Stefan Alexander Pokorny is an 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] Pokorny is a significant figure in the Dungeons & Dragons community, widely known as a "legendary Dungeon Master."[4]
Stefan Pokorny | |
|---|---|
| Born | Keu soon Inn December 25, 1966 |
| Education | Hartford Art School MFA 1992 |
| Known for | Product Design, painting, sculpture, cinema, photography |
| Movement | Role-playing Games |
Early life
editAt age 2½, Pokorny was adopted by New York architect Jan Hird Pokorny (1914–2008) and his wife Marise Angelucci-Pokorny.[5] Pokorny has played Dungeons and Dragons since the 1980s[6] and has said that he discovered Dungeons and Dragons at the age of nine or ten while he was away at a three-month sleepover camp. He attributes his introduction to one of his camp counselors who was a member of The Judges Guild.[7]
Career
editIn 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 company rose to prominence in 2013 when it raised $2 million with its first Kickstarter campaign.[6] Several other Kickstarters followed that equalled or surpassed that mark.[6] The business model Pokorny developed[10][8] continues to fund operations as of 2023, with over $23 million raised to date.[11]
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] Reviews for the film were mixed noting that the film focused on the story of turning an idea into a business and less on the personal aspects of Pokorny as a person (such as his girlfriend) or the actual way in which his business functions claiming the film began to "feel more like a commercial than a documentary."[15]
Design and influence
editPrior 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. To achieve his design objectives, Pokorny developed a proprietary PVC-based casting material he calls Dwarvenite®.[16] Users report it is fairly indestructible and holds its finish well.[1][17]
Publications
edit- Pokorny, Stefan (2015). Dungeons, Maps, Drawings and Other Secret Arcana. Independent (Alphabet). ISBN 978-1-4951-8438-3. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
References
edit- 1 2 Clark, Willie (September 4, 2016). "Meet the Man Who Raised Millions Crafting D&D Dungeons". Vice. Vice Media. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ↑ Mixson, Colin (August 24, 2016). "Model citizen! Williamsburger makes best D&D terrain in all the land". Brooklyn Paper. Schneps Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ↑ Marchese, David (December 12, 2016). "Dwarven Forge Is Brooklyn's Manufacturing Base". New York. 49 (25): 58.
- ↑ Whalen, Andrew (August 9, 2016). "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.
- ↑ Weber, Bruce (May 23, 2008). "Jan Pokorny, 93, Is Dead; Melded Architectural Styles". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- 1 2 3 "STEFAN POKORNY The Dungeon master". X-Press Magazine – Entertainment in Perth. March 29, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
- ↑ "News: When Dungeons and Dragons and Heavy Metal Collide: The Intersection of Gaming and Music, Part 3". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
- 1 2 "About Us". Dwarven Forge. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ↑ Gilsdorf, Ethan (July 31, 2015). "The Dwarven Lord of Kickstarter". Boing Boing. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Stefan Pokorny at Lucca Games". Lucca Comics and Games. Lucca Crea srl. December 16, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ↑ "Top Grossing Creators". Tabletop Analytics. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ↑ "The Dwarvenaut". TV Guide. A Fandom Company. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ↑ "The Dwarvenaut". The Dwarvenaut. The Dwarvenaut LLC. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ↑ "The Dwarvenaut". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ↑ Lasser, Josh (August 1, 2016). "The Dwarvenaut Review". IGN. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Dwarvenite". USPTO. US Government. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ↑ Henriquez, Rob. "Dwarven Forge City Builder Terrain is Great for Wargamers Too". Holy Crap It's Late!.