There is a Grateful Dead tune talking about Ken Kesey and The Merry Pranksters. “ The bus came by and I got on. That’s how it all began.” With Laura’s and Daniel’s post over the past few days it made me look back and reflect a bit over my run with the V-sets. Like Daniel, I have been involved since Destiny of the Force. That is where I got on this bus. In the beginning there were several things to figure out with designing the cards. What should the set icon be? What should the design be? Even how to create the template for the cards after we had settled on the design. There were many discussions a few arguments and at least once when things were very heated. This was just in the card design. Then the cards were leaked because of the lack of security where we were posting images. Cards were leaked in several spots. All the cards had to be reworked and we came up with the faction colors that we still use today. Originally all the cards would have been a blueish color. Also when that cards were leaked we have to shut down the people that leaked the images that were not theirs to share. Luckily most of the companies running the servers were kind enough to hear our plea and took the images down. The main reason for this was they leaked cards that were incomplete at the time and we didn’t want people confusing what was right vs what was wrong.

Five years and it is time for me to take a back seat on the bus. I don’t think I will get off the bus, I just will be looking out the window more and not having much to do with the day to day of creating the V-sets. This has been a gradual stepping away. First Jason started taking the photos of the recommended minis. Then a set or so later Deri started helping with the cards. During these times I was still really involved with the graphics side of the cards. As Deri, can attest, being a set designer and a card designer is a major time suck. Almost to the point where it is a full time job. Create the stats. Discuss the stats. Test the stats. Discuss the stats. Create the cards. Change the stats. Change the cards. Change the stats. Change the cards. Oh, have QC look at the stats. Redo the cards again. Argue about flavor text and why it was left off. At least now we have the process down and things go much more smoothly than they did in the beginning.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride over the past five years. Yes, along the way the ride has been bumpy. At times it seemed like the tires were coming off. Yet we are still moving forward. It was great to read both Laura’s account as a first time designer, as well as, Daniel’s reflections. For me this is an end of an era. My play group is pretty much gone. That is part of the problem living in a college town. Folks are only around four to seven years and then they move on. X-wing was really the final nail in the coffin for the Lafayette play group. Yes the Kokomo guys still play and those are a bunch of great guys. But Lafayette had a great group of guys that started as a gaming group and now are all close friends all be it several hundred miles now separate some of us. The community has been there for me when I needed support. Eric aka Engineer would listen when I really had no one else to talk to. So I appreciate the community more than most of you will ever know.

As a designer I have tried to listen to the community and get in the sets what you all wanted. I kept hearing we need a Grievous that kicks ass. Well General Grievous Hero of Hypori, is what I thought you folks wanted. I spent a few weeks talking with the guys in Germany to come up with Karness Murr. Then have Google Translate translate “that is sick” to “that is puke”. All the set designers were like what the heck we tried to do what you wanted, why are you calling it puke? Here are some of the pieces that I have had a heavy hand in. Epic Maul, Embo, Talon Karde, Commando Droid sniper and spotter, Guri, Shada D’Ukal, Klat Assassian (blame me for is costing to little) Qui-Gon force spirit, Aayla Secura Jedi knight, Quinlan Vos, Double agent, Assajj Venrtress, nightsister. Todo 360. There are a few more and with the ones I had a big part in on set 10 I hope I have given the community what it has liked.

The low point was seeing the set 6 had to have three pieces errataed. This is classic case of being too close to the project and not stepping back to look at the big picture. Our intentions were good. Honestly they were. We had no intent on breaking the Meta. Yes we wanted something new for Imperials to use besides Thrawn. We just went a bit too far too fast. I would also say this was the low point of the V-set design process as well. Lack of playtesting, lack of two way communication all led to this. I am not blaming anyone person or even a group of people. It isn’t productive. However, we came out stronger and designing better with a better process in place because of it.

My goal as a designer was to design pieces that people would play. In my opinion, what is the point off spending all of this time and effort on a piece that is never going to see the light of day? I understand that not every piece can be tier one or even 1.5. But they all should have a niche where they fit if you want to play them. I want to thank all my fellow designers and play testers. I know that at times we might not have seen eye to eye. But I appreciate every one of you. I also want to thank all the folks in the community for allowing me to design the cards that can now be found all over the world. As a designer that is a special feeling. I want to than Dean for asking me to get on the bus as a designer and Dennis for asking me to ride in the front of the bus as a character designer. I will still be around keeping Ray-Ban ads off the Facebook pages and currently I am working on overhauling SWMgamers.com to include X-wing, Imperial Assault, Armada and the LCG. I will also continue to help run and organize the Indiana Regional Weekend, which is June 12-14 at Purdue University this year.

Thanks for the ride you all. May the Force be with you, always.

Les, you were always one of my favorite people to work with on this project, so it's a shame to see you have to step down, but it's also totally understandable. I've always said that you've done more work than anyone by far, and I still think that's true: not a single person involved in the V-sets has invested more time than you have. I honestly don't think we would be making a V-set 11 today if it weren't for you.

You've done a great job working with people (Deri, Jason, etc.) to fill your shoes going forward. They're big shoes to fill.

Les, you've done an amazing job with the Vsets. Really appreciate all that you have done. From designing to playtesting to the graphics, you've probably put more into the Vsets than anyone. A great big thank you. And really glad to hear you'll still be playing, and possibly still playtesting.

No question in my mind that you've put more time into the Vsets than anyone.
Card stuff takes a lot of time, compile that with designing and its a huge workload. For you to do the cards for 8 sets is outstanding.

Much respect Les. you've always been a huge asset to the community.

Many thanks to you indeed Les. I am trying to imagine where we'd be now without you, and I think the only legitimate answer is that the vsets would have ultimately failed and we'd have been done years ago.

I mean that as no disrespect to anyone else, but more so to express how integral you have been to this community.

Pleasure working with you. Hope designing with such a stubborn worry wort like me didn't sour your last set as lead designer.

You've had some great designs, and a lot of creative ideas. I remember telling you years ago that I really liked Embo (this was shortly after he came out). The thing that was really cool was seeing how it took a little while to have Embo really find his Niche. That's always the best design imo. Not out of the gate overpowered, but has great potential, and in the right squad and in the right hands, can be very good. Embo has always been a great example of that. (I still need to play my Imp Embo Swap squad at some point!)

Those of you who have not met Les in person, I hope you get a chance to some day. He's one of the nicest guys you'll meet, and is genuine and fun to be around.

I sincerely hope we have a place to get giant margaritas at the new IN regional location.

See you in June!

Thanks Bro. I am sure our paths will cross again.

Thanks man.