Comments on: Monte Cook Un-Retires and Joins Pathfinder RPG team. http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/ A DM's quest for Nirvana (or Mechanus, or the Abyss...) Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:17:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Xaaon http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10360 Xaaon Tue, 13 May 2008 23:51:36 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10360 I'm all about Pathfinder! I'm glad Monte Cook is onboard as a rules consultant. Jason Buhlman also stated some of the BoXM rules might make it into Pathfinder (not the 20 spell levels). I’m all about Pathfinder! I’m glad Monte Cook is onboard as a rules consultant. Jason Buhlman also stated some of the BoXM rules might make it into Pathfinder (not the 20 spell levels).

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10356 ChattyDM Tue, 13 May 2008 16:46:41 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10356 Yeah I hear you... I stopped going over forums some time ago. it's a shame because some seriously brilliant stuff occurs in them. Hmmm maybe a RPG blog focused on fishing Forum threads of interest and commenting on them could fly... Any takers? Yeah I hear you… I stopped going over forums some time ago. it’s a shame because some seriously brilliant stuff occurs in them.

Hmmm maybe a RPG blog focused on fishing Forum threads of interest and commenting on them could fly…

Any takers?

]]> By: shadow145 http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10355 shadow145 Tue, 13 May 2008 15:44:25 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10355 Yep, I go by the same handle on Monte's Boards, but I'm more of a lurker there. I keep an eye on the 4E, Book of Might, and Line of Sight Forums lately. I lurk on the Paizo boards too, the 4E forums mostly and anything that stirs my interest that pops up on the Main Page. I like EN World but I do most of my browesing while at work and I can't get that site. I'm finding I have less and less time to monitor forums anymore. shadow145s last blog post..<a href="http://shadow145.livejournal.com/7568.html" rel="nofollow">4E mechanic of the Moment: The Archmage & Epic Destiny</a> Yep, I go by the same handle on Monte’s Boards, but I’m more of a lurker there. I keep an eye on the 4E, Book of Might, and Line of Sight Forums lately. I lurk on the Paizo boards too, the 4E forums mostly and anything that stirs my interest that pops up on the Main Page. I like EN World but I do most of my browesing while at work and I can’t get that site.

I’m finding I have less and less time to monitor forums anymore.

shadow145s last blog post..4E mechanic of the Moment: The Archmage & Epic Destiny

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10352 ChattyDM Tue, 13 May 2008 13:46:25 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10352 @Shadow145: I too am a big Monte Fanboi. I read/played most of his 3.X adventures and I still think the 3.0 DMG is the best one ever written so far, a true heir to Gary's (Better organized too). In fact were it not for 4e, I'd have given Arcana Evolved a shot! Do you go by the same moniker on Okay...Your Turn Shadow? I used to spend a lot of time there before I started this blogging things. @Shadow145: I too am a big Monte Fanboi. I read/played most of his 3.X adventures and I still think the 3.0 DMG is the best one ever written so far, a true heir to Gary’s (Better organized too).

In fact were it not for 4e, I’d have given Arcana Evolved a shot!

Do you go by the same moniker on Okay…Your Turn Shadow? I used to spend a lot of time there before I started this blogging things.

]]> By: shadow145 http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10351 shadow145 Tue, 13 May 2008 13:39:14 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10351 Monte was part of the Design team for 3.0, mechanics, DMG, etc. 3.5 is a revision to 3.0, and the mechanics, DMG stuff, etc are all the same so it isn't a stretch to say he is a principle designer of 3.5 too. Just becasue they added tweaks here and there doesn't mean he loses the right to say he is a designer of the system. In fact WOTC should be crediting him more. If someone invents the ice cream cone you can't say they didn't invent the ice cream cone with a cherry on top. (ouch... sorry) Oh yeah, BTW I'm a Monte Cook Fanboy :) I have both Books of Expirimental Might. He was out of it, but after he mentioned in his message board he was running a 3.5 game for friends and he had a bunch of house rules he was trying out, his message board readers really wanted to see them and offered him money for them (since putting them together was going to be a time consuming effort). So he went ahead and did it, and it sold amazingly well. It was geared towards magic users, and the message board readers then said they wanted to see some similar stuff for fighters, so he threw something together for that. Whether they were house rules he was already using or some he came up with because he saw demand (ie profit) I don't know. Again, it sold really well. Now he is dabbling more and more, and I believe he said he's only going to do it as long as it is fun. He is retired from Gaming, but he's still a gamer, and he can't quite stay completely out so he continues to work on stuff, but on his own terms. He is the perfect person for the job of Game Consultant on Pathfinder. He has done this before! Arcana Unearthed was essentially a 3.0 revision with different classes, slightly modified mechanics, but still 3.0 and not tied to the D20 license. Pathfinder is trying to accomplish the same thing, although not such an extreme case as AU was. I was wondering if they would pull some of the OGC from BOXM into pathfinder, in fact I still wonder it, but I am really looking forward to whatever they come up with. I am really glad Jason has someone of Monte's caliber giving him guidance, the job is really big and another set of experienced eyes can only make the product better. Another impact is that Monte's involvement kind of gives the project legitimacy. There are bound to be a bunch of 3.5 "spinoffs" and this gives Pathfinder the appearence of being the true heir to 3.5. Hopefully those companies that were looking to make new 3.5 compatible products instead begin making Pathfinder compatible products. (Before you say that's crazy talk, look at the current support for Arcana Evolved). it is better to make support productsfor books that are on the shelvs than books that are out of print. So, if you can't tell, I'm excited by this announcement. I look forward to seeing the beta release of Pathfinder soon. But also, I hope that Jason and the other designers learn from Monte. Monte's been in the business a long time, and the more new designers he shares his experience with the better for the industry as a whole. But I stand by my belief that I have room in my life for Pathfinder and 4E. They are two different games with different play styles and there are things I will enjoy with each. shadow145s last blog post..<a href="http://shadow145.livejournal.com/7568.html" rel="nofollow">4E mechanic of the Moment: The Archmage & Epic Destiny</a> Monte was part of the Design team for 3.0, mechanics, DMG, etc. 3.5 is a revision to 3.0, and the mechanics, DMG stuff, etc are all the same so it isn’t a stretch to say he is a principle designer of 3.5 too. Just becasue they added tweaks here and there doesn’t mean he loses the right to say he is a designer of the system. In fact WOTC should be crediting him more. If someone invents the ice cream cone you can’t say they didn’t invent the ice cream cone with a cherry on top. (ouch… sorry)

Oh yeah, BTW I’m a Monte Cook Fanboy :)

I have both Books of Expirimental Might. He was out of it, but after he mentioned in his message board he was running a 3.5 game for friends and he had a bunch of house rules he was trying out, his message board readers really wanted to see them and offered him money for them (since putting them together was going to be a time consuming effort). So he went ahead and did it, and it sold amazingly well. It was geared towards magic users, and the message board readers then said they wanted to see some similar stuff for fighters, so he threw something together for that. Whether they were house rules he was already using or some he came up with because he saw demand (ie profit) I don’t know. Again, it sold really well.

Now he is dabbling more and more, and I believe he said he’s only going to do it as long as it is fun. He is retired from Gaming, but he’s still a gamer, and he can’t quite stay completely out so he continues to work on stuff, but on his own terms.

He is the perfect person for the job of Game Consultant on Pathfinder. He has done this before! Arcana Unearthed was essentially a 3.0 revision with different classes, slightly modified mechanics, but still 3.0 and not tied to the D20 license. Pathfinder is trying to accomplish the same thing, although not such an extreme case as AU was.

I was wondering if they would pull some of the OGC from BOXM into pathfinder, in fact I still wonder it, but I am really looking forward to whatever they come up with. I am really glad Jason has someone of Monte’s caliber giving him guidance, the job is really big and another set of experienced eyes can only make the product better.

Another impact is that Monte’s involvement kind of gives the project legitimacy. There are bound to be a bunch of 3.5 “spinoffs” and this gives Pathfinder the appearence of being the true heir to 3.5. Hopefully those companies that were looking to make new 3.5 compatible products instead begin making Pathfinder compatible products. (Before you say that’s crazy talk, look at the current support for Arcana Evolved). it is better to make support productsfor books that are on the shelvs than books that are out of print.

So, if you can’t tell, I’m excited by this announcement. I look forward to seeing the beta release of Pathfinder soon. But also, I hope that Jason and the other designers learn from Monte. Monte’s been in the business a long time, and the more new designers he shares his experience with the better for the industry as a whole.

But I stand by my belief that I have room in my life for Pathfinder and 4E. They are two different games with different play styles and there are things I will enjoy with each.

shadow145s last blog post..4E mechanic of the Moment: The Archmage & Epic Destiny

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10349 ChattyDM Tue, 13 May 2008 12:47:53 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10349 Just so we're clear (and that Monte doesn't barge in here telling me off) he's only a rules consultant on the RPG for the moment. He's not employed by Paizo. And know also that he sits on the Gleemax board of directors (or the equivalent). I think he's still very much into writing novels and other creative projects... Bt something tells me he was exceedingly surprised to see how well the Book of experimental Might did and he may feel the urge to re-visit a business practice in which he excels. As for complexity of rules Graham, let's not forget that Monte worked on Rolemaster a lot, so he really likes crunchy bits and maybe he's not all that keen on rules optimization... Although as I write this, I recall he did write the Hero Cliks rules which, in my mind, D&D 4e is borrowing heavily from in term of combat mechanics philosophy. Hmmm... I would have to read the BoExpM to judge it better... Just so we’re clear (and that Monte doesn’t barge in here telling me off) he’s only a rules consultant on the RPG for the moment. He’s not employed by Paizo.

And know also that he sits on the Gleemax board of directors (or the equivalent).

I think he’s still very much into writing novels and other creative projects… Bt something tells me he was exceedingly surprised to see how well the Book of experimental Might did and he may feel the urge to re-visit a business practice in which he excels.

As for complexity of rules Graham, let’s not forget that Monte worked on Rolemaster a lot, so he really likes crunchy bits and maybe he’s not all that keen on rules optimization…

Although as I write this, I recall he did write the Hero Cliks rules which, in my mind, D&D 4e is borrowing heavily from in term of combat mechanics philosophy.

Hmmm… I would have to read the BoExpM to judge it better…

]]> By: Alex Schröder http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10347 Alex Schröder Tue, 13 May 2008 10:45:32 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10347 I liked BOXM 1, and I'm looking forward to seeing BOXM 2. Given the choice between upgrading my game to 4E, staying with the core PHB and DMG (I'm already using the MIC and other monster books), expanding the core game with PHB2, DMG2, Complete This, Complete That etc., or expanding the core game with BOXM 1 & 2, I'll go with the last choice. Somehow the two intrigue me. Alex Schröders last blog post..<a href="http://www.emacswiki.org/alex/2008-05-12_Sleeping_God%E2%80%99s_Soul" rel="nofollow">2008-05-12 Sleeping God’s Soul</a> I liked BOXM 1, and I’m looking forward to seeing BOXM 2. Given the choice between upgrading my game to 4E, staying with the core PHB and DMG (I’m already using the MIC and other monster books), expanding the core game with PHB2, DMG2, Complete This, Complete That etc., or expanding the core game with BOXM 1 & 2, I’ll go with the last choice. Somehow the two intrigue me.

Alex Schröders last blog post..2008-05-12 Sleeping God’s Soul

]]> By: Graham http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10345 Graham Tue, 13 May 2008 03:14:03 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10345 If your D&D of choice is Eberron, 4e has a lot to offer. I am also a fan of Monte Cook's design abilities, but while I loved reading and planning with Arcana Unearthed, it has occurred to me lately that I would never want to play with it. Scanning the Book of Experimental Might lately is what brought me to that conclusion. Monte's great for mechanics. He's not so great for making those mechanics simple and streamlined. If your D&D of choice is Eberron, 4e has a lot to offer.

I am also a fan of Monte Cook’s design abilities, but while I loved reading and planning with Arcana Unearthed, it has occurred to me lately that I would never want to play with it. Scanning the Book of Experimental Might lately is what brought me to that conclusion.

Monte’s great for mechanics.

He’s not so great for making those mechanics simple and streamlined.

]]> By: John Arcadian http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10344 John Arcadian Tue, 13 May 2008 02:59:40 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10344 I've been kind of psyched about the directions that 4e was going in, but I'm also a fan of Monte cook. This gives me a bit of pause about 4e. Still, my DND of choice is Eberron and Keith Baker saying that it looked like they were going to be doing a lot of the non core 4e Eberron stuff as DND insider materials also gave me some pause. I'm kind of in the "Lets wait and see what happens with 4E" camp now. I’ve been kind of psyched about the directions that 4e was going in, but I’m also a fan of Monte cook. This gives me a bit of pause about 4e. Still, my DND of choice is Eberron and Keith Baker saying that it looked like they were going to be doing a lot of the non core 4e Eberron stuff as DND insider materials also gave me some pause. I’m kind of in the “Lets wait and see what happens with 4E” camp now.

]]> By: Ronin http://chattydm.net/2008/05/12/monte-cook-comes-out-of-retirement-and-joins-paizo/#comment-10341 Ronin Tue, 13 May 2008 01:45:02 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=576#comment-10341 I think this is great. Monte Cook is one of my favorite 3.5 authors. Paizo is one of my favorite game companies. So this seems like a match made in heaven for me. Now I'm interested in 4E. But I dont know how quickly I plan on moving away from 3.5. So this may be a good resource, and interesting books to boot. I think this is great. Monte Cook is one of my favorite 3.5 authors. Paizo is one of my favorite game companies. So this seems like a match made in heaven for me. Now I’m interested in 4E. But I dont know how quickly I plan on moving away from 3.5. So this may be a good resource, and interesting books to boot.

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