Stefan Pokorny (designer)

Stefan Alexander Pokorny is a Korean-American designer and artist, known for his origination and popularization of miniature three-dimensional terrain systems, now widely used in role-playing games (RPG) including Dungeons & Dragons.[1][2][3] Prior to Pokorny's innovation, D&D was generally played on 2-dimensional maps drawn on graph or grid paper, with miniature player pieces. Pokorny's terrains add elaborate 3-D aspects to the environment of play.

Not to be confused with Stefan Pokorny, an Austrian karateka.

Stefan Pokorny
Born
Keu soon Inn

(1966-12-25)December 25, 1966
Seoul, South Korea
NationalityAmerican
EducationHartford Art School MFA 1992
Known forDwarven Forge
MovementRole-playing Games

To achieve his design objectives, Pokorny developed a proprietary PVC-based casting material he calls Dwarvenite®.[4] Users report it is fairly indestructible and holds its finish well.[1][5]

Pokorny is a significant figure in the Dungeons & Dragons community, widely known as a "legendary Dungeon Master."[6]

Early Life

At age 2½, Pokorny was adopted by New York architect Jan Hird Pokorny (1914–2008) and his wife Marise Angelucci-Pokorny.[7]

Career

Dwarven Forge

In 1996, Pokorny co-founded Dwarven Forge to manufacture and distribute his designs for the first fully modular 3-D terrain systems for games.[8][9] The business model he developed, based on a series of multi-million-dollar Kickstarter campaigns,[10][8] continues to fund operations as of 2023, with over $23 million raised to date.[11]

The Dwarvenaut

Pokorny was the subject of the 2016 documentary feature film, "The Dwarvenaut",[12] exploring him and his role-playing alter ego, The Dwarvenaut.[13][14]

Publications
  • Pokorny, Stefan (2015). Dungeons, Maps, Drawings and Other Secret Arcana. Independent (Alphabet). ISBN 978-1-4951-8438-3. Retrieved May 27, 2023.

References
  1. Clark, Willie (September 4, 2016). "Meet the Man Who Raised Millions Crafting D&D Dungeons". Vice. Vice Media. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  2. Mixson, Colin. "Model citizen! Williamsburger makes best D&D terrain in all the land". Brooklyn Paper. Schneps Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  3. Marchese, David (December 12, 2016). "Dwarven Forge Is Brooklyn's Manufacturing Base". New York. 49 (25): 58.
  4. "Dwarvenite". USPTO. US Government. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  5. Henriquez, Rob. "Dwarven Forge City Builder Terrain is Great for Wargamers Too". Holy Crap It's Late!.
  6. Whalen, Andrew. "8 'Dungeons & Dragons' Tips For Beginning Players And DMs From Legendary Dungeon Master Stefan Pokorny". Player.One. Player.One New York. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  7. Weber, Bruce. "Jan Pokorny, 93, Is Dead; Melded Architectural Styles". New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  8. "About Us". Dwarven Forge. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  9. Gilsdorf, Ethan. "The Dwarven Lord of Kickstarter". Boing Boing. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  10. "Stefan Pokorny at Lucca Games". Lucca Comics and Games. Lucca Crea srl. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  11. "Top Grossing Creators". Tabletop Analytics. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  12. "The Dwarvenaut". TV Guide. A Fandom Company. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  13. "The Dwarvenaut". The Dwarvenaut. The Dwarvenaut LLC. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  14. "The Dwarvenaut". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
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