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Along with [[Andy Collins]], [[David Noonan]], and [[Jesse Decker]], Mearls was part of [[Rob Heinsoo]]'s "Flywheel" design team for the fourth edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', and did the final concept work from May 2006 to September 2006, before the first books for the edition were written and playtested.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|297}} After Heinsoo was laid off in 2009, Mearls stepped up to become the new ''D&D'' Lead Designer.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|301}} He co-designed the ''Castle Ravenloft Board Game'' (2010) with Bill Slavicsek.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|302}}
Along with [[Andy Collins]], [[David Noonan]], and [[Jesse Decker]], Mearls was part of [[Rob Heinsoo]]'s "Flywheel" design team for the fourth edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', and did the final concept work from May 2006 to September 2006, before the first books for the edition were written and playtested.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|297}} After Heinsoo was laid off in 2009, Mearls stepped up to become the new ''D&D'' Lead Designer.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|301}} He co-designed the ''Castle Ravenloft Board Game'' (2010) with Bill Slavicsek.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|302}}


In 2014, Mearls was a senior manager for ''Dungeons & Dragons'' research and development.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Digital-age 'Dungeons & Dragons' more than rolling dice|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/08/19/tech/gaming-gadgets/dungeons-dragons-digital/index.html|last=Frum|first=Larry|website=CNN|date=19 August 2014|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dnd.wizards.com/taxonomy/term/396|title=Mike Mearls &#124; Dungeons & Dragons|website=dnd.wizards.com}}</ref> Mearls was, together with [[Jeremy Crawford]], Co-Lead Designer for the 5e.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Wizards RPG Team|title=Players Handbook|publisher=Wizard of the Coast|year=2014|isbn=978-0786965601}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|title=Inside the Launch of the New Dungeons & Dragons With Designer Mike Mearls|url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/tabletop/11554-Inside-the-Launch-of-the-New-Dungeons-Dragons-With-Designer-Mike|last=Bolding|first=Jonathan|date=June 2, 2014|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)| The Escapist]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=An Interview With Jeremy Crawford, Co-Designer and Editor of Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition|url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/tabletop/13729-An-Interview-With-Jeremy-Crawford-Co-Designer-and-Editor-of-Dung|last=Bolding|first=Jonathan|date=April 2, 2015|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)| The Escapist]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> In 2017, Mearls became the Franchise Creative Director.<ref name=linkedin>{{cite web |title=Mike Mearls |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemearls/ |format= |work=LinkedIn |accessdate=10 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Behind the scenes of the making of Dungeons & Dragons|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/behind-the-scenes-of-the-making-of-dungeons-dragons/|last=Brodeur|first=Nicole|date=2018-05-04|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: 'Dungeons & Dragons' to Announce New Settings for Fifth Edition Later This Year|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-and-dragons-fifth-edition-campaign-settings/|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=June 7, 2018|website=ComicBook.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> He left the Wizards of the Coast tabletop RPG team in 2019 and became the Director of Game Design for ''Magic the Gathering'' in 2020.<ref name=linkedin />  Mearls was replaced by [[Ray Winninger]] as the Executive Producer in charge of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' studio in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dungeons & Dragons' Design Team Has a New Head, Mike Mearls Exited Last Year|url=http://411mania.com/games/dungeons-dragons-design-team-has-a-new-head-mike-mearls-exited-last-year/|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|date=April 29, 2020|website=411MANIA|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502030608/https://411mania.com/games/dungeons-dragons-design-team-has-a-new-head-mike-mearls-exited-last-year/|archive-date=2020-05-02|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=He no longer works on the tabletop RPG team and hasn't since sometime last year.|url=https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/1255304531329548290|last=Crawford|first=Jeremy|date=2020-04-28|website=Twitter|publisher=[[Jeremy Crawford]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref>
In 2014, Mearls was a senior manager for ''Dungeons & Dragons'' research and development.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Digital-age 'Dungeons & Dragons' more than rolling dice|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/08/19/tech/gaming-gadgets/dungeons-dragons-digital/index.html|last=Frum|first=Larry|website=CNN|date=19 August 2014|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dnd.wizards.com/taxonomy/term/396|title=Mike Mearls &#124; Dungeons & Dragons|website=dnd.wizards.com}}</ref> Mearls was, together with [[Jeremy Crawford]], Co-Lead Designer for the 5e.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Wizards RPG Team|title=Players Handbook|publisher=Wizard of the Coast|year=2014|isbn=978-0786965601}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|title=Inside the Launch of the New Dungeons & Dragons With Designer Mike Mearls|url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/tabletop/11554-Inside-the-Launch-of-the-New-Dungeons-Dragons-With-Designer-Mike|last=Bolding|first=Jonathan|date=June 2, 2014|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)| The Escapist]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=An Interview With Jeremy Crawford, Co-Designer and Editor of Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition|url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/tabletop/13729-An-Interview-With-Jeremy-Crawford-Co-Designer-and-Editor-of-Dung|last=Bolding|first=Jonathan|date=April 2, 2015|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)| The Escapist]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> In 2017, Mearls became the Franchise Creative Director.<ref name=linkedin>{{cite web |title=Mike Mearls |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemearls/ |format= |work=LinkedIn |accessdate=10 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Behind the scenes of the making of Dungeons & Dragons|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/behind-the-scenes-of-the-making-of-dungeons-dragons/|last=Brodeur|first=Nicole|date=2018-05-04|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: 'Dungeons & Dragons' to Announce New Settings for Fifth Edition Later This Year|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-and-dragons-fifth-edition-campaign-settings/|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=June 7, 2018|website=ComicBook.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> He left the Wizards of the Coast tabletop RPG team in 2019 and became the Director of Game Design for ''Magic the Gathering'' in 2020.<ref name=linkedin />  Mearls was replaced by [[Ray Winninger]] as the Executive Producer in charge of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' studio in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dungeons & Dragons' Design Team Has a New Head, Mike Mearls Exited Last Year|url=http://411mania.com/games/dungeons-dragons-design-team-has-a-new-head-mike-mearls-exited-last-year/|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|date=April 29, 2020|website=411MANIA|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502030608/https://411mania.com/games/dungeons-dragons-design-team-has-a-new-head-mike-mearls-exited-last-year/|archive-date=2020-05-02|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=He no longer works on the tabletop RPG team and has not since sometime last year.|url=https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/1255304531329548290|last=Crawford|first=Jeremy|date=2020-04-28|website=Twitter|publisher=[[Jeremy Crawford]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref>


In December 2023, Mearls was part of annual lay offs at [[Wizards of the Coast]], and began working privately as a consultant.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Mearls |url={{cite web |title=Mike Mearls |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemearls/ |format= |work=LinkedIn |date=December 2023 |accessdate=10 March 2024|quote=I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as the Single Wringable Neck at Mike Mearls Consulting!}} |format= |work=LinkedIn |accessdate=10 March 2024}}</ref>
In December 2023, Mearls was part of annual lay offs at [[Wizards of the Coast]], and began working privately as a consultant.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Mearls |url={{cite web |title=Mike Mearls |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemearls/ |format= |work=LinkedIn |date=December 2023 |accessdate=10 March 2024|quote=I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as the Single Wringable Neck at Mike Mearls Consulting!}} |format= |work=LinkedIn |accessdate=10 March 2024}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 06:48, 23 August 2024

Greyhawk Creator
Mike Mearls
Mike Mearls, attending the ENnies, 2012.
Nationality:United States

Michael Mearls is a writer and designer of RPGs and related fiction. He was the senior manager for the Dungeons & Dragons research and design team. He co-led the design for the fifth edition of the game. He also worked on the Castle Ravenloft board game, and various compendium books for D&D third, fourth, and fifth editions.

Education

Mearls is an alumnus of Dartmouth College.[1] While at Dartmouth he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, and became known for a satiric letter to the campus paper.[2]

Career

Mearls wrote the adventure To Stand on Hallowed Ground/Swords Against Deception (2001) for Fiery Dragon Productions[3]:226 and the last product from Hogshead Publishing, a Warhammer adventure titled Fear the Worst (2002) that Hogshead released for free on the internet.[3]:307 He also designed the game Iron Heroes (2005) for Malhavoc Press.[3]:226

In June 2005, Mearls was hired as a designer by Wizards of the Coast; he came to Wizards through the community of third-party d20 designers.[3]:301 At Wizards, he served as a lead developer and Senior Manager for Dungeons & Dragons R&D[4] working on the new fourth edition.[5] Between the "Orcus I" and "Orcus II" design phases for fourth edition, Mearls spliced the encounter-power mechanics of fourth edition into Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords (2006), which was in process during development of the new edition.[3]:298

Along with Andy Collins, David Noonan, and Jesse Decker, Mearls was part of Rob Heinsoo's "Flywheel" design team for the fourth edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and did the final concept work from May 2006 to September 2006, before the first books for the edition were written and playtested.[3]:297 After Heinsoo was laid off in 2009, Mearls stepped up to become the new D&D Lead Designer.[3]:301 He co-designed the Castle Ravenloft Board Game (2010) with Bill Slavicsek.[3]:302

In 2014, Mearls was a senior manager for Dungeons & Dragons research and development.[6][7] Mearls was, together with Jeremy Crawford, Co-Lead Designer for the 5e.[8] [9][10] In 2017, Mearls became the Franchise Creative Director.[4][11][12] He left the Wizards of the Coast tabletop RPG team in 2019 and became the Director of Game Design for Magic the Gathering in 2020.[4] Mearls was replaced by Ray Winninger as the Executive Producer in charge of the Dungeons & Dragons studio in 2020.[13][14]

In December 2023, Mearls was part of annual lay offs at Wizards of the Coast, and began working privately as a consultant.[15]

Writing credits

  • Iron Heroes role playing game.
  • "The Siege of Durgham's Folly," from Necromancer Games
  • Dungeons & Dragons fourth edition Player's Handbook 2[16]
  • Dungeons & Dragons fourth edition Monster Manual 3[17]
  • Dungeons & Dragons fourth edition Keep on the Shadowfell, Adventure Book
  • Playtest: New Hybrid and Multiclass Options, Dragon magazine #400[18]
  • Dragon magazine #360[19]

Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ↑ TheDartmouth.com | Graduation List as of June 5, 1997.
  2. ↑ College Should Look Into Robot Workers, Cloning and Zombies.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h Shannon Appelcline (2011) Designers & Dragons, Mongoose Publishing ISBN: 978-1-907702-58-7.
  4. ↑ a b c Mike Mearls. LinkedIn. Retrieved on 10 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Homepage. Wizards Corporate.
  6. ↑ Frum, Larry. Digital-age 'Dungeons & Dragons' more than rolling dice. CNN.
  7. ↑ Mike Mearls | Dungeons & Dragons. dnd.wizards.com.
  8. ↑ Wizards RPG Team (2014) Players Handbook, Wizard of the Coast ISBN: 978-0786965601.
  9. ↑ Bolding, Jonathan. Inside the Launch of the New Dungeons & Dragons With Designer Mike Mearls (in en). The Escapist.
  10. ↑ Bolding, Jonathan. An Interview With Jeremy Crawford, Co-Designer and Editor of Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition (in en). The Escapist.
  11. ↑ Brodeur, Nicole. Behind the scenes of the making of Dungeons & Dragons (in en-US). The Seattle Times.
  12. ↑ Hoffer, Christian. Exclusive: 'Dungeons & Dragons' to Announce New Settings for Fifth Edition Later This Year (in en). ComicBook.com.
  13. ↑ Thomas, Jeremy. Dungeons & Dragons' Design Team Has a New Head, Mike Mearls Exited Last Year (in en-US). 411MANIA.
  14. ↑ Crawford, Jeremy. He no longer works on the tabletop RPG team and has not since sometime last year. (in en). Twitter. Jeremy Crawford, 2020-04-28.
  15. ↑ [Mike Mearls. LinkedIn , December 2023. Retrieved on 10 March 2024. "I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as the Single Wringable Neck at Mike Mearls Consulting!" Mike Mearls]. LinkedIn. Retrieved on 10 March 2024.
  16. ↑ Contents. Player's Handbook 2. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ Mike Mearls | Dungeons & Dragons (in en). dnd.wizards.com.
  18. ↑ Mearls, Mike. Playtest: New Hybrid and Multiclass Options. Dragon magazine #400. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. ↑ Mearls, Mike. Encounter Design in fourth edition. Dragon magazine #360. Wizards of the Coast, 2007-09-21.

Bibliography

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