WotC Shawn Merwin joins Wizards as contract game designer

[tetrasodium]

Most US states have a time limit on contract v. full time work.
Plus, Shawn mentioned that because he's contract he can still create other works -- with care and concern for not crossing the streams

Also it looks like he's in NY if my googlefu is accurate. if taking the job involves moving to Washington where wotc is it makes sense that some level of stability rising high enough to qualify for a standard one year lease be worked out if nothing else.
Nothing says it can't roll 1 year contract to perm or for it to just keep getting renewed

 

[bedir than]

Also it looks like he's in NY if my googlefu is accurate. if taking the job involves moving to Washington where wotc is it makes sense that some level of stability rising high enough to qualify for a standard one year lease be worked out if nothing else.
Nothing says it can't roll 1 year contract to perm or for it to just keep getting renewed

Yeah, he's near Buffalo or Rochester, I forget. Cost of Living here in Renton is 40% or so higher than there

 

[Plaguescarred]

Great news i like Shawn Merwin's work since 4E so being contracted by WoTC to work on D&D is nice to hear. Hopefully it extends beyond 1 year.

 

[Thraic Ogmund]

A big hire by WotC - and a great move. With James Haeck and now Shawn Merwyn going to WotC, how long can it be before Ben Byrne and/or Dael Kingsmill join the fold as well?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Ok, something is up.

I am hoping for a new line of books, a new setting, or somw other type of new "initiative" in the next couple years.

My flabbers would be resoundingly gasted if it was anything remotely like a new edition, but perhaps something like a several-year suite of books starting with a Xanathar's style supplement, then some combo of:

• new setting
• new grand adventure
• updates to 2 or more previously touched on settings, individually or compiled
• new Magic settings
• a "Bob's guide to the multiverse" book paired in the same year with a "heroes of the multiverse" book
• some kind of collaboration like "Adventures in [one of the final fantasy worlds]" or similar with some other brand
• some broad cultural expansion to what the game pulls from for player options and worlds (with the new team i think this is an easy layup of a guess)

If so, my biggest hope is thst they dont get carried away on pushing things out quickly, and keep it to less than 1 big expansion book per year, 1 big adventure per year plus smaller ones, etc. Not the trickle of early 5e, but please gods dont let it ever become a flood again.

 

[Nord Ronnoc]

A big hire by WotC - and a great move. With James Haeck and now Shawn Merwyn going to WotC, how long can it be before Ben Byrne and/or Dael Kingsmill join the fold as well?

Who are these two?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

With James Haeck and now Shawn Merwyn going to WotC, how long can it be before Ben Byrne and/or Dael Kingsmill join the fold as well?

Monarchs Factory pouring her lore and worldbuilding ideas all over D&D would be fantastic.

Also, yes please, to a (sensitively handled) Fantasy Australia setting.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Who are these two?

Ghostfire's Eldritch Lorecast podcast.

 

[Arilyn]

Monarchs Factory pouring her lore and worldbuilding ideas all over D&D would be fantastic.

Also, yes please, to a (sensitively handled) Fantasy Australia setting.

I agree, but Dael has very strong opinions on how D&D should be designed. I don't think she'd last.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I agree, but Dael has very strong opinions on how D&D should be designed. I don't think she'd last.

I bet a lot of adventure writers and lore folks have design ideas that everyone else mostly just ignores.