D&D 5E Monte Cook Leaves WotC - No Longer working on D&D Next [updated]

[Steel_Wind]

Earlier today, Monte Cook announced on his blog that he had left Wizards of the Coast and is no longer working on the Next Edition of D&D. The blog entry is produced below:

"Change of Plans"

"Last week I decided that I would leave my contract position with Wizards of the Coast. I am no longer working on Dungeons & Dragons, although I may provide occasional consultation in the future. My decision is one based on differences of opinion with the company. However, I want to take this time to stress that my differences were not with my fellow designers, Rob Schwalb and Bruce Cordell. I enjoyed every moment of working with them over the past year. I have faith that they'll create a fun game. I'm rooting for them.

Due to my non-disclosure agreement, as well as a desire to keep things on a professional level, I have no intention of going into further detail at this time. (Mostly, I just hate drama, and would rather talk about more interesting things.)

As for what I'll be turning to next, I hope you'll stay tuned. I plan on having an interesting announcement in that regard in the near future."

- Monte Cook, April 25, 2012

​

As for what this means for the next iteration of D&D or what precipitated Monte's departure, only time will tell. However, no matter how you spin it, it is difficult to paint a happy face on this development.

More news, if any, as it develops.

UPDATE

In response to widespread speculation about why Monte did not include Mike Mearls on his list of fellow game designers, he has clarified:

Praise for one person is not criticism for another. Singling out one does not automatically imply exclusion of another.

To be certain, I enjoyed much of my time working with everyone who's been involved with the new edition of D&D: Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Bruce Cordell, Rob Schwalb, Miranda Horner, Tom LaPille, Rodney Thomson, Greg Bilsland, Matt Sernett, Rich Baker, James Wyatt, and everyone else. The WotC RPG R&D department is full of talent.

Bruce and Rob were the guys I spent each and every day with, though. They were my team. I'll miss the daily doses of their creativity and friendship.
​

 

[TheYeti1775]

Well I did have some high hopes for 5E, now it's a big ? and how this effects it.

 

[Griego]

Edit: never mind, that made no sense. This is a startling development, though. Wonder what the disagreement was over. Was it a game design thing, or something else?

 

[Thaumaturge]

Monte Cook is Leaving WotC, Again

From his blog-

Last week I decided that I would leave my contract position with Wizards of the Coast. I am no longer working on Dungeons & Dragons, although I may provide occasional consultation in the future. My decision is one based on differences of opinion with the company. However, I want to take this time to stress that my differences were not with my fellow designers, Rob Schwalb and Bruce Cordell. I enjoyed every moment of working with them over the past year. I have faith that they'll create a fun game. I'm rooting for them.

There is more at the link.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Maxboy]

Man your fast -

will be interesting to find out what happened, maybe a difference of where he wanted DNDnext to go

 

[Thaumaturge]

My first thought is that this has to do with SRD. Or, rather, the lack thereof.

I hope not, but that's my gut instinct.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Maxboy]

Well this will make an interesting day on the DND internets

That's pretty big news

 

[Janaxstrus]

Interest in 5e now waning.

To elaborate, I've enjoyed almost everything Cook has done. The others...less so.

 

[The Little Raven]

Wow. This bodes very well for this upcoming edition.

 

[Bedrockgames]

My first thought is that this has to do with SRD. Or, rather, the lack thereof.

I hope not, but that's my gut instinct.

Thaumaturge.

That is possible but I suspect it has something to do with the release schedule. He railed against the plan to release 3.5 when it came out (and basically said they had planned it all along). Wouldn't surprise me if a similar issue arose. But we wont know for some time. It does bode ill for 5E. Cook was my reason for having any interest in it or any hope it would be a move away from 4e style design. This definitly takes my interest down several pegs.

 

[Jack99]

Good or bad? That's really hard to say. I thought it was great to have Monte on board for 5e, because although 3.x is far from my favorite edition, I still think he is a really good designer. But I do not think 5e is necessarily doomed without him. Depends in which way he was pulling the game. Away from 4e? Towards 3.x? Something entirely different?

 

[mudbunny]

And to head things off at the pass, I fully expect WotC (and Mr. Cook) to remain professional. That means that neither one will comment on why he left. I only hope (although I may be spitting into the wind here) that this thread will also remain at such a level.

 

[Incenjucar]

I wonder if this is related to the feedback survey from the customers regarding his articles.

While I can't say I'm upset that he's no longer having an effect on the rules, I do hope he occasionally provides some creative ideas.

I do hope this doesn't cause him too much trouble on a personal level, since he seemed to have moved back to Seattle for this.

 

[Thaumaturge]

He did point out that it isn't over design issues, so I'm keeping the faith that D&D is headed in the right direction. Still, it is troubling.

Thaumaturge.

Also, I just happened to refresh twitter right after he posted this. Seriously. I'm not stalking anyone.

 

[Bedrockgames]

He did point out that it isn't over design issues, so I'm keeping the faith that D&D is headed in the right direction. Still, it is troubling.

Thaumaturge.

Also, I just happened to refresh twitter right after he posted this. Seriously. I'm not stalking anyone.

Read it again. He doesn't say it isn't over design, just that it was a disagreement with the company and not the designers. wOTC ciuld have handed him a design decision he disliked. So it is entirely possible he left because of the direction of the game itself (though anything now ispure speculation).

 

[Ahnehnois]

Wait, what?

If this is true 5e might be doomed before it even gets released in playtest. Not that I'm a huge Monte Cook fan, but he's the only designer employed at WotC who actually deserves to be. How can we trust the team that represents the status quo?

 

[DEFCON 1]

I wonder if this is related to the feedback survey from the customers regarding his articles.

I did admittedly raise an eyebrow when Monte was removed from Legends And Lore and Mearls took them back. I wondered what was up with that, since his articles and polls got lambasted by what seemed like everybody. So perhaps there was a disconnect between what he wanted and was doing, and where the company and/or gamer public was wishing 5E would go?

 

[Piratecat]

My understanding is that the full time corporate environment within WotC is challenging. Monte's been his own boss for ages. It's hard to go back into an environment with a lot more bureaucracy. He's a great guy; I wish him the best.

That said, I'll caution people not to jump to conclusions either positive or negative about this, or why he's leaving. We all tend to put our own spin on this sort of thing, because we see it confirming our worst fears or our best hopes. One thing is mandatory, please: do not use this news as an excuse to level personal insults at Cook or any other member of the team. Opinions are fine, cheap shots never are.

 

[Thaumaturge]

So it is entirely possible he left because of the direction of the game itself (though anything now ispure speculation).

That's a good point. If, as an obvious hypothetical, he was told Ponies and Transformers had to be core races, that's a design issue, but not a problem with his fellow designers.

It could be any number of things, and we may not know for years or ever.

Thaumaturge.

Edit: Or, you know, Piratecat could tell us a good possibility the post before mine. Whatever.

 

[Kaodi]

If the problem is not with his fellow designers, then besides the previously mentioned SRD and work environment, another strong possibility might be differences on the digital strategy.