D&D 5E Interview with Bruce Cordell

[Shasarak]

I just listened to an interview with Bruce Cordell on the Plot Points podcast:

http://plotpoints.libsyn.com/

A very interesting insight into one of the writers of 5e (as well as 18+ years of other game design)

 

[MerricB]

Bruce is great, the interviewers/commentators are awful.

 

[TerraDave]

Bruce is great, the interviewers/commentators are awful.

Ya, WTF was that.

He does confirm the financial pressure placed on the company by Hasbro. I really wonder if the huge sales of 5E are needed to "pay off" the play-test, and maybe even some of the time before that.

But that is beyond the scope of the interview. He does confirm the growth pressure. In any case, seems like things have worked out well for him.

 

[graves3141]

Too bad Bruce is gone. Sounds like WotC isn't exactly a low stress environment.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Too bad Bruce is gone. Sounds like WotC isn't exactly a low stress environment.

Nope. It sounds like working for the D&D brand at WotC is very much a "young person's game". Especially when it comes to tenure there... it's only in the most recent years we've seen a number of older members of the division getting out of the D&D department *before* they've had a chance to get downsized (usually probably due to their salaries.)

James Wyatt transitioned over to the story department of Magic... Bruce Cordell left to join Monte Cook Games... Rodney Thompson moved over to Destiny. Three guys who were prime "downsize material" once 5E got released.

You have to think that at some point Christopher Perkins would be next, unless the "Dungeon Master To The Stars" moniker gives him enough of a safety net that WotC feels his work for marketing the game (via Acquisitions Incorporated and such) generates enough potential revenue to offset his salary. Otherwise, we'd expect him to get let go at some point. And I'm sure in another couple years the same might hold true for Mike and Jeremy. The people currently working under them will continue to rise up, and eventually supplant them on the chain of command as well.

Basically, Wizards of the Coast is like Bill Belichick of the Patriots-- always keeping an eye on value, and always next man up.