<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[GameUP24]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://gameup24.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[William A.]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://gameup24.wordpress.com/author/louzwate/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Baldur’s Gate designer and BioWare veteran leaves after 22&nbsp;years]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<div><img src='https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NYcouM1jI9nIBPzZ5lXvAk-yNNI=/46x0:935x500/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60369341/header_sarevok.0.jpg' style='max-width:600px;' /></p>
<div><img alt="&lt;em&gt;Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, for &lt;/em&gt;which James Ohlen was also lead designer for" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NYcouM1jI9nIBPzZ5lXvAk-yNNI=/46x0:935x500/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60369341/header_sarevok.0.jpg"></p>
<p>James Ohlen will work on a sourcebook for Dungeons &amp; Dragons</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/JamesOhlen/status/1017417416601726977">Saying he needed a break</a> from video games development in favor of something “smaller and more personal,” BioWare’s James Ohlen, a 22-year veteran of the company, told fans he was leaving yesterday.</p>
<p>Ohlen subsequently tweeted that he is writing a hardcover sourcebook for <a href="https://www.polygon.com/franchise/dungeons-dragons/593"><em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons’</em></a><em> </em>fifth edition, titled <em>Odyssey of the Dragonlords. </em>Ohlen will be teaming up with Jesse Sky, another BioWare alumnus. </p>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The first book I&#8217;m working on is called Odyssey of the Dragonlords. I&#8217;m working on it with another former Creative Director from BioWare &#8211; Jesse Sky. Plus a mystery writer that I&#8217;ve worked with before <a href="https://t.co/uhUqy4Y6rf">https://t.co/uhUqy4Y6rf</a></p>
<p>— James Ohlen (@JamesOhlen) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesOhlen/status/1017477704382377984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2018</a>
</p></blockquote>
</div>
<p>Ohlen had been the lead designer of MMO <a href="https://www.polygon.com/game/star-wars-the-old-republic/1841"><em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em></a><em>, </em>as well as for the original <em>Baldur’s Gate </em>and also had design credits with <a href="https://www.polygon.com/game/neverwinter-nights/11897"><em>Neverwinter Nights</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/game/jade-empire/1185"><em>Jade Empire</em></a><em> </em>and <a href="https://www.polygon.com/game/mass-effect-andromeda/38684"><em>Mass Effect: Andromeda</em></a>.</p>
<p>“The most fun I’ve ever had at BioWare was as the lead designer on <em>Baldur’s Gate 1</em>+<em>2</em> and [<em>Neverwinter</em><em> Nights</em>],” Ohlen said. His D&amp;D fandom is what led him to his new gig writing the book for a project called Arcanum Worlds.</p>
<aside>
<div></div>
</aside>
<p>BioWare has been in somewhat of a <a href="https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/7/15757558/mass-effect-andromeda-development-problems">well known transition</a> though it isn’t believed that Ohlen’s departure has anything to do with that. The company’s next game <a href="https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/9/17444870/anthem-bioware-ea-trailer-release-date-pvp-javelins-co-op">will be <em>Anthem</em></a>, which is slated to launch Feb. 22, 2019 on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One.</p>
<p><em>Source: <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/14/17571502/james-ohlen-leaves-bioware">Polygon &#8211;  Full</a></em></div>
</div>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://i0.wp.com/cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NYcouM1jI9nIBPzZ5lXvAk-yNNI=/46x0:935x500/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60369341/header_sarevok.0.jpg?fit=440%2C330&ssl=1]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[440]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[248]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>