The latest round of pre-Christmas layoffs from Wizards of the Coast.

I’ve seen four names mentioned: Rob Heinsoo, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Logan Bonner and Chris Sims. I’m hoping that Stephen’s name has been added mistakenly, but bad news is rarely mistaken.

The name I really can’t believe is there – with all apologies to you other fine people; you do great work – is Rob Heinsoo. Rob Heinsoo first really came to my attention when the D&D Miniatures game was bright, shiny and new. He and Mike Donais used to come on the Wizards boards (and elsewhere) and tell us stuff about the game. In so doing, they enthused a younger Merric greatly about the game, so that he started collecting what they were saying and archiving it. Thus began my DDM News page which I ran for several years.

Later on, Rob moved onto what I’d have to consider bigger and better things: the D&D 4E design team. More than that, the lead designer!

Windjammer has written a tribute to Rob’s work on EN World.

I’ve had a lot of fun over the past year and a bit since 4E was released (and before, of course), and those four people have a lot to do with that. Stephen has been happily designing Dungeon Tiles and writing books (Power books and more). When I think of Logan, for some reason the word “adventures” wanders through my head. (Yes, he wrote rulebooks too, but he’s part-responsible for King of the Trollhaunt Warrens, which I like so much), and Chris Sims – Khur on EN World – apart from his other work, he’s part of the unholy trinity responsible for Demon Queen’s Enclave which I’m running later today and enjoying so much.

Guys: Good luck! 

Thanks for what you’ve done at Wizards, and I hope I’ll be able to pick up a new game in the future and see your names on it.