You know what time it is.
Thanks to Adam for guesting with us this episode, hope to do some more like it soon. Fun Tymes.
http://traffic.libsyn.com/kickedinthedicebags/Episode_14.mp3

Been listening to this one. Largely agree with the points being made. Couple of things:

1. Mike Mearls still works for WOTC. He's the head of development now, not a developer himself.

2. It's nice to see that others are picking up on the Savage Worlds similarities with 5e. Fair enough really. 3e borrowed pretty heavily from Rolemaster and 4e borrowed heavily from computer games and board games. If you're going to imitate someone, you might as well imitate what works.

3. Towards the end of the cast, the point was raised about why we need new editions. There's a couple of reasons. One, obviously, is money. Nothing sells as well as the core books and the only way to sell core books is to reboot things. However, there is a less cynical reason as well. We do actually learn better ways of doing things as time goes on. I'm probably going to get hammered for saying this, but, I really do think that there is an evolution to mechanics and that evolution is generally an improvement. Heck, I would point you to the evolution of the initiative mechanics between AD&D and 4e D&D (well, 3e really since 4e uses the same mechanics). AD&D needs a 20 page explaination (found at the ADDICT Document) whereas 3e is condensed down to a paragraph or three.

Yes, I do believe that we learn how to do things better as time goes on. And that should result in new rulesets for doing things.

I might have to relisten to the cast as it's been a while since it was recorded, but I don't think we said anything to the contrary. I am quite aware that Mike Mearls is still with WOTC. I think I said something about Monte Cooke replacing him as the writer of the Legends and Lore column. The context or way I worded what I said may have caused some confusion though.

As for your other points, I agree. There is nothing new under the son as Aristotle said. Everything borrows from, is inspired or is influenced by something else. This is why when people complained that 4e felt like a video game my reaction, aside from disbelief, was, "so what?"