Mike Carr (board game designer)
Encyclopedia
Mike Carr is a writer and game designer known for writing Fight in the Skies
(1968, also known as Dawn Patrol). He also co-authored Don't Give Up The Ship!
(1971) with Dave Arneson
and Gary Gygax
. Carr began wargaming
with the International Federation of Wargamers
as a teenager. At the invitation of Gygax, he joined TSR, Inc.
in 1976, for whom he wrote an introductory Dungeons and Dragons module called In Search of the Unknown
(1979). Since it was included with the Dungeons and Dragons introductory box set
the module enjoyed a sizeable print run. As the role playing game evolved into a more complete and complex version known as Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Carr served as editor for three hardbound volumes, the Monster Manual
, Dungeon Masters Guide and Players Handbook and wrote the Foreword to each book's early editions. In the early 1980s Carr authored three children's books which were published by TSR, including one in the Endless Quest
series entitled "Robbers & Robots".
Carr worked as an editor for TSR, with his editing credits for Dungeons & Dragons
including the original Monster Manual
(1977), Vault of the Drow (1978), Players Handbook (1978), White Plume Mountain
(1979), The Village of Hommlet (1979), The World of Greyhawk
(1980), The Keep on the Borderlands
(1981), Descent into the Depths of the Earth
(1981), Against the Giants
(1981), and Deep Dwarven Delve
(not printed until 1999).
Carr was honored in 2007 as the only person who has attended all 40 Gen Con
game conventions since the founding of that event in 1968. His Fight in the Skies
game is also the only one that has been played at all 40 of those conventions.
In addition to being part of the Dungeons and Dragons phenomenon from its inception through 1983 (when he left TSR), Carr was subsequently involved in another remarkable story. After answering a job ad in the Wall Street Journal, he was selected by legendary commodity futures trader Richard Dennis
as one of the trainees for a trading group that became known as the "Turtles". Carr was a successful futures trader as part of that program for several years and after it was disbanded ran his own investment management firm throughout the 1990s. From 2000 to 2007, he worked as manager of marketing communications for Generac Power Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of standby generators.
Carr is currently working as a marketing consultant and as a freelance writer, where his specialty is writing about snowmobiling. In addition to authoring snowmobile travel articles for several magazines, he writes the "Making Tracks" column that appears in the Wisconsin Snowmobile News magazine. He is also involved in the production of the Aerodrome magazine, a newsletter for devotees of the Dawn Patrol game. That publication was founded by Carr in 1969 and has published more than 150 issues, which is a remarkable track record for a gaming fanzine.
Fight In The Skies
Fight In The Skies, also known as Dawn Patrol, is a board wargame written by Mike Carr which models World War I style air combat. Carr began working on the game after watching the movie The Blue Max....
(1968, also known as Dawn Patrol). He also co-authored Don't Give Up The Ship!
Don't Give Up The Ship!
Don't Give Up the Ship! is a set of rules for conducting Napoleonic era naval wargames. The game was published by Guidon Games in 1972 and republished by TSR, Inc. in 1975. It was the first collaboration between Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax, the co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons...
(1971) with Dave Arneson
Dave Arneson
David Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
and Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
. Carr began wargaming
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
with the International Federation of Wargamers
International Federation of Wargamers
The International Federation of Wargaming was founded by Gary Gygax, Bill Speer, and Scott Duncan in 1966. Originally named the United States Continental Army Command, the organization served as an umbrella for local wargaming clubs such as the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association and the...
as a teenager. At the invitation of Gygax, he joined TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
in 1976, for whom he wrote an introductory Dungeons and Dragons module called In Search of the Unknown
In Search of the Unknown
In Search of the Unknown is a module for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, designed for use with the Basic Set of rules. It was written by game designer Mike Carr and was first published in 1979 by TSR, Inc. The module details a hidden complex known as the Caverns of Quasqueton...
(1979). Since it was included with the Dungeons and Dragons introductory box set
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
the module enjoyed a sizeable print run. As the role playing game evolved into a more complete and complex version known as Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Carr served as editor for three hardbound volumes, the Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
, Dungeon Masters Guide and Players Handbook and wrote the Foreword to each book's early editions. In the early 1980s Carr authored three children's books which were published by TSR, including one in the Endless Quest
Endless Quest
The Endless Quest books were two series of gamebooks released by TSR. These books were the result of an Educational department established by TSR to develop curriculum programs for reading, math, history, and problem solving....
series entitled "Robbers & Robots".
Carr worked as an editor for TSR, with his editing credits for Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
including the original Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(1977), Vault of the Drow (1978), Players Handbook (1978), White Plume Mountain
White Plume Mountain
White Plume Mountain is an adventure module for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, written by Lawrence Schick and published by TSR in 1979...
(1979), The Village of Hommlet (1979), The World of Greyhawk
World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting
The World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting and the World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting are two closely related publications from TSR, Inc. that detail the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
(1980), The Keep on the Borderlands
The Keep on the Borderlands
The Keep on the Borderlands is a Dungeons & Dragons module by Gary Gygax, first printed in December 1979. In it, player characters are based at a keep and investigate a nearby series of caves that are filled with a variety of monsters. Designed to be used with the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set, it...
(1981), Descent into the Depths of the Earth
Descent into the Depths of the Earth
Descent Into the Depths of the Earth is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game coded D1–2. It was written by Gary Gygax, and combines two previously published modules from 1978, the original Descent into the Depths of the Earth and Shrine of the Kuo-Toa...
(1981), Against the Giants
Against the Giants
Against the Giants is an adventure module written by Gary Gygax and published by TSR in 1981 for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. It combines the G series of modules previously published in 1978: Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl, and Hall of...
(1981), and Deep Dwarven Delve
Deep Dwarven Delve
L3 Deep Dwarven Delve is a Fantasy Adventure Module or "module" for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons .-Publication history:...
(not printed until 1999).
Carr was honored in 2007 as the only person who has attended all 40 Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
game conventions since the founding of that event in 1968. His Fight in the Skies
Fight In The Skies
Fight In The Skies, also known as Dawn Patrol, is a board wargame written by Mike Carr which models World War I style air combat. Carr began working on the game after watching the movie The Blue Max....
game is also the only one that has been played at all 40 of those conventions.
In addition to being part of the Dungeons and Dragons phenomenon from its inception through 1983 (when he left TSR), Carr was subsequently involved in another remarkable story. After answering a job ad in the Wall Street Journal, he was selected by legendary commodity futures trader Richard Dennis
Richard Dennis
Richard J. Dennis, a commodities speculator once known as the "Prince of the Pit," was born in Chicago, in January, 1949. In the early 1970s, he borrowed $1,600 and reportedly made $200 million in about ten years. When a futures trading fund under his management incurred significant losses in the...
as one of the trainees for a trading group that became known as the "Turtles". Carr was a successful futures trader as part of that program for several years and after it was disbanded ran his own investment management firm throughout the 1990s. From 2000 to 2007, he worked as manager of marketing communications for Generac Power Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of standby generators.
Carr is currently working as a marketing consultant and as a freelance writer, where his specialty is writing about snowmobiling. In addition to authoring snowmobile travel articles for several magazines, he writes the "Making Tracks" column that appears in the Wisconsin Snowmobile News magazine. He is also involved in the production of the Aerodrome magazine, a newsletter for devotees of the Dawn Patrol game. That publication was founded by Carr in 1969 and has published more than 150 issues, which is a remarkable track record for a gaming fanzine.