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/13274/jamie-chambers|title=Jamie Chambers {{!}} Board Game Designer {{!}} BoardGameGeek|website=boardgamegeek.com|access-date=2019-03-02}}</ref> is an American game designer who works primarily on role-playing games, contributing in a variety of genres. He served as Vice President of the non-profit Game Manufacturers Association, a trade association for the hobby games industry,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.gama.org/cpages/about-gama|title=GAMA About Us page|access-date=Feb 27, 2019}}</ref> from 2007 until 2016, when he chose not to seek re-election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dicetowernews.com/gama-elects-two-new-board-members/28400|title=GAMA Elects Two New Board Members|date=June 30, 2016|access-date=Feb 27, 2019}}</ref> He succeeded Marcus King for the post. Chambers worked with Margaret Weis at Sovereign Press in 1988, then transitioned with her to Margaret Weis Productions (MWP) where he served as Vice President and Lead Designer.<ref name="GCI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.guildcompanion.com/scrolls/2008/feb/jamiechambers.html|title=The Guild Companion: An Interview with Jamie Chambers|website=www.guildcompanion.com|access-date=2019-03-02}}</ref> While there, he created the Cortex System,<ref name="BGRPG">{{Cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/games/sfw16936.html|title=Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|date=Sep 11, 2007|website=Sci Fi Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915061913/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/games/sfw16936.html|archive-date=September 15, 2007}}</ref> a role-playing game ruleset that has been used by MWP since that time.

==Career== Jamie Chambers wrote short stories which added to the Sovereign Stone world mythos,<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|352}} and also ran the Sovereign Stone website.<ref name="GCI" /> Margaret Weis and Don Perrin, with Chambers and Christopher Coyle, authored the ''Dragonlance Campaign Setting'' (2003) through the d20 license with by Wizards of the Coast who published the book, with the license also allowing Sovereign Press to continue to expand and supplement that book.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|353}} Chambers designed ''Serenity Role Playing Game'' (2005) using the Cortex System, the first release from Margaret Weis Productions.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|353}}

Through Margaret Weis Productions, Chambers also created and published the role playing games Battlestar Galactica and Supernatural. At the time, Serenity RPG was the most popular role playing game since the original Dungeons and Dragons, requiring four print runs in the first year of publishing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/8833/serenity-rpg-back-press|title='Serenity RPG' Back to Press - With New Material|date=Jun 13, 2006|access-date=Feb 27, 2019}}</ref>

==Cortex System== Chambers created the Cortex System for the Serenity Role Playing Game during his time at Margaret Weis Productions. He then used it for additional licensed game supplements, several of which were based on television shows and movies, including Battlestar Galactica and Supernatural. The Cortex System shifted away from gameplay determined by the rules toward a gaming experience guided by them, which was considered a necessary step to counterbalance the computerization of role playing games. The system allows the game to evolve throughout a game session, providing the players with ways to create and modify the rules to meet their needs.<ref name="TRANS">{{Cite web|url=https://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/191/162|title=View of "Supernatural role playing game," by J. Chambers {{!}} Transformative Works and Cultures|website=journal.transformativeworks.org|access-date=2019-02-28}}</ref> The system was later adapted into Cortex Plus and Cortex "Prime" by Cam Banks when he took over for Chambers at Margaret Weis Productions as lead designer. Banks later founded Magic Vacuum, a production studio that has licensed the original Cortex System and the revised Cortex Plus, which is considered more narrative than the original Cortex system,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/12891/cortex-plus|title=Cortex Plus {{!}} System {{!}} RPGGeek|website=rpggeek.com|access-date=2019-02-28}}</ref> building on the move away from systems constrained by rules and allowing further differentiation from computerized role playing games.

==Awards and nominations== * 2003 - Lucca Comics Games Awards Best Translated Game for ''Dragonlance'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Lucca_Games_Best_of_Show#toc12|title=Lucca Games Best of Show Awards|access-date=Feb 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.luccacomicsandgames.com/it/2013/games/vent-anni-di-lucca-games/wall-of-limited-edition/2003-dragonlance/|title=Lucca Comics and Games Awards List|access-date=Feb 27, 2019}}</ref> * 2005 - Origins Award Gamer's Choice Best Role Playing Game of the Year For ''Serenity''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gama.org/origins-awards/sample-page/origins-awards-winners-the-2000s/the-2005-origins-awards/|title=2005 Origin Awards|access-date=Feb 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://originsgames.com/awards|title=The 32nd Annual Origins Awards - Origins International Game Expo|date=2006-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060810185052/http://originsgames.com/awards|access-date=2019-02-28|archive-date=2006-08-10}}</ref> * 2007 - I-CON Shared Worlds Award for his various supplements in the Firefly (TV series) and Serenity (2005 film) universe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dev.iconsf.org/archive/icon26/gaming_jchambers.php|title=I-CON Shared Worlds Award Winner profile|access-date=Feb 27, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228130420/http://dev.iconsf.org/archive/icon26/gaming_jchambers.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2008 - Origins Award Finalist in the Role Playing Games Category for ''Battlestar Galactica RPG''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 28, 2008 |title=Origins Awards Finalists Announced |url=https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/12475/origins-awards-finalists-announced |access-date=Feb 27, 2019}}</ref>

==Bibliography== '''Roleplaying Supplements''' * '''Sovereign Stone''' - Roleplaying books for the Sovereign Stone fiction novel world and the concepts and artwork of artist Larry Elmore. **[https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/classic/rev_6699.phtml Sovereign Stone Campaign Sourcebook]. 2001. {{ISBN|9781931567015}}. **[https://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=3382 Bestiary of Loerem]. 2002. {{ISBN|9781931567053}}. **[https://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=3386 Escape Into Darkness]. 2002. {{ISBN|1931567042}}. *'''Dragonlance''' - Roleplaying books for the popular Dragonlance fiction novel world and Tabletop role-playing game setting. **{{Cite book|title=Dragonlance campaign setting|date=2003|isbn=0786930861|oclc=53121597}} - **{{Cite book|title=Age of Mortals : Dragonlance Campaign Setting Companion|date=2003|isbn=1931567107|oclc=54086997|last1=Peregrine|first1=Andrew|last2=Weis|first2=Margaret|last3=Chambers|first3=Jamie|last4=Weiland|first4=Rob|last5=Coyle|first5=Christopher}} **[https://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=2147 Towers of High Sorcery]. 2004. {{ISBN|9781931567176}}. **{{Cite book|title=War of the Lance|date=2004|isbn=193156714X|oclc=58734334|last1=Hickman|first1=Tracy|last2=Weis|first2=Margaret|last3=Chambers|first3=Jamie}} **{{Cite book|title=Races of Ansalon|date=2007|isbn=9781931567350|oclc=478623222|last1 = Banks|first1 = Cam|last2 = Chambers|first2 = Jamie|last3 = MacDonald|first3 = Sean|author4 = Dragonlance|last5 = Valentine|first5 = Clark|last6 = Whiteman|first6 = Trampas}} * '''Serenity/Firefly Universe''' - Roleplaying books tied into the Firefly (TV series), and associated Serenity (2005 film). ** {{Cite book|title=Serenity : Role Playing Game|date=2005|isbn=1931567506|oclc=62076884|last1 = Chambers|first1 = Jamie|author2 = Serenity}} ** {{Cite book|title=Serenity six-Shooters & spaceships|date=2010|isbn=9781931567817|oclc=227032180|last1 = Blackson|first1 = Lynn|last2 = Durall|first2 = Jason}} * '''Other Works''' **{{Cite book|url=https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/classic/rev_7941.phtml|title=Snarfquest RPG World Book|date=2002|isbn=9780972246811|last1=Chambers|first1=Jamie}} **[https://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=10288 Sundered Reaches Campaign Setting]. 2003. {{ISBN|9781932201314}}. **[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/144523355 Battlestar Galactica Quickstart Guide]. 2007. {{ISBN|9781931567541}}. OCLC 144523355.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Battlestar Galactica Quickstart Guide|year=2007|isbn=9781931567541|last1=Chambers|first1=Jamie|last2=Davenport|first2=James|last3=Rockwood|first3=Nathaniel C. J. S.}}</ref> **{{Cite book|title=Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|date=2007|isbn=9781931567558|oclc=148602455|last1 = Chambers|first1 = Jamie|last2 = Davenport|first2 = James|last3 = Everette|first3 = Sean|last4 = Kapera|first4 = Patrick|last5 = Rockwood|first5 = Nathan|last6 = Wesel|first6 = Floyd C.}}<ref name="BGRPG" /> - Tie-in for the Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series). **[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/294887717 Cortex System Role Playing Game].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Cortex System Role Playing Game|last=Chambers|first=Jamie|year=2008|isbn=9781931567794}}</ref> 2008. {{ISBN|9781931567794}}. OCLC 294887717. **{{Cite book|title=Demon Hunters Role Playing Game|date=2008|isbn=9781931567473|oclc=179792632|last1 = Chambers|first1 = Jamie}} **{{Cite book|title=Supernatural : role playing game|date=2009|isbn=9781931567497|oclc=612083771|last1 = Chambers|first1 = Jamie|last2 = Banks|first2 = Cam|last3 = McMichael|first3 = Jimmy|last4 = Rosenberg|first4 = Aaron}} **{{Cite book|url=https://geekdad.com/2015/07/new-metamorphosis-alpha/|title=Metamorphosis Alpha RPG|date=2016|isbn=9780989410700|last1=Studios|first1=Signal Fire}} '''Short Fiction''' * "At The Water's Edge," published in {{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/searchforpowerdr00weis|title=The Search for Power : Dragons of the War of Souls|date=2004|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|others=Weis, Margaret.|isbn=0786931930|location=Renton, WA|oclc=55085317}} *"Reflections," published in [http://booklikes.com/vampyr-verse-lester-smith-elizabeth-barrette-robert-borski-jamie-chambers-d/book,5800142 ''Vampyr Verse''] (collection). Popcorn Press. 2009. {{ISBN|9781449582968}}. *"The Ultharian," published in ''[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16180884-cthulhu-haiku Cthulhu Haiku (and Other Mythos Madness)]''. Popcorn Press. 2012. {{ISBN|9781480136168}}. *"Restless," published in ''[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20418671-cthulhu-haiku-2-and-more-mythos-madness Cthulhu Haiku 2 (and More Mythos Madness)]''. Popcorn Press. 2013. {{ISBN|9781494342401}}.

'''Short Nonfiction'''

* "Growing Up Dragonlance," published in ''[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56892788 Dragons in the Archives: The Best of Weis & Hickman]''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dragons in the Archives: The Best of Weis & Hickman|year=2004}}</ref> (anthology). 2004. {{ISBN|9780786936694}}. OCLC [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56892788 56892788]. * "Blue Collar Ghost Hunters," published in ''[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/228365200 In the Hunt : Unauthorized Essays on Supernatural]''<ref>{{Cite book|title=In the Hunt : Unauthorized Essays on Supernatural|year=2004|isbn=9781933771632|last1=Tv|first1=Supernatural}}</ref> (essay anthology). 2005. {{ISBN|9781933771632}}. OCLC [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/228365200 228365200]. * "Getting Out There: Tips For Creating Your Own Vocal Group," published in ''[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/505420552 Filled With Glee: The Unauthorized Glee Companion]''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Filled With Glee: The Unauthorized Glee Companion|year=2011|isbn=9781935618003|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781935618003|last1=Wilson|first1=Leah}}</ref> 2011. {{ISBN|9781935618003}}. OCLC [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/505420552 505420552].

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.signalfirestudios.com/jamie/ Home page] * {{LinkedIn page|in/jamiechambers}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=870 |title=Jamie Chambers :: Pen & Paper RPG Database|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519224713/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=870|archive-date=19 May 2007}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, Jamie}} Category:1975 births Category:American role-playing designers Category:Living people