Ed Greenwood - From TSR to Modern Day - Choosing Words, Building Worlds
Step behind the screen with Ed for a candid tour of how believable worlds get made. I sat down with Ed Greenwood—prolific author, longtime library worker, and creator of the Forgotten Realms—for foray into worlds and words, from TSR to modern day. Here I thought I knew what a Librarian was. That's the first word. I stand corrected - Ed practically grew up in libraries, but he is not a librarian. Along the way, we get TSR art‑department stories, last‑minute page‑to‑press rescues, and
Ed gives us a tour of some his work, past and present. He shares his time-defying schedule and project list, including the D&D 50th anniversary convention circuit. He takes us back in time with personal stories from his youth, and firsthand stories from his trips to TSR. These are wrapped in the history of the evolution of game production. From art, to layout, to sending to print – which meant something different back then!
Words change, and worlds evolve. We explore world building and how simple logistics—food, waste, water, and roads—quietly shape settlements and the stories of their creation. Ed also gives examples of words that might have fit a setting, but with modern context , the original meaning has been lost.
If you’re a Forgotten Realms fan, are interested in RPG design, fantasy writing, D&D lore, or just want to make your homebrew world feel like a place with morning markets and midnight sewers, this conversation will give you tools grist for the mill.
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