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Locked: Monte Cook Drop Out
1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 1:28PM #1
Plaguescarred
Date Joined: May 12, 2009
Posts: 16,498
A bit surprised....I wonder who will become the next Lead Designer for D&D Next.


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montecook.livejournal.com/251404.html

Change of Plans
  • Apr. 25th, 2012 at 12:30 PM
    Happy Monte



Change of Plans
Last week I decided that I would leave my contract position with Wizards of the Coast. I am no longer working on Dungeons & Dragons, although I may provide occasional consultation in the future. My decision is one based on differences of opinion with the company. However, I want to take this time to stress that my differences were not with my fellow designers, Rob Schwalb and Bruce Cordell. I enjoyed every moment of working with them over the past year. I have faith that they'll create a fun game. I'm rooting for them.
Due to my non-disclosure agreement, as well as a desire to keep things on a professional level, I have no intention of going into further detail at this time. (Mostly, I just hate drama, and would rather talk about more interesting things.)
As for what I'll be turning to next, I hope you'll stay tuned. I plan on having an interesting announcement in that regard in the near future.

Yan
Montréal, Canada
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 1:48PM #2
Emerikol
Date Joined: Apr 23, 2009
Posts: 4,454
The likelihood I'll like 5e plummeted.  Good luck Monte.

Edit: It would be nice if WOTC would tell us what the issues were. 
Here is a great blog by themormegil that explains why we had an edition war.
narrativism vs simulationism
A great blog on the business side of 4e and its impact on WOTC
4e is new coke
What core means and does not mean
HoBby Award Winner
metagame dissonance (plot coupon)    
dissociative mechanics (same as my own metagame dissonance. A great article.)
The Five Minute Workday Fallacy
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 2:06PM #3
Artifact
  • Surprisingly Honest
Date Joined: Dec 8, 2003
Posts: 3,171
I'm actually relieved.  No disrespect; Monte is a skilled game designer.  I can't help but wonder however, if some of his wonderfully creative ideas might be too fringe for DDN (a game that will apparently be back-to-basics).  Malhavoc was a better place for those kind of ideas I think.  His ideas, for me, are hit-n-miss.

No doubt Monte would have 'toned' things down for a core D&D game.  He was still the lead designer for DDN though.  That's a biggie.  So, I'm relieved that he's out.  He is a skilled designer but DDN isn't the game for him to take the lead on.  Not in my opinion at least.

I'm as anxious as ever to see what's in store for DDN.  The difference now is, I can also look forward to what Monte has planned in the future (other than D&D).

Just to be clear:  Hopefully I'm not coming across as a jerk.  That's not my intent. 
/\ Art
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 2:19PM #4
wrecan
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  • Master Dungeon Master
Date Joined: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 17,727
That's shocking.
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 2:32PM #5
Ore
Date Joined: Jul 22, 2008
Posts: 1,138
I am pretty sure it will be a long time before we learn the reasons if ever.

So what does this mean for DnDNext? Is the plan still on track or is something going to change?
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 2:42PM #6
Butcha
Date Joined: Jun 29, 2008
Posts: 323
That... sucked...

This will probably have an effect on 5th... Losing a great game designer can't be good news.

My guess considering the parts involved is that it was a dispute between artistic values and economic values...

I hate seeing the business side win in such a dispute.


The Character Initiative Show



Every time you abuse the system you enforce limitations.
Every time the system is limited we lose options.
Breaking an RPG is like cheating in a computer game.
As a DM you are the punkbuster of your table.
Dare to say no to abusers.
Make players build characters, not characters out of builds.





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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 2:43PM #7
frothsof
Date Joined: Jun 4, 2010
Posts: 10,474
hmm too late to be an april fools joke

i guess you saved them time from firing u at xmas

but seriously wow, he was the lead designer on this

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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 2:48PM #8
Rheios
Date Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 159
My worry is that Monte wanted to take the extra time and work with the guys to truely make a great game, and WOTC or Hasbro or somebody freaked at estimated compeletion time and started pressure to finished what, with what they're attempting, probably shouldn't be rushed. 

I mean there are other possibilities, that's just one of the worse ones. 

Honestly I liked the concept of Monte being lead. I've liked some of the stuff he's done and the flak he's gotten. People dislike you when you've made mistakes, but sometimes those lessons can lead to some real creativity. Hopeful thinking, I know, but it would have been nice to see what more he could have brought with his continued discourse with the others.

EDIT:
Worth noting, I have great faith in them too, and I'm sure they'll make a great game, just stating why I wish Monte could have stuck around. 
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 5:28PM #9
Damon_Tor
Date Joined: Jun 20, 2009
Posts: 3,590
I presume Cooke told Leeds it wouldn't be ready by Christmas, and Leeds did not agree.
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 25, 2012 - 5:40PM #10
Hipster_Cat
Date Joined: Dec 2, 2011
Posts: 3,786
He didn't mention Mearls. Interesting.

Edit: Mearls' few words about Monte seems to confirm a certain disagreement.
République du Plateau, Montréal, Québec
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