Kienna Shaw

Writing the worlds between the lines

Kienna Shaw (she/they)
Game writer and narrative designer for TTRPGs and video games
Contact at kiennashaw@gmail.com

Writing

I've written settings, adventures, and NPCs for a wide variety of projects. With an expertise in expanding established IPs and building new ones, I weave together the threads of theme, choice, and prose to create compelling worlds and situations for readers and players to dive into.
I've had the pleasure to write for:

  • Pathfinder Lost Omens: Tian Xia World Guide (Paizo)

  • Pathfinder Lost Omens: Tian Xia Character Guide (Paizo)

  • Candlekeep Mysteries (Wizards of the Coast)

  • The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book (Adams Media; James D'Amato)

  • CY_BORG (Free League)

  • Land of Eem (Exalted Press; Ben Costa & James Parks)

  • NDA Project (Larian Studios)

  • And many more!

If you're looking for a writer who specializes in creating emotionally compelling and thematically resonant worlds and scenarios, please contact me via email at kiennashaw@gmail.com.

Narrative Design

As a narrative designer, I intertwine thematically cohesive stories with game mechanics to align with a project's creative goals. I've established narrative visions, directed and organized the narrative creation process, and facilitated communication across teams of designers and writers. I've had the honor to lead the narrative design for:

  • Arcon: City of Neon Daylight (Metal Weave Games)

  • Vineyard RPG (Friday Strout)

If you're looking for a narrative designer who has experience with both big picture ideation and getting into the weeds of writing, please contact me via email at kiennashaw@gmail.com.

TTRPG Safety Toolkit

As one of the co-curator of the gold ENnie winning TTRPG Safety Toolkit, I maintain this free and living resource compiling a variety of safety/support tools created by people from around the TTRPG space. Together, Lauren and I also provide safety consultation and bespoke safety tool development for TTRPGs. Our safety tool design work can be found in games like:

  • Ironsworn: Starforged (Shawn Tomkin)

  • DIE RPG (Rowan, Rook & Decard; Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans)

For TTRPG safety consultation or development, email us at contact@ttrpgsafetytoolkit.com.

Self-Published Indie Games

On top of contracted freelance work, I also self-publish games and TTRPG supplements that focus around themes of self-introspection, relationships, change, humanity and transhumanism, and discovery. Each of them aims to create thoughtful and fun experiences of connection with other people, the game, or yourself. Notable projects include:

  • Heaven Nor Hell, a micro-RPG of starcrossed love across the ages

  • Oh Maker, an introspective TTRPG of robots and their relationship to their creator

  • To Hell and Back Again, a mithral best-selling solo D&D 5e adventure on DMs Guild

  • The Test of High Sorcery, a platinum best-selling solo D&D 5e adventure on DMs Guild

Links

Find me all over the internet as @KiennaS!

Freelance Portfolio

For the link to detailed portfolio pieces, please contact at kiennashaw@gmail.com.

  • Bleak Spirit (2019) - scenario writer, "The Forgotten Garden"

  • Harper's Tale (2019) - adventure writer, "Where Flowers Bloom"

  • Darkhold: Secrets of the Zhentarim (2020) - safety/support section contributor

  • The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book (2020) - game contributor, "With Sword Heavy in Hand"

  • Hearts of Wulin (2021) - setting writer, "Silk and Steam"

  • Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall (2021) - setting writer and scenario designer, "Chaos at the Cooking Club"

  • Sea of Legends V1 (2021) - lead adventure writer

  • Candlekeep Mysteries (2021) - adventure writer, "The Curious Tale of Wisteria Vale"

  • Starforged (2021) - safety mechanics designer

  • DIE: The Roleplaying Game (2022) - safety consultant and magic circle writer

  • CY_BORG Asset Pack (2022) - location writer, "Spa Retreat" location

  • The Rumor Broker's Ledger of Names (2022) - NPC writer

  • Anansi's Tapestry of Lives (2022) and Anansi's Journal of Common Places (2022) - NPC and setting writer

  • Apocalypse Keys (2022) - location and scenario writer, "The Department of Change"

  • Cloud Empress (2023) - adventure writer, "Labyrinth of the Bride"

  • REAP (2024) - adventure writer, "Carian"

  • Land of Eem (2024) - adventure writer, "True Love’s Kidnapping"

  • Pathfinder Lost Omens: Tian Xia World Guide (2024) - writer

  • Pathfinder Lost Omens: Tian Xia Character Guide (2024) - writer, updated samsaran heritage

  • DIE RPG Scenarios Vol 1: Bizarre Love Triangles (2024) - safety consultant

  • Cursed Captains of Cthulhu (2024) - faction and featured scenario writer

  • The Shape of Shadows (TBA) - writer

  • Vineyard RPG (TBA) - narrative lead and dossier writer, "The Confessor"

Self Published Works

  • Life in the Machine (2019) - two-player micro RPG for the Emotional Mecha Jam

  • Before the Tower Falls (2019) - solo micro RPG

  • Heaven Nor Hell (2019) - micro RPG for the Pride Month: Tabletop Gaymes jam

  • To Hell & Back Again (2019) - DMs Guild solo adventure co-written with Donathin Frye

  • Lulu's Guide to Hollyphants (2019) - DMs Guild supplement of hollyphant player character options and lore

  • Oh Maker (2019) - Descended from the Queen game co-written with Jason Cutrone

  • Come Home (2020) - three-player micro RPG for the Ad Astra Jam

  • Into Blue Midnight (2020) - two-player game for the Wretched and Alone jam

  • Way Down Below (2020) - solo Descended from the Queen journaling game co-written with Jason Cutrone

  • As My Body Crumbles (2020) - solo journaling game co-written with Jason Cutrone

  • With My Last Undying Breath (2021) - solo journaling game for the BIPOC Vampire jam

  • Arcon: City of Neon Daylight (2021) - system agnostic cyberpunk setting co-written with Jason Cutrone and published in partnership with Metal Weave Games

  • The Test of High Sorcery (2022) - DMs Guild solo adventure co-written with Donathin Frye

Blood on my name