Interview Episode 23 – Monte Cook

Summary: * (0:40) Welcoming Monte Cook (http://www.montecook.com).  His first RPG book and the story of how he broke into the industry 24 years ago.  How he made it to D&D and what happened to the Marvel stuff he wrote along the way. * (8:36) The culture of TSR during its "bloat" and decline.  How the focus of management affected what was being written. * (11:40) Dan suddenly understands where Ptolus came from. * (13:27) Monte's transition from TSR to Wizards of the Coast to Malhavoc Press (http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?malhavoc).  Along the way he also published a non-fiction book, The Skeptic's Guide to Conspiracies (http://www.amazon.com/Skeptics-Guide-Conspiracies-Assassination-Controversial/dp/B0058M7TWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338419163&sr=8-1).  The Bilderberg Group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_group) becomes the Harbor Group, and how to work conspiracies into your own game! * (16:51) Monte's take on the OGL and the sorts of books it's produced. * (20:26) His own gaming group and what they run.  House-ruling his own material.  Starting games inside the companies that made those very titles. * (29:06) How to reference D&D without violating copyright or trademark law. * (31:17) Monte's thoughts on the development of Pathfinder and how its rules were shaped. * (34:16) The projects he's working on now, the future of Malhavoc, and the brand power of his own name. * (39:09) DriveThruRPG, DRM, and Fear the Boot versus Wikipedia.  Oofty Goofty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oofty_Goofty) climbing the Dark Tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(series)), and Monte Cook inventing the clementine orange (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clementine). * (44:50) What's the best class in 3e?  (Editor's Note: I can't believe we went there, even tongue in cheek.)  The viability of bards.  The lost d12 and how it led to the barbarian. * (51:32) Monte settles a bet for one of our Twitter followers. Hosts: Chad, Dan, Johann, John Guests: Monte Cook