Monte Cook on Revised books

[Krug]

Extracted from a post on RPG.Net who extracted it from somewhere else..
----------------------
GamingReport:
How do you see D&D 3.5, as a necessary step for WotC to take like the Star Wars revised core rule book?

Monte Cook:
To be clear, I have no relation to the revised edition. Not so much as a "Monte, we're thinking about doing this to the material you created, what do you think?" I personally think it's too soon to revise the books and have it on good authority it's got more to do with economics than what's best for the game. That said, the creative team for D&D over the years has a long history of taking the lemons handed them from the business people and making lemonade. I suspect that they've done that here. I won't really go into detail (in fact, I can't -- I have signed a Non Disclosure Agreement). I can say that some of the changes are good, and some I'd never implement in my home game in a million years. [Emphasis mine.]
------------------------

whole interview (not about 3.5)
http://www.gamingreport.com/modules...rticle&artid=66
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

While I respect Monte's opinion, and agree that he's probably right...what's the point of this? Must we justify that WotC is just out for money when we already KNOW that's what company's do? Sorry if I sound bitter, but I get annoyed at seeing people throw things like this around to prove thier points. Game designers are still people in the end.

 

[Kaiyosama]

Actually, that seems to be one of the main points of Monte's comment, that game designers are still people in the end.

 

[Tharkun]

Game designers are still people in the end.

Are you sure about that?

 

[Droogie]

Lots of people complain that 3 years is too soon, but I definitely think 10-12 years is way too long.

I'm glad WotC is making money on this, and I'm glad they're revising the books. Refinement is always good.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Actually, that seems to be one of the main points of Monte's comment, that game designers are still people in the end.

Yep. It just seems like this is one of the kind of things that will be flaunted around as a flag for some of the people against the Revision...and while I see nothing wrong with not liking the Revision, trying to justify it with comments like this just seems childish. Almost like a "My dad could beat up your dad" type thing.

 

[Umbran]

Damn those evil, evil corporations to want to do something as lowdown and vile as making money! Horrid, horrid people, wanting to feed their families at our expense! Draw and quarter them, I say! Keel-haul 'em! Give 'em massive wedgies and toss 'em all into garbage dumpsters! Make 'em eat worms! Throw toilet paper over the trees on their front lawns!

C'mon, already, with the villifying.

I note that you didn't bother to bold the part where Monte suspects that the designers have turned this quest for financial solvency into a good thing. Priorities, folks. Seems to me that if the result is good, and the $$ keeps D&D rolling, we've got nothing to gripe about.

 

[John Crichton]

I also agree with Monte but I am glad for the revision. There aren't huge changes and just a few tweaks. If the tweaks annoyed me or didn't make sense I simply wouldn't use them. But the changes do appeal to me and I will use them. Add to it that I was going to buy a new PHB soon anyway and I'm sold. Heck, I would have bought all 3 core books again if they just fixed the errors and for the MM the formatting...

 

[fba827]

If you go to:

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53111

About 12 posts down you'll see more comments from Monte on the topic.
In this referenced thread, he is commenting from the perspective as a publisher (rather than as a designer as was his perspetcive in this thread's initial post).

also some opinions from other publishers in that same referenced thread

(just adding in case anyone cares )

 

[Mark]

I also agree with Monte but I am glad for the revision. There aren't huge changes and just a few tweaks. If the tweaks annoyed me or didn't make sense I simply wouldn't use them. But the changes do appeal to me and I will use them. Add to it that I was going to buy a new PHB soon anyway and I'm sold. Heck, I would have bought all 3 core books again if they just fixed the errors and for the MM the formatting...

That is about the size of it. Simply adding in the errata and a collection of additions from the class books would have been enough to get me on board with the idea. The fact that they've paid attention to feedback and are solving a few other problems is just icing on the case, IMO.

Some folks use their books so often (and add so much errata and additions in the margins or squeezed between the pages) that the spines are cracking. Others carry around several extra books and binders. This'll help with managing the game quite a bit and there are ways to get the books inexpensively for those who need to go that route. All around a good idea.