Time to gather my party and venture forth!

amenar

Howdy all –

Some of you may know me from previous developer blogs, class review forum posts, and many other forum discussions that have taken place since the launch of Neverwinter. Today, I’ll be leaving the great big adventure that has been Neverwinter, Champions Online, and Cryptic Studios – off to start a new adventure.

Over the 7 years I've been here, I’ve been Lead Systems Designer, Lead Designer, and “Senior Designer in charge of Class Stuffs” at various points throughout the history of Neverwinter. I worked on the balance and implementation of classes, powers, and feats before launch. I worked with the dev team and the community for revisions to existing game systems, and helped create new content and systems for the game. Before Neverwinter, I did many of the same things for Champions Online (where people knew me as Ame). Throughout it all, one of the areas of my Cryptic Career that has been totally awesome, has been working with you all, the forum community.

The job can be stressful and hectic, but getting to interact directly with the people that love the games we’ve made is truly a perk that I’ve had here over the years. My goal as a game designer is to entertain as many people as possible, and make them as happy as I can, and getting to see the results of that in person is a wonderful thing.

Thank you so much for the great times you’ve given me. I leave you all now in the capable hands of @rgutsheradev, @dreadnaught, and @MimicKing, as well as the rest of the passionate Neverwinter and Cryptic team.

The game industry is surprisingly small, so I might bump into you again, in another life. Until then, may all of your 20s be natural!
-Chris “Amenar” Matz

valwryn

"Nooooooo"
"I haven't hit ya with a water balloon yet."


Good luck with your next exciting Adventures!!!

torontodave

high five. thanks for the communication. =D

amenar

ejziponken said:

okay.. So now everyone leaves the game? Why would the players stay when even the devs jumps the ship?

I'm flattered you think so I'm so important to the games success.

Video game companies have lots of people come and go. Cryptic is constantly hiring. Someone else will fill my shoes, and they might even do a better job. This game is great, and it is doing incredibly well. It won't be going anywhere any time soon.

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ironzerg79

Even to the bitter end, you're still communicating!

Thanks, and I'm sure we'll see you around. Good luck in your next adventure.

martianmnhunter

Why are you leaving just before the biggest balance changes to date?

strumslinger

I'm going to miss you, Matz!

thefabricant

How dare you leave before the CW balance >.> Just kidding, wish you well You are leaving behind some big, empty shoes to fill

arabatur

So making big(and needed) class changes and leaving, the cynic in me wonders why?

amenar said:

ejziponken said:

okay.. So now everyone leaves the game? Why would the players stay when even the devs jumps the ship?

/snip. . . This game is great, and it is doing incredibly well. It won't be going anywhere any time soon.

I do hope your're right and that's not a NDA talking.

vinceent1

your timing is amazing man, i can only hope your boss wont be negatively surprised at Tuesday, when class balance goes live. We all should starting to pray

when we have active dev, its only for few weeks. thats doom taste

scathias

I guess combat and the broken piercing blades is going live as is

well, best wishes for your future amenar, you did a mostly bang up job which is all we can really ask i guess

vida44

@amenar stick with NWO, the challenges we have here ---> GWF Unstoppable bug

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d4rkh0rs3

@amenar Congratulations and great work on engaging the community!

@rgutscheradev
@dreadnaught
@mimicking

Please be sure to continue Chris' communication and transparent approach with the community. There are many intelligent, experienced, and passionate fans of this game on this forum full of great advice (and they're willing to bug test for free, too!)

bitt3rnightmar3

Bye @amenar Thank you for all your hard work and listening to us. Your presence will be missed.

kreatyve

You shall be missed. Thank you for the awesome communicating with the recent balance changes. You left some big shoes to fill.

ltgamesttv

You got us excited that the game may be headed in the right direction. You discussed with the community potential changes and listened to their feedback. You talked about the big plans you had for the future of the game and class balance. Many of us were very excited to see you take the bull by the horns and try to steer it in the right direction. Now you leave us, once again, with worried concern for our beloved game world.

However, we have no concern for you, with your dedication I'm sure you will do well wherever your adventures take you. Thanks for the hope, however brief, that you gifted us. When you think of us, invoke a prayer to the NW deities (one that will be profitable, as our invocation will no longer heed us rewards) that we will one day gain the balance you once spoke of.

You will be missed.

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theguiido

??? BRO WHAT? I knew something was up because of your inactivity on the forums, but, never imagined it was this. As hectic as it might of been, you have done an amazing job at balancing classes, and bringing Neverwinter to a great state. Additionally, you have also shaped amazing relashinships on here, and have actually replied to more ppl than anyone and any developer I know. Which I commend you for. I am very scared though knowing you're gone and now the classes are left unknown at this point. I hope your legacy is left for these developers and the NW team to take on smart and LISTEN to the players, just like you did. It's very odd you left so suddenly, I wish the best for you Chris, you're an awesome guy, and an even better developer. @amenar

kvet

Hopefully, among other things left behind, is your willingness to actually interact with players - even the... er.... more enthusiastic (?) of us. It's huge when Devs are willing to do that, and an equally huge loss when such a dev leaves. Good luck wherever your journey leads!

iandarksword

Best of luck, and may all your rolls receive a +4 favorable result in your next endeavor.

lirithiel

Le sight. It seems like every time a dev takes the time to communicate with us, they make their exit in due time. maybe Cryptic don't like their staff talking to us...

@amenar: thanks for your efforts and all the best in your new endeavours.

jhpnw

Good luck I am sure where ever you go you will be well appreciated , because you have been by all of us. May your future shine bright on your personal life as well as your career

Ara

treesclimber

amenar said:

ejziponken said:

okay.. So now everyone leaves the game? Why would the players stay when even the devs jumps the ship?

I'm flattered you think so I'm so important to the games success.

Video game companies have lots of people come and go. Cryptic is constantly hiring. Someone else will fill my shoes, and they might even do a better job. This game is great, and it is doing incredibly well. It won't be going anywhere any time soon.

NO!!!! In 2 years that i play this game no developer/designer was being so active and mindfull about player as you were in classes balance, im not saying the other member of cryptic team aren't good and care for us, they do, but you were exeptional, if you are leaving make a clone of yourself to leave here with us .

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treesclimber

metalldjt said:

it is funny that amenar said he is leaving us on good hands and only 1 out of those 3 devs have an account on the forum

@rgutsheradev, @dreadnaught, and @MimicKing,

Classes balance threads have been closed, i dont want to be prejudgemental but it think this was it, no more balance, Gf is reasonably fine but SW still needs rework.....*finger's cross*

krondhor

For some reasons it's always the best that leaves, when somebody started to care and was talking with our community, I hope we wont be left behind that we get ignored for years once again now, I hope my fear wont become true.

Anyway thanks @amenar for your time and dedication, you did more in the past 3 weeks than others in 3 years, we will definitively miss you.

samaka

I haven't been playing long enough to get to know you, but I will say thanks for all the work you have done on Neverwinter... my partner and I have really been enjoying the time we have spent here so far!

demonmonger

(Drops to knees and picks up two hands full of dirt)

(Screams)

Amenar!!!!!!!
Whhhhhhyyyyyyyyy

(Lifts hands to the sky letting the dirt fall out slowly to be carried away by the wind)