/off topic
I have always disagreed that the magister is not balanced. The only way it becomes unbalanced is if one is allowed to use feats/prcs from outside Arcana Evolved. In general the magister does LESS damage than a wizard at most levels. Also it does LESS healing than a cleric at nearly all levels except 17+.

What the magister has in spades is versatility, which I admit could be argued as the one thing that makes it unbalanced. However, I argue that the magister is what the wizard should have been. And that the wizard is poorly designed, having legacy bits that 3rd ed playtesters/designers could not let go of.

Those who know me will likely roll thier eyes knowing I think wizards should rule all, but that’s ok with me.

Putting a Magister into a standard 3.5 game with Wiz/Sorc IS unbalanced, the Magister is a better caster hands down. Not having played the Arcana Evolved setting, we can not judge how the Magister is balanced against the characters he was meant to be played with.

I do think that Cook’s solo stuff has lacked the kind of give-and-take that is integral to balanced game design. Don’t believe me? One word: Magister.

Hell, Gygax’s solo work (including OD&D) lacked that same balance, so Monte’s in good company.

As to the other contributors being involved in Pathfinder: that’s awesome. Keep in mind that those folks aren’t leaving WotC, and that those great minds are also at work in D&D. Ed, Bob, Keith and Elaine all have hands in upcoming WotC products. If their involvement means gold… 4E will be gold, too.

Now, specifically as to Ed’s involvement… Anyone who’s spent any time with him knows that he doesn’t give a damn about rules. He’s there for the flavor.

Pathfinder is a great alternative for folks who don’t like 4E. I’m disheartened by folks that want Pathfinder to put D&D out of business without even having seen the damned product. I think that’s just plain silly.

The better Pathfinder (or Vampire or GURPS or whatever) becomes, the better D&D will become in the long run – competition in the marketplace makes for better products all around.

The DMs last blog post..The Night Before DnD-Mas

I imagine his role as “rules consultant” will go a long way ,but doubt it will make a lot of changes to the core PFRPG( as per Patrick’s comment) ,but I will politely disagree in regards to Book of Exp Might I and II…I think they are awesome and there mechanical changes would add a lot to the core book of Pathfinder.
Of course, just read the first line of my post to see why I think this.
Oh yeah, and DM:
Cooks pwns both Wyatt and Mearls

I don’t think he’ll be essential to Paizo’s efforts, but he certainly will be a lot of help. And his involvement has changed my level of interest from “enh, whatever” to “I’ll probably buy some of that”.

Drew Shiels last blog post..Thoughts On Crafting In WoW and WAR

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1031752

And Shemmy of Planescape fame also on board =)

The list keeps getting bigger.

Apis

It will be interesting to see how it all comes out in the wash.

Apis

He pretty much said what I was thinking.

I’ll add this to the mix: how many D&D players, truly, are “fans” of Monte Cook (or any other game developer?) There are some, to be sure. But if you press me, I’m going to tell you that I like Jim Wyatt and Mike Mearls at least as much as I like Monte, or probably more in the case of Jim.

Pathfinder is interesting to me. It’s coming out as a way for 3E folks to keep from becoming OD&D players without having to go to 4E.

The DMs last blog post..Dungeons and Dragons Sunday Link Smashup for May 17, 2008

Philip Kendalls last blog post..D&D 4e treasure

Apis