I know Kate plays 5E, but has she ever DM'd 5th edition? UX/UI credits on a few video games doesn't really seem like relevant experience to me. I'm really scratching my head as to why Wizards would pick her for this position.
Here is the job listing. Judge for yourself.
Game Designer, Dungeons & Dragons
Location: WA - Renton
Employment Type: Regular
ID: 12674
Job Category: WOTC - Marketing, Brand & Community Management
Description
Do you want to help inspire the next generation of novelists, comic book artists, game designers, actors, and directors? Would you like to draw upon 40 years of D&D mythology to create the next generation of great D&D games and RPG supplements? Would you like to help cultivate a positive, inclusive community of gamers and creators? If those challenges sound interesting, we would like you to consider joining the Dungeons & Dragons team.
This position creates D&D products, such as a book updating a setting to 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons. It is responsible for leading one product at a time, while providing feedback on other products in production. The person in this role is responsible for the final product, and must oversee and coordinate the work of designers, writers, and editors to combine individual contributions into a cohesive whole. This position is also responsible for ensuring that the product is consistent with D&D game mechanics and that new game material is properly playtested.
DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS WIZARD
-Help create new product concepts and translate those ideas into actionable product outlines and specification documents.
-Take part in writing groups, helping to brainstorm story details for new elements of D&D’s worlds and stories, such as heroes, villains, monsters, and worlds.
-Oversee the production of new D&D products, coordinating work between writers, designers, and editors to create a cohesive manuscript.
-Create art orders for products, provide input to art directors on art produced for a product to ensure it is consistent with a product’s contents.
-Review game material to ensure it is consistent with D&D game mechanics and styles, coordinate playtest efforts and apply feedback, participate in postmortem exercises to provide feedback to team members and to improve work processes.
Problem Solving
-Brainstorm interesting new ways to use and present classic D&D story elements in gaming products.
-Tackle the people problems that arise in working on a group project, such as keeping someone motivated after delivering tough feedback.
-Manage schedules to understand when a product slips and how to correct for that by identifying and focusing on the right issues. Determine the right questions to ask about a troubled project before taking action.
-Find ways to express new ideas within existing game mechanics and without upsetting a game’s balance.
-Identify the easiest, simplest way to express complex concepts.
-Understand the D&D audience of creators (tabletop DMs and licensing partners) well enough to anticipate their needs and provide inspiring story material before they ask for it.
AM I QUALIFIED? (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
-Does the idea of building a D&D product outline, and then shepherding that outline into a finished product, excite you?
-Do you like to play games, analyze games, and think about how to make them better?
-Are you an awesome Dungeon Master who weaves stories that captivate your players?
-Do you like creating new content for your favorite games?
-Do you like to collaborate with others on creative products?
-Have you been involved in a community of gamers that was inclusive and welcoming?
-Would you say that you have an eye for detail?
-Does working on lots of details that must be coordinated across a product sound exciting?
-Were you excited about diving into the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style?
-Do you feel comfortable building spreadsheets to analyze the math behind a game system?
Experience Creating and Casting these Spells:
-Experience playing and DMing D&D 5th edition required.
-At least three product credits (books, board games, video games, and the like) required, tabletop or digital RPGs preferred.
-Experience refining someone else’s game design, writing, or both into publishable form required.
-Experience using software/scripting (spreadsheets, GREP, and the like) to aid analysis and text modification required.
-Experience using Word, Excel, and text styles required
-Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style required
-Mastery of English grammar required
-Comfortability with algebra or higher math required
-Experience with InDesign preferred
Knowledge, Abilities and Characteristics of the Ideal Wizard:
-Knowledge of fantasy movies, novels, and other forms of entertainment necessary.
-Knowledge of fantasy roleplaying games, both tabletop and video games, necessary.
-Love of collaboration and teamwork, comfort having honest, open conversations with team members.
Physical Requirements:
Office environment, able to work on computer or phone for long periods of time.
We are an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.
The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for satisfactory performance in this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the duties, responsibilities, or requirements of the position.
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