DESIGNER

OF GAMES

contact@rodneythompson.design

Hello, and welcome! I’m Rodney Thompson, a professional game designer and experience design leader. For over 25 years I’ve been making games and leading teams full of some of the most talented and creative individuals in the world.

My career has afforded me the chance to work on many different kinds of games, starting with tabletop roleplaying games, progressing to board and card games, and ultimately leading to digital games. Along the way, I’ve gained valuable perspectives and learned that, at their core, all games share certain traits and values, regardless of their medium.

Beyond all that, I am simply a lover of games. I consider myself supremely fortunate to be able to create new games that bring people together and give them joy.

I am currently available for freelance tabletop game design projects; please don’t hesitate to contact me via email!

Rodney Thompson

Game Design &
Design Leadership

My Works

Digital Games Portfolio

Since 2015, I have worked on the award-winning Destiny franchise. During that time, I have been an individual contributor in the activity design, investment design, and sandbox design disciplines, have led teams, and have fulfilled the role of creative lead for the live service game.

Bungie

Board Games Portfolio

I have been fortunate in my career to be a designer on several board game projects, starting first at Wizards of the Coast and then continuing as a freelance designer when I left the company in 2015.

Wizards of the Coast, Lone Shark Games, WizKids
See More About My Career Journey 
Scratchpad Publishing, Wizards of the Coast, et al

Tabletop Roleplaying Games Portfolio

The genesis of my professional game design career and my most prolific genre, tabletop roleplaying games have been a foundational element in not only my professional life but my personal life as well. Today, I publish my own tabletop roleplaying games under the Scratchpad Publishing imprint.

Media Appearances

Over the years, I’ve been honored to be invited on numerous podcasts, livestreams, and to appear on promotional videos for game I’ve worked on. I’ve collected as many of these archived appearances as I could fine.

See More Appearances

Awards & Accolades

  • Origins Award

    Lords of Waterdeep, Star Wars Miniatures: The Clone Wars

    Dusk City Outlaws (nominated)

  • The Dice Tower Awards

    Lords of Waterdeep (Hall of Fame Award), Scoundrels of Skullport

  • Golden Geek Award

    Lords of Waterdeep, Scoundrels of Skullport

  • ENnie Awards

    Star Wars: Saga Edition, The Dark Sun Campaign Guide, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook (5E), Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide (5E), Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual (5E), Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set (5E)

  • Gamescom Awards

    Destiny 2

I publish my own tabletop games under this imprint, and continue to hone my craft and produce the kinds of games that I want to see in the world.

VISIT SCRATCHPAD PUBLISHING