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Rob Heinsoo has this short post up on his staff blog:
Quote:
Originally Posted by WotC_RobHeinsoo
I made an interesting choice a couple weeks ago.
I've been the lead of the mechanical design team, but I haven't been as happy or as productive in that role as I'd like to be.
I've opted to step aside and work as a regular designer. Design work is what I enjoy most and it plays to my strengths.
Mike Mearls steps into the role of lead mechanical designer, which is wonderful because it gets him working on design, as he should, and I think he'll do a better job as team lead.
This seems like a good move to me, given what I see as both guys' respective strengths. Anyway, hope you two gentlemen enjoy your new jobs!
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I think but could be wrong that what's happening is this:
Mike is moving from the Development (tweaking, testing, checking, revising, poking, prodding) team to the design (crazy ideas, odd thoughts, new stuff, drive developers crazy) team. He's also going to be leading that team.
Rob is giving up leading the team, and going (back?) to being a member of it - so he gets to do more design than Mike (and than he was doing before) as Mike gets the leadership/direction/strategic/managementish stuff to do.
That's just based on the words used in the post though - there could be other stuff going on, I'm just trying to interpret what was said.
I don't know much about Rob Heinsoo, but I wish him well. Going on what I heard from the Mike Mearls interview as posted here on ENWorld, he sounds like a good man for the job. Congrats Mike!
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I have had the pleasure to meet and talk with both, together (inside tips: the healing surge mechanic is mearls favorite 4E inovation, and Jonathan Tweet is not an eazy DM).
I wonder if the key word here is "mechanical". Mearls will be a designer now, originating ideas, but the focus is still on mechanics. Heinsoo will be out of the mechanics box, and able to design a wider range of things (or maybe not worry so much about how everything works together?). This would fit, based on my own first impressions.
EDIT: though Heinsoo also mentions "team leader"...on this point, I couldn't really say anything.
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This seems like a good thing - Mike has mentioned in his blog that he had several ideas for 4E that he was unable to push into development, and they seemed like good ideas. Maybe this will help with those things, maybe not, but I feel like Mike's a good choice for the head position there.
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This doesn't seem like good news to me. I think Mearls has had a deleterious influence on the development of D&D. I'd rather see someone else in that role.
This doesn't seem like good news to me. I think Mearls has had a deleterious influence on the development of D&D. I'd rather see someone else in that role.
Mr Mearls has a taste for sacred beef, I believe. Is this the problem?
This doesn't seem like good news to me. I think Mearls has had a deleterious influence on the development of D&D. I'd rather see someone else in that role.
I disagree, but that's because I like most of D&D 4. I think more Mearls can only be good for my enjoyment of the game.
Of course, anyone not liking where D&D 4 went might also not like where Mearls will lead it too.
Personally I suggest hoping against that 4E will somehow take a turn in a different direction you prefer more. That will be reserved (if at all) for 5E. So, tune in again 8 years or so...
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Personally I suggest hoping against that 4E will somehow take a turn in a different direction you prefer more. That will be reserved (if at all) for 5E. So, tune in again 8 years or so...
Or in 3-4 years when 4ER or 5E come out. Why do you think Mike is getting more involved in design again? [/conspiracy]
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I disagree, but that's because I like most of D&D 4. I think more Mearls can only be good for my enjoyment of the game...
Agreed. Even though I thought I would hate 4E, I was wrong.
Congrats to Mike on the new position!
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This doesn't seem like good news to me. I think Mearls has had a deleterious influence on the development of D&D. I'd rather see someone else in that role.
Rob Heinsoo was the Lead Mechanical Designer for 4th edition: if you don't like how it's turned out, then he is probably more responsible than Mike Mearls.
OTOH, if like me you like 4e, the Rob is someone you thank for it.
Best of luck to you both and I hope the adjustment ensures greater happiness. 
4E has rituals, use them, they're magic;
Want to see the greatest thing you will ever see? then 
You can use “Earth” as a D&D 
The Rouse 
One can appreciate both old and new D&D.
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