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

[Charlaquin]

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

Oh, my mistake then. In my defense, I had been out of Magic for quite a few years by then, and only just got back into it after discovering Pauper (which by the way I think is hands-down the best way to play constructed Magic right now.)

 

[Parmandur]

Oh, my mistake then. In my defense, I had been out of Magic for quite a few years by then, and only just got back into it after discovering Pauper (which by the way I think is hands-down the best way to play constructed Magic right now.)

Pretty out of it myself, but I do like reading Rosewater's design articles, and he is big on credit where credit is due, and I recall seeing @mearls name a few times.

 

[Staffan]

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

According to MTG Wiki:

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

 

[Henadic Theologian]

According to MTG Wiki:

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

Hate March of the Machine, but that was not Mearl's fault, it was the storytelling crew.

 

[Micah Sweet]

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.

I get that. Player content really gets pushed too hard IMO. There is already so much of that, while more tools for GMs IMO is better for the game as a whole.

 

[mamba]

Yes and playing any fantasy videogame "might" get someone interested in D&D but I wouldn't claim that's supporting D&D nor did I say the only way was to pay a licensing fee...

and even if it didn’t at all, just for argument’s sake, what would that change? It followed the terms of the contract and that contract is irrevocable.

So WotC still tried to violate that contract and to strong-arm 3pps into a terrible alternative

 

[mamba]

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.

what was that active harm, none has been demonstrated as far as I can tell

 

[mamba]

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

He is basically repeating what Kyle Brinks said as far as I can tell / remember from that.

I doubt he was in the room where these things were discussed and decided given that he was not even on the same team

Do you honestly believe that if the negotiations had gone on we would have eventually arrived at something close to 1.0a if only the 3pps kept pushing back?

 

[DinoInDisguise]

I get that. Player content really gets pushed too hard IMO. There is already so much of that, while more tools for GMs IMO is better for the game as a whole.

I think it's really hard to make DM content that is broadly applicable.

Things like random tables are useful to certain styles. Other things like advice and optional rules are cool and useful, once. But you never really revisit them. Maybe world lore books? But my favorite books as a DM are monster books.

There was an Atlas Animalia from Metal Weave games that gave like in-depth lore on a small subset of creatures. Really niche stuff like ecology and habitat, behavior, almost like an article on a real creature. Loved that book. But I doubt most DMs value that content like I do.

I don't know what WotC can make for DMs that is broadly useful to experienced DMs. When players it's easy, a new subclass or race.

 

[Charlaquin]

I think it's really hard to make DM content that is broadly applicable.

Things like random tables are useful to certain styles. Other things like advice and optional rules are cool and useful, once. But you never really revisit them. Maybe world lore books? But my favorite books as a DM are monster books.

There was an Atlas Animalia from Metal Weave games that gave like in-depth lore on a small subset of creatures. Really niche stuff like ecology and habitat, behavior, almost like an article on a real creature. Loved that book. But I doubt most DMs value that content like I do.

I don't know what WotC can make for DMs that is broadly useful to experienced DMs. When players it's easy, a new subclass or race.

I think he was talking about digital tools. Stuff like Kobold Fight Club and its ilk that automate a lot of the tedious processes so the DM can focus more of their energy on the fun creative parts of their role.