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Ze
Learned Scribe
Italy
147 Posts |
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Plaguescarred
Learned Scribe
Canada
190 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 08:07:15
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| Thanks for everything Bruce, and best of luck all in your future endeavors! |
Yan
Playtester |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2428 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 12:19:03
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Aye. Not too long ago Richard Baker, now Bruce Cordell...
More to the point, waiting for his next books, both source- and fiction. That also may answer some questions, given that his old ones cover the whole range from "cut and polished diamond" to "uh, what?", and we all know... |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 12:34:13
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Everyone at the helm of 4E is let go, it seems . . . |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 13:00:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Everyone at the helm of 4E is let go, it seems . . .
It sounds voluntary, not that he was let go. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 14:12:50
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I have mixed emotions about this. I enjoyed his novel Darkvision, and I liked a lot of his pre-4e material.
The real problem I have with this, "why NOW?" What does he know that we don't?
Monte also left under 'mysterious circumstances', and now BC is joining them. Me thinks there is a major 'design decision' floating around out there that they just couldn't get onboard with. I am not talking about the lore itself (we all know how much that gets changed lately), and I am not talking about the 5e rules (Monte made it clear he still loved those when he left)... its something else.
Something major, an yet not directly part of the game itself. More of a 'philosophical' thing.
Ignore me... I am rambling again... 
Either way, I wish him well. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 17 Jul 2013 14:13:21 |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3806 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 15:46:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I have mixed emotions about this. I enjoyed his novel Darkvision, and I liked a lot of his pre-4e material.
The real problem I have with this, "why NOW?" What does he know that we don't?
Monte also left under 'mysterious circumstances', and now BC is joining them. Me thinks there is a major 'design decision' floating around out there that they just couldn't get onboard with. I am not talking about the lore itself (we all know how much that gets changed lately), and I am not talking about the 5e rules (Monte made it clear he still loved those when he left)... its something else.
Something major, an yet not directly part of the game itself. More of a 'philosophical' thing.
Ignore me... I am rambling again...
Either way, I wish him well.
You mean something like even less content for even higher prices ? |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
Edited by - Irennan on 17 Jul 2013 15:46:36 |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 16:14:59
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I would caution against reading too much into this.
Bruce has been working on D&D for a long, long time. This edition change is entering the refinement stage (most of the core design decisions are done), and it may be that he needed to leave now, or felt like he'd have to stay all the way through the development cycle.
It may be that he has other things he wants to do, and WotC's no-compete contracts don't allow him to pursue them.
It may be that he wants to get back involved in telling stories instead of designing rules.
It may be that he wants to move out of the PNW.
It might be the traffic.
Yes, it's possible that he has philosophical differences with the company. But sometimes, as an adult, even doing something you like (or love), you look around, put down your work implement, and say "you know what? I think I'm done here."
All I know is that Bruce is a nice guy with great ideas. I hope he has the opportunity, if he wants it, to share those with us through fiction, game design, or whatever else he chooses. It just may be that enough of those ideas just aren't D&D anymore. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2013 : 17:49:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
The real problem I have with this, "why NOW?" What does he know that we don't?
Perhaps he knows that other opportunities await, and he'd like to explore them.
Perhaps he knows that he wants more money, and/or a shorter drive, and/or a larger office.
Perhaps he knows that he has personal reasons for leaving that have nothing at all to do with WotC -- health concerns, mayhaps, or maybe family reasons. One of the best bosses I've had left his job because his wife was offered a better position elsewhere -- and while he could get a job in his field pretty much anywhere, good jobs in her field are limited to a few locations.
Perhaps we shouldn't read into a very limited amount of information. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 03:58:56
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Perhaps he wants to leave while still on good footing with WotC. They have a tendency to gradually clear out in-house senior designers after a major edition change, especially those associated with the released edition. (Not a criticism, just how things work.) Here he can depart on his own terms and plan out his post-WotC objectives well ahead of time.
Bruce picking up some work with Monte Cook's company is a good bet, aren't they childhood friends? Numenera may be something he's wanted to participate in (but couldn't as a WotC staff designer). Otherwise, he could just want to focus on his novel writing. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 04:00:38
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I just felt the timing was a bit odd, is all.
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 04:19:17
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I believe that Bruce was supposed to be representing WOTC/D&D/FR at a Houston con next month.
Maybe he just really, really doesn't want to deal with Houston heat & humidity in August?
I wonder what kind of Realms representation we'll get, now? |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 04:34:47
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quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
I believe that Bruce was supposed to be representing WOTC/D&D/FR at a Houston con next month.
Maybe he just really, really doesn't want to deal with Houston heat & humidity in August?
I wonder what kind of Realms representation we'll get, now?
While I'm certain that the public announcement means his leave-taking is imminent (if not already done), I am noticing a lack of a timeframe in his "farewell" post. So it's possible that he'll be staying on that long... Unlikely, but theoretically possible. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 12:55:53
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| That is a pity. I enjoyed many of his novels especially Stardeep. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 14:08:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Everyone at the helm of 4E is let go, it seems . . .
It sounds voluntary, not that he was let go.
For whatever it’s worth, I hope it’s really voluntary. It’s common practice among employers to allow (force, really) their employees to tender their resignation instead of issuing them termination papers—to show them some semblance of respect—so that said employees can “save face” when they’re interviewed by their future employers. Business-wise, I don’t think WotC was happy with 4E. And with the advent of 5E, they might be putting the people who were at the helm of 4E (well, most of them, that is) at the sidelines, soliciting ideas instead from a pool of people who thought that 4E was not good [insert other euphemisms here] in general. And when your ideas aren’t heard or your talents are not fully utilized in a job that you think would benefit from them, would you still stay? |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 14:11:10
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| Thauranil: Many WotC novels are written by freelancers (like me) rather than staffers. So it's conceivable that Bruce could be hired to write more books even though he's left his position. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4441 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2013 : 14:57:10
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Bruce worked a far more pre-3E stuff than 4E stuff (4 source books, 4 adventures) and I'm not sure that it was his game design that had issues. Also, Mike Mearls worked on the better part of 4E and was the lead designer when the Essentials line came out, yet he firmly remains in charge.
I'm of the mind that it was his decision to move one and probably not their. |
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Lord of Bones
Seeker
United Kingdom
78 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2013 : 08:35:08
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| I just asked Monte Cook about Bruce Cordell potentially signing on to Numenera in my interview with him last night (which can be viewed on my channel). |
Come watch the Gentleman's Guide to Gaming!
http://www.youtube.com/user/clackclickbang
On my channel I review and dissect role-playing games with great gusto. Please do take a look and let me know what you think. |
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CorellonsDevout
Great Reader
USA
2708 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2013 : 04:33:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Thauranil: Many WotC novels are written by freelancers (like me) rather than staffers. So it's conceivable that Bruce could be hired to write more books even though he's left his position.
That would be nice. I'd like to see more Sword of the Gods |
Sweet water and light laughter |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2013 : 04:39:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Business-wise, I don’t think WotC was happy with 4E. And with the advent of 5E, they might be putting the people who were at the helm of 4E (well, most of them, that is) at the sidelines, soliciting ideas instead from a pool of people who thought that 4E was not good [insert other euphemisms here] in general.
I haven't got good data on 4e sales, but my intuitive sense and what I can gather from the (possibly non-representative) local market is that it significantly underperformed in comparison to company expectations.
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
And when your ideas aren’t heard or your talents are not fully utilized in a job that you think would benefit from them, would you still stay?
Does hypothetical me have a family to feed? I sure hope not, at game designer wages...
But in either case, yes if I'm responsible for others and see a significant chance of starving if I leave, no if not. |
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2013 : 11:16:19
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While this is disappointing news [I've always been a Cordell-fan], I'm inclined to agree with Garen.
I'm looking forward to whatever Bruce has planned next for his work! |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Derulbaskul
Senior Scribe
Singapore
408 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2013 : 09:56:42
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I'm happy for him.
As much as I am sure the creative side of the work is personally rewarding, the combination of low salaries for game designers and the twice-yearly peek over the shoulder to see if you're about to be retrenched must become frustrating after a while. I hope he lands a really good gig. |
Cheers
D
NB: Please remember: A cannon is a big gun. Canon is what we discuss here. |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2013 : 07:22:28
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| That was my first look at Numenera (Cook's latest game). Thanks for the link. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2013 : 15:33:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Thauranil: Many WotC novels are written by freelancers (like me) rather than staffers. So it's conceivable that Bruce could be hired to write more books even though he's left his position.
That is a relief. Thanks for the info. |
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Bruce Cordell leaves WotC
