4th edition: Return of the Groundlings An Open Letter of Thanks to WoTC

[BryonD]

Cheers!!!!

 

[Belen]

I think it may be posts like the OP that turns people away from 3rd party publishers. The arrogant and know-it-all attitude displayed by a few publishers on ENWorld have done a lot of damage to the overall reputation. There are a lot of 3rd party publishers who have led the charge with negative statements about Wizards and 4e over the last few years and it was publishers who constantly complained and fretted that 4e would not be open. Hell, we had a major publisher drum up fears about 4e 2.5 years ago just to sell books.

Personally, I like 3rd party publishers. I enjoy being able to buy flavorful books that will fit into my D&D games. I constantly pressue my local game stores to stock 3rd party items including when I was a delegate for Wizards.

However, the 3rd party publishers are not innocent and have done much to stoke the fears of 4e and general negativity about the industry. Wizards did a great thing by continuing the OGL because it makes gaming better overall. However, I would say that some negativity regarding the actions of 3rd party publishers is warranted by the bad apples among them.

 

[Vigilance]

I think it may be posts like the OP that turns people away from 3rd party publishers. The arrogant and know-it-all attitude displayed by a few publishers on ENWorld have done a lot of damage to the overall reputation.

Uh, I'm not really sure what was arrogant about my post.

I was just saying "thanks" to Wizards.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Uh, I'm not really sure what was arrogant about my post.

I was just saying "thanks" to Wizards.

I've got the same impression here ...I mean you praised Wizards for being a cool company - it sounded like a thumbs up for the WotC staff and Mike alike. With which I wholeheartedly agree!

Cheers, LT.

 

[Belen]

Uh, I'm not really sure what was arrogant about my post.

I was just saying "thanks" to Wizards.

I don't know. When I read your post, I saw "suck it, jerks, I was right and you were wrong." It just struck me that a lot of the attitude you described was put out by actual publishers.

 

[Vigilance]

I don't know. When I read your post, I saw "suck it, jerks, I was right and you were wrong." It just struck me that a lot of the attitude you described was put out by actual publishers.

I am 100% sure I didn't mention anyone who felt that game books should be left to the "true professionals".

I didn't mention anyone precisely because the purpose of this thread was NOT to dwell on those guys, but on Wizards for being awesome not once, but three times.

Since you bring it up though, I am fully aware that some of my fellow publishers are *exactly* who I was talking about.

So there, I've named my own specifically.

All better?

 

[BryonD]

All better?

FWIW I thought your post was great and well said.

 

[Greg K]

Mike had written books for Atlas games before his d20 work I think.

What I was talking about was where he made his bones.

Which was d20.

Didn't he also work on Hunters Hunted or some other WoD product(s) for White wolf?

 

[Vigilance]

Didn't also work on Hunters Hunted or some other WoD product(s) for White wolf

Yep, he did.

I wasn't attempting to say that Mike was born the day before he wrote his first d20 book, appearing fully formed as if from the thigh of Zeus (though, that would be *awesome*).

I was more attempting to say (obviously not very well) that Mike "arrived" thanks to the OGL.

Though even that sounds bad.

Heck, let's just say this, his d20 work was way rad and him being chosen to shepherd 4e seems like an extra=plus double-good validation of the OGL.

 

[Greg K]

Yep, he did.

I wasn't attempting to say that Mike was born the day before he wrote his first d20 book, appearing fully formed as if from the thigh of Zeus (though, that would be *awesome*).

I was more attempting to say (obviously not very well) that Mike "arrived" thanks to the OGL.

Though even that sounds bad.

Heck, let's just say this, his d20 work was way rad and him being chosen to shepherd 4e seems like an extra=plus double-good validation of the OGL.

Vig, did d20 give you your start? Because while Mike has done stuff that I have liked, I find your work more "rad". My dream design team at WOTC would be you heading up d20 Modern and both you and/or Steve Kenson on DND