Okay, I really hope that this doesn't start anything, but this is something that has been bothering me for sometime.

The designers for set 12 are going to be finalized soon and the list I have heard for most probable really makes me worry about the future of the game. I am trying to do this without targeting any designer specifically so I will just speak about them in general. I am going to list my grievances so I am not misunderstood or come off as irate, which is not my intention.

2 out of the 3 have had to take long absences from the game, one for family reasons which is completely understandable and another because he now prefers other games to swm. There is nothing wrong with either of these situations, but I have very little faith that they are staying caught up with the factions, squads, synergies that are ever increasing in the game that I love. This alone would be enough to make me worry, anyone can bring good flavor into the game, but they need to be able to look past their ideas of what good flavor is in order to see whats best for the game.

One of the gentlemen even thought that the v-sets should end at set 10. How can you be expected to care about the impact your set has on the future of the game if you don't even think we should continue designing it? We need people in the designer positions that don't just "have the time" to design a set, but care about the games direction and future. If they don't see a future for the game or care about the impact their pieces have on the game as a whole, than how can they be expected to design with integrity?

I have heard plenty of tales of designers designing their "farewell" set and simply trying to get everything they ever wanted made because its their last go of it... That seams like an issue to me. On the other end you can have designers with the view point of, "well this is what they asked for so Im going to give it to them". Designing is not an easy job, but you have to be able to give the community what they want without giving the game NPE's and over powered pieces.

Two of the gentlemen worked on set 6 together. That set is regarded by many in the community to be the highest power creep of any set to date. Yes power creep is inevitable since we do not cycle out set, but every piece should not be a tier 1 piece. I thought one of the goals of the v-sets was to not make every WOTC piece null and void. Set 6 did that more than any other set. It has more staple pieces for each faction as well, from the v-sets anyways. It only has 10 pieces below a 7.5 rating to boot, granted those ratings aren't the end all be all.

I have heard part of the reason for set 6's power level was because the lack of play testers. Everyone I know that play tested for set 6 said that was because the designers were a pain to work with.(I really hope that doesn't get this thread locked) I have heard plenty more than the Tennessee guys say this. As someone that wants to be an active play tester in the future that is not something that thrills me to pieces. I am enjoying working with the set 11 guys and hope that my experience working with every set from here on can be this good. Is that a little naive and optimistic? Most likely, but it is a hope I have none the less.

I am not the only one that feels this way about set 12, it has the feeling of the death star coming into range in episode 4, lol. I have heard numerous community members speak of the same worries and at minimum 8 past designers. Some may not be as extreme as mine, or maybe with how veteran designers are currently picked they just feel that speaking up will solve nothing and only bring strife.

I hope we are able to talk about this sensibly. I don't want anyone to take this personally and I do not want to cause division in the community. I know some may only see this as me further stiring the pot, but that is not my intention at all. I do, however, want the community and this game to continue for some time. I hope my heart is not misinterpreted and that my words are received with an open mind.

Thank you all and keep the conversation to sithborgs liking if you please.

I for one am getting sick of these personal attacks. Yes, echo and I were on the set 6 design team. Get. Over. It. Stop making these threads talking about me and get over yourself. All of these threads talking about me but not mentioning me by name are childish and immature.

Set 6 had a lot of good pieces and took some risks. Would you rather only have ho hum new cards or do you want the envelope pushed every once in a while? I'd rather get good new pieces that shake things up.

Also, I do follow what's going on with the game. I talk to players regularly and follow design threads every day on my lunch break. But sure, say I'm out of touch because I have other hobby's and an 8 month old. You're wrong. You don't know anything about me so stop trying to be all high and mighty because there's a few SWM pieces you don't like.

Everybody love everybody, and atmsalad did you apply for a designer spot? If you don't like things that's the best way to go. I understand having concerns and you make some good points but any negative posts tend to poison the boards and the community by extension. I'm not really sure what you are trying to do by even posting this? Do you have a solution of is this just venting? Because if it's the latter bro I ask you keep it to yourself for the good of the game. Yes some bad pieces do slip through but we didn't hang Rob in WOTC days because of the nightmares that were Lancer and GOWK. Or all of the way overpowered pieces that still rule the board from pre-vsets. I don't mean to disrespect but either get involved with the testing and designing or just follow lego Uni-kitty's advice from the Lego Movie:

"Here in Bloomilk, there are no rules: There's no government, no baby sitters, no bedtimes, no frowny faces, no bushy mustaches, and no negativity of any kind."

Keep it positive!

Look man, I am just going to be straightforward here. winning gencon means absolutely nothing when it comes to designing. some of the greatest athletes in the world couldn't coach their sport for crap, and some of the best coaches of all time couldn't play their sport if it meant their lives. so don't spout this well I won gencon crap as some legitimate reason for you being a designer, when the fact is that the last big set of designing you all have done, seems to be complained about the most.

and your attitude of get over it, move on, and just shut up about it is sad. some of these people obviously care a lot for the future of the game, and you want to silence them because, what it hurts your pride? spare me the sob story.

instead of silencing them provide them with some proof that past mistakes won't be repeated. maybe set 10 will ease a lot concerns if Daniel had some to do with it and it turns out great.

I don't think anyone wants anyone to fail or anything, but lets face it the caution is justified and frankly warranted.

I didn't see any personal attacks .
designers have to have a thicker skin.
not everybody is going to like everything you make, they are allowed to critique.
ATM raises some serious concerns.
I said for a long time that the same set of designers, reshuffed for each said was a poor decision.
it like using close family to breed with, there's going to be some r-tards.
one new designer per set is to little, to late.

You can have your opinions on whatever topics you like. Stop being coy and talking about me without mentioning my name. We all know for whatever reason you don't like some of the pieces I helped make in set 6. Let's all collectively take note of that and continue on with our lives. I am proud of the work I do and will continue to do the best I can in designing. If that bothers you then that's your problem.

(do not read this as an attack, it is observations)
Again, I was told that criticizing past designers would be met with the thread being locked... Also, I am not trying to criticize you. Keeping up with threads is not the same as playing though, seeing what synergies work and what ones don't. Playing and understanding what squads are on top and "why" they are the top squads does not happen through keeping up with play reports and design threads. If you are not actively squad building then how do you expect to know what each faction needs or doesn't need? Some inherit designer intuition?...

To make things perfectly clear to everyone, if you have an issue with prior V set designs, discuss the pieces you have the problem with. This is far, far more productive than talking about individual designers. Because no matter what you think of a designer, they are coming from the same love of the game everyone here feels.

I don't feel that fully solves the issues at hand though . If the issue is allowing people to design that are out of touch and not playing regularly then talking about past designs does not solve that issue, we are simply pointing out past mistakes that could just as easily be ignored; which many believe are being ignored. Am I completely off base? If so I will take back what I have said.

I hope that others disagree and this discussion will cause some people to speak up behind the scenes, sadly I feel that you are right though.