D&D General Why Mike Mearls left D&D, an interview by Ben Riggs.

[Staffan]

How does the videogame Solasta fit into that model? How did it support D&D?

I haven't played it, so I have no clue. But some stuff operating outside of the originally intended parameters does not mean that those parameters are wrong.

The problem is that Hasbro execs are seeing this as a zero-sum game, when it really isn't.

 

[Imaro]

I haven't played it, so I have no clue. But some stuff operating outside of the originally intended parameters does not mean that those parameters are wrong.

The problem is that Hasbro execs are seeing this as a zero-sum game, when it really isn't.

Now this I agree with... though I think it was more along the lines of Hasbro execs not understanding the game they were playing.

 

[Pedantic]

Success for who and in what way?

For the initial goal of the license overall. If the logic runs "it's too expensive/unprofitable to support a huge variety of adventures/certain kinds of supplement, but the presence of those supplements is positive for the overall growth/profitability of the line" then the OGL creating the conditions for those adventures/supplements to come from third parties is a success. Whether it also laid the groundwork for a video game is orthogonal. Seeing that video game as competition or a loss for the line after the fact is revising the initial goal of the license.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Anyone else curious about what mtg sets Mike Mearls worked on?

 

[Charlaquin]

Also, the title of the interview is "Why Mike Mearls left D&D", and as far as I can tell the only answer is "No, it's not what the rumors say."

He gets a little more specific than that. He says he was really interested in making tools for DMs rather than content for players, and that wasn’t the direction the company wanted to go. So, when he got the offer to switch to MtG he took it.

 

[Charlaquin]

Anyone else curious about what mtg sets Mike Mearls worked on?

I don’t think he was designing cards, or he would have been credited on the sets. He mentioned in the interview something about working on digital tools. But, he’s been quite active on ENWorld the last few days, you could probably just ask him if you’re curious about the specifics.

 

[Imaro]

For the initial goal of the license overall. If the logic runs "it's too expensive/unprofitable to support a huge variety of adventures/certain kinds of supplement, but the presence of those supplements is positive for the overall growth/profitability of the line" then the OGL creating the conditions for those adventures/supplements to come from third parties is a success. Whether it also laid the groundwork for a video game is orthogonal. Seeing that video game as competition or a loss for the line after the fact is revising the initial goal of the license.

But Solasta isn't one of those supplements and when dealing with something created at a specific time in perpetuity... and without knowing the exact intent of those who created it... can lead to unintended consequences that aren't just non-suportive of the ecosystem... but actively harm it.

 

[Parmandur]

I am not sure it was not ready to be signed, to me that was part of the spin after the thing blew up

Except here we have a firmer employee with nothing yo gain who has insider knowledge that internally at WotC it was tge case.

 

[Parmandur]

I don’t think he was designing cards, or he would have been credited on the sets. He mentioned in the interview something about working on digital tools. But, he’s been quite active on ENWorld the last few days, you could probably just ask him if you’re curious about the specifics.

He was actually credited on a few sets, I believe.

 

[Parmandur]

Anyone else curious about what mtg sets Mike Mearls worked on?

Turns out he designed for the followingon the Vision side (big picture set design):

• Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
• March of the Machine
• The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
• Outlaws of Thunder Junction