The team of developers/ writers/ managers for 4th Ed.

[sunmaster]

Hi all,

I am caustiously reading the blogs of the 4th Ed. team - as I am writing my
setting for 4th Edition - . But I don't know what the roles of all the people
there are.

Can you, please, tell me what the following people do in the development of 4th Ed. ?
I will after every answer update this first posting so that we have a "project map"
sort of thing - for all the people who also want to know - .


Design Team:
Andy Collins, Rob Heinsoo, James Wyatt , Mike Mearls

Development Team:
Rich Baker, Logan Bonner, Bruce Cordell, David Noonan, Mike Mearls (Lead)

R&D:
Bill Slavicsek (Lead), Greg Bilsland (seems to me in this team from his postings in his blog),
Bart Carroll, Chris Perkins, Chris Thomasson

Digital Gaming Department:
Didier Monin (Producer)

RPGA Content Manager:
Chris Tulach

Associate Designer:
Rodney Thompson

D&D Miniatures:
Stephen Schubert

Community Liason:
Mike Lescault



Peter Schaefer

Stephen Radney-MacFarland

Matthew Sernett

Cortney Marabetta

Jennifer Clarke Wilkes

 

[Jack99]

Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt are in the design team

Rich Baker, Logan B., Bruce Cordell, Gwen Krestel, Mike Mearls, David Noonan are developers afaik, with Mike being lead developer.

Slavisek is boss of R&D iirc

 

[Aloïsius]

What is the difference between a developper and a designer ?

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Designers create game elements, developers refine them and make them balanced.

That's the idea, in broad strokes.

 

[Jack99]

I am not 100% sure. But afaik, the designer paints the broad strokes, whereas the programmer handles "details".

I am sure someone else can explain how WoTC differenciate, since it varies wildly from company to company, and language to language.

 

[Aloïsius]

Ok. Thank for the explanation. It seems consistent with the number of designer VS developpers.

 

[Gold Roger]

Designers create stuff, developement job is to make sure it's balanced, work in playtest and turn stuff into a cohesive whole.

Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt are in the design team

Rich Baker, Logan B., Bruce Cordell, Gwen Krestel, Mike Mearls, David Noonan are developers afaik, with Mike being lead developer.

Slavisek is boss of R&D iirc

Mearls actually switched to design a few months backk.

 

[MerricB]

Stephen Schubert - Stephen is primarily the lead on D&D Miniatures; probably working development on 4e.
Mike Lescault - community liason; AFAIK, not involved in design

Cheers!

 

[Jack99]

Designers create stuff, developement job is to make sure it's balanced, work in playtest and turn stuff into a cohesive whole.
Mearls actually switched to design a few months backk.

Sounds correct, my bad.

 

[Tuerny]

James Wyatt is story lead. Rob Heinsoo is Design Lead. Andy Collins is also a Manager of some sorts.