The respected and popular designer, Monte Cook, unexpectedly announced he was quitting Wizards of the Coast and the D&D Next project this week. Cook’s return to the company, over a year ago, was one of the first signs that the next generation of the roleplaying game was on the way.
Cook blames a difference of opinion with the company as the reason to live. Writing on his blog he takes the time out to back the design team.
However, I want to take this time to stress that my differences were not with my fellow designers, Rob Schwalb and Bruce Cordell. I enjoyed every moment of working with them over the past year. I have faith that they’ll create a fun game. I’m rooting for them.
The full D&D Next design team is much larger. Today, the full team consists of Bruce Cordell, Rob Schwalb, Jeremy Crawford, Rodney Thompson, Miranda Horner, and Tom LaPille. Cook names Cordell and Schwalb as designers he enjoyed working with. Does that mean there was a problem with Thompson, Horner and LaPille?
No, that’s unlikely, Cook has not made many public comments about his decision to leave but he returned to his blog to say;
Praise for one person is not criticism for another. Singling out one does not automatically imply exclusion of another.
To be certain, I enjoyed much of my time working with everyone who’s been involved with the new edition of D&D: Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Bruce Cordell, Rob Schwalb, Miranda Horner, Tom LaPille, Rodney Thomson, Greg Bilsland, Matt Sernett, Rich Baker, James Wyatt, and everyone else. The WotC RPG R&D department is full of talent.
Bruce and Rob were the guys I spent each and every day with, though. They were my team. I’ll miss the daily doses of their creativity and friendship.
Senior Manager for the D&D research and design team, Mike Mearls, commented on Monte’s departure over at Wizards.com
I am surprised, and frankly saddened, by Monte’s decision to leave the D&D Next design team. I’d like to thank him for his contribution, and we all wish him well.
