Legens&Lore: Monte Cook takes over

[Sean-Khan]

IIRC the first comment from Monte about 4E mechanics being revealed at the WotC site was 'Yuck'... At least the one I saw. Monte might have a lot of ideas how to improve the game, and I wouldn't wonder if Monte would really be hired to develop 5E. If he can make the system as he likes and due to the co-operation he can publish Ptolus (or perhaps a new setting?) for 5E without extra fuzz, it might be something Monte couldn't turn down.

Too bad it will likely take ages before we'll get to see any real confirmation or results of this

 

[Gundark]

Aren't you reading a bit much into it? Cook will write a weekly column about RPGs on an abstract level. Have I missed the announcement that Mearls stepped down from his duties?

People are taking this quote from the article " Monte has an unmatched design pedigree in the RPG field, and for that reason we've brought him on board to work with R&D in making D&D the greatest RPG the world has seen. Over the next few weeks, Monte will use this column to share his thoughts about the game. As we look to chart D&D's future course, this column will continue to be a place where we share our ideas and listen to yours" and making the assumption that this means 5e is somewhere in the works or that 4e is going to get some kind of makeover.

 

[Tuft]

Aren't you reading a bit much into it? Cook will write a weekly column about RPGs on an abstract level. Have I missed the announcement that Mearls stepped down from his duties?

Mearls rather stepped up than down, but still away from the designing... From Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Skills in D&D)
"I'm no longer a game designer [...] I'm a manager [...] I don't do the actual design work [...]"

 

[Hussar]

Well, I suppose if you make the prediction that 5e is on the way every single time anyone at WOTC so much as burps you're bound to be right eventually.

Then again, I imagine, if WOTC was smart, 5e was started to be designed, at least at a very high level, about the same time the first core books hit the shelf and they started getting feedback.

Or, as a wise man once said, even a blind squirrel can find his nuts once in a while.

 

[Wicht]

For what its worth, Monte Cook confirmed, on facebook today, that he is indeed back at WotC.

Yes, I am working for Wizards of the Coast again. It's no big deal. They had some wastebaskets that needed emptying, floors that needed sweeping... that kind of thing. We're still haggling over some things in the contract, though. I don't do windows.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

Sounds to me as if they are going to throw select elements of 4E, 3.*, AU/AE, Iron Heroes, and probably a few other niche ideas and things that were considered for some time but thought too adventurous, into a blender, then refine what comes out.

Shame about all the dirty windows, though.

 

[Hussar]

Sounds to me as if they are going to throw select elements of 4E, 3.*, AU/AE, Iron Heroes, and probably a few other niche ideas and things that were considered for some time but thought too adventurous, into a blender, then refine what comes out.

Shame about all the dirty windows, though.

Sort of like how every new edition works then huh? Take whatever is pretty solid at the moment and work it into D&D.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

Sort of like how every new edition works then huh? Take whatever is pretty solid at the moment and work it into D&D.

Yep. They could do worse.

 

[Asmo]

Well, Monte used to post on EnWorld back in the day, so he´ll probably chime in pretty soon

Asmo

 

[Bedrockgames]

Well, I suppose if you make the prediction that 5e is on the way every single time anyone at WOTC so much as burps you're bound to be right eventually.

Then again, I imagine, if WOTC was smart, 5e was started to be designed, at least at a very high level, about the same time the first core books hit the shelf and they started getting feedback.

Or, as a wise man once said, even a blind squirrel can find his nuts once in a while.

Them hiring Monte Cook as part of the R&D team is more than a mere burp (I would argue the last several months has been a string of "more than burps"). The obvious implication of hiring Cook can't escape wizards, unless they are totally oblivious (which I doubt). This is the strongest indication yet that 5E is in fact in the works and that 5E will go in a very different direction from 4E (likely closer to 3E and 1E).