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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:27PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Jan 17, 2009
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www.loremaster.org/content.php/198-Bill-...No preview of an upcoming product this month. No R&D secrets to reveal. Not really. Instead, I wanted to let you know that I’m leaving Wizards of the Coast. It’s time for my next adventure.It’s hard to believe that I first entered the hallowed halls of TSR, Inc. in the long-ago year of 1993. I was the new kid on the block back then, even though I had seven years of professional work behind me at the time and a handful of industry awards already to my credit. Some of the greats were still on the staff back then, people whose work I admired and played in my formative years, including Zeb Cook, Jeff Grubb, and Jim Ward. My first projects were set in the Dungeons & Dragons worlds of Dark Sun,Ravenloft, and Planescape, and I couldn’t have been happier. It was a gamer’s (and game designer’s) dream come true. As time went on, I got the plum assignment of lead designer for the Alternity Science Fiction Roleplaying Game, working with co-designer Rich Baker and editor extreme Kim Mohan. It was a great time.
In 1997, Wizards of the Coast acquired TSR and moved me and a bunch of the staff out to Seattle. Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to Director of R&D for Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with a talented group of creative people over the years, and we accomplished such feats as launching both the 3rd and 4th editions of the D&D roleplaying game, creating d20 Modernand d20 Star Wars, launching painted plastic miniatures for D&D, creating new worlds such asEberron and the D&D Core World, and most recently launching a new category of D&D board games that started with Castle Ravenloft. I can’t wait to see what they do next! I know that whatever it is, it will be great and I will be playing it.
My professional time with D&D may be coming to an end, but the game and its worlds will always be near and dear to my heart. I am a gamer, first and foremost, and it’s the game I always go back to for inspiration and fun. So, until our paths cross again, do what I’m still doing and …
Keep playing!
—Bill
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:32PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2008
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Was going to post this as well, but the estimable @Matt_James_rpg beat me to the punch.
So, what does this mean for DnD and 4E if anything? I wish Bill all the best, but I can't help but feel a little trepidation about what happens next.
Good luck Bill! You gave us 4E, and that's all right by me.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:39PM
#3
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I'm sure this will be taken by some to be yet another sign of the impending apocalypse.
...whatever
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:44PM
#4
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good luck bill
plz offer the job to schwalb
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:49PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Nov 17, 2009
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Goodbye and good luck.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:54PM
#6
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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Good luck Bill with your new adventure !
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:54PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jul 22, 2001
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good luck bill
plz offer the job to schwalb
Very much this.
Sergent at arms of the house of trolls.
Est Solarus oth Mithas
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 2:55PM
#8
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You gave us 4E, and that's all right by me.
I suppose some people might be glad he is leaving if he helped create 4e too! Heck, maybe they will make a 5e now? Not me of course. 
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 3:19PM
#9
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Bill good luck to you! As a long time lurker and lover of 4th ed you will be missed. I think many people missed the point of 4th Ed, the beauty and ease of play for a DM was not lost on me. 8 player group! is always a challenge 4th Ed made it much easier for me. Thank you again for bringing it to life and best of luck to you.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 23, 2011 - 3:20PM
#10
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2008
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Now my twitterstream is filled with speculation that this is only the first of several layoffs announced today at WotC. (There's a fair number of "Christmas in June" remarks from people in the know, as well.)
Good luck to any who might be affected.
Perhaps its time for another company to take on the venerable IP of Dungeons and Dragons? I love the brand, but the Hasbro/WotC roller coaster is a bit too much for this fan.
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