Mearls on Balance in D&D

[Klaus]

Be Like Mike!

 

[Greg K]

And if he had anything at all to do with the Duskblade, I want to give him a big wet kiss on the cheek.

I wouldn't. I prefer his myrmidon class from AEG's mercenearies

 

[Ourph]

Mike seems like a swell guy, and I m deeply embarrassed for the treatment he gets here on ENWorld now that he's started working full-time for WotC.

The treatment Mike Mearls receives isn't any worse than the treatment that, for example, Gary Gygax (also a frequent poster to these boards) and his work often receive, and as far as I know Gary isn't holding EN World accountable for the fact that not everybody likes his work or ideas on game design. People with strong opinions can't really afford to be offended when others dissect and critique their work with the same unsympathetic bluntness that they employ in forming and voicing their own thoughts. Mike isn't shy about sharing his opinions with the world and I don't see why "the world" (i.e. ENWorld) should be shy about sharing our opinions with him.

I cringe at the thought of what would/will happen if Ari gets the chance to work there as well. We'll start seeing threads about how out of touch or outright bad his rules are, as well; will the insults flow like water for him, too?

Possibly, if he keeps insisting his personal opinion is "the truth", as he did earlier.

Second, I like KotB, but that doesn't mean I ignore the fact that it's a deeply flawed module. While I disagree with the review's ultimate conclusion--that the module is a waste of time--the truth is, every specific point he raises is a genuine problem.

Be embarassed if you like, but it seems to me that when someone is willing to be blunt and honest about their opinions people should feel free to be blunt and honest in response to those opinions. If Mike doesn't like the response he receives maybe he shouldn't be in the business of publishing web articles that essentially tell people "something you like is stupid, and here's why".

 

[mhensley]

Be Like Mike!

Is that just a shadow or does he in fact have a Hitler mustache?

 

[Aaron L]

The treatment Mike Mearls receives isn't any worse than the treatment that, for example, Gary Gygax (also a frequent poster to these boards) and his work often receive, and as far as I know Gary isn't holding EN World accountable for the fact that not everybody likes his work or ideas on game design. People with strong opinions can't really afford to be offended when others dissect and critique their work with the same unsympathetic bluntness that they employ in forming and voicing their own thoughts. Mike isn't shy about sharing his opinions with the world and I don't see why "the world" (i.e. ENWorld) should be shy about sharing our opinions with him.


Possibly, if he keeps insisting his personal opinion is "the truth", as he did earlier.


Be embarassed if you like, but it seems to me that when someone is willing to be blunt and honest about their opinions people should feel free to be blunt and honest in response to those opinions. If Mike doesn't like the response he receives maybe he shouldn't be in the business of publishing web articles that essentially tell people "something you like is stupid, and here's why".

First, I'd like to see where Mearls has declared his "one true way and all others are stupid" statement. A link would be very nice.

Second, if you are offended by his 8 year old, tongue-in-cheek written article about KotBL, written as a fan, then you have missed out on a joke, I'm afraid.

And am I imagining things, or are you implying that Mearls has made statements that he is offended by ENWorld, somewhere? If so, I would like a link to those sources, as well, please.

I will always be ashamed and embarrassed when any game designer is attacked here on ENWorld. Especially one who was once a fairly regular member our or community.

Or anyone else, for that matter.

Yes, I know it's cool and trendy to bash The Man, especially on the internet, but it's always shameful to see it done to former members of our community who happened to have "made it", or at least as close to that as can be done in the RPG industry.

 

[Harlekin]

Oh, I do.

I (at the ripe old age of 13) remember thinking it didn't make sense. But then, what to pre-teens know.....

Same here; For me KotB was always the prime example how to not write an adventure. Furthermore it is frequently used to deride D&D in general as a stroryless hackfest. If at all, Mike is too kind.

 

[CaptainChaos]

I think it’s the never ending series of “Mearls on X” threads that just get old. It’s like Nightfall’s constant pimpage of the Scarred Lands. After a while it has the opposite of its intended effect. There are plenty of other designers, both within and outside of WotC, who have a lot of interesting things to say on game design but you rarely see discussion of their thoughts here.

 

[Piratecat]

There are plenty of other designers, both within and outside of WotC, who have a lot of interesting things to say on game design but you rarely see discussion of their thoughts here.

Do you post them?

The best way to see a particular type of thread is to start it. The best way to draw attention to a particular designer is to follow his work and tell other people when he talks about design.

 

[Piratecat]

Yes, I know it's cool and trendy to bash The Man, especially on the internet, but it's always shameful to see it done to former members of our community who happened to have "made it", or at least as close to that as can be done in the RPG industry.

Let's be crystal clear on this, everyone: It's fine to criticize Mike Mearls' work if you don't care for it, or to compliment it if you do. It is NOT okay to criticize or attack him personally. Please report this when you see it, because that's never permissable on EN World.

 

[Klaus]

Is that just a shadow or does he in fact have a Hitler mustache?

Just a shadow.

And Mearls is a swell dude.