Chris Kentlea – Ennead Games

1. Can you tell the readers a little about yourself and your role as a contributor to Open gaming?

The name is Chris Kentlea of Ennead Games, often seen online/twitter as MobiusTempus (@EnneadGames) a name I used in many online games. Have been making system free generators/makers and such like for many a year now. I prefer to keep things system free as much as possible, as it makes it easier for me to design and gives more people opportunity for using the material I make, rather than forcing it into one or two systems.

2. What does Open gaming mean to you?

Open Gaming for me is a way of, as the name suggests, opening up a system for more people to officially make something for a system or existing game they love. Some of the best publications and products I have seen have come from third-party publishers and they would not have released these items if it wasn’t for a form of open gaming.

3. What Open games have you contributed to?

So far I have created feats, spells and other similar things for Pathfinder/D&D.

4. What Open games do you most enjoy contributing to or playing?

Going to have to be Pathfinder/D&D – It was the first one I really “got” and once again, it is other third-party publishers that have inspired me and made things interesting.

5. How do you think an Open game system you’ve contributed to can most be improved?

Sticking with Pathfinder, I think that It needs an update, but nothing as radical as say, D&D from 3.5 to 4th was, more like the sale of things from 3.0 to 3.5. Keeping it mostly the same yet giving things a needed polish.

6. What other contributors to Open gaming do you admire or respect the most (and why)?

A close call between Fat Goblin Games and Dreamscarred Press. FGG for the sheer amount they have put out and help that Rick and Lucas have given me, and DSP for their Psionics line.

7. Is there an Open game that you wish had more exposure or appreciation?

To be fair, I wish open gaming, in general, got much more notice and that some fans would not be afraid of giving third part publishers a go. There are some incredible bits of work out there but a few people will never see it due to it being non-official.

8. How do you see the future of Open gaming? Growing? Staying about the same? Shrinking?

I see it growing. Like the modding scene in PC gaming, more companies are starting to realize that being “open” about their product lines can result in a game lifetime being extended. Yes, there will be some items that are to as great as hey should be, the really good ones will shine like a lighthouse.

9. Can you share any useful resources to Open gaming contributors that other potential contributors could benefit from? Such as good sources for art, editing, or the like?

A good starting place I use for art. or even images to draw inspiration from – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Public_domain_image_resources

10. Anything we didn’t ask you that you wish we had? Tell us what is most important for readers to know about you, or your contributions to Open gaming!

Not just about me, but in general, if you like what a publisher does, tell them. It really does make a difference. Negative comments are a dime a dozen, but a positive one can really make a publishers/designers day and shows that what they are doing is appreciated. Of course, sales don’t hurt as well 😉

Check out some Products from Ennead Games!



About John Reyst

John Reyst is the owner of Open Gaming, LLC, and the Open Gaming Network, a group of rules reference websites for "open" game systems, as well the Open Gaming Store at http://www.opengamingstore.com. He is married to the greatest wife in the world, has three awesome daughters, and two really cool dogs named Loki and Leo! When not working on the SRD websites he's likely out on a trail riding his mountain bike somewhere in southeastern Michigan.

View all posts by John Reyst →

Submit a Comment