What is ATRYEN?
ATRYEN stands for All The Roleplaying You'll Ever Need and is a monthly publication focusing on roleplaying. This site was envisioned by James Prather (aka: Prophet) in 2007 as a way for the voiceless to be heard. After writing some fiction to be published, and consequently being rejected, James realized three things. First, he realized that those who were publishing had a stranglehold on the fiction and roleplaying market. A powerful few were dictating what was published and what was not. Second, he realized that there are a dwindling few fiction and roleplaying magazines left in publication and the chances of getting published in one is also dwindling. Finally, and probably most importantly, James realized that the current method of publication is broken. Writers send in their work and receive (at best) an e-mail or letter that was prewritten and stamped with a signature. In other words, there's no feedback mechanism for writers to get any better, and often times finding a good group of writers proves more challenging that it sounds. The truth is, if your work doesn't catch their eye, publishers don't care about you or your work. They don't have time for you.
Inspired to right these wrongs and take things to the next level with the internet and the power of the people as his tools, James built ATRYEN to be for the people and by the people (pardon the cliché). No longer will you submit something and receive an informal and cold rejection letter. Instead, you can post your submission and the people will vote on it. If it's not quite as good as it needs to be, then you have a chance for real feedback and to rewrite your submission based on that. Then when it reaches the level of quality needed it will be published. It's just that simple.
We're taking the power out of the hands of the snobby publisher and giving it to whom it belongs: you, the reader. Welcome to the future of roleplaying magazines.
Staff - someone's gotta run this place
Chief Publisher: James "Prophet" - The founder of ATRYEN, James has final say as to what makes it into the magazine. While it is true that most everything that our users vote on and give a high enough ranking will get into the magazine, there needs to be that final measure of quality assurance to maintain professional standards of publication. Also James picks out the pieces for each publication that fit best together, sometimes holding a piece for a month or two until he finds the right spot for it. James graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a bachelors degree in computer science. He currently attends UTD where he is working on his Masters and PhD in Neuroscience. James is also the CEO of Scarlet Dragon Entertainment, LLC, the company that publishes this magazine, and Team Lead on Realms of Loria.
Associate Publisher: Aaron "" - Aaron first met James, Ryan, and Zach at Boy Scout Troop 144. Together the four of them have had many escapades and shenanigans. Much tom foolery has abounded. Aaron currently attends Tarleton State University where he is a senior education major. He still enjoys the BSA whenever possible, video games when he gets the time, and loves his brothers from Kappa Delta Rho (KDR). Aaron helps James make final decisions on what goes into each issue, as well as helps out in general with each issue and the site.
Chief Articles Editor: Robert "BobTheGreat" - Robert graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a bachelors degree in computer science, along with James. He now attends UTD where he is in the second year of his Ph.D. program in computer science. While at OC, Bob lived with James (and for one year with Wes also). Bob co-created The Realms of Loria with James while in school and has now been has dragged into this too. Bob enjoys playing video games like FFXI and anything he can get his hands on to play on his Wii. He's also an avid D&D player, though since finishing at OC, he hasn't been in a game and desperately needs one. Robert has final say as to what gets recommended to James in the articles submissions category.
Chief Reviews Editor: Ryan "Arr-to-the-yan" - Ryan currently attends Texas Tech University as a senior history major. Ryan has final say as to what gets recommended to James in the reviews submissions category.
Articles & Reviews Editor: Brandon "Sir The Guy" - Brandon currently attends Oklahoma Christian as a senior computer science major. Brandon helps both Robert and Ryan with their submissions.
Reviews Editor: Marcus "TwistyMB" - Marcus graduated from Oklahoma Christian University in April of 2006 with a bachelors degree in computer science. Marcus helps Ryan determine what gets submitted to James in the reviews section.
Chief Fiction Editor: Zach "Virgil" - Zach currently attends Loyola University in Chicago as a junior history major. Zach has final say as to what gets recommended to James in the fiction submissions category.
Fiction Editor: Adam "Pydies" - Adam lives in Australia and met James by playing in his online D&D game on RPOL. Adam helps Zach determine what gets submitted to James in the fiction section.
Chief Art Editor: Erin "Maejyus" - The wife of James, Erin was a Digital Media major with a focus in Graphic Design, graduating from Oklahoma Christian University in December of 2005. Erin is an avid fantasy fiction reader and has quite an eye for art. Erin has final say as to what gets recommended to James in the art submissions category.
Global Moderator: Jonithan "Fangthane" Levitan - Jonathan is a global moderator and long-time player of The Realms of Loria, Scarlet Dragon's other project. Not only does he constantly vie for the highest level character on that game, but he also is a great help to the community of Loria. Jonathan is a lawyer (or weasel, pick whichever feeds your narcissism better), graduating from New England School of Law in 1993. He opened his own firm, Matz & Levitan, LLC, in 2001. Jonathan has offered his help and guidance in the areas of Copyright law and overall Business Administration, Corporate agreements and the like. His interests include eating at buffets that only cost $3.99 and spending time with his beautiful wife Celia in their woodland retreat.
Global Moderator: Wes "StupidUncleEgg" Baucum - Wes graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a degree in computer science in April of 2007. He now works for Lockheed Martin in Virginia, where he works on top secret projects that he'll never be able to tell anyone about, and if he told you, he'd have to kill you. Or they'd come and kill him. Either way, it'd be bad. During school, Wes lived with James and Robert and studied with them often. Wes, James, Bob, Brandon, and Marcus were all in Alpha Gamma Omega together while at OC. Wes has a special talent for composing music and pwning at MMORPGs. Wes composed all the music for The Realms of Loria.