Joe Murphy
Joe Murphy (writing as Joey Stardust) is a creative professional from Columbus who weaves together experience in branding, education, and industry to tell stories that inform, intrigue, and inspire. With a foundation built on working with diverse creative projects, he merges his passion for design and narrative to build strong, memorable identities.
He contributes written work in fields ranging from technical and scientific topics to cultural commentary, always with clarity and curiosity. When not writing or consulting, Joey can be found exploring local art scenes, digging into books on history and philosophy, or dreaming up the next idea that bridges the gap between imagination and impact.
Books by Joe Murphy
Joe Murphy in the Blog
Games
The History of Stars Without Number: How Kevin Crawford Rebuilt the Sci-Fi Sandbox RPG
A 2,000-word history of Stars Without Number — Kevin Crawford's OSR sci-fi sandbox, the free PDF that broke the model, the Revised Edition, the Scream, the Sine Nomine catalog, and the third-party modules keeping the sector alive in 2026.
Games
The History of Avalon Hill: How One Baltimore Company Invented the Modern Board Game Hobby
A 3,000-word history of Avalon Hill — the founding by Charles S. Roberts in 1952, the invention of the modern wargame, the golden age of Squad Leader and Diplomacy, The General magazine, the 1998 sale to Hasbro, and the imprint's life today under Wizards of the Coast.
