Mearls Blog: PHB2 is his best ever

[catsclaw227]

I found an interesting tidbit on Mike Mearls' blog:

mearls: Player's Handbook 2

It's funny, because even though this year saw the launch of 4e, it's really been the year of PH 2 for me. I could walk away from RPG design today and feel satisfied. PH 2 is the best work I've ever done, with the best team I've ever worked with. The economy is collapsing, there's fear and loathing in the air, and snow clogging the Seattle streets, but I really don't care. I worked on PH 2, and I am damn proud of that book.

He's done a lot of books, that's for sure. I wonder what it is about this particular book that makes him think that it's his best ever.

Lot's of people agree and disagree with his design and development paradigms, but you can't deny the fact that most of it is well thought out, even if you disagree with the thought process or the results.

Again, I wonder what in particular about the PHB2 that elevates it to such lofty status in his mind....

 

[Merlin's Shadow]

I'm sure part of it is that anyone who creates things, whether as a writer or painter or musician, is inclined to feel that their most recent work is their best ever especially right after they have polished it and released it. They been slaving over it for awhile and pouring their heart into it. It's natural to feel that it is your best ever or you probably wouldn't be publishing/releasing it.

Now, ask him in 20 years and see what he says his best book is. Perhaps it will be the 4E PH2 or perhaps not.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I'm sure part of it is that anyone who creates things, whether as a writer or painter or musician, is inclined to feel that their most recent work is their best ever especially right after they have polished it and released it.

I can't speak for any other writers, of course, but for myself, you'd be surprised how often this is not the case.

Don't get me wrong, I won't turn in a draft if I don't think it's good. But that's not the same thing as believing it's my best ever.

 

[doctorhook]

I'm sure part of it is that anyone who creates things, whether as a writer or painter or musician, is inclined to feel that their most recent work is their best ever especially right after they have polished it and released it. They been slaving over it for awhile and pouring their heart into it. It's natural to feel that it is your best ever or you probably wouldn't be publishing/releasing it.

Now, ask him in 20 years and see what he says his best book is. Perhaps it will be the 4E PH2 or perhaps not.

I think that's true some of the time, but not all of the time. Sometimes people are distracted, and misunderstand whatever it was that made their previous work so great.

 

[Thanee]

Well, whatever it is in particular, it certainly does sound promising.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Scribble]

I can't speak for any other writers, of course, but for myself, you'd be surprised how often this is not the case.

Don't get me wrong, I won't turn in a draft if I don't think it's good. But that's not the same thing as believing it's my best ever.

I know in my own case, whenever I'm doing something creative, I tend to notice the flaws before the good part of the finished product. People will say "Hey that looks great!" But I'll still be thinking of what I could have done better...

It's part of what drives me towards the next creative project I think.

 

[Derren]

A author says that his newest book is better than all his previous works...

Where did I hear that the last time? Oh, right. At the home shopping channel.
Authors praising their new books isn't really that uncommon and doesn't really mean much either. Show me an author who says that his new book is just average. Then I will be impressed.

 

[Psion]

I'm sure part of it is that anyone who creates things, whether as a writer or painter or musician, is inclined to feel that their most recent work is their best ever especially right after they have polished it and released it.

I was wondering, more generally, if artists best work as they perceive it are often radically different than those considered best by their audience. Frex, is there some unknown painting by Da Vinci he considered better than the Mona Lisa or the Last Supper?

 

[Ourph]

I can't speak for any other writers, of course, but for myself, you'd be surprised how often this is not the case.

Don't get me wrong, I won't turn in a draft if I don't think it's good. But that's not the same thing as believing it's my best ever.

Ditto. Plus, even if I think something is good when I turn it in, there's always that night 3 or 4 days later when I wake up at 3am and remember that one thing I forgot to fix or go back and look over again before I turned in the final draft.

 

[hexgrid]

A author says that his newest book is better than all his previous works...

Where did I hear that the last time? Oh, right. At the home shopping channel.

What book was it for?