D&D 5E More folks working on D&D Next than was implied

[tomBitonti]

Hey,

Given the work done on Project Morningstar, and given that certain folks contribute indirectly to the game (upper managers; legal; HR), is the previous statement of the number of people working on D&D Next accurate?

Heck, even building maintenance and administration would add to the headcount, and that probably was not included in the estimate.

What would be a true estimate of the number? Whom should be included?

Thx!

TomB

 

[darjr]

Kobold press and Steve Winter.

 

[Paraxis]

Sub contracted work doesn't count as in house people working on the game.

Building management and the guy who vacuums the rugs don't count.

The thousands of playtesters don't count.

The workers at the local power station didn't count, the person who stocked the vending machines and delivered the water bottles don't count, the people at the printing company don't count, come on there is a core team and those are the only guys who matter.

The eight guys who sat down and wrote the rules, those guys count. So yeah eight.

 

[delericho]

I thought the "15 people" estimate came from WotC themselves? So, if they're happy to say 15 people are working on the game, I think I'm happy to accept it.

 

[Paraxis]

I thought the "15 people" estimate came from WotC themselves? So, if they're happy to say 15 people are working on the game, I think I'm happy to accept it.

I was rounding up.

From the interview with Escapist.

Bolding: So you guys probably have one of the largest development teams in roleplaying games, how many members is that right now?

Mearls: The team as a whole has about fifteen people. About half that are actually working on the RPG right now. The other half are working on other D&D stuff like Neverwinter, iOS games, licensing, or board games.

So fifteen people total but only half of them were working on the RPG, so around eight.

 

[delericho]

I was rounding up.

...

So fifteen people total but only half of them were working on the RPG, so around eight.

Indeed. I didn't actually mean to contradict you - although my post follows yours, it was actually just a reply to the thread topic. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Kobold press and Steve Winter.

Let's not forget freelancers such Robert J. Schwalb and Richard Baker!


Talking about Steve Winter, doesn't he was hired back by WoTC not long ago? He was Producer for the last Dragon and Dungeon magazines in December 2013.

 

[tomBitonti]

Well, if only folks actually writing content are counted, how much does the Paizo staff need to be pared to make an apples to apples comparison?

Plus, I would argue, the advice provided by Kobold Press should count.

I'm not sure if folks helping to handle polls and questionaires should count. If they collaborated with the core designers to help write the questions and interpret them, then I'd say yes, at least in part.

The problem with counting folks in a corporate environment is the degree to which certain categories of work are done "out of team".

Thx!

TomB

 

[Morrus]

Well, if only folks actually writing content are counted, how much does the Paizo staff need to be pared to make an apples to apples comparison?

Paizo's was the "pared" version. Lisa didn't include the dozens of freelancers they use.

 

[jrowland]

I think an apples to apples comparison would be Paizo today to 3.5E post launch (ie after paring it back). That is, how many people did WotC have to provide support to a fully released game and how many people do Paizo have to support their game using the same engine.

5E is a lighter engine than 3E and Pathfinder. 5E will draw on lots of setting material already developed, Pathfinder is continuing to develop its setting. 5E is developing an engine, Paizo is using a pre-developed engine (OGL)

TL;DR - Can't really compare how many people work at Paizo vs WotC D&D in any way that is meaningful.