mikemearls22 points21 days ago
We work with a number of streamers directly, and for newer ones we don’t have a specific plan right now. We are thinking about what streaming means for the game, though, and how we can encourage it. Might be simple stuff, like guides on equipment, tech set up, and so on. from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.

mikemearls6 points21 days ago
Not in the near future, but he is still out there as a threat to the world. Comment from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.

I’ve included a bit of explanation with my questions, but if you want to skip that, I’ve bolded the questions themselves!

About a month ago, just before the inaugural PAX Unplugged show, Wizards of the Coast had posted a job opening for a brand new D&D Game Designer position for the first time in many years. Given the low turnover of positions on the D&D team, I can’t possibly fathom the number of applications you guys must have recieved. In fact, the position closed within 10 days of having been posted.

Can you share how far along the team has come in reviewing the applications that were submitted or when we might expect to find out who the newest member of the D&D creative team is? While I didn’t apply myself, I have a few friends who did that have been (somewhat) patiently keeping their fingers, toes, eyes, tentacles, and everything else imaginable crossed for any sort of news or updates and it’s come up as a topic of conversation in every session we’ve played since, either at the table or on Roll20.

Followup question, this one for me, as somebody who works in Recruiting/Staffing. How much sway do you, Jeremy, Chris Perkins, and the rest of the creative team personally have in the hiring decision for that role? With a company structured like WOTC/Hasbro is I can’t help but feel like there would be many redundant layers with non-essential screenings and HR interviews before a candidate ever even got to speak with you guys and your team.

mikemearls67 points19 days ago
First question:

We actually broke the system. I think after 800 applicants, the job system literally couldn’t take any more. We are moving into the interview stage now. It’s possible if you missed the initial 800 spots then you might not hear anything back. Not sure the system logged anything beyond that.

HR screens resumes for relevant experience based on my guidelines, and then conducts an initial phone screen using criteria we created. The D&D team drives all of the targets for skills and creates the interview questions and format. It’s pretty streamlined, but it’s 100% based on what the D&D team wants and needs.from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.

mikemearls5 points21 days ago
We wanted to keep creatures relatively simple, and treat them more like NPCs that represent truths about the world. In 4e, the emphasis was a lot more on tactical tricks. Comment from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.

Similarly, what about longer running playtest material? I know the Revised Ranger isn’t ready yet (Or is it…? You tell me!), but after utilizing DND Beyond, it’s tough to go back to hand writing everything. Any shot of RR, Artificer or Mystic going up there with a massive asterisk saying “PLAYTEST ONLY”?

mikemearls7 points21 days ago
Planeshift is not official. It’s basically a thing James does for fun, and we don’t want to burden it with needing all the work required to make it official.

We have talked to D&D Beyond about that, and are working on something to manage playtest material with them. Will likely start much smaller than a class to kick the tires on things to start. from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.

True to my word, I want to ask you about Nentir Vale. It’s easily my favorite setting to run in, as it’s just about as obtrusive as the DM needs it to be.

My questions are:

What really stood out to you about Nentir Vale, that made you want to run it in your home game?

Besides Lolth being fey (an interpretation I love), what else have you changed for your home game?

Is there any chance of seeing Points of Light / Nentir Vale for 5e in the future? It’s been one setting consistently omitted from the core books, which leads a DM to worry a little bit.

Thanks for doing this AMA, hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

mikemearls18 points19 days ago
I like the small scope, yet at the same time it captures all the big picture elements of the world.

Dragons serve as paladin patrons, deities have been rearranged a bit, half-orcs are replaced with just orcs, who are more in the barbarian tribe mold. Minotaurs as a bigger presence, owing to the ruins of Saruun Khel. I also made the Iron Circle less adversarial, more of a civilized LE group expanding into the area through Harkenwold. Comment from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.

Thanks for doing an AMA.

mikemearls14 points21 days ago
Considering using an alternative stealth system, with Wisdom saving throws replacing passive perception and stealth and perception checks made against static DCs based on the environment. from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.

mikemearls101 points19 days ago
Genies – I think the elemental planes as a whole could use some more detail. AMA: Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Director.