Because I'm a stickler for giving credit to other people who've strongly influenced my work, I've dedicated this section to those people.
A lot of thanks goes to the people at TSR, for making such an inspiring and fun game. See, it all began with the red Basic Set back in 1983, in a little hobby/pet store on the east coast...
Credit also to Aardy R. DeVarque, for maintaining the rec.games.frp.dnd FAQ
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mike Moon, who has done some of the wonderful artwork on this website. You can email him about commissions.
For the God Accuris and the Gatherers Sect - the publishers of Adventurers! comic book.
For the God Avaryan - Judith Tarr and her Avaryan Rising series.
For the God Crom - Robert E. Howard and his Conan series.
For Caer Shalün and making Dragons into Individuals - Barbara Hambly's Darwath Trilogy, and Dragonsbane.
For a lot of down & dirty mortals vs. powerful wizards - Glen Cook's The Black Company.
For the name of the Empire of Tesh - a certain episode of Dr. Who with Tom Baker.
For the Grey Company - the French Foreign Legion.
For adding a hell of a lot of character and variety to all the undead roaming around in Ralkstag - Chelsea Quinn Yarboro's books about Saint Germain, Anne Rice's Vampire novels, and White Wolf's Vampire: The Masquerade game. And to all the various cultures in our world whose legends I've used.
For the idea of node heartstones, locking ley lines, and the Plainsrider Family names - Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books.
For Kavielen, the second most famous NPC - C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy.
For some really cool new house rules and implementation - James Lell and his Eruhn Campaign World.
And finally to all those players out there, past and present, who've contributed the most to both the history and flavor of a game world that's survived 13 years and counting. Here are some of the people who've made my games a lot of fun:
Pete Bluetreche (Quantisylvain - "Point me at him!"), Ralph Cercionne (Sychak - "Pardon me while I whip this out."), Sean Crissman, Brian Davis (Ravenhair, Ka'shai, Sivass - "Let me negotiate."), Jerald Eaker (Rakir - Hack!! "He insulted my mother.", Aragos the Shadowed - "Be creative...", Dane Ironhammer - "The Gods Have Spoken", Taro Kamakura - "Revenge...hmmm... yessss."), Cherie Erwin, William Gibson (Maliki - "Need bigger boom..."), Chris Groves (Thorick - "Oops. Didn't know it was a lich's library.", Horse - "Living... dead... Dead."), Ian Holland, James Lell (Taloth, Sir Akkadar, Seven and Bedtime Bob and Lizarren - all at once!), Nancy Keeler (Ressa), Michael King, Bill Martin (Corrin, Ledio), Leigh Martin (Jennifer "Jade" Griffonspryde), Mike Maxson (Blade, Iayz), Sean McDaniels (Jalobar "Moneybags" Ironhammer, Dokka - "I'm going to kill you with your own sword."), Mike Metrosky (Conan & Zenki the Cursed - "Alright! Everybody out of my head!"), John Moneyhan (E'ron - "Aaah! Spiders!", Beun - The Only Player To Successfully Depress a Faerie Dragon), Jonathan Morton (Kelsenellenelvial, Alkirev the Younger - "It's an Elven custom."), Jerry Perkins (Zoat - "Peace through superior firepower."), Todd Powell (Dyran Topaz - "Sacrifices to Crom!"), David Stocks (Derek & Eric - "There's money to be made from this demon!"), Thomas Strom (Ashlan Scormaster - "Bard of Reknown"), Robert Thomas (Garth, Deucalion - "I have been Wronged!"), Heather Ussery-Knight (Nameera - "That was your plan?!").
Other works I've read that have had their effect, but which I haven't directly drawn anything from, include:
Poison Elves - a comic book by Drew Hayes published by Sirius. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Armageddom Quest - a graphic novel by Ronald Russel Roach, also published by Sirius. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The Belgariad series - by David Eddings
The Dragonrealm books - by Richard A. Knaak
The Gandalara Cycle series - by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydron. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The Coldfire Trilogy - by C.S. Friedman. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The Earthsea Trilogy - by Ursula K. LeGuin. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The Novels of Tiger and Del: Sword-Dancer, Sword-Singer, Sword-Maker, and Sword-Breaker - by Jennifer Roberson.
The Drenai Saga - by David Gemmel
Bloodstorm and Teot's War - by Heather Gladney