Quote from: mearlsAaron Allston. The BD&D Rules Cyclopedia was 10 years ahead of its time. It's about the best game you could make using the 2e/BD&D paradigm of doing stuff, and probably two standard deviations better than anything else anyone has done with that model.

The Rules Cyclopedia is my single favourite D&D book of all time, and I very much respect Allston's work on Mystara ... but isn't the RC simply a compilation of rules already published in the Mentzer BECM series of D&D box sets?  

Is there something, as a game designer, that Allston added to those rules, aside from organising them into a single book?

(I feel somewhat bad for questioning Allston's accomplishment here, since I love the RC and his other work, but I honestly don't see what he did as a designer with respect to the RC.)

EDIT: I just realised that the question also concerns 'AUTHORS' as well as designers, in which case there is no doubt that Allston, as the author of the RC, qualifies (even if the rules were taken from other sources).  However, your post seems to emphasise the work he did as a game designer on the RC rules, of which I am less sure.

I think the skill system, the encounter balancing system (a clear forerunner of D&D 3's CR system), and a few other bits are Alston's. I don't remember seeing them anywhere else in the BD&D boxed sets.

Was the mystic in the Master set? That's the only one I don't have access to.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalAh... here's the thread.

  There's still some debate over who the guy actually was but I like to think it was John Tynes.

American Badass, still one of my top five favourite rpg.net posters of all time.  

Dr Rotwang is probably at the top, not sure after that though Dan Davenport's reviews are easily the best thing there.

Quote from: BalbinusAmerican Badass, still one of my top five favourite rpg.net posters of all time.  

Dr Rotwang is probably at the top, not sure after that though Dan Davenport's reviews are easily the best thing there.

Dr. Rotwang, Balbinus, and Bailywolf continually vie for top poster in my heart. These are people whose posts I would read even if they were about Exalted.

-mice

Bailywolf is a cool guy.  I'd like to see him over here at some point.

I'll throw props to Eric L. Boyd for the sheer amount effort, time and love he puts into Forgotten Realms developement.

Quote from: mearlsI think the skill system, the encounter balancing system (a clear forerunner of D&D 3's CR system), and a few other bits are Alston's. I don't remember seeing them anywhere else in the BD&D boxed sets.

Fair enough.  IIRC, the skill system first appeared in Gazetteer 1: Grand Duchy of Karameikos, also by Alston.

Quote from: mearlsWas the mystic in the Master set? That's the only one I don't have access to.

Wow, I'm drawing a complete blank on that.  Unfortunately, my copy of the Masters Set is stowed an ocean away, in my parents' basement.

Among people actually writing right now my favorites are Mike Mearls and S. John Ross.  Mike Mearls is pretty much the only D&D mechanician I implicitly trust and S. John is the only guy who consistently writes gaming books that I find entertaining and useful from cover to cover.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstBailywolf is a cool guy.  I'd like to see him over here at some point.

We could always invite him...

-mice

Quote from: flyingmiceWe could always invite him...

-mice

"Your mission, Agent Flyingmice, should you accept it..." :cool:

Mission Accomplished.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstMission Accomplished.

I did the same! :O

-mice

Quote from: flyingmiceI did the same! :O

-mice

He must feel very loved right about now.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstHe must feel very loved right about now.

or STALKED.

Quote from: Mcrowor STALKED.

Same thing, right?  At least that's what I keep telling Jeri Ryan...