Anyway, read this (maybe not too much) cryptic post written by Cook on March 7th.
Quote:
It's become clear to me over the last few years that game players should be able to play the game they want to play, not the game a game designer wants them to play.
Now this could be a hint, but still far from the real truth.
That C&C has made literally no drop on the public consciousness? I am not even saying that I dislike C&C, but it is far from a commercial success or something universally embraced.
True, though I think there's a reason for that, namely that it's neither fish nor fowl. As the saying goes, "no one likes a moderate" and C&C is a very "moderate" game, taking bits from past and present editions to create a game that didn't appeal to lots of fans of either camp. That's why I'd be amazed if WotC decided to go down a similar path, though anything is possible, I suppose.
I do know, though, that at least two people who have signed NDAs and been involved with 5e have stated that nothing Monte Cook has said in the columns seems to have any resemblance to what they've actually seen. So, the real reason for the split may simply be due to complaints about his column stirring up ill will.
That's a very good point. I had noticed that there seemed to be a disconnect between what Cook was saying in his columns and what others were saying about the draft versions of the rules they had seen.
I confirm that. Monte's posts seems to have very little to do with the playtest rules we were given. But... we are only two drafts in and focusing on the core rules. So his influence might have been with the additional material we haven't seen yet.
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
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Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 372 Karma: 40
Re: Monte Cook jumps ship... « Reply #22 on Apr 26, 2012, 10:59pm »
I was thinking that was weird even for me. I know I mangle english due to the difficulties with my hearing loss but now the mystery is cleared up. I modified my post.
Yes, I agree with the common analysis: Monte wanted to try to dazzle everyone with his originality; WotC wants a familiar, uncontroversial, workaday C&C-style job.
Without dogging on Monte too much, I'm not sure he's ever been particularly original. All of his work since leaving WotC the first time has been made up of various retreads and add-ons to 3e. Lots of people I know online have been saying the near opposite about his departure from D&DN, namely that Cook wanted another crack at making 3e again while other people wanted an actual new edition.
My guess is that him leaving probably has little to do with either explanation and is likely to be him just butting heads with management over something complete behind the scenes and nothing to do with D&D itself.
A man may do both. For not we but those who come after will make the legends of our time. The green earth, say you? That is a mighty matter of legend, though you tread it under the light of day! —J.R.R. Tolkien
namely that Cook wanted another crack at making 3e again while other people wanted an actual new edition.
The biggest reason about it comes from his polls on Legends&Lore: clearly driven by the bounded article to make a Monte-wise choice (at least in different fora he's been mocked for that).
My idea is WotC called him for his overrated fame (people believes he's the only big daddy of 3E when he has just co-authored it along with Williams and the more worthy Tweet), he suggested 1 good idea and 9 bad ideas (as I suspect), something smart (Mearls) hasn't pumped Monte's ego too much and Monte played the victim's role.
We still have Schwalb, Smith and others at the moment: IMHO that's enough to forget about Monte's departure.
FYI, the 3.5e reprint listings have been yanked from Barnes & Noble.
They look kinda fishy at the moment: IMHO they have a too low price for a limited stock and a revised product, whereas the average price on Internet of the same is at least x1.5 times that value.
We already have C&C. What must they be thinking if they're going to try and reinvent that particular wheel?
That C&C has made literally no drop on the public consciousness? I am not even saying that I dislike C&C, but it is far from a commercial success or something universally embraced.
Personally, I have always liked the idea of C&C, but not always the implementation of it. Basically, pare d20 down to its bare essentials, tie saves to attributes, and rate monsters off HD is what I liked. The details of the Siege Engine, not so much.
Kelmult Dwarven Fgt-2 Olaf, the very lucky...so far! Human Fgt-2 Yusuf Kamal(Chainmail & Shield: AC 4, MV 6, HD 1, XP: 0, hp 6. #AT 1. 1d8 Sword, 1d6 Bow, 1d4 dagger x 2. Lucky Amulet, rations, waterskin x 2. GP: 0. [gold necklace & jewelry case with a few silver rings & bracelets...est. 70 gp])
That C&C has made literally no drop on the public consciousness? I am not even saying that I dislike C&C, but it is far from a commercial success or something universally embraced.
Personally, I have always liked the idea of C&C, but not always the implementation of it. Basically, pare d20 down to its bare essentials, tie saves to attributes, and rate monsters off HD is what I liked. The details of the Siege Engine, not so much.
I think a better candidate for a pared-down d20 with saves tied to attributes would be Microlite 20 with the missing ability scores added back in. Personally, I prefer playing OD&D the old-fashioned way, but if I were forced to pick one D&D that would also stand a good chance of appealing to new school people, it would be M20.
Personally, I have always liked the idea of C&C, but not always the implementation of it. Basically, pare d20 down to its bare essentials, tie saves to attributes, and rate monsters off HD is what I liked. The details of the Siege Engine, not so much.
I think a better candidate for a pared-down d20 with saves tied to attributes would be Microlite 20 with the missing ability scores added back in. Personally, I prefer playing OD&D the old-fashioned way, but if I were forced to pick one D&D that would also stand a good chance of appealing to new school people, it would be M20.
Yes, I think M20 is a very good start at a minimalistic d20, too.
Kelmult Dwarven Fgt-2 Olaf, the very lucky...so far! Human Fgt-2 Yusuf Kamal(Chainmail & Shield: AC 4, MV 6, HD 1, XP: 0, hp 6. #AT 1. 1d8 Sword, 1d6 Bow, 1d4 dagger x 2. Lucky Amulet, rations, waterskin x 2. GP: 0. [gold necklace & jewelry case with a few silver rings & bracelets...est. 70 gp])
Re: Monte Cook jumps ship... « Reply #29 on May 1, 2012, 12:01pm »
I am with Maliszewski on one of his posts further up-they aren't going to make us all happy with D&D Next. Some of those reports were a little weird, to the effect that a DM is thinking 3E while one player is thinking 1E and another 4E. How on earth would that work? Just provide reprints, let us buy what we want, and call it good. I am not for or against Cook, but if he is taking his ball and going home good luck to him and if he is deserting a sinking ship I hope he builds a better one.
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