D&D 5E Who Will be The Next Monte...

[WhatGravitas]

Man, Mearls is never going to live this thread down. (I'll make sure of it).

Post pictures, please!

So everyone already knows Mearls because he was pretty active on the interwebs before 4E was announced. I wonder how having large number of R&D blogging and cruising the forums more and such will affect everyone's perception.

The blogging and cruising thing will definitely change stuff a lot, because we can put a "face" to the stuff we're seeing. It makes the game design more human, and more graspable.

I think it also decreases flames - because it's a wee bit harder to see WotC as "evil coopoeration overlords" - because you've talked to them and seen some as pretty fun guys.

Finally, it makes people more of a community. You don't think yourself as a pure consumer, you feel more as a part of the "D&D Family", because it's a bit like the thing you're friend designed (not exactly, but you get my gist). And I think that's the huge part about it (and the Monte-hype):
You feel as if you were part of the whole thing, not as a pure customer.

There are certainly people who are designing/developing more than others, but a lot of people contribute a significant chunk of work on a daily basis.

I don't think anybody here really thinks that only Mearls (or only Monte for what it's worth) designs 4E. I guess we're all aware that there is a huge team - but one naturally tends to associate stuff with known people. Additionally, Mearls previous stuff shows a 4E-ish direction, and even if this isn't a direct influence by Mearls, it means that he was either psychic or has a good feeling for RPG developments. And either way, you recognize and remember that. And that Iron Heroes has hit the much-maligned item tree, doesn't help in reducing his popularity, as well as his controversial monster makeovers (too bad 4E puts a stop on that... but then, 4E monsters don't need a makeover)

Cheers, Monte LT.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

• Monte Cook designs games in his sleep instead of awake, because he doesn't want to put other game designers at an unfair disadvantage.
• Monte Cook doesn't do any alternate history work, because he doesn't want to alter the space-time continuum with his words.
• Monte Cook creates singularities in his day job just by writing about his campaign.
• Monte Cook can beat up not just 5th graders, but all the grade schools put together, attacking at one time.
• Why does Ry'lyeh stay hidden? Monte Cook.

[*] Monte Cook designed the games Chuck Norris plays

 

[Tharkun]

I first heard of Mike Mearls (IIRC) when I bought Iron Heroes after reading the back cover of that book, I took a chance and I was not disappointed. I am happy I did too!

I'd say Mearls.

 

[Ian O'Rourke]

I haven't kept an eye on Mike Mearl's career, as that would be ridiculous, but I do remember being in discussions with him about gaming stuff when he was just another voice on Gaming Outpost or The Forge - I forget which. Pretty sure it was one of those, but I may be wrong. Memory fades.

So it's always slightly interesting to see someone rise up the ladder so to speak - as such as there is one in role-playing games. Good for him I say. The only worry I have is I did read Iron Heroes (I believe the PDF was free on rpgnow or something for a period) and my concern was it seemed to involve a lot of 'keeping track of things'.

We shall see though. Tend to like his philosophy on things, yet to really see if applications results in same.

 

[cougent]

I think the next Monte will be... Monte Cook, just as soon as he decides to tackle 4E.

Arcana can always Evolve to the next edition.

 

[Aristotle]

I'm already a Mearls fan so I don't see him as the next anybody else, and I don't generally follow things closely enough to know exactly who designed what. while I'm sure he has tons of credits, I don't really know Noonan that well but his design methods in the articles I've read thus far really make me feel he is looking for a new perspective on old concepts, rather than just a replacement of them.

 

[ashockney]

Will there be one? I don't know if there's a single name associated with Second Edition that carries equivalency to "Monte Cook" or "Gary Gygax". I could be wrong.

Ed Greeenwood

(officially started at the end of 1st Ed, but I'd still say he had biggest individual impact on the TRPG landscape from 1988 - 1994)

 

[ashockney]

Mearls would be the "favorite" money based on the resume.

I wouldn't rule out Noonan or Baker, though.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see someone come out of the woodwork on this.

 

[(contact)]

I find it utterly surreal that I first met Mearls over ten years ago when he helped me run a Call of Cthulhu adventure at a local con. It was the first time I've ever run a game using a second GM. Mike did a great job, but I kind of feel like I did him a disservice by not turning to him and presciently saying "Some day you'll be lead developer for a new edition of D&D!"

Do you remember the first time we gamed together and you looked up at me and said, "Some day you'll buy a new edition of D&D?"

I still get shivers.

 

[ashockney]

Weis and Hickman deserve to be on the pre-Monte list. They were able to come up with a big idea that changed the landscape of gaming and translate it to a long-term solo career.

I'm also tempted to say Peter Adkinson evan though all his influence was indirect to the game.

So, I'd say:
Gary Gygax
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Ed Greenwood
Peter Adkinson
Monte Cook
?????