Who are the most inventive game designers?

[DMH]

Who do you think is the most inventive designer and please list 3 books or pdfs he or she has authored as examples. I will leave the definition of inventive to you.

 

[Crothian]

Mike Mearls: Monster Handbook, Wildscape, Darkness and Dread, Book of Iron Might

 

[Psion]

Steve Palmer Peterson:

Second World Sourcebook
Masters of Arms
Bodies and Souls

He also wrote an article in Dragon #313, about dragon insanities.


Shame not to see more stuff by him.

 

[GlassJaw]

My pal Benjamin "Wulf" Durbin from Bad Axe Games, most notably for Grim Tales and Slavelords of Cydonia. Nobody is writing books like that right now. He also wrote the Heroes of High Favor series which are good also.

And although I don't always like everything he does, I do have to say Monte Cook. As far as "inventiveness" goes, he's definitely not afraid to try something new. Arcana Unearthed is an example of that. Like I said, I don't really like the AU style but I have to give him credit for it. I really like Beyond Countless Doorways and Chaositech though. Both are superb and are a great example of "thinking outside the box".

 

[philreed]

Bruce Cordell

The Illithiad (and related adventures)
When the Sky Falls
The Killing Jar

 

[2WS-Steve]

My list goes like:

Jonathan Tweet
Robin Laws
Greg Stoltze
Denis Dettweiler

*****
I'm sort of a mechanics fan and all those guys have come up, repeatedly, with really interesting ways of doing things. It's too bad that we haven't got much chance to see them really play around with the d20 system in d20 system-breaking ways.

 

[A'koss]

Bruce Cordell

The Illithiad (and related adventures)
When the Sky Falls
The Killing Jar

Bruce is hands down the best adventure writer D&D ever had - Gates of Firestorm Peak is still a group favorite. But as a game designer... I don't think I'd place him among the best. Monte's probably the best designer IMO, overall. His Planescape stuff still stands out even if I don't care for everything he's done since then. Of course, Gary, the father of D&D, should be given his due here. Johnathon Tweet - 3e, nuff said.

Cheers!

 

[philreed]

Bruce is hands down the best adventure writer D&D ever had - Gates of Firestorm Peak is still a group favorite. But as a game designer... I don't think I'd place him among the best. Monte's probably the best designer IMO, overall. His Planescape stuff still stands out even if I don't care for everything he's done since then. Of course, Gary, the father of D&D, should be given his due here. Johnathon Tweet - 3e, nuff said.

The thread said inventive and I feel Bruce is quite inventive. The fact that almost everything I have by him is inventive and fun.

 

[DMH]

In case it isn't obvious, I want this to be limited to d20 authors. Otherwise I would vote for David Pulver

My personal vote has to go to Spencer Cooley

Enchiridion of Treasures and Objects D'Art (new type of magic)

Enchiridion of Mystic Music (magic of sound, not just for bards)

Enchiridion of Eluded Enduements of the Expanse (new type of class that is much different than PrCs)

Buildup Spells (new type of magic)

He definately writes outside of the box.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

This needs a few categories of inventiveness:

• Output quantity
• Rules mechanics in D20
• Rules mechanics non-D20
• Flavor

I'm not sure who I would rate in these yet...


Regards,
Eric Anondson