Erick A. Wujcik (January 26, 1951 – June 7, 2008) was an American designer of both pen-and-paper and computer role-playing games, and co-founder of Palladium Books.
[2]: 155 By 1980 the Wayne Weregamers became known as the Detroit Gaming Center, when Wujcik, the CDM (Caucus of Dungeon Masters) and Siembieda moved the group from the Monteith House, scheduled for demolition, to an off-campus building that was being maintained by a non-profit; Wujcik became Director for the Center with Siembieda as Assistant Director.
Siembieda obtained the rights to produce a licensed roleplaying game based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book, but he did not approve of the freelancer's final product so he had Wujcik redesign the game, which was done in five weeks, and it was published as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness (1985).
[2]: 159 Wujcik also designed the Ninjas & Superspies role-playing game in 1988, which benefited from his long-term interest and extensive research on Japan.
[2]: 268 While working at West End Games, Wujcik learned that the company held a license from Roger Zelazny for his Amber novels, which were among the favorite novels of Wujcik, and he offered to design an Amber role-playing game even through West End would not guarantee to publish it.
Wujcik served as chief editor of Amberzine, a fanzine for the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game, publishing the work of such notables as Ray Bradbury, Henry Kuttner, and Roger Zelazny.
He was also an editorial contractor for the Detroit Historical Museum, and gave seminars on a wide range of topics related to the writing, design and development of role-playing games.
[2]: 270 Beginning in the mid-1990s, Wujcik worked in the electronic game business, on titles from Sierra, THQ, and Ubisoft.
[3] Wujcik was also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Game Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University between 2003 and 2008.
Along with Dungeons & Dragons creators Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax, Erick Wujcik was recognized for his contributions to the gaming industry.
[10] However, being aware of his diagnosis and uncertain of his prognosis, EN World decided to present Wujcik with his award on January 26, 2008, at a gathering of family and friends to celebrate his 57th birthday.