In an interview with former Capcom illustrator Kinu Nishimura (the character designer for Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara), she stated that she became addicted to the works of Hirohiko Araki, the mangaka of Shonen Jump's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga series, while working on the arcade game Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness which was released one year before Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara. In particular, the female "Thief" character design and her default name "Moriah" is based on the character Mariah from the manga's third major story arc "Stardust Crusaders". Likewise, Capcom would later release a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fighting game in 1998.

Originally Miles (2P Cleric) was going to have a tonsure haircut. But DnD owners TSR didn't approve the design, telling the designers to remove it by making him completely bald.