My 34 published credits fall into two categories: work I’ve done on products published by Engine Publishing, the small-press RPG publishing company I founded and ran from 2009-2019, and freelance work I’ve done for other companies in the RPG industry, 2004-2018 (plus my first article from 1990). My skill set includes writing, editing, indexing, publishing, project management, development, design, and proofreading.
I also keep track of fanzine work, playtesting, and interviews on this page, since they’re industry-related topics.
Engine Publishing
The six books I published while I ran Engine Publishing sold over 40,000 copies worldwide, both online and in retail game stores. Publishing these books, all about a topic of deep personal interest — system-neutral GMing advice — was a fantastic experience.
- Focal Point: The Complete Game Master’s Guide to Running Extraordinary Sessions | Publisher, editor (80,000 words), indexer (2015)
- Unframed: The Art of Improvisation for Game Masters | Publisher, editor (47,000 words), art director, contributing author (2,000 words), indexer (2014)
- Odyssey: The Complete Game Master’s Guide to Campaign Management | Publisher, editor (77,000 words), indexer (2013)
- Never Unprepared: The Complete Game Master’s Guide to Session Prep | Publisher, editor (47,000 words), indexer (2012)
- Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game | Lead designer, developer, contributing author (25,000 words), assistant editor (260,000 words) (2011)
- Eureka: 501 Adventure Plots to Inspire Game Masters | Lead designer, developer, contributing author (23,000 words), lead editor (214,000 words) (2010)
Freelance work
My freelance writing for the RPG industry has run the gamut from rules to pure setting material, I’ve worked with a wide range of publishers, and I’ve never missed a deadline. If you’re interested in hiring me, I’d love to hear from you (martin at martinralya dot com).
Swordfish Islands
- The Dark of Hot Springs Island [paid link] | Indexer (2018)
Paizo Publishing
- Dragon Magazine #345, “Excursion: Four Ways to Travel the World” | Author, 4,000 words (2006)
Goodman Games
- Almanac of the Endless Traders [paid link] | Contributing author, 10,000 words (2006)
Necromancer Games
- The Mother of All Treasure Tables [paid link] | Contributing author, 11,000 words (2006)
Tabletop Adventures
- Destinations: Charon’s Wall [paid link] | Author, 4,200 words (2009)
- Derelict Starships [paid link] | Contributing author, 125 words (2009)
- Destinations: Spaceport Black Orchard [paid link] | Author, 4,400 words (2007)
- Destinations: Repair Station 7-Osiris [paid link] | Author, 11,000 words (2006)
- Destinations: Spaceport Trident Vespa [paid link] | Author, 4,300 words (2006)
- Bits of Darkness: Dungeons II [paid link] | Contributing author, 1,900 words (2006)
- Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open [paid link] | Contributing author, 1,500 words (2006)
- Bits of the Boulevard [paid link] | Contributing author, 2,000 words (2005)
- Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Swamp [paid link] | Contributing author, 1,000 words (2005)
- Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Wildwood [paid link] | Contributing author, 1,000 words (2005)
93 Games Studio
- Twilight: 2013 [paid link] | Contributing author, 6,000 words (2009)
Open Game Table
- Open Game Table: The Anthology of Roleplaying Game Blogs, Volume 2 [paid link] | Contributing author, 2,600 words (2010)
- Open Game Table: The Anthology of Roleplaying Game Blogs, Volume 1 [paid link] | Contributing author, 700 words (2009)
E.N. Publishing
- E.N. Guilds: Messengers’ Guild | Author, 13,000 words (2006)
- EN World Gamer #2, “Sold! A Little System for Selling Magic Items” | Author, 2,000 words (2005)
Alea Publishing Group
- Poor Gamer’s Almanac #5 [paid link], “Three Games of Chance” | Author, 2,000 words (2005)
Expeditious Retreat Press
- Seeds: Post-Apocalyptic V [paid link] | Contributing author, 400 words (2006)
- Seeds: Horror IV [paid link] | Contributing author, 500 words (2005)
- Seeds: Pulp IV [paid link] | Contributing author, 600 words (2005)
- Seeds: Horror III [paid link] | Contributing author, 250 words (2005)
- Seeds: Fantasy IV [paid link] | Contributing author, 250 words (2004)
Mad Kaiser Games
- Nightmarket: Games of Chance [paid link] | Co-author, 4,800 words (2004)
Sage Lore Productions
- The Scroll #2, “Arcane Wizardry” | Author, 1,400 words (1990)
Atlas Games
- 40 Years of Gen Con | Contributing photographer, 3 photos (2007)
Fanzines
The Gongfarmer’s Almanac is a non-profit DCC RPG community labor of love, and I had a great time working on this article.
- The Gongfarmer’s Almanac – Volume 3, 2018 [paid link] | Author (1,000 words) | Gongfarmer’s Local #282 (2018)
Playtesting
In the same vein, I’ve also done a bit of credited playtesting and quite enjoyed it.
- Finding Haven | Manu Saxena (2019)
- Elysium Flare | VSCA Publishing (2018)
- Archives of the Sky | Aaron A. Reed (2017)
Interviews
In connection with my writing, publishing, and blogging, I’ve done a number of interviews over the years. If you’re interested in interviewing me, I love talking about this stuff. Drop me a line any time.
Yes and Dragons podcast interview, 2018
RPG Examiner interview, 2014
Misdirected Mark podcast, 2014
RPG Examiner interview, 2014
RPG Examiner interview, 2014
BrieCS: Five or So Questions, 2014
RPG Examiner interview, 2013
Dorkland! Roundtable, 2012
RPG Examiner interview, 2012
Atomic Array podcast, 2011
RPGGeek interview, 2011
Game Knight Reviews interview, 2011
The Jennisodes podcast, 2011
Fantasy Hrvatska interview, 2011
Dungeon Master Guys podcast, 2010
ENnie Awards Blog interview, 2010
Order 66 podcast (direct MP3 link), 2010
3.5 Private Sanctuary podcast, 2010
RPG Examiner interview, 2010
All Games Considered podcast, 2006
10 Questions interview, 2006
The Escapist interview, 2006
Blog Network Watch interview, 2005